Showbiz - Muse > Reviews > Overdue: Mighty Muse emerge from shadows

Author's product rating:   

Originality	Groundbreaking
Lyrics	Sublime
Quality and consistency of tracks	A couple of weak links
How does it compare to the artist's other releases	Outstanding
Value for Money

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

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

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, the next video that was regularly played was 'Plug in 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 of course they did on 'Origin of Symmetry'.

The one word that flows through this whole album is 'Angst', with a capital 'A'. Bellamy uses his tortured and high-pitched vocals to passionate effect, and as well as writing all music and lyrics, he plays guitar, piano, melotron, wurlitzer, hammond, strings, synth and nylon guitar, harmonium, alien samples (!), and CS1, whatever that may mean. Five hit singles were lifted from this, so it is a highly successful indie album, with a lot of experimental and progressive rock flourishes, foreshadowing what was to come.

1. 'Sunburn'
A foreboding twinkling piano melody opens the album and this classic Muse track. The piano runs through the mellow and melancholy verses, before we kick into the distorted indie guitar for the wailed chorus;
"She burns like the sun, and i can't look away,
And she'll burn our horizons - make no mistake!"
Listen out for the deliciously melancholic vocals on the second verse especially;
"Come let the truth be shared, no one ever dared,
To break these endless nights, secretly she cries"
Brimming with angst and tortured introspection, a powerful start, and one of five singles.

2. 'Muscle museum'
Instantly memorable throbbing bass guides us into a marvellous jingling guitar signature, and another classic Muse single, again overflowing with twisted and tortured vocal stylings. The video included a suburban neighbourhood with everyone crying. Fitting for the song, again mellow, bitter verses, then the distortion kicks in for the superb chorus;
"Can you see that i have needed -
Begging for so much more than you could ever give?
I don't want you to adore me, don't want you to ignore me when it pleases you!"
Also, this is possibly the only two-word song title to contain an anagram of the band's name in both words!

3. 'Fillip'
A bouncing bassline on a track that is funky and lighthearted, until the typically angsty and somewhat frantic chorus, and the dark and moody interlude, with Matt whispering over a piano signature. Soon, the bass and guitar chug us back in to another chorus, and the finale. Twists and turns aplenty.

4. 'Falling down'
Purely magnificent soul-baring song from Matt, that has an acoustic 'feel' to it, and a delightful melody, with achingly simple and yet brilliant lyrics, with soft but twisted vocals, until the lovely end, with Matt reaching the very top of the scale on the beautiful climax;
"Faaaalliiing down,
And now my world is upside down,
I'm heading straight for the cloooouds.."

5. 'Cave'
One of the strangest singles from Muse, with a supremely foreboding electric riff opening, and brilliantly 'marching' piano and bass guiding the verse vocals, before an epic, haunting and powerful chorus with utterly predictable lyrics that don't let it down, but make it a track that only Muse could have done. After the first two verses and choruses, you think we come to the middle-eight, but in fact it is a twisting set of piano and epic, soaring guitar signatures that close the track with some pomp.

6. 'Showbiz'
A 'marching' style drum beat guides in opening vocals with only rhythm to begin with, before Bellamy's guitar sound builds, and the lyrics are expanded. A very ambitious and bizarre track that turns corners without indication. Bellamy's vocals are stretched and highly original, and the majority of lyrics are pure Muse.

7. 'Unintended'
One of my favourites, this was a hit single, and one of the greatest, purest love songs ever written in my opinion. Bellamy refrains from angst, and concentrates on gorgeously aching vocals for the flawless verses, and superbly held high notes for the chorus;
"I'll be there as soon as i can,
But I'm busy mending broken pieces of the life i had before"
Bellamy weaves a spell around this entire masterpiece, his vocals filled with passionate desire and devotion set to a strikingly familiar string melody. Pure poetry.

8. 'Uno'
Muse's highly ironic debut single, we open with some strange warped noises and thunderous harmonics, before the tremendously recognisable riff, and the great bassline that has to be heard to be appreciated. The lyrics are just divine, and vocal structure is perfectly judged, before the wailed chorus. Note also the fantastic quiet 'cymbal rolls' on the mellow verses.

9. 'Sober'
My personal favourite, this is a passionate, angst-filled love song......about alcohol. Bellamy's lyrics are delicious throughout, especially the second verse;
"The Wild Turkey's been chosen,
It's caramel nose can smell me,
Arbourler Jameson - i love you,
The single malt comes burning"
Although the chorus is bizarre and unexplainable ("You're so solid!?"). This is very clever and well-delivered ode to alcoholism, with a brilliant throbbing guitar melody, and rumbling bassline. Brilliantly crashing climax, with Bellamy screaming; "It burns inside of me!!!" at the top of his lungs.

10. 'Escape'
"You would say anything, and you would try anything,
To escape your meaningless, and your insignificance"
A more mellow melody for a very meaningful track. Very wry and cleverly un-Muse lyrics abound too, some unusually awkward.
"I'll take back everything that i said,
I didn't realise i was talking to the living dead!" Strangely directionless in places, with no discernible chorus, but very good still.

11. 'Overdue'
More strange directions taken, but this is a storming track with absolutely bizarre bridge lyrics;
"I'm young but i know that i'm aroused!",
and a brilliantly twisted singalong chorus. This is a song about a lover heaping guilt onto her man for being away when she needed him. (From the man's point of view).

12. 'Hate this and I'll love you'
Cannot get my head aound this. Strange, ill-fitting melodies meet in a song seemingly about a bitter partner planning revenge. Confusing stuff, even by Muse's standards, it is a strange, winding track to end on.

So there you have it. My drop in the ocean of reviews for this album. Believe me, this is an incredible piece of work for a debut, and worth every penny you would pay at any decent record store or e-bay.
One thing worth noting is that Bellamy was influenced by the Smiths. In fact, Muse covered 'Please please let me get what i want' for a b-side. This contains all the angst and misery of the Smiths, but delivered more powerfully, and not set to such whimsical melodies.

And no matter how much you love Morrissey, Bellamy's voice outstrips his in every department. Literally every scale note is reached. Enjoy your misery!!!