How to divide opinion - The new Muse album

[Papa Lazarou]

I know [MENTION=314]Arthur[/MENTION] hates them more than just about any other band, but well worth a listen.

http://wmuk-apache.co.uk/widgets/muse/the2ndlaw/index.php?loc=uk

At least a couple of stand-out tracks on there, even at first listen.

 

[TheBigUnit]

Muse have become, sadly over produced...

 

[Twizzle]

An OLD band now, still excellent and underexposed

[yt]vUMvjs0e6Ic[/yt]

 

[Greg Bobkin]

Don't you think there's been enough divided opinion on here in the past few days?

 

[Green Cross Code Man]

Muse have become, sadly over produced...

Some of their early production (Origin of symmetry for example) have awful production. Perhaps they don't want to repeat those mistakes?

However it's a fine line between producing an album well and making it too 'sanitized' and thus appear contrived.

 

[Arthur]

I know [MENTION=314]Arthur[/MENTION] hates them more than just about any other band, but well worth a listen.

http://wmuk-apache.co.uk/widgets/muse/the2ndlaw/index.php?loc=uk

At least a couple of stand-out tracks on there, even at first listen.

Just find everything they've done to date to be whiney drivel that sounds EXACTLY the same as the last track.

But the kids seem to like it and everyone I speak to tells me they are amazing live so I'll give it a go. Feedback to follow.....

 

[34064 Fighter Command]

Just find everything they've done to date to be whiney drivel that sounds EXACTLY the same as the last track.

But the kids seem to like it and everyone I speak to tells me they are amazing live so I'll give it a go. Feedback to follow.....

Unfortunately Muse remind me of bands like Marillion, Rush etc. Bands where the LENGTH of the song is more important than the QUALITY. In fact you could probably say that most Muse tracks tend to 'overstay' their welcome and could definitely do with a great deal of editing down to make them shorter, and catchier. In that sense they are very much like trying to 'dig' Wagner's Ring Cycle - eventually you begin to realise that the music is, for the most part 'reheated left overs', i.e. one good tune repeated and varied ad nauseum but there's actually no development or climax that makes the hairs stand up, no attempt to introduce new tunes part way through that can harmonise or counterpoint the original theme, no real 'finale' as such. In fact it all just sounds like a meandering mess, a bit too much of a 'jam' than a song.

 

[albion534]

I love muse

Seen them live at Wembley stadium and they were easily the best band I have seen live

Look forward to buying the new album

 

[Badger]

Just find everything they've done to date to be whiney drivel that sounds EXACTLY the same as the last track.

I have a similar opinion of them, occasionally I hear one of their tracks and think it's OK but 9 times out of 10 it's the same old whiney nonsense.

 

[Papa Lazarou]

Unfortunately Muse remind me of bands like Marillion, Rush etc. Bands where the LENGTH of the song is more important than the QUALITY. In fact you could probably say that most Muse tracks tend to 'overstay' their welcome and could definitely do with a great deal of editing down to make them shorter, and catchier. In that sense they are very much like trying to 'dig' Wagner's Ring Cycle - eventually you begin to realise that the music is, for the most part 'reheated left overs', i.e. one good tune repeated and varied ad nauseum but there's actually no development or climax that makes the hairs stand up, no attempt to introduce new tunes part way through that can harmonise or counterpoint the original theme, no real 'finale' as such. In fact it all just sounds like a meandering mess, a bit too much of a 'jam' than a song.

This .... is complete and utter bollocks.

 

[34064 Fighter Command]

This .... is complete and utter bollocks.

It's my opinion and that's fine by me if you don't like it. But I still think Muse don't really have too many ORIGINAL 'hooks' in their songs. Most of what they write sounds derivative of other bands. It's as if the one thing that they actually lack creatively, is, ironically, a Muse!

Go back to any obscure Prog Rock band of the late 60's to early 80's and you can find that it's all been done before. In fact listen to an album by Patrick Moraz, Rick Wakeman, Rod Argent, Manfred Mann, Caravan, Hawkwind, Curved Air, Procul Harem, Atomic Rooster, Barclay James Harvest etc etc , and you can find something that sounds almost exactly like what Muse are producing today.

 

[warsaw]

Have all their albums to date and seen them at the O2, amazing gig, but I fear they are past their best now, not impressed with what I've heard recently.

 

[Mellotron]

I have a love/hate relationship with Muse. Used to be pretty much obsessed with them in my youth, Origin of Symmetry and Absolution were albums that came just at the right time for me, absolutely loved them.

Remembered thinking after Absolution, where do they go from here? If they try to make it any MORE epic it'll just fall into parody and sounding a bit stupid.

They went more epic.

Still a brilliant live band though, comparing them to 80s prog is a bit off though, they have far more strings to their bow than just noodly prog bollocks.

 

[JBizzle]

It's my opinion and that's fine by me if you don't like it. But I still think Muse don't really have too many ORIGINAL 'hooks' in their songs. Most of what they write sounds derivative of other bands. It's as if the one thing that they actually lack creatively, is, ironically, a Muse!

Although I respect and understand your position, I never get the "derivative" argument. I would wager that almost 90-95% of modern music is derivative of other bands... I assume that you can't listen "Beatles-lite" Oasis either?

Personally, I am a fan of Muse and I struggle to think of many songs that don't sound as original as is realistic for a modern band.

 

[Simster]

Just find everything they've done to date to be whiney drivel that sounds EXACTLY the same as the last track.

But the kids seem to like it and everyone I speak to tells me they are amazing live so I'll give it a go. Feedback to follow.....

I have a similar opinion of them, occasionally I hear one of their tracks and think it's OK but 9 times out of 10 it's the same old whiney nonsense.

These. They're "alright" but massively overrated, and somehow seem to churn out even less variety than Status Quo used to.

 

[tinx]

Saw them in Brighton a few years ago after their second album and they were very good back then but sadly since then they haven't produced anything even remotely good.

Will give the new album a go but am not expecting much.

 

[Arthur]

Right then K-Man......As promised I have listened and you'll be surprised to hear my overall feedback isn't that positive!

Nothing original there, in fact the exact opposite. Every track sounds like they've ripped it off from someone. One decent track on there and that was track 11. The rest all very meh.

By track:

1 - Decent intro, whiney vocals, goes all Cher-like warble effect at the chorus! WTF?
2 - Intro sounds like a Black Eyed Peas track. Goes on to sound like an early Wham track.
3 - Scissor Sisters rip off
4/5 - Brilliant Intro up until the uh uh uh uh bit. Oh it's two tracks!?! WTF. This is the Olympics one isn't it? What a load of cock!
6 - Like 3 wouldn't sound out of place in a gay disco, did he just say Follow me, you can thrust inside of me?
7 - That sounds more like the Snuze I've known to despise. Boring and predictable, sounds like all of their "hits" to date.
8 - Intro could easily be a Katie Perry track. See above dull dull dull
9 - See 3 and 6. What's with the high pitched repeating of words and then the hushed ones towards the end?
10 - Intro sounds like the intro to born free! Not very exciting is it!
11 - Best track on the album by a country mile.
12 - Powerful intro. What is going on? Who is this bint talking? f*** me they've turned into a poor mans Pendulum. Oh there he is with his warble. WTF the bint is back! Gah!
13 - Don't get these last two, what's with the sampling of news reports? It's like Robert Miles meets Enter Shikari.

2/10

 

[Bozza]

Just find everything they've done to date to be whiney drivel that sounds EXACTLY the same as the last track.

Yes, yes.

And that identikit sound seems to be Ghost Train music.

 

[Green Cross Code Man]

Unfortunately Muse remind me of bands like Marillion, Rush etc. Bands where the LENGTH of the song is more important than the QUALITY. In fact you could probably say that most Muse tracks tend to 'overstay' their welcome and could definitely do with a great deal of editing down to make them shorter, and catchier. In that sense they are very much like trying to 'dig' Wagner's Ring Cycle - eventually you begin to realise that the music is, for the most part 'reheated left overs', i.e. one good tune repeated and varied ad nauseum but there's actually no development or climax that makes the hairs stand up, no attempt to introduce new tunes part way through that can harmonise or counterpoint the original theme, no real 'finale' as such. In fact it all just sounds like a meandering mess, a bit too much of a 'jam' than a song.

Fortunately Muse remind me of bands like Rush, Queen, Dream Theater, Pink Floyd etc. Are you the music industries arbiter of what amounts to 'quality'. I think not. You can keep your 'pop' music.

 

[Mellotron]

These. They're "alright" but massively overrated, and somehow seem to churn out even less variety than Status Quo used to.

Can't agree regarding variety. Them now compared to their first album is a completely different band. They used to sound a bit like a cross between Feeder and Lo-Fi early Radiohead. Now they sound like Queen mixed with a Hans Zimmer soundtrack.