Showbiz - Muse

Advantages: Launchpad for the greatest band in the history of music
Disadvantages: A bit immature in places

...the 4th of October 1999, Showbiz by Muse, the debut album from one of the biggest bands on the British rock scene today, is quite simply something which every household should own. In the same sense that everyone should have a toilet and an oven, everyone should have this CD. It is a raw, fresh sound which reeks of the attitude Muse had in their younger days, petulant in some places and powerful in others, and is one of the bravest debut albums ever ...
...could produce a song like Showbiz on their debut album, knowing that this would be what people had to take their first impressions from. It is a soaring piece, with very few different lines, and just listening to Matt as he repeats lines you can imagine him staring you in the face and singing through gritted teeth as if he really is angry and hurt. This song has a darker sound to it than any other, and the way it builds from start to end is a credit ... Read review

Advantages: Every song is an emotionally charged masterpiece!
Disadvantages: Muse don't gain anywhere near the respect and popularity they deserve

.....which was going to be 'I'm young but I know that I'm aroused' (lyrics from track 9, 'Overdue')...... ....Looking through my past opinions earlier today I realised something that shocked me ever so slightly…..I hadn’t written an op. on Muse – probably my favourite band in the whole wide world at the moment! So I decided I would write this op. on their debut album ‘Showbiz’. Now I hope beyond hope that most of you reading this will actually ...
...band (I won’t be able to stress this enough!). Unfortunately though I doubt whether too many of you are familiar with them or their music although they have been bordering on major commercial, mainstream success for the past couple of years so hopefully you have done so. Many of you may know their most famous song, ‘Plug in Baby’ (taken from the second album “Origin of Symmetry” and nothing else I suspect. But anyway…… The highly talented Muse, ... Read review

Advantages: Debut supreme from the Devon neo-prog trio
Disadvantages: A tad patchy in places

Oh dear. Didn't realise there were so many reviews already. Never mind, i've reviewed the flawless 'Origin of Symmetry', so i'll review this too. Muse first came to my attention on the release of 'Muscle Museum', as MTV2 was my only real means of hearing this kind of new music. The song struck me dumb with it's innovation and well-channelled angst. The song stayed with me, but i put off buying the album until i had heard another single. Unfortunately, ...
...Baby', which, of course, appeared on 'Origin of Symmetry'. So i bought that masterpiece, but put off 'Showbiz', until i had truly got into Muse in a big way. I shouldn't have waited so long. Many college students especially were crazy about Muse on the release of 'Showbiz', and rightly so. Matt Bellamy was just 20 when he wrote it, and although not flawless, there is plenty to suggest Muse had what it took to produce a truly timeless album, which ... Read review

Advantages: Good debut album
Disadvantages: The Radiohead comparrison that followed on after it's release

...This is the debut album Showbiz released in 1999 onto an unsuspecting market and almost straight away the tag “The New Radiohead” was attached to the band. However Bellamy, Howard and Wolstenholme weren’t going to let that put them off. In fact they were going to become a band on a par with Radiohead, but at the same time sounding nothing like them. The music press always branding the next.... title around kept on with these comparisons, however ...
...that is the debut album Showbiz from Muse available from www.CD-wow.com for £8.99. Well worth the money if you ask me, although I am still to actually buy a proper copy, hence the fact it’s taken me four days to write this as my track listing is wrong on my CD. But you’ll be pleased to know I got it all sorted and it runs as above. ... Read review

Advantages: Will be a good time to play it - always
Disadvantages: Takes a few listens to really like it

...the instruments blending together. Showbiz is the title track of the album. It is almost tribal, as it starts off with just a repeating bass line reminiscent of beating drums. You can't help but move your body in time with this track, and feel the emotions in you growing as the track builds up and up. Unintended is another of the very slow songs on the CD, and fits in nicely here. You may have heard this if you watch Trigger Happy TV, as it is ...
...second longest on the CD, Showbiz being the longest. Starting slowly, and building up, this song moves through a variety of different styles, and highlights the band's ability to deal with any influence. It has been said that Muse are probably influenced by Radiohead, because of the high pitched vocals. The songs are also born out of pent up emotion as with Radiohead, and appear to be very dark in nature; so it is easy to see where critics are coming ... Read review