Muse

miralize · 29-05-2015 3:46pm

Officially their best song since BHaR era?

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/k6jvXAw5taoqXHbmrcs

aphex™ · 29-05-2015 3:55pm

Great vid, like the outro too

iMuse · 29-05-2015 5:46pm

Reapers is the best song by Muse in a while...need a few more of those on the album!

Mike Litoris · 29-05-2015 6:13pm

I need to give a good listen to on headphones but I think I like it better live. The production is a bit all over the place imo.

miralize · 29-05-2015 11:59pm

Yeah it sounds much better live. Costey strikes again!

Mike Litoris · 01-06-2015 8:42pm

The Handler has landed. Middle bit is epic but the rest is a bit flat imo.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lpDGX-6aI7w

Dunder Mifflin · 03-06-2015 12:59pm

Word has it the album has leaked.

miralize · 03-06-2015 1:17pm

It has. First half of the album is far superior to the second. Ignore the last track if you can! :P

Mike Litoris · 03-06-2015 1:46pm

miralize wrote: »

It has. First half of the album is far superior to the second. Ignore the last track if you can! :P

Jaysus.

I avoided the leak but now I'm in two minds about buying the album at all.

miralize · 03-06-2015 1:48pm

Mike Litoris wrote: »

Jaysus. I avoided the leak but now I'm in two minds about buying the album at all.

Aftermath, The Globalist, and to a degree Defector have quite good parts. Revolt is a grower shall we say. and for me Drones doesnt exist. Nope.

OhHiMark · 03-06-2015 2:11pm

I wouldn't say the first half is far superior at all. The last song is dodgy though.

miralize · 03-06-2015 2:14pm

I take that back. Its not superior, but there is marked difference in tone. I prefer the first half though.

purplecow1977 · 03-06-2015 6:39pm

**goes in search of the album**

hypermuse · 03-06-2015 6:54pm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BF1DQr5dKW8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kzbFxLNpguM

miralize · 04-06-2015 4:28pm

It's happened. I'm not proud of it, but Revolt has actually grown on me. Should be a fun one live.

hypermuse · 04-06-2015 5:38pm

I'm actually quite happy with the album.

After their last 2 albums I was worried where this album might go but it's got some rocking riffs in it!

I'm just glad it won't take too much "getting into" apart from the 2nd half, which'll grow on me I'm sure.

OhHiMark · 04-06-2015 8:54pm

I'm really loving this album. The best thing they've done in years, maybe since Absolution, and I really liked BHAR and the Resistance. The Handler is the standout for me. It wouldn't be out of place on Showbiz or OOS.

Wrongway1985 · 04-06-2015 9:18pm

Been listening to today good album the Handler I also think is the standout with Reapers not far behind. Will be getting more spins for sure.

They were featured on BBC radio yesterday http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b05wyds7 (Muse interview begins at around 01:08:00) talking about the new album, Download festival, future tour dates and more it's looking like they intend to do tours of Asia and South America don't reckon they'll be doing a tour in Europe till at least February 2016.

Oh well Roll on Download

Corholio · 05-06-2015 12:28am

The Handler shows they still have that spark in there to produce good music, however it's a drop in the ocean of mediocrity that is the rest of the album. It's not as downright awful as the last two albums but Muse now basically are an act for live shows and absolutely nothing else. It's not a bad thing of course, their shows are great, however it's a little sad to see a band empty of recording ideas and resorting to putting out this kinda stuff now.

miralize · 05-06-2015 12:40am

Aftermath's opening 90 seconds and The Globalists mid section are some of the best things Muse has done. Matt needs to spend qualitative time on the lyrics next time around though. They're too predictable, cheesy & they bring the album down in parts.

I agree, its aimed at being played in a live setting but older Muse songs worked well too. For me, Muse are best when the create atmospheric music, anthemic was always secondary but it still came through naturally when you get something like Citizen Erased or Stockholm Syndrome. It was always about how frenetic & emotional the music was.

In Drones, the lyrics & narrative drive this album a bit too much for me. The album had to have a positive ending so you had to have a rousing song like Revolt in it. And its fun, lighthearted, easy to access for a lot of people. But it's chorus is so out of place on this record. And the titular track is just weird.

I sound pessimistic but I really do like this album. Its definitely their best work since BHaR.

hypermuse · 05-06-2015 10:52am

miralize wrote: »

In Drones, the lyrics & narrative drive this album a bit too much for me.

Its definitely their best work since BHaR.

These two points are my sentiments exactly.

Couldn't have described it better regarding the lyrics/narrative. I'm thoroughly enjoying this album, definitely their best since the BHaR era. But Matt's lyrics have always been cheesy and strange, just a pity it's quite overpowering on the album.

miralize · 05-06-2015 11:13am

They weren't always this bad. When he's not being over literal, people are able to make up their own meanings for the songs.

Ah well...

The Reapers -> Handler -> JFK -> Defector sequence is the best on the album.

aphex™ · 06-06-2015 8:11am

Corholio wrote: »

however it's a little sad to see a band empty of recording ideas and resorting to putting out this kinda stuff now.

Haven't got the full album yet but I think the aim was to make a stripped down LA style rock album? The range of tone/technique in guitar and vocals puts them ahead of many other bands so I'm not sure the album is missing anything if that genre was their aim.

Personally I'm glad they're still a rock band and haven't disappeared up their own asses with this album.

Corholio · 07-06-2015 2:44am

aphex™ wrote: »

Haven't got the full album yet but I think the aim was to make a stripped down LA style rock album? The range of tone/technique in guitar and vocals puts them ahead of many other bands so I'm not sure the album is missing anything if that genre was their aim.

Personally I'm glad they're still a rock band and haven't disappeared up their own asses with this album.

In fairness, they are still making their way back down after the last two.

It's not a bad album really, but with recording ideas I meant songs that give you that Muse wow they used to have, which is quite a while ago now. If an LA style rock album was their aim, there's plenty other bands who have done it a lot better. I say this as a big Muse fan but unfortunately they stood still and then went backwards with recording music.

Mike Litoris · 08-06-2015 11:22am

OK listened to the lot of it.

Dead Inside: Hated it at first but now quite like it up to the solo which is excellent. After that it gets boring.

Psycho: I liked this right from the start. Catchy.

Mercy: Despite loving the Queen sounding side of Muse I cant stand this. Reminds me of Follow Me from the last album which is my least favourite Muse song.

Reapers: Excellent. Prefer it live. Studio production is all over the place imo. Edit: CD on headphones sounds way better.

The Handler: Didn't think it was great at first but love it now. The middle finger tappy guitar bit is epic. Probably my favourite track. Edit:2nd favourite

JFK/Defector: Love/Hate this. Absolutely love the ridiculous energy of this but the song just doesn't flow. The 2 quiet verses sound awful. Edit: The whole thing is brilliant from start to finish. My favourite track.

Revolt: Imo, this is truly awful. Sounds like that highly produced punk/boyband shít from the early noughties.

Aftermath: Nice Pink Floydy intro turns into some sort of generic Christian rock sounding mush. WTF.

The Globalist: Intro is slightly drawn out but verses sound great and the heavy part sounds excellent. Great until the final 3rd.

Drones: Despite being all

and WTF I don't find this as bad as Revolt and Aftermath.

I agree with the 2nd side being way weaker than the 1st. 4 really good songs, some good and some awful. The album as a whole is better than the last 2 but some of that old Muse epicness is missing.

ManOfMystery · 10-06-2015 11:22am

Haven't listed to the album yet but will do so later. Bit disappointed to read some of the thoughts on here though, but I guess everyone will form their own opinion on it.

I think a lot of bands struggle when they move from their roots (basic guitar-driven rock) into more complicated song structures, more instruments, more computer effects, synthesizers, even different styles of music - and then try and take a step back. It probably feels like dumbing down slightly. That's where the strength of their melodies and lyrics will shine through, and allow the songs to work even though they're more pared back than their recent output in the last few years, but as much as I love Muse I've always felt their moments of absolute genius are outweighed by the moments of mediocrity.

Still a fantastic live band though, one of the best I've seen.

Mike Litoris · 10-06-2015 5:40pm

^^^ Buy it! Its worth it for the Reapers/Handler/JFK/Defector sequence of tracks alone!
Just dont be tempted to listen to Aftermath unless you like Bryan Adams.

miralize · 10-06-2015 7:57pm

Mike Litoris wrote: »

^^^ Buy it! Its worth it for the Reapers/Handler/JFK/Defector sequence of tracks alone!
Just dont be tempted to listen to Aftermath unless you like Bryan Adams.

Listen to the first 1:30 of Aftermath but then start screaming loudly from then on to drown the rest of it out :P

Mike Litoris · 10-06-2015 11:12pm

miralize wrote: »

Listen to the first 1:30 of Aftermath but then start screaming loudly from then on to drown the rest of it out :P

Hehe. What do you reckon, their worse song ever? It's gotta be up there.

Actually, whats everyones least favourite Muse song.

miralize · 10-06-2015 11:42pm

The Small Print for me. Or Big Freeze. Or I Belong To You. Or Drones... every other song I like.

Oh and Neutron Star Collision. I had almost erased that from memory

ManOfMystery · 11-06-2015 11:01am

Having my first listen now as a I type this. Don't like Dead Inside, but Psycho is a great track, catchy and more old-style Muse than some of their recent stuff. Can't wait to learn that one on guitar.

OhHiMark · 11-06-2015 12:05pm

I don't understand the over the top hate everyone has for Aftermath. It's not the best song on the album but it's grand.

ManOfMystery · 11-06-2015 12:35pm

Dead Inside - Not bad, but sounds like something the bean counters thought would do as a very inoffensive Single, with the catchy title and less emphasis on guitar driven rock.

Psycho - Love this, great solid riff and definitely old school Muse in feel.

Mercy - poor, don't like it at all.

Reapers - great. Van Halen-esque riff at start is a nice touch. The song has an 80s glam rock type feel with the deep muffled riffing and high-pitched solos, though hugely modernised obviously.

The Handler - Like this a lot. The tune had a bit of a NIN feel at times.

JFK/Defector - Love this song, the slow but determined flow and almost stodgy rhythm of it married to the shrieking Queen-like harmonies. Bit of a head-banger at times. might be my fave.

Revolt - I agree with Mike Litoris about this one, it's very pop/boyband in feel. Seems a bit out of place.

Aftermath - Anyone else feel like they were listening to Dire Straits at the start of this song lol? There's definitely some Brothers in Arms vibes coming from Matt's guitar work. Still like it a lot, as a Muse slow song it works very well.

Globalist - They just can't stay away from those Western inspired intros, just like in Knights of Cydonia. Some twangy guitar, slide guitar, hushed drum roll, whistling. I was expecting to look out my window and see some tumbleweed blowing along. Song then goes a bit mad, then switches to piano and changes tempo totally. It feels like 3 disjointed songs (more so than a lot of their earlier efforts, which have very different sounding sections but still blend well) but still very listenable.

Drones - Interesting song, with the church choir type melodies totally at odds with the subject matter. Kept expecting it to get going but it never really took off.

Overall, the album is actually better than I expected. It's back to 'basics' for Muse, though basics in Muse terms is still over the top riffs, catchy hooks and all the other things we love about them. Oh, and the guitars really do sound brilliant throughout the album - production quality on a whole is excellent. A few weak points, but nonetheless polished throughout and the majority of the songs work well in my opinion.

bencfc69 · 16-06-2015 9:47pm

ManOfMystery wrote: »

Globalist - They just can't stay away from those Western inspired intros, just like in Knights of Cydonia. Some twangy guitar, slide guitar, hushed drum roll, whistling. I was expecting to look out my window and see some tumbleweed blowing along. Song then goes a bit mad, then switches to piano and changes tempo totally. It feels like 3 disjointed songs (more so than a lot of their earlier efforts, which have very different sounding sections but still blend well) but still very listenable.

I keep thinking the beginning of The Globalist sounds like it should be in Kill Bill or Django Unchained.

Caovyn Lineah · 21-06-2015 3:48pm

What happened Muse? Their last album was atrocious but this one is just unforgivable.

Devia · 21-06-2015 4:28pm

Been listening to the new album quite a bit since release. Some serious trash but overall improvment on The 2nd Law I think. Reapers and The Handler are the redeeming tracks for me.

Anyone else a bit disappointed with the lack of piano?

innuendo141 · 30-06-2015 10:24am

Devia wrote: »

Been listening to the new album quite a bit since release. Some serious trash but overall improvment on The 2nd Law I think. Reapers and The Handler are the redeeming tracks for me.

Anyone else a bit disappointed with the lack of piano?

I was, synths seem to be taking most of the duvet these days.

I hated this album at forst- even moreso than 2nd Law but it's actually grown on me ten fold. The only song I can say I really dislike is Revolt, but there's always one or two on each album that I dislike (apart from Origin).

I've just come to terms with the fact that, much like Queen, Muse will throw out some belters and some equally horrific numbers on an album. Thought that Dead Inside was a desperate choice for opening song but kinda ties nicely with leaving behind the sound of the 2nd Law.

Looking forward to their next gig and losing my mind during Reapers.

Anyone else hoping to CHRIST that when they start doing arenas/stadiums that they don't do a concept tour that ends with Chris and Dom mourning the death of Matt by a Drone while "Drones" plays over the sound system a la the Pieta by Michaelangelo?....

ManOfMystery · 30-06-2015 2:52pm

They didn't have much Piano on this one at all, true - just a bit at end of Globalist I think?

I've been listening to the album heavily for the last week or so and still haven't differed much from my original opinions posted above. Globalist has grown on me a lot, and Defector is still the best song on the album for me - but then I've been a closet Queen fan for years, so a bit of heavy guitar and falsetto always works wonders.

Mike Litoris · 30-06-2015 3:38pm

ManOfMystery wrote: »

but then I've been a closet Queen fan for years

Why in the closet. Come out man, its awesome!

ManOfMystery · 30-06-2015 9:52pm

lol, well not that much of a closet fan I guess, just not shouting it from the rooftops :P

The Wild Bunch · 01-07-2015 6:06am

The Globalist is even more pretentious and cringey than Exogenisis

I didn't think that was possible

zenarcadian · 14-07-2015 12:21pm

Muse have comprehensively shat themselves in the last two years, growing lazy and unmotivated, sticking to broad-stroke art and billboard statements. Disgusting how it all turned out in the end, a band that could have led the way for more progressive rock in the mainstream get a whiff of soundtrack royalties and throw in the towel.

The Wild Bunch · 14-07-2015 12:45pm

zenarcadian wrote: »

Muse have comprehensively shat themselves in the last two years, growing lazy and unmotivated, sticking to broad-stroke art and billboard statements. Disgusting how it all turned out in the end, a band that could have led the way for more progressive rock in the mainstream get a whiff of soundtrack royalties and throw in the towel.

That's a bit harsh

Psycho, Dead Inside, Reapers, The Handler, Defector and Aftermath is up there with the best tracks on their classic first 4 albums

zenarcadian · 14-07-2015 11:50pm

The Wild Bunch wrote: »

That's a bit harsh

Psycho, Dead Inside, Reapers, The Handler, Defector and Aftermath is up there with the best tracks on their classic first 4 albums

A shadow of the band they were.

Nom De Guerre · 15-07-2015 6:02am

Any word on an Irish date?

24 Hours From Tulsa · 09-08-2015 3:06pm

Still nothing on ireland?

bikeresearcher · 10-09-2015 5:42pm

I love Muse too, Matthew is my religion

aphex™ · 10-09-2015 5:46pm

Looks like tour announcement tomorrow morning. They're playing live on BBC LiveLounge and have a 'special announcement'.

innuendo141 · 11-09-2015 10:02am

5th April, 3 Arena. Sound.

Mike Litoris · 16-09-2015 10:39pm

Defector debut tonight.....

https://www.periscope.tv/w/aMm1zTU1MjMxN3wxak1KZ05CT0F6a0dMGbM0gh5TOGaYnCdTUxQkP6IzkXz_87JtahOJKAbWoew=

Muse

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