Frances The Mute
by The Mars Volta

Frances The Mute by The Mars Volta
Year: 2005
Release date: 2005-02-21
Overall rank: 805th   Overall chart history
Average Rating: 
78/100 (from 459 votes)
  Ratings distribution   Average rating history
Accolades:
Award Top 20 albums of 2005 (13th)
Award Top albums of the 2000s (129th)
Award Top 1,000 albums of all time (805th)

Listen on Spotify SPOTIFY
Product Details
Availability

eBay
eBay
SEALED The Mars Volta Frances The Mute LP BLACK VINYL Clouds Hill
Condition: New


eBay
eBay
The Mars Volta Frances the Mute Vinyl GSL96 Triple LP Gatefold 12" 33 RPM
Condition: Used

$180.00


Go to store

eBay
eBay
Mars Volta Frances the Mute 3xLP/12" 1/500 Glow In The Dark Vinyl 2005
Condition: Used

$800.00


Go to store

  My favourite store:  

The Mars Volta bestography

Frances The Mute is ranked 2nd best out of 12 albums by The Mars Volta on BestEverAlbums.com.

The best album by The Mars Volta is De-Loused In The Comatorium which is ranked number 488 in the list of all-time albums with a total rank score of 3,478.

The Mars Volta album bestography « Higher ranked (488th)
De-Loused In The Comatorium
This album (805th)
Frances The Mute
Lower ranked (805th) »
Frances The Mute

(N.B. Bestographies include all albums by an artist (and their variations), but do not include albums ranked outside the top 100,000).

Listen to Frances The Mute on YouTube

Loading content from YouTube...

Frances The Mute track list

  Track ratings The tracks on this album have an average rating of 84 out of 100 (all tracks have been rated).

Sort Sort by

Track pick (1000 - 100 votes) Top-rated track as rated by BestEverAlbums.com members.

Frances The Mute rankings

Rankings summary
Overall rank: 805th | 2000s rank: 129th | 2005 rank: 13th
Filter Filter
Sort Sort by
YearSourceChartRankRank Score
2026 RockyRaccoonProgressive Rock Pt. 256/100 -
2026sunnydhammTop 47 Music Albums of 200537/471
2026 PurplepashTop 60 Music Albums of 200516/604
2026stevengnzTop 100 Music Albums of 200578/1001
2026pinkfreud1981Top 100 Greatest Music Albums47/10054
2026emptysquaresTop 100 Greatest Music Albums93/1008
2026leniadTop 100 Music Albums of the 2000s43/10012
2026 RomanelliTop 68 Music Albums of 200563/680
2026pinkfreud1981Best 100 albums ever. ( 1 per artist)44/100 -
2026 DommeDamianFeb 26: 401-50076/100 -
2026PapaShiz86Top 100 Music Albums of 200531/1004
2026shanelovesyou1111Top 95 Music Albums of 200531/953
2026 imacgillTop 100 Music Albums of 200535/1003
2026 DommeDamianFavorite album covers83/85 -
2026 RomanelliMy Overall Chart: 2501-260094/100 -
2026OFarrioTop 40 Music Albums of 200522/402
2026 AvalancheGripsTop 100 Greatest Music Albums84/10017
2026 paladisiactop 65r albums (65), #0401-0500*30/30 -
2026jdizzle123456Top 100 Music Albums of the 2000s70/1006
2026 TamthebamTop 100 Music Albums of 200556/1002
Total Charts: Help The total number of charts that this album has appeared in. 313
Total Rank Score: Help The total rank score. 2,133
You can include this album in your own chart from the My Charts page!

Frances The Mute collection

Frances The Mute ratings

Average Rating: 
78/100 (from 459 votes)
  Ratings distribution Help Average Rating = (n ÷ (n + m)) × av + (m ÷ (n + m)) × AV
where:
av = trimmed mean average rating an item has currently received.
n = number of ratings an item has currently received.
m = minimum number of ratings required for an item to appear in a 'top-rated' chart (currently 10).
AV = the site mean average rating.

Showing latest 5 ratings for this album.  | Show all 459 ratings for this album.

Sort Sort by
RatingDate updatedMemberAlbum ratingsAvg. album rating
 
80/100
 
03/30/2026 21:25 melisandre  Ratings distribution  28479/100
 
80/100
 
03/19/2026 22:18 PapaShiz86  Ratings distribution  11,22279/100
 
75/100
 
03/01/2026 00:10 Map  Ratings distribution  50181/100
 
50/100
 
02/09/2026 02:36 brent13  Ratings distribution  1,93568/100
 
70/100
 
01/05/2026 00:47 iann97  Ratings distribution  2,02074/100

Rating metrics: Help Outliers can be removed when calculating a mean average to dampen the effects of ratings outside the normal distribution. This figure is provided as the trimmed mean. A high standard deviation can be legitimate, but can sometimes indicate 'gaming' is occurring. Consider a simplified example* of an item receiving ratings of 100, 50, & 0. The mean average rating would be 50. However, ratings of 55, 50 & 45 could also result in the same average. The second average might be more trusted because there is more consensus around a particular rating (a lower deviation).
(*In practice, some albums can have several thousand ratings)

This album is rated in the top 2% of all albums on BestEverAlbums.com. This album has a Bayesian average rating of 78.0/100, a mean average of 76.2/100, and a trimmed mean (excluding outliers) of 78.2/100. The standard deviation for this album is 18.6.

Please log in or register if you want to be able to leave a rating

Frances The Mute comments

Showing latest 10 comments | Show all 15 comments |
Most Helpful First | Newest First | Positive Sentiment First | Longest Comments First
(Only showing comments with -2 votes or higher. You can alter this threshold from your profile page. Manage Profile)

Rating:  
95/100
From 10/06/2024 13:54 | #305556
An incredibly written prog album throughout it's five core songs with some of the greatest moments in rock music I've ever heard present from the beginning all the way to the end of this record. The band at this point of it's existence knew how to weave together their enthralling hardcore style of songwriting with the abstract and experimental soundscapes that interjects every song along with present influences of latin music that elevates this album to greatness to my mind and ears. It's a feat what The Mars Volta have achieved with the making and release of Frances The Mute, it's a prog classic in my opinion.
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Rating:  
65/100
From 06/15/2023 23:30 | #297611
Long. Blend of Jazz rock, Prog rock, even Space rock, plus jamming. The multiple segments and passages throughout the tracks can make it a bit fragmented. Some parts brilliant, some just musical noise effects. One you gotta be in the mood for.
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +2 votes (2 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Rating:  
85/100
From 03/25/2021 18:56 | #267752
Highlights: All of them.

and fume0dm, you're right.
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +2 votes (2 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Rating:  
90/100
From 08/24/2020 19:08 | #257395
Fuck Pitchfork.Just fuck it.
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +5 votes (5 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Rating:  
90/100
From 11/27/2017 07:31 | #202145
More difficult than the previous but much more ambitious.Every "track" is an album per se itself.Very technical musicians!
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +2 votes (2 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From 02/12/2017 09:08 | #185368
I prefer Deloused in the Comatorium and Ampuchechture, but this is still one addicting and crazy Prog Rock record.
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +2 votes (2 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Rating:  
75/100
From 07/17/2016 04:17 | #171424
Frances the Mute is a step back from their previous album, but is still one The Mars Volta's best albums. The albums meanders at times, but there is a lot of good content in these tracks.
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +2 votes (2 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Rating:  
100/100
From 04/09/2016 14:45 | #163536
The Mars Volta has proven throughout the 2000s that they're one of the greatest bands ever, and this album is possibly their greatest achievement. The 13+ minute long songs are never boring for one moment because of their epic guitar solos, eerie experimental sounds, and rapid-fire drums. While it isn't the most accessible album (the last song is 30 minutes long!) it's a must listen for any audiophile.
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Rating:  
95/100
From 04/25/2015 20:55 | #140189
This album is fucking incredible. So full of ideas and almost every idea is fucking great and executed perfectly. Cassandra Gemini is a top 10 all time favorite for me. Cygnus Vismund Cygnus is a masterpiece aswell.

The widow and Lvia are both incredibly cheesy but in the most enjoyable way. Not in the cringeworthy way but in the awesome way. Miranda drags a bit so I cant give this album a 100 but its damn close.
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +3 votes (3 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Rating:  
80/100
From 08/30/2012 04:06 | #49632
There's some great tracks on this album, especially L'Via and The Widow.
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Please log in or register if you want to be able to add a comment

Your feedback for Frances The Mute

Anonymous
Let us know what you think of this album by adding a comment or assigning a rating below!
Log in or register to assign a rating or leave a comment for this album.
Best Albums of 2005
1. Illinois by Sufjan Stevens
2. Demon Days by Gorillaz
3. Late Registration by Kanye West
4. Takk... by Sigur Rós
5. Silent Alarm by Bloc Party
6. I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning by Bright Eyes
7. Alligator by The National
8. X&Y by Coldplay
9. Feels by Animal Collective
10. I Am A Bird Now by Antony & The Johnsons
11. Deadwing by Porcupine Tree
12. Plans by Death Cab For Cutie
13. Frances The Mute by The Mars Volta
14. LCD Soundsystem by LCD Soundsystem
15. Z by My Morning Jacket
16. Mezmerize by System Of A Down
17. Aerial by Kate Bush
18. Picaresque by The Decemberists
19. Get Behind Me Satan by The White Stripes
20. The Woods by Sleater-Kinney