I think frances the Mute is absolutely amazing. everything about it is better than DLITC (amazing also). the experimentation with strings and brass is utterly mind blowing. john (chilis) is playing some of the best stuff ive heard in a long time. the only down side to the album is that you cant have it on random as its just too weird. im going to see them this friday at the barrowlands (ive seen them before and the energy they put into their songs is great!) At the drive in are very good, mars volta in the making, but the mars are better and the music feels more complete.