Muse

Sinfonia

Used to listen to Muse a lot, but then didn't listen for ages, as I was off listening to other stuff...
So I happened to turn to them today and stuck on Absolution.
I must say wow.
Great album, Blackout is particularly gorgeous.

Sure I might as well add a 'favourite Muse album' poll...

Denalihighway

Absolution

unbelievable band. They've come a long way since the lazy Radiohead comparisons of 5 or 6 years ago. Incredible musicianship and stunning live

Origin of Symmetry for me still, highlights Bliss, Space Dementia and ..but of course...Plug In Baby.

Timmaay

Black Holes & Revelations

All good albums, OOS was the 1st album of theirs i had, listened to BHaR for a solid 3 months when it came out, however absolution is my fav, some people think this is their weakest album, but songs like sing for absolution, hysteria, stockholm syndrome and blackout are all amazing, theres no weak song on the album.

Xavi6

It's really an impossible choice. I've seen Muse live six times so far and never been disappointed.

I think Blackholes and Revelations is a stunning album after a number of listens and seeing the songs live have made me appreciate them more. Take A Bow is the best song to open a gig and likewise Knights of Cydonia is the best to close one. Last week in Perth was brilliant. Matt didn't even bother singing Time Is Running Out because the crowd did it for him.

For me each album has a bout 5 or 6 stunning songs. Agree about Blackout. It's just beautiful.

For me off each album -

Showbiz - Sunburn, Muscle Museum, Filip, Showbiz, Unintended, Falling Down
Origins - New Born, Bliss, Plug In Baby, Citizen Erased, Microcuts
Absolution - Time Is Running Out, Apocolypse Please, Stockholm Syndrome, Hysteria, Blackout, Butterflies & Hurricanes
BHAR - Take A Bow, Starlight, Map of the Problematique, Supermassive Blackhole, Knights of Cydonia, Invincible, Exo Politics.

Basically I can't choose one so I'll abstain!

JC 2K3

Absolution

Most of BHaR was utter shíte IMO.

Muse have some great tunes, but ultimately I find them to be possibly the most overrated band of the last few years.

Origin of Symmetry contains the most great songs I think.

Lands Leaving

Origin of Symmetry

Until BHAR i was a huge muse fan. but I really disliked that album. self indulgence taken too far. and they were always pretty self indulgent, it just worked till that album for me.

Sinfonia

Xavi6 wrote: »

For me off each album -

Showbiz - Sunburn, Muscle Museum, Filip, Showbiz, Unintended, Falling Down
Origins - New Born, Bliss, Plug In Baby, Citizen Erased, Microcuts
Absolution - Time Is Running Out, Apocolypse Please, Stockholm Syndrome, Hysteria, Blackout, Butterflies & Hurricanes
BHAR - Take A Bow, Starlight, Map of the Problematique, Supermassive Blackhole, Knights of Cydonia, Invincible, Exo Politics.

/me goes off to make best of Muse playlist...

Xavi6

JC 2K3 wrote: »

Most of BHaR was utter shíte IMO.

Muse have some great tunes, but ultimately I find them to be possibly the most overrated band of the last few years.

Origin of Symmetry contains the most great songs I think.

I really don't see how they are overrated. Even if you don't like the albums they are the best live act around, and no one has doubted that. I'd go see them live before giving a final judgement. The songs sound far better than they do on record.

Lands Leaving wrote: »

Until BHAR i was a huge muse fan. but I really disliked that album. self indulgence taken too far. and they were always pretty self indulgent, it just worked till that album for me.

How have they always been self indulgent? That comment has no backbone for me.

Xavi6

SumGuy wrote: »

/me goes off to make best of Muse playlist...

Don't forget Dead Star and In Your World. Not on any albums. Released as a double single in 2002 I think it was.

Bubs101

Absolution

Cant take my eyes off of you is essential aswell

jtsuited

Origin of Symmetry

have to say showbiz is still my favourite. uno still shakes me to the bone

kev_s88

Absolution

OoS by far for me.

the piano in these songs is just beyond epic.i know there is great piano on Absolution too but i had OoS first and it really captured the imagination.

i do have to admit that there is some good songs on BHaR.dunno why but i never really got into showbiz.never listened to it all that much

Ho-Hum

Absolution

Xavi6 wrote: »

I really don't see how they are overrated. Even if you don't like the albums they are the best live act around, and no one has doubted that. I'd go see them live before giving a final judgement. The songs sound far better than they do on record.

OoS is their best for me, after this they started to go downhill, they are a great live act but it doesn't save the pretty poor material on the later albums. They've gone for a much flashier kind of style that really has effected the quality of the band.


I'd have to agree with the comments made by the other peeps that Muse are self indulgent, its always been a bit stunt guitary "hey look what I can do" with them but thats just my opinion.

They're a good band but they are highly over rated.

Mushy

I just cant vote on that. Such a great band, love all the albums.

I originally had Absolution, but only listened to the singles, maybe the odd other song, but liked them all. Then BHaR hit the shelves, I was oddly excited about it, considering not being their biggest fan. Put on KoC, and well, two weeks later, I had all four (studio) albums on rotation. They just blew me away so very easily.

Like Xavi6, I'll pick my fav songs:

ShowBiz: Sunburn, Muscle Museum, Fillip, Showbiz, Unintended, Escape
Origins of Symmetry: New Born, Bliss, Hyper Music, Citizen Erased, Microcuts
Absolution: Stockholm Syndrome, Falling Away With You, Hysteria, Small Print
BlackHoles & Revelations: Take a Bow, Invincable, Exo-Politics, Knights of Cydonia

I did try narrow them down a bit, could have named a few others for OoS. I love the way they are so over the top, but it matches the music. Looking forward to new stuff/more live shows in the future.

Timmaay

Black Holes & Revelations

I forgot about Can't take my eyes off you, brilliant version that only muse could pull off. IMO, their only really bad song is supermassive black hole, It is rubbish, I was so disappointed 1st time i hear it, I thought the whole album would be the same, thankfully it wasn't. I've even deleted SBH from my mp3 player!!!

Lands Leaving

Origin of Symmetry

Xavi6 wrote: »

How have they always been self indulgent? That comment has no backbone for me.

The songs that were unnecessarily long, the pointless stopping for a piano break, and so on. I will admit that showbiz wasn't like that, but everything else was, and it got worse and led to the awful BHAR, knights of cydonia is a joke of a song.

Xavi6

Lands Leaving wrote: »

The songs that were unnecessarily long, the pointless stopping for a piano break, and so on. I will admit that showbiz wasn't like that, but everything else was, and it got worse and led to the awful BHAR, knights of cydonia is a joke of a song.

So you would like them if they did what 99% of other bands did and played simple verse/chorus/verse/chorus/solo/bridge/chorus songs with a set pattern for every song? Sorry but that'd bore the arse off me.

Muse show a bit of diversity on every album and of course certain songs are going to split opinion. They are unbelievably talented artists though and I'll say again, their live shows are unrivalled.

Paul Tergat

Black Holes & Revelations

Xavi6 wrote: »

So you would like them if they did what 99% of other bands did and played simple verse/chorus/verse/chorus/solo/bridge/chorus songs with a set pattern for every song? Sorry but that'd bore the arse off me.

Muse show a bit of diversity on every album and of course certain songs are going to split opinion. They are unbelievably talented artists though and I'll say again, their live shows are unrivalled.

hit the nail on the head with your post and that bit in general...can't wait to see em live again

Also, i voted for Absolution but was so tough to not go for Origins

Muse are ****ing class, as you said different to the norm.

JC 2K3

Absolution

Xavi6 wrote: »

I really don't see how they are overrated. Even if you don't like the albums they are the best live act around, and no one has doubted that. I'd go see them live before giving a final judgement. The songs sound far better than they do on record.

Best live act around? ha! I have seen them live and it was possibly the most underwhelming experience of my life. It was essentially a glorified lights show.

Kold

Black Holes & Revelations

They were one of my favourite bands until BHaR came out. Now I can barely listen to them. BHaR really just brought to the fore all that I might not have liked about them, nonsensical lyrics and I'm sorry if this is offensive but I think it's the best word for it.. BHaR is a bit gay. Just self indulgent and over the top. I love the darkness to OoS and Absolution but they just went in the wrong direction imo. Now I just regard them as pop. Matt's a pretty good musician though.

Thomas_S_Hunterson

Black Holes & Revelations

JC 2K3 wrote: »

Best live act around? ha! I have seen them live and it was possibly the most underwhelming experience of my life. It was essentially a glorified lights show.

Seconded

FunkyChicken

Black Holes & Revelations

I would have considered Muse one of the more under-rated bands to be honest. To the guy who said he hasn't listened to Showbiz, get your ass in gear. Next to Absolution thats their best album imo. All class albums. Black holes is probably my least fav altho Knights, Maps, Invincble and Take a Bow are amazing, I just didnt think the album as a whole was that great.

Saw them in Nov and it was so good. Glorified lights show my arse. Get yourself into the pit for Knights of Cydonia and come back to me.

Xavi6

JC 2K3 wrote: »

Best live act around? ha! I have seen them live and it was possibly the most underwhelming experience of my life. It was essentially a glorified lights show.

Ok so what sort of gig do you like? Simple black background, white lights and maybe a spotlight on the singer? Or would a spotlight be too exciting?

The thing about Muse is they put so much effort into their live shows. The actual performance is flawless. Not many bands sound better live than on record. Matt's voice is sensational and look at his guitar. To have the effects build in is innovative and a mark of his talent.

I really think you must have gone to that gig with a closed mind and negative attitude. Which begs the question, why were you there in the first place? I'm guessing maybe it was a festival.

FunkyChicken wrote: »

Saw them in Nov and it was so good. Glorified lights show my arse. Get yourself into the pit for Knights of Cydonia and come back to me.

Exactly. Muse on record is different to Muse live. I didn't like Knights of Cydonia on the record. Now I've seen it played live three times in the past year and it's brilliant. Same for Take A Bow. Thought it was boring on the album but coupled with the spectacular lights, stage props etc it's the perfect show opener.

I go and see Muse for the music AND the show and I'm never disappointed, even after an hour and a half delay two weeks ago (not their fault, security barrier broke). They are different to any other act out there and they aren't afraid to be which is why each album is different.

JC 2K3

Absolution

Kold wrote: »

They were one of my favourite bands until BHaR came out. Now I can barely listen to them. BHaR really just brought to the fore all that I might not have liked about them, nonsensical lyrics and I'm sorry if this is offensive but I think it's the best word for it.. BHaR is a bit gay. Just self indulgent and over the top. I love the darkness to OoS and Absolution but they just went in the wrong direction imo. Now I just regard them as pop. Matt's a pretty good musician though.

That pretty much sums up my sentiments.

Xavi6 wrote: »

The thing about Muse is they put so much effort into their live shows.

I disagree, hence my comment that it was a "glorified lights show". I didn't see much effort or energy like I was expecting, just a load of flashing lights and screens and a band playing a formulaic set with little crowd interaction or spontaneity. Yes, there were some enjoyable moments in the show, but ultimately I was underwhelmed and disappointed. And they didn't even play Citizen Erased.

It was a festival, yes, but I am a Muse fan(though not a BHaR fan) and I was looking forward to seeing a very good band put on a good show even if I wasn't fond of a lot of the songs they would play(given that they were supporting BHaR).

qwertplaywert

Black Holes & Revelations

From what I've heard, there like Nine Inch Nails live-completly different enitity to studio[and I agree about NIN, having seeing them do an awesome show earlier this year, fortunatly not seen Muse yet].

Have all the albums cept BHAR, will buy soon hopefully, if only just for the sublime Knights of Cyrondia .Absolution is their best album by a long shot- epic , progressive rock served up in a non post-modern way. Nearly every songs a killer!

JC 2K3

Absolution

From what I've heard, there like Nine Inch Nails live-completly different enitity to studio

Studio NIN is one person, whereas the live band is many musicians playing the studio songs their own way, which is why it's said that NIN are a totally different entity live. Muse, like any normal band, have the same lineup live and in studio. The comparison isn't really valid.

And anyway, Matt Bellamy is no Trent Reznor.

yevveh

Absolution

Xavi6 wrote: »

... and look at his guitar. To have the effects build in is innovative and a mark of his talent.

Sorry, but having a flashy guitar is absolutely no indication of talent - more an indication of wealth. Or willingness to cash out.

Still I'm a big Muse fan - moreso in the past than now, seen them 5 or 6 times as well but my favourites would be up until the end of the Hullabaloo period. The darkness of those albums does it for me, and I do agree about the self-indulgent comments, though I still like the material after that point, just nowhere near as much. It probably has a bit to do with the fact that being with Taste Media allowed them to be a bit more off-the-wall (OoS wasn't released in the US until last year [I think] 'cos the American label didn't like the sound of Matt's vox and wanted them to re-record it. No joke) and also the fact that they quit drugs after that period, as far as I'm aware. Plug In Baby was written while they were on mushies if I recall correctly. I'm not saying that made the song any better, but the songs pre-Absolution were just a lot more creative/passionate in my eyes.

I'd actually put Hullabaloo as my favourite album (both sides) as it's just perfect for me. The DVD is one of the best music DVDs I've ever seen. But as I said, everything up to that point is golden.

Denalihighway

Absolution

Lands Leaving wrote: »

The songs that were unnecessarily long, the pointless stopping for a piano break, and so on. I will admit that showbiz wasn't like that, but everything else was, and it got worse and led to the awful BHAR, knights of cydonia is a joke of a song.

only Muse cud have got away with it...it descends into fairly standard metal riffs etc but the intro is unmistakingly modern and idiosyncratic.

I wud agree from Origin of Symmetry onwards it gets more commercial though, there's not the consistency you'd expect on BHAR but still you have Supermassive Black Hole and Map de Problematique...which are cracking songs that have crossed to the mainstream, worming their way into unsuspecting music fans and expanding their idea of what 'pop' is etc etc...great when that happens

the live experience is blinding, Muse at the ******* (utopia) was the loudest OVERwhelming and awe-inspiring gig I have ever seen...and they didnt have a huge hightshow back then...and I didnt have an ounce of booze or chemcials in my system...which may be irrelevant but maybe not

JC 2K3

Absolution

Denalihighway wrote: »

the intro is unmistakingly modern and idiosyncratic.

Modern? Sure it's just a rip off of his dad's band's 1962 hit, Telstar

Larry-K

Black Holes & Revelations

Muse are pioneers of rock...


Been preachin' and convertin' since Showbiz... Couldn't understand why everyone wasn't into them... OOS and Absolution hit the nail on the head... Nearly every song a classic... That's when the advertising men got the taste... Then as a couple of songs were used backing sports highlights, awards ceremonies and the like ( perfect for the job; punchy, attention-demanding, craftily-chorded rock ) Muse started to seep into the mainstream...
And rightly so... These guys want people to appreciate the songs they're writing and playing so well...
What better to then but get together an album that would net them a share of the mass public, and yet please the people there from the start as well.

Well it's hard to please all of the people, all of the time...

Anyway, it's all over and done with now, quota reached. Plenty more ad-attractive tunes to woo the masses and build the royalties... But you've gotta appreciate Exo-Politics...


But now that they've netted a great deal more support it's time to return to the mind-frame of OOS and Absolution and take up where they left off...

Next album should be interesting...

TUNES: Plug-in Baby, Absolution, Hyper Music, Uno, Stockholm Syndrome, Unintended, New Born, Citizen Erased, Butterflies & Hurricanes, Space Dementia, Thoughts of a Dying Atheist, Exo-Politics, The Small Print, Blackout, Apocalypse Please, Megalomania...

booth

I've listened to Muse for a long time now, i wasn't a big fan of black holes and revelations.
I saw them play a storming show in the ******* supportin the Absolution album. Excellent songs and excellent musicianship.

I play in a band and we play Bliss, Hysteria, Time is Running Out... Quality stuff indeed.

JC 2K3

Absolution

Larry-K wrote: »

What better to then but get together an album that would net them a share of the mass public, and yet please the people there from the start as well.

I'm not pleased....

Larry-K wrote: »

But now that they've netted a great deal more support it's time to return to the mind-frame of OOS and Absolution and take up where they left off...

I sure hope so....

Xavi6

Well from what I've read/heard the next album will have a more electronic sound to it. And the plan for the next tour is to sail from country to country, docking at ports and playing off the back of a massive ship. Rumour has it anyway.

Denalihighway

Absolution

sounds like Matt Bellamy alright - probably an off the cuff interview remark though - he also said he wanted a show involving the band descending on the audience on a spaceship...and sure why not!

have yis ever seen that thing he does sometimes when he's playin guitar? He shuffles his feet and kind of 'floats' in a circle and comes back around, as a dance move pretty basic but it looks crazy when playing guitar (and usually 'tricky' guitar at that..)

Agree with Larry_K and JC - its time to get back to the adventurism of OOS (and touches on Absolution) , now that the world seems to be listening

Xavi6

Here's the story -

http://www.nme.com/news/muse/31724

Muse planning series of gigs on cruise ship

Matt Bellamy and co to mount Mediterranean coastal boat tour?
11.Oct.07 11:26am

Muse are planning a tour of the Mediterranean coast in 2008, including gigs on boats.

Drummer Dom Howard talked about his love of playing live and how next year they plan to do something totally different with the coastal tour.

"We've talked about a tour of the Mediterranean coast and doing gigs from a boat," he told the Daily Star's Playlist.

"We see ourselves rocking up to a port in a nice town, opening the back of the boat and doing the gig. Then closing it up and going off to the next town - touring by sea."

Howard went on to talk about how much he enjoyed playing Wembley Stadium earlier this year.

"I'm a stadiums man at heart, the summer shows were amazing," he said. "We always go for that big, over-the-top show because it's what we want to see when we go to see a band.

"We love playing live, it's an open arena to do whatever we like and to let our imaginations go wild."

JC 2K3

Absolution

Xavi6 wrote: »

Well from what I've read/heard the next album will have a more electronic sound to it.

I thought they were trying to move away from the Radiohead comparisons....

Though if they do it well, it sounds promising.

Lands Leaving

Origin of Symmetry

Muse are fantastic live, but I don't care about the lights, or any of the crap they do, its totally unnecessary, the simple fact that matt can sing and play flawlessly live is what makes the live shows.

Ho-Hum

Absolution

Manu Chao did the boat thing a good few years ago.

However, Europe loved them, as did South America. In 1992 they began a seemingly odd tour of Latin America, traveling by boat with actors and a circus, playing in port cities on both the Atlantic and Pacific sides,

http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/chao_manu/artist.jhtml#bio

Would still be quite fun to see though

Crumble Froo

Black Holes & Revelations

absolution is my first muse album, and still my favourite. from 'thoughts of a dying atheist', to 'butterflies and hurricanes', they have lyrically and musically held me captivated, and kept a firm place in my top ten bands, which is not an easy thing to do

live... they are unbelievable... one of the greatest bands i've ever seen... going to see them tomorrow night, actually... third time in the space of about a year i get to see them, and im as excited now as i was the first time

Thomas_S_Hunterson

Black Holes & Revelations

Lands Leaving wrote: »

Muse are fantastic live, but I don't care about the lights, or any of the crap they do, its totally unnecessary, the simple fact that matt can sing and play flawlessly live is what makes the live shows.

Yea but they just spew out exactly what's on the albums in their live shows.

To me, proper musicianship, from a performance point of view, is giving the audience something new and interesting each time.

aphex™

Sean_K wrote: »

Yea but they just spew out exactly what's on the albums in their live shows.

To me, proper musicianship, from a performance point of view, is giving the audience something new and interesting each time.

Umm, they add loads to the songs. The songs continue to grow as they play them live.

Xavi6

Sean_K wrote: »

Yea but they just spew out exactly what's on the albums in their live shows.

To me, proper musicianship, from a performance point of view, is giving the audience something new and interesting each time.

The words of someone who's never seen Muse live.

JC 2K3

Absolution

em, what do Muse actually add to their songs when they play them live? I never noticed much besides some predictible guitar wánking between songs when I saw them.....

Also, from videos of them that I've seen on youtube, they seem to have been a lot better live c. 2001-2004 than they are now, so why they're getting hailed as the "best live band around" now, when they're not even at their peak is beyond me.

Thomas_S_Hunterson

Black Holes & Revelations

Xavi6 wrote: »

The words of someone who's never seen Muse live.

You'd be wrong there, needless to say.

I'm hardly going to pass judgment on a bands live performance without actually having seen them live.

Xavi6

Sean_K wrote: »

You'd be wrong there, needless to say.

I'm hardly going to pass judgment on a bands live performance without actually having seen them live.

Ok so fair enough. So what do you expect form a band live? What band changes the songs completely from record to live performance?

All the people criticising Muse here have yet to state what they would actually like them to do.

Thomas_S_Hunterson

Black Holes & Revelations

Xavi6 wrote: »

Ok so fair enough. So what do you expect form a band live? What band changes the songs completely from record to live performance?

All the people criticising Muse here have yet to state what they would actually like them to do.

There's no formulaic route to a good live performance. It encompasses elements such as charisma, creative flair, improvisation, sense of humour etc etc.

When I go to a concert, I don't go ticking boxes to decide if it's good or not, at the end of the day it boils down to enjoyment. I didn't enjoy muse.

Xavi6

Sean_K wrote: »

There's no formulaic route to a good live performance. It encompasses elements such as charisma, creative flair, improvisation, sense of humour etc etc.

When I go to a concert, I don't go ticking boxes to decide if it's good or not, at the end of the day it boils down to enjoyment. I didn't enjoy muse.

That could just as easily be put down to your individual taste as opposed tot hem not being good live. They haven't won all those awards for no reason to be fair.

JC 2K3

Absolution

What part of "being good live" isn't down to individual taste?

Hypnotoad

Absolution

The first band I ever listened to(properly)and I still love them.7/8 years listening to them.

Their live shows are amazing but I have to say I prefer them in smaller places.Big shows just seem to be 'another gig' for them.

Origin is still my favourite album.I have to say I don't like BHaR as much as the others but there are some great songs on it.(I haven't actually listened to the cd,just a downloaded album though)

John

Absolution

Muse live is a mixed bag. I've seen them a few times, the first time was amazing (OOS just released) and the second time (just after Hullaballoo came out) put me off listening to them for years. It was such an unbelievably bad and disappointing performance that even now I can't listen to their first two albums (the only two I enjoyed) without the same feelings of disappointment.

I did see them again (possibly Absolution tour) and although I enjoyed it that time, the performance seemed to be devoid of any real feeling. Sean_K mentioned above about not going to a gig to tick boxes and I felt that they go on stage to tick the boxes (play widdly widdly guitar for ages - check, have loads of lights that don't really add to the show - check, ignore the crowd - check, make strange noises with guitar that aren't that good - check, etc). It was enjoyable purely as a filler between wanting to see other bands at a festival. I definitely would never, ever pay money to see them again.

Origin of Symmetry is their best but as I said above, I don't listen to them anymore.

guy5

unbelievable band!! got the chance to see them this year,,,it was unbelievable!!!