We Rank Omar Rodriguez-Lopez's 2016 Albums From Best To Worst

At The Drive-In/Mars Volta guitarist Omar Rodríguez-López truly established himself as a prolific solo artist last year when it was announced in July he would release 12 albums before the year was up.

Well, he made good on that promise, and after reviewing each album as it dropped, we’ve now ranked them from best to not the best (because using the word worst isn’t really applicable here).

#1. Sworn Virgins

Don't miss a beat with our FREE daily newsletter

From the opening note, Sworn Virgins turns heads: it’s tumultuous, bombastic, in your face and gloriously fucked up. The energy and attitude is unparalleled and the unconventional one-take recording process with drummer Deantoni Parks is well ahead of the curve.

#2. Nom De Guerre Cabal

The use of polyrhythmic drumming and experimental song structures leaves Nom De Guerre Cabal in second place. The sheer violent urgency is inescapable here showing dark sonic territory and is where Rodriguez-Lopez fares best.

#3. El Bien Y Mal Nos Une

El Bien Y Mal Nos Une succeeds in taking the progressive conventions of the above-mentioned albums, and shedding the dark atmosphere for a scientifically calculated and clean-toned affair. The result is an intriguing sci-fi affair where surgical precision and mathematic accuracy intertwine with smooth sounds.

#4. Cell Phone Bikini

A prominent foundation of syncopation, groove, rhythm and repetition are built upon by anchoring bass lines, funky riffs and effervescent noodling. The vocals on top proceed to define the direction and feel of the album; the confident nature of which puts this record in fourth place.

#5. Aranas en La Sambra

Aranas en La Sambra succeeds due to its dirty rock'n'roll feel. The guitar tone chosen here helps the record have a strong sense of individuality when compared to its brethren, and the hooks are brilliant.

#6. Zapopan

Zapopan is the location Rodriguez-Lopez was living in when he recorded the entire body of work, and the forlorn and destructive tone of the album is its main strength. He sounds like a Black Widow, luring a mate to prey upon…

#7. Infinity Drips

Infinity Drips could just as well have placed higher; it doesn’t ferociously seek attention in the way those that did top the list were screaming ‘Hey! look at me! I’m defying almost every musical convention and boundary known to mankind!’. In the same sense, its value is almost exclusively intrinsic, rendering it a true underground gem.

#8. Blind Worms Pious Swine

A blend of multiple musical ideas, Blind Worms Pious Swine stands predominately as a psych rock album. It’s humble yet vibrant attitude helps it stand above the rest, and one you’ll have to keep coming back to.

#9. Some Need It Lonely

Completely dreamy and weird, Some Need It Lonely strives to be different. It is as much absurd as it is influenced by colour and paranormal sounds, rendering it compelling. It also features some of the best collaborative efforts from Terri Gender Bender in the collection.

#10. Weekly Mansions

The oddball of the collection, this album suffers only when compared to its peers, by having no real theme or direction. It’s almost as if its theme was being miscellaneous! Luckily this made it the quirkiest of them all with some very distinct and memorable cuts.

#11. Umbrella Mistress

The final two on the list are here because they are the most straightforward of the bunch. While not poor albums by any means of the word something is left to be desired. Umbrella Mistress succeeds by not taking itself too seriously, as can be gathered by the playfulness of the organ lines.

#12. Corazones

Corazones regretfully sits at the bottom of the list. Originally composed as the score to a film that was scrapped, its position on the list can be alluded to comments from Lopez himself. The studio wanted him to simplify the content for its audience while the emotions he was feeling at the time were complex to convey.