I'm Ben, a student from the London area currently studying Journalism at Kingston University. I love...
I'm Ben, a student from the London area currently studying Journalism at Kingston University. I love to write and will do about anything, primarily entertainment. I think I'm a level headed when reviewing but also enthusiastic and open minded.
Member since:09.09.2009
Reviews:3
It’s been a long time coming. 3 years since Black Holes and Revelations Muse have returned with The Resistance and with a weight of expectation that would crush lesser bands the Devon dwelling trio have found new strength, a new sound and new ways to rock your socks.
From the outset with first single Uprising, the tone is set. The lyrics are heaving with paranoia and the crowd-pleasing, pounding beats set us up for a wild ride. Resistance tugs the heartstrings with Matt Bellamy declaring “Love is our Resistance” to the frantic drums of Dom Howard. As if it wasn’t clear enough from the opening track, Muse are back.
Undisclosed Desires is the first sign of experimentation. The band sounds comfortable in the clearly unfamiliar territory of a song described cheekily as the “anti muse song”. It’s not as good as the previous two songs and is certainly a grower; in fact it grows within its own 4 minute length to become a solid album track.
United States of Eurasia was controversial and that must be why it was the first track to be shown off. The Queen influence is clear and can’t be hidden but as the influence becomes clearer the song gets worse. The shouts of “Eurasia” that close the track never quite settle well with the rest of the song and on a whole, while enjoyable, it’s rather disjointed.
Guiding Light spends the first minute or so awkwardly searching for a way to kill time before the amazing solo as Bellamy declares “you are my guiding light”. Perhaps that was harsh, it’s still a good song but one of the few weak links. Unnatural Selection is a beast of a song coming in at nearly 7 minutes long, it chops and changes but stays decidedly Muse throughout while also fitting Matt’s love of classic music in nicely. It’s a grower.
MK Ultra is a full on attack on the eardrums with everything the album tries to be contained within one wonderful track. It’s heavier than most the album but a delightful change of pace arrives next with I Belong to You. It’s a cheerier song with lots of similarities to Sing for Absolution and Feeling Good. Half way through it changes dramatically into the kind of overblown, over-the-top Matt Bellamy-fest us fans love so dearly. Singing in French the second half of the song sounds like it should be coming from a musical in the west end. There’s a wonderful fun feeling to this track which sets up nicely for what’s next.
Exogenesis is Bellamy’s own, his baby. It’s what he’s wanted to make since he first entered the business and only now does he have the power to make it reality. It encompasses everything Muse are about with influences from their entire back catalogue. Epic doesn’t even begin to describe it.
Listening to it I said to my brother that this sounds like an ending. It is the ending to the album but I meant much more. It’s been built up so much that this sounds like the culmination of an entire career and where can they go from that?
The Resistance is special. Eurasia and Uprising worried me slightly. The 30 second previews only eased that and I thought we’d be handed the musical equipment of Mutton dressed as Lamb. The word masterpiece has been flung around and while I wouldn’t go that far for the album as a whole but Exogenesis is something truly special and worthy of any accolades.
I am a huge Muse fan so some out there wont be surprised to hear my praise for the album; more or less everyone I know knows my love of Muse so whatever I’ve written here could easily be dismissed as blind fan love. However I’m their fan for a reason. And this is it.
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
Advantages: New and ground-breaking music from the ever diverse British band Muse. Disadvantages: Some are put off by the band's fluidity in trying new things. This album is a new thing.
Advantages: Much different to Black Holes and Revelations, MK ULTRA and Resistance are personal favourites. Disadvantages: A few weak links on the album
Advantages: Not to varied as they have done before and great variety! Disadvantages: the non classical listeners may not appreciate some of the tracks?
Advantages: New and ground-breaking music from the ever diverse British band Muse. Disadvantages: Some are put off by the band's fluidity in trying new things. This album is a new thing.
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Sep 9th, 2009
very helpful by (83%):
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