So its been long awaited, much rumored and speculated- but the new Muse album is here. Its an odd listen, as a old (but not that old) muse fan it’s nice to hear some of the signature Muse elements to it, and on the whole it does ‘feel’ like a Muse album.
Where most bands who have been going as long as Muse, try and keep the ‘intimacy’ feel they had in early albums before they filled 20,000 people venues; Muse does the opposite and actually works with this aloft and distant feel within their music.
Where most bands who have been going as long as Muse, try and keep the ‘intimacy’ feel they had in early albums before they filled 20,000 people venues; Muse does the opposite and actually works with this aloft and distant feel within their music.
We kick off with a typical Muse iconic rift that I from now on shall call the ‘Bellamy-Factor’ that does feel like Muse, adding his storytelling lyrics and some big band sound we build into the chorus and to the very familiar Muse vocals but with this ‘big band twist’- this track could easily be a theme to a Bond film, and its something you can see being played in some of the biggest arenas in the World.
On to Madness, in my opinion one of the best muse tracks in a good few albums (since Absolution in 2003) and most definitely the iconic track of the disk. I had a good few listens to this in a row and it really gave me hope for the rest of the album. With a really good mix of traditional Muse Bellamy-Factor some new electronic sounding parts to the track and once again that BIG stadium feel that gives you goosebumps.
The 70’s feel combined with the Red Hot Chili Peppers throw back gives the next track an interesting feel and sound. With its passive aggressive vocals and instrument mix. I can’t make up my mind about it, its good but its not quite…. I don’t even know but it just isn’t doing it for me yet, give it a few more listens and Panic Stations might have grown on me.
(Now enjoy 58 seconds of classical music)
Now unless you lived under a rock for the Summer you will have known the Olympics came to the UK and the song ‘Survival’ was one of the tracks used by the Ceremonies, so I am not going to say anything about it. Everyone knows about it, read about it… unless you lived under that rock.
Follow Me has what I find a really annoying intro with Baby Bellamy’s Heartbeat providing the beat (no reason I just don’t like it). This is also the first track that dips its toe into the scary uncharted world known as dubstep. This was something everyone raised an eyebrow at when the band announced their new ‘sound’ before the album launch. I will be the first to admit I was surprised by the track and I rather enjoyed it. Its far more like organic dubstep then the awful sound of two 1990’s modems having sex they we are normally treated to under the umbrella of dubstep.
The next 3 songs pass in a blur with very little making them jump out at me (other than the ending toAnimals which sounds like some sort of riot) With a much more 2003 Muse sound to the tracks these could have been left over from the Absolution album. They are not unenjoyable with the supposed song to his new son being Explorers, and a very U2 inspired track with Big Freeze they maintain the Stadium feel and have the tail tail signs of Muse.
Save Me is the first ever Muse song to be sung by the Bass player Chris (this is the point where I felt reminded that its a Band not a solo artist called Matt) His voice is nice but the song is a little disappointing and lacks the musical and instrumental stuff you expect from Muse- to the point where it sounds nothing like them.
The two part ending connect to each other and are in my opinion no way related to the rest of the album, with part one (Unsustainable) being made of news clips and Dubstep as featured on the album teaser that we have all heard. Apparently the Dubstep was made with non electronic instruments- which in itself is impressive. Part two (Isolated System) is made the same way with fantasy news clips and once again the ‘handmade dubstep’
The Whole album has a very disjointed feel and doesn’t flow well as a single play, with the many different styles of music all in one album its makes for an uncomfortable listen. But this doesn’t stop the great tracks that are in there, that throw back to the original Muse, with the added electronic flare thrown in for extra depth does give the music an extra layer. You can hear the changes the Band (Matt) have been through since the last album and it does make a difference to the music. But you could easily cut the album off at Follow Me and leave it there as a good Muse album that sits somewhere between Absolution and Black Holes and Revelations. The last tracks are what let it down in my eyes.
Noteworthy Tracks – Madness, Supremacy, Follow Me
Track to Avoid- Unsustainable, Isolated System, Explorers, Prelude
Sum it up in 1 line! – Its a Muse album, with the edges of electro stroked and the traditional Muse sound very much at the forefront of the album. The good tracks are great! the others are all a little forgettable.
3.5 / 5
