Frances the Mute is the second studio album by progressive rock band The Mars Volta released in the US on March 1, 2005. The album's lyrics often jump from Spanish to English. It displays a deep jazz influence while infusing Latin flavor into many songs, most obviously in "L'Via L'Viaquez". Originally to be titled Sarcophagus. , Frances the Mute sold an impressive 123,000 copies in its opening week and has sold 465,000 copies as of September 2006. The album made multiple "Best of" lists at the end of 2005.
The artwork was once again done by Storm Thorgerson, who created the cover for the previous album, De-Loused in the Comatorium. It is highly probable that the cover was inspired by surrealist painter René Magritte, who created a series of paintings featuring a subject whose face was obscured by cloth (blank">The Lovers for example). The cover is a direct reference to part of _Pink Floyd's Publius Enigma riddle; in one image, a puzzle piece printed with the red-hooded men in cars (from their song "High Hopes") sits on a hill. It is likely that this was done intentionally by the band.
