... Supermassive Black Hole (3'32)
4. Map Of The Problematique (4'18)
5. A Soldier's Poem (2'12)
6. Invincible (5'20)
7. Assassin (3'31)
8. Exo Politics (4'47)
9. City of Delusion (4'48)
10. Hoodoo (3'43)
11. Knights of Cydonia (5'50)
~ Released in the UK: 03/07/2006 ~
~ ... Read review
Black Holes and Revelations finds Muse finally achieving their full potential, producing ... more
an album that is their biggest yet. And for a band that was responsible for the grandiose Origin of the Symmetry, that's no mean feat. In a time when lo-fi and aco...
Postage & Packaging: Free! Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
Black Holes and Revelationsfinds Muse finally achieving their full potential, producing an ... more
album that is their biggest yet. And for a band that was responsible for the grandioseOrigin of the Symmetry, that's no mean feat. In a time when lo-fi and acous...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Black Holes and Revelationsfinds Muse finally achieving their full potential, producing an ... more
album that is their biggest yet. And for a band that was responsible for the grandioseOrigin of the Symmetry, that's no mean feat. In a time when lo-fi and acous...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Black Holes and Revelations finds Muse finally achieving their full potential, producing ... more
an album that is their biggest yet. And for a band that was responsible for the grandiose Origin of the Symmetry, that's no mean feat. In a time when lo-fi and aco...
Postage & Packaging: Free! Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
Black Holes and Revelations finds Muse finally achieving their full potential, producing ... more
an album that is their biggest yet. And for a band that was responsible for the grandiose Origin of the Symmetry, that's no mean feat. In a time when lo-fi and acoustic acts are devouring the charts, Muse are resolutely swimming against the tide. Black Holes and Revelations is an epic album, and it sounds huge--listening to it, it's difficult to remember that Muse are just a trio. This is a band who enter a studio determined to get their money's worth--it wouldn't be a surprise to hear a kitchen sink clanging away in the background. In the hands of a lesser band, Black Holes and Revelations would sound either ironic or silly, with songs like "Starlight" sounding like a beefed-up ELO track, right down to its lyrics about spaceships. And that's not the only 1970's British rock band that's referenced here: by the end of "Soldier's Poem", you'll swear that Freddie Mercury and Queen are providing the harmonies. And the influence of Queen sticks around right through the energetic rocker "Assassin". Black Holes and Revelations wears the comparison well--this is an arena-rock album, carefully constructed by a band who by having no fear of the absurd, manage to transcend it. Quite simply, this album rocks. --Robert Burrow
Postage & Packaging:Free! Availability:Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
With the ever growing glob of guitar bands around, its rare tofind one with such a unique ... more
identity. But thats what the Devonthreesome have created in the near seven years from theirstupendous Showbiz album in 1999. It seems like theyve beenaround longer, but maybe thats down to the huge impact they put ineach and every one of their tracks. The contrasting combination ifraunchy guitars with cherubic vocals, and an impenetrable wall ofsound which still is loaded with delicacy. Few would dare to mix agrand piano, with a wallop of bass, and then layered with themajesty of Mercurial voices - thats both Freddy-esque andangelic. You instinctively know that the quiet twiddly start of Take ABow is going to be short lived, and as soon as Matt Bellamy hasgot the message of burning in Hell across, the track gets biggerand bigger. Nifty sampled production mixed with old-school guitarwork lead it intro a rock monster of genuine power, topped off withan ELO meets Queen crescendo at the end. Marvellous. If there has been criticism of the band before, then it was thatthey werent accessible enough (though with the blandness of somuch pop, surely thats an plus point) but the wonderfulglam-tinged of Starlight followed by the shuffling Aerosmithcatchiness of Supermassive Black Hole show that they can be asimmediate as most of the twaddle of singles-land. But this isdriven, inimitable, hi-thrills power. Theres the same massive appeal on Map Of The Problematique,which is also one of their danciest numbers to date. Industrialstyle - the Pet Shop Boys possessed by Satan. Naturally Matt, Chris& Dominic are easily adept in tweaking their style at will.Soldiers Poem has the same pace and cleverly scribed pathos asthe REM classic Everybody Hurts and tugs at the senses just asmuch. That sentiment dovetails perfectly with Invincible whichmarches on to another glorious climax. Never be in any doubt about their playing credentials either.The scintillating drumming on Assassin is as rip-roaring asMetallica, whilst still keeping their deeply melodic streak.Exo-Politics is probably the weakest track, but the trademarkQueen-styled vocal harmonies lift its head above treading water.After that its the surprise of flamenco guitars and trumpets onCity Of Delusion which evolves from prickly cactus accompanymentinto another dark stomper. Its the contrasts again that make itall work so well thumping beats forged with lighter strings neverleave the result turgid. You are enveloped by the sound, neverbrought down by it. By now they are firmly in Mexican territory, as the Latin guitarand trampled beat of Hoodoo is definitely enough to whip out thetequila. Its majestically brooding, but this being Muse, theyllnever stay in one locale for too long. So they whip out the grandpiano again. After all, you should never head south of the borderwithout one. Knights Of Cydonia then sees them ride off into thesunset at a pacey gallop, with a sentiment of putting things rightand fighting for our rights. Its a defiant end to another work ofinspired brilliance. They apply enough light and shade to make the result completelyabsorbing, resisting any temptation for grey areas in between. IfAbsolution blew your socks off (as it should have done) threeyears ago, then this will do the same only differently. It wasdeeper, darker, with a manic depressive rift before, this time outthey have a jauntier feel melded with a still perky, fresh andrebellious quality. Their recent top 5 single was only a nudge awayfrom their proven style of old, but showed that their unique edgecan be accepted more by the mainstream these days. Never has a bandbeen so worthy of collective appreciation. NeilChase Music Editor July 2006
Black Holes and Revelations finds Muse finally achieving their full potential, producing ... more
an album that is their biggest yet. And for a band that was responsible for the grandiose Origin of the Symmetry, that's no mean feat. In a time when lo-fi and acoustic acts are devouring the charts, Muse are resolutely swimming against the tide. Black Holes and Revelations is an epic album, and it sounds huge--listening to it, it's difficult to remember that Muse are just a trio. This is a band who enter a studio determined to get their money's worth--it wouldn't be a surprise to hear a kitchen sink clanging away in the background. In the hands of a lesser band, Black Holes and Revelations would sound either ironic or silly, with songs like "Starlight" sounding like a beefed-up ELO track, right down to its lyrics about spaceships. And that's not the only 1970's British rock band that's referenced here: by the end of "Soldier's Poem", you'll swear that Freddie Mercury and Queen are providing the harmonies. And the influence of Queen sticks around right through the energetic rocker "Assassin". Black Holes and Revelations wears the comparison well--this is an arena-rock album, carefully constructed by a band who by having no fear of the absurd, manage to transcend it. Quite simply, this album rocks. --Robert Burrow
Postage & Packaging:Free! Availability:Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
Black Holes and Revelationsfinds Muse finally achieving their full potential, producing an ... more
album that is their biggest yet. And for a band that was responsible for the grandioseOrigin of the Symmetry, that's no mean feat. In a time when lo-fi and acoustic acts are devouring the charts, Muse are resolutely swimming against the tide.Black Holes and Revelationsis an epic album, and it sounds huge--listening to it, it's difficult to remember that Muse are just a trio. This is a band who enter a studio determined to get their money's worth--it wouldn't be a surprise to hear a kitchen sink clanging away in the background. In the hands of a lesser band,Black Holes and Revelationswould sound either ironic or silly, with songs like "Starlight" sounding like a beefed-up ELO track, right down to its lyrics about spaceships. And that's not the only 1970's British rock band that's referenced here: by the end of "Soldier's Poem", you'll swear that Freddie Mercury and Queen are providing the harmonies. And the influence of Queen sticks around right through the energetic rocker "Assassin".Black Holes and Revelationswears the comparison well--this is an arena-rock album, carefully constructed by a band who by having no fear of the absurd, manage to transcend it. Quite simply, this album rocks.--Robert Burrow
Postage & Packaging:£1.21 Availability:Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Black Holes and Revelationsfinds Muse finally achieving their full potential, producing an ... more
album that is their biggest yet. And for a band that was responsible for the grandioseOrigin of the Symmetry, that's no mean feat. In a time when lo-fi and acoustic acts are devouring the charts, Muse are resolutely swimming against the tide.Black Holes and Revelationsis an epic album, and it sounds huge--listening to it, it's difficult to remember that Muse are just a trio. This is a band who enter a studio determined to get their money's worth--it wouldn't be a surprise to hear a kitchen sink clanging away in the background. In the hands of a lesser band,Black Holes and Revelationswould sound either ironic or silly, with songs like "Starlight" sounding like a beefed-up ELO track, right down to its lyrics about spaceships. And that's not the only 1970's British rock band that's referenced here: by the end of "Soldier's Poem", you'll swear that Freddie Mercury and Queen are providing the harmonies. And the influence of Queen sticks around right through the energetic rocker "Assassin".Black Holes and Revelationswears the comparison well--this is an arena-rock album, carefully constructed by a band who by having no fear of the absurd, manage to transcend it. Quite simply, this album rocks.--Robert Burrow
Postage & Packaging:£1.21 Availability:Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Advantages: Blinding 4th album with an uneasy lyrical twist Disadvantages: Topping it next time round.
... (3'59)
3. Supermassive Black Hole (3'32)
4. Map Of The Problematique (4'18)
5. A Soldier's Poem (2'12)
6. Invincible (5'20)
7. Assassin (3'31)
8. Exo Politics (4'47)
9. City of Delusion (4'48)
10. Hoodoo (3'43)
11. Knights of Cydonia (5'50)
~ Released in the UK: 03/07/2006 ~
~ Produced & Mixed by Rich Costey ~
... ...syllables).
Black Holes and Revelations is not, as one reviewer recently claimed, lyrically 'tongue in cheek' nor is it over-rated as its recent nomination for a Mercury Music Award would allude to …what it is however is an often very dark, highly political, highly incensed, progressive rock guitar and retro 80's synthesizer offering of extreme magnitude all rolled into one. It made my ears weep!
#Matthew Bellamy - Lead Vocals, Guitar, Keyboards, Piano Trivia - Matthews Father was George Bellamy being a guitarist in the 1960's British rock outfit, The Tornado's. Their hit, "Telstar" was the first British single to make it to number in the US charts.
#Christopher Wostenholme - Bass, Backing Vocals (with a little guitar when requested very nicely)
#Dom "drum set smasher extraordinaire" Howard - Drums~ The Tracks ~
1. Take A Bow (4'35) 2. Starlight (3'59) 3. Supermassive Black Hole (3'32) 4. Map Of The Problematique (4'18) 5. A Soldier's Poem (2'12) 6. Invincible (5'20) 7. Assassin (3'31) 8. Exo Politics (4'47) 9. City of Delusion (4'48) 10. Hoodoo (3'43) 11. Knights of Cydonia (5'50)
~ Released in the UK: 03/07/2006 ~
~ Produced & Mixed by Rich Costey ~
~ The Ramblings ~
Often described as a small sleepy harbour town in South Devon, Teignmouth (pronounced 'Tinmouth') can hardly be held on high as a nest bed for groundbreaking progressive music with a political undertow of tsunami proportions, but somehow, where Muse is concerned, this is the case.
Although non of the trio that make up Muse can claim to be born and bred in Teignmouth, its influence, or more precisely, its lack of influence in relation to 'things to get into as a typical teenager' led to the formative years being characterised by, as Bellamy stated in a recent interview, "hanging around, smoking and listening to music as there wasn't anything else to do." It appears that out of the towns' laissez faire approach to its youth, musical creativity through being in a band, as a route to both psychological, and potentially, geographical escapism was born.
'Black Holes and Revelations' is the fifth album by Muse when counting the 2001 soundtrack album Hullabaloo, and according to many stalwart aficionado's of all that is loved about Muse, it's a big bag of mainstream pants. I, on the other hand, preferring music that pushes the boundaries whilst still holding a structure which allows me to whistle my favourite tracks with enough decibel effect to act as a muffler against Luther Vandross' Greatest Hits (with emphasis on dross), which is morbidly being repeated in my house by the better half, think it's one superb album.
As a newbie to Muse though, I could be wrong…but I seriously doubt it. It has been hailed by critics as on a par with Radioheads' 'OK Computer', Pink Floyds' 'Dark Side of The Moon' and Foster and Allen's 'Back Home Again'… not because of style (which the latter exudes in more ways than one), but musical gravity… i.e. A heavyweight contender.
Other critics of Muse have argued that this album is a mish-mash of studio offerings that hang badly together and only exist on one album to satisfy the musical taste of their faithful many, notably in France and Japan, and the "on the mainstream fringe" brigade. Bellamy sees the eclecticism however in a more positive light believing that the album marks a watershed in the bands rediscovery of their passion for music and inventiveness. Bellamy has also reaped revenge on his critics by singing "Jive Talkin'" with accordion accompaniment late at night outside their front doors whilst they tried to sleep. Gary Bushell was allegedly heard to scream "Damn that Bee-Gee-esque hard rockin' progressive rock falsetto pitch perfect adopted son of Teignmouth"…(or something to that effect with less syllables).
Black Holes and Revelations is not, as one reviewer recently claimed, lyrically 'tongue in cheek' nor is it over-rated as its recent nomination for a Mercury Music Award would allude to …what it is however is an often very dark, highly political, highly incensed, progressive rock guitar and retro 80's synthesizer offering of extreme magnitude all rolled into one. It made my ears weep!
The fact that it was recorded in 3 separate locations, being France, America and Italy doesn't detract from its fluidity but adds to the overall mix with clear notable homage to those nations on the geographically relevant tracks. This is most obvious on the last two songs with atmospheric guitar riffs that openly plagiarise the spaghetti western.
~ The Tracks ~
1. Take A Bow A track that has been reviled by may reviewers as being a weak intro to a great album and though their view is well off the mark it does impress me that these 'in the know' music critics cannot only talk out of it but are equally capable of penning their views directly from their own posterior whilst having their ears shoved full of loft insulation and thinking McFly are the new Beatles. "Take a bow" gives you just a taste of the musical roller coaster ride awaiting the listener whilst verbally enlightening the ear drums with a lyrically sublime affront to the political corruption that is dominant in the 'civilised world' with closing lyrics promising that the political elite will burn in hell for their sins. A track characterised by a swirling electro synth backing that exists somewhere between 'Yes' and retro 80's pop and culminates in a majestic and yet ominous "your doomed" guitar riff. Bellamy's chant relating to the powerfuls' comeuppance is perfectly held in place by the haunting harmonics of Wostenholme.
2. Starlight You get the feeling that this power ballad would fall flat on its rear and scream "please relegate me to a B-side by 80's glam rock band Europe"… however, after a number of listens I am finding the repeat button is a welcome reward. The chiming synth being juxtaposed to the grating reverb of Bellamy's 'Hugh Manson' custom guitar is totally entrancing…it's like Ultravox with balls. This is essentially a love ballad wherein the author realises that the value of one can easily out-weigh the many…and the chorus? I am going to have to remember to wind the window up in future when this song hits the speakers in my car… very embarrassing.
3. Supermassive Black Hole Do I need to go here? You must have been living in a Tibetan commune with your head submerged in a vat of Angel Delight if you haven't heard this one…an absolute blinder in every sense of the word which makes Robert Palmers 'Addicted to Love' appear like a walk in the park with sickeningly fluffy girly girls wearing pink gabardine dresses. I'm trying to work out what aspect is most raunchy in this track…the weighty drums....the reverberating undertow of bass... the droning reverberating riff of Bellamy's lead guitar or the writhing falsetto vocals of Bellamy himself? ..."who cares?" Suffice to say that if Bellamy offered me back to his place for a coffee after hearing this, the only thing I would be saying would be "where's my pink gabardine coat?"
4. Map Of the Problematique It is a little unnerving this one… I loved Depeche Mode and too all intent and purpose this is clear unadulterated plagiarism except for one thing…it's better than anything Depeche Mode managed to lay down. Bellamy's haunting drone overlaid with sublime crystal clear piano melody backed by an addictive synthesizer loop and held together tightly by a magnificent infectious drum beat makes you want to don black and look morbidly at your feet at regular intervals. Whereas "Supermassive Black Hole" speaks of absolute absorbed dependency, "Map of the Problematique" highlights the pain of loss… a connection? Being both recorded in New York and set back to back, I think this is more than just coincidence.
5. Soldiers Poem Lyrically beautiful and poignant, "How could you send us so far away when you know damn well that this is wrong? I will stay lay down my life for you and do you think you deserve your freedom? No I don't think you do. There's no justice in the world. There's no justice and there never was."
Remember Sinatra's "My Way"…a beautiful introduction through a very simple brush stroked snare and acoustic guitar…extremely infectious yet extremely cheesy… now remove the cheesiness, add the harmonics of Queen and throw in lyrics that make you think that you really have got it bloody good and your getting near to the effect this track has on you [Hold on got to wipe a tear away].
6. Invincible How melodramatic is this track? It makes me want to wave the George Cross in my underpants from the top of the Eiffel Tower. A completely melodramatic track with eerie synth high pitched backing, a military style drum roll, a U2 style guitar backing from 'The Joshua Tree' era…then… Van Halen guitar solo… Jeez… Why didn't they pick this for the England World Cup theme? Because they are as daft as a brush!
7. Assassin Bellamy often cites "Rage against the Machine" as an influence for the Muse style…mix that with the opening sequence for Knight Rider and your getting close… a track which basically condones the assassination of political leaders and the destruction of democracy…a fantastically frantic track with extreme upfront percussion and a melodic guitar riff that holds the listener within ear damaging proximity to the sub-woofer.
8. Exo-Politics Basically this track begs that the layperson get intellectually sorted and challenge the government due to the amount of spin it exudes and the prevarication it utilises to justify its actions. But for me it beggars one question being: Why is it when you put echo on the word "sky" or "skies" in a hard rock track with a head mashing chorus of unbelievable addictiveness does it sound so bloody good? (Answers on a postcard please) as Guns N' Roses pulled it off (metaphorically speaking) in "Sweet Child of Mine" and Muse do it here. A truly superb offering, potentially the best on the album; Heavy bass line, thumping drum, positively addictive chorus line.
9. City of Delusion Were talking flamenco guitars, Spanish horns, strings, samba style rhythms and ass kicking gutturally enforced lyrics from a band that doesn't know when to say in an extremely camp voice "Oh darling, that's so last year." This track takes the listener from a place of acoustic guitar driven precise beauty to a place of absolute mayhem and then back again. The Spanish horn typifies this offering and shows that Muse is more than just progressive rock and retro 80's synth. It pays respect to the traditional and then bastardises it to the point of unequivocal anarchy.
10. Hoodoo Ever heard of The James Taylor Quartet and The Money Spider Album? If not then listen to Hoodoo. Recorded in Italy you can't help but have visualisations of a tumbleweed infested landscape with linear eyed Lee Van Cleef and devilishly handsome Clint Eastwood casting aside their Poncho's to enable a duel of magnanimous proportions that will leave the victim lying in a pool of scarlet blood asking for a final smoke before being left for the vultures. I love this track but can't help but feel that Muse took some influence from Chris Isaak but then it sweeps off to a place that only Tchaikovsky can take credit for in his first piano concerto and all is once again well with the world…but only just.
11. Knights of Cydonia Once more and finally to the land of the spaghetti western being recorded in Italy. If you listen carefully I'm sure you can hear an 80 year old Morricone demanding more sauce on his pasta… it's the good, the bad and the ugly riding hell for leather to a point of lyrical no return condoning the overthrow of the foolish leaders who waste our time on war and destruction. Where "Take A Bow" enters majestically from humble beginnings with cap in hand asking us to realise the fact that our leaders are extremely self-centred, power mad freaks of nature, "Knights of Cydonia" screams at you in the face "and what are you going to do about it." For me, the first thing I wanted to do on hearing this track was phone 999 because I thought I was having a cardiac arrest. An intro sounding like the aliens have landed in their UFO's is quickly rode over by a darkly atmospheric guitar riff that makes you want to saddle up the nearest pedestrian and force them to rear up and whinny before whipping them into galloping action through the streets of your home town...something I haven't felt the need to do since that fateful night in 1986 when Sigue-Sigue Sputni released "Love Missile F1-11." A rollicking drum beat, chocolate spread smooth harmonies (of the Green and Blacks variety), screaming guitar solo's and a franticly abrupt musical conclusion leave you reaching for the brown paper bag gasping for breath.~ The Cover/Design~
Now please bear with me for the final push for it is worth a mention. Now, I'm no art critic but the cover design for this album is absolutely sublime. At first glance it shows four well rounded folically challenged men in bad suits sitting round a table in the middle of the desert…closer inspection though tells a very different story.
You realise that in the background sky sits the earth and the moon and therefore there seems to be reference to something being outside our reach and our control. The four men all wear bad suits with iconic representative significance; One has an eye design representing being watched (Big Brother); One is gold indicating greed; One is mirrored in design indicating vanity and finally one has religious emblems which is worn by a man also donning blinkers… an obvious relationship to the blinkered views and expectations of religion on its followers. On the table stand horses that are trapped and at the same time herded by the four men in suits… a representation of us in our present day society? If you have any alternative interpretation then please tell… [Update...ofcourse it's the four horsemen of the Apocolypse!]
This album overall deserves the lengthy review. It is challenging in every respect and should be bought if only just to swipe long term moaning Muse fans round their head whilst saying "get a grip…and move on…Muse have."
Oh…and if you get the chance try to get the American or Japanese import for in the case of the former it is coupled with a live DVD and in the case of the latter you get a bonus track. What did they do to deserve that?
Footnote: Euterpe was one of the nine canonical muses with a flair for music and and lyrical poetry - but you knew that......X
...very sweet. Supermassive Black Hole: This has to be classed as one of the best songs on the album, and is their most commercially successfully single to have been released at this point in time reaching number four in the UK charts. This song is very very well produced, with unusual but fantastic lyrics. Map Of The Problematique: This excellent song reached number 18 in the UK charts. It is a rather bleak but very accomplished song with an excellent ... ...Another of the songs from black holes released as a single is the song invincible. This is a beautiful and hopeful song. Matt Bellamy apparently believes this to be the heart of the album. Some could argue that it is relatively tame and dull for a muse song, but I disagree I find it to have lovely lyrics and an equally lovely melody. Assassin: This is a very energetic song, and has that distinctive muse feel. The guitar riff at the start is almost ...
adamp123 23.10.2009 (25.10.2009)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Black Holes and Revelations - Muse
Advantages: Soaring guitars and haunting vocals. An original album. Disadvantages: You will either love it or hate it.
Black Holes and Revelations, Muse's fourth full-length effort, can only be described as overindulgence to the extreme. With this record Muse have finally unshackled themselves, opened themselves up to a whole new set of influences and finally shaken their 'poor man's Radiohead' tag, which has seemingly clung to their legs like a horny jack russel. It is a testament to Muse's technical and creative ability when I say that no other band could have ... ...tallest heights, first single, Supermassive Black Hole. This song is like no other Muse have ever written and blends a funky, disco style riff with heavy, brazen drums that, put simply, could level a building. No matter how many times I hear this song the sleazy, almost dirty guitar riff never fails to send a shiver down my spine. There is something special about this song- it demands your attention like no other - for three minutes you are literally ...
kepler3001 04.09.2006
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Black Holes and Revelations - Muse
Advantages: An awesome piece of work. No music fan should be without. Disadvantages: Not long enough! Could be challenging to beat in terms of quality.
...second of want. Muse’s Black Holes and Revelations is their best album to date.
From the haunting “Take A Bow” to the western influenced prog-rock soundscape that is “Knights of Cydonia”, this album will blow your head off your body and kick it into orbit around the Sun.
Muse are:
Matt Bellamy – Vocals, Guitars, Pianos/Synths;
Chris Wolstenholme – Bass, backing vocals;
Dominic Howard – Drums, backing vocals.
THE TRACKS
1 – Take A Bow – Rapidly ... ...9/10
3 – Supermassive Black Hole – This was the first single to be released from the (then forthcoming) album. It’s is completely different from anything Muse have ever done before, yet it still works and sounds like a Muse track. Why? Brilliant instrumentation of Matt’s vocals. He himself says that he uses his voice as an instrument, not just as a word-deliverer. The bass is brilliant, and the guitar matches it. A breakdown section features a guitar ...
JezM 07.06.2007
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Black Holes and Revelations - Muse
Advantages: 11 Superb Songs- Taking Muse In A New, brilliant direction Disadvantages: Possibly Not Quite As Good As Absolution
...Of Symmetry (2001)
Absolution (2003)
Black Holes And Revelations (2006)
Black Holes And Revelations: Tracklisting
Take A Bow (4:35)
Starlight (3:59)
Supermassive Black Hole (3:29)
Map Of The Problamatique (4:18)
Soldiers Poem (2:03)
Invincible (5:00)
Assassin (3:31)
Exo Politics (3:53)
City Of Delusion (4:48)
Hoodoo (3:43)
Knights Of Cydonia (6:06)
Black Holes And Revelations: Info
UK Release Date 3rd July 2006 Album Length: 45:25
... ...vocal harmonies. Put Simply, in Black Holes And Revelations, there is more of everything. This sudden turnaround was credited to the hills of France, where the band first started to record. They persuaded the owner of a mill to open up the old recording studio there for them, and they got to work on their 4th studio album. The dynamic shift in the music was explained by Chris. “We just stopped caring about how we would play them live.” ...
briggsyrocks 02.08.2006
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Black Holes and Revelations - Muse
Advantages: No other band sounds like them in the world. How many others can say that? Disadvantages: Not as cohesive as their previous work.
...Radiohead themselves. Their fourth album, Black Holes and Revelations, rose to the top of the charts - albeit for a short lived stay - and ranks above the rest of their outings as the most mainstream friendly so far. Will the Devon trio finally obtain the crossover success that their undoubted talent seems to command? We will find out over the course of the coming months. But if Black Holes and Revelations is anything to go by, they stand a fighting ... ...every song. But how does Black Holes rank against their previous work?
It's certainly different. While i would stop short of branding it as endearing as their previous releases, there can be no doubting the significant steps that Muse have taken since they arrived on the scene in 1998. My first impressions were that in fine-tuning the songs with much greater precision in the studio, a certain ammount of energy had been lost in the process. Origin ...
tehfincheh 03.09.2006
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Black Holes and Revelations - Muse
Originality
Lyrics
Quality and consistency...
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Advantages: Wide range of styles; MotP; live, these songs are amazing; band's talent is immense Disadvantages: So many different styles, some may not appeal to you
BlackHoles & Revelations is the most recent album by Muse. Muse have been named Best Live Act by many awards institutions over the years, and earned that by putting on a spectacular live show, fusing the fantastic guitar riffs, drum beats and crunchy bass with new music technology. This effort made this album, BlackHoles & Revelations.
The album then:
- Take a Bow is a lash-out at world leaders for letting their countries fall into "ruin" and possibly destruction in the future; no names mentioned! Mainly synth-driven but with a fantastic dirty guitar section to add more grandeur. Sounds very Queen-like in places.
- Starlight is the typical love-song, set to a cosmic backdrop. A basic song really, with the usual mix of guitar riffs, essential synth-bass, a catchy drum beat and the trademark Muse synth arpeggios in the background ...
Advantages: Muse take their sound on further and more furious Disadvantages: 'Invincible'
. Homage indeed!
Artwork:
The artwork for 'BlackHoles and Revelations' is incredible. Credited to 'The Men of Mystery', it depicts four strange bald men seated around a wooden table on Mars. Tiny horses run on the tabletop, and each man is wearing a bizarre suit, one a pattern of eyes, one gold, one of religious symbols and one of reflective glass. The religious suited man wears blinkers.
I am lucky enough to have read in an interview the deeper meaning of the artwork as described to Muse in a treatment. Apparently the four men represent the four horsemen of the Apocalypse, who have outgrown their now tiny horses. Each wears a suit to represent the 'ailments' of mankind. I am guessing these could be money, religion, desire and vanity? Anyway, it is gorgeously done, i could analyse it for hours. The inside (cd tray) contains a depiction ...
Advantages: Good songs throughout. More commercial than previous albums perhaps. Disadvantages: Lyrics a little on the dark side.
Prior to this album I was never a fan of Muse. I thought they were very "arthouse" without much substance. This album however changed my attitude towards them, so much so that I am more or less certain to buy their next album when it is released in a couple of weeks time and may go back and listen to "Absolution" which was the previous album.
This album spawned 5 UK hits singles, 2 of which reached the top 10 and 2 others which reached the top 20, "Invincible", the other single even reached number 21 so was hardly a failure.
"Take A Bow" is a more than satisfactory opening track. People who are familiar with Muse's music will probably class this as a typical Muse track.
Although there is no title track, "Starlight" contains the title within the lyrics and is a very good song.
Next up is "Supermassive BlackHole" and I think ...
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