New Muse album...
 

Since somebody was already talking about the new Tool album, I figured I'd do something similar for Muse.

So...the new album is supposed to be released around May 15th, 2006 (amazon.co.uk has it for pre-order already). The title is rumored to be "Equilibrium," but it's not confirmed as of yet. It's one of the few discs that I'll actually buy this year, so I'm pretty hyped about it. Anybody else looking forward to it?

The main thing I'm gunning for is a concert tour in the US that'll come around Austin, TX....they did last year, but that doesn't mean anything :(.

I can say that I am incredibly excited for their new album. Though they took an interesting change of direction between OOS and Absolution, it was precisely that - interesting. I like a band that can have a style, but make each album sound different. I haven't heard any leaked/released material off of this one yet, so I'm sitting on my hands for any new news.

I also hope they tour the US. Boston, MA or Portland, ME show, and I'm there.

I just bought Origin of Symmetry about a month ago. Ive always been a Muse fan, but just now decided to buy a CD. I was really immpressed with what I heard, and I will proably pick this CD up ASAP when its released.

They remind me of a rock and roll radiohead, but theyre lead singer can do alot more with his voice then Thom Yorke can.

I just love how much piano and classical influence they put into their music, and the things they do with distorting lyrics and such. Absolution was the first album I bought, and then I went backwards from there buying their other releases.

Matt Bellamy is a god among men -- albeit a very skinny god :). I really adore Matt's stage presence and the way he does *everything* with such flair -- that's why I'm dying to see them live in concert. Video is not enough!

I hope it's an improvement on Absolution. Don't get me wrong, Absolution was a good album, just their weakest. Although, if you've been reading the band announcement on the official site then it appears they've got a good batch of magic mushrooms this time around, so hopefully we'll be having some OOS excellence.

I bought Absolution a few months ago and enjoyed it thoroughly, so it's definitely nice to hear them going for another run. Some things I hope they improve are the lyrics and the pop-py nature of some of their songs. But even if it's a rehash of Absolution, it'll still be worth the buy.

I'm probably the only person on the planet who thinks their first album was their best.

I loved Origin of Symmetry when it came out, but the more I listened to it the more it began to annoy me. They just seemed to go ludicrously OTT for the sake of being ludicrously OTT and eventually the whole thing started to sound one-note. I don't think I've played it in years.

Absolution (what I heard of it) seemed to be an improvement, but still stuck in the same rut, at times. Showbiz, for me, has stood the test of time. It has more substance than the other two - not being over-reliant on Bellamy breaking his voicebox every few minutes certainly helps.

Regardless, Muse are still one of the better bands around, so thanks for the heads up - I had no idea there was a new album out this year.

I got into the Muse about 2 months ago and bought Origin of Symmetry and Absolution and I completely loved both albums.

I don't know what it is about the Muse I like, but their songs sound so original and very damn good to me. I love most of the piano intro's or hell any song that pretty much features the paino in their songs (Which is almost all of them)

Muse are quickly becoming a favorite band of mine and I can't wait for their newly released album. I hope it's as good as the other two cd's.

I do definately think Showbiz is underrated. It has some awesome tracks on it (Cave, Showbiz, Muscle Museum, Uno and Sunburn being the best tracks). OOS has the same ammount good songs (Plug in Baby, New Born, Bliss, Dark Shines and Feeling Good), but there just so much better than Showbiz's best. The tracks from OOS also make the best gig pieces.

So, there's a new Muse album coming out soon? My interest in the band kind of waned after Absolution. It's not a particulary bad album by any means, I just find Showbiz and OOS better. Of course, in hindsight it probably wasn't a good idea to listen to the album for the first time on a long trip in a car with really bad speakers turned up way too loud. I just never found time to listen to the album much after that...

Anyway, seeing as they're capable of great things like Citizen Erased and Sunburn I'll probably give their new album a listen.

Muse have so many songs that are simply mind-blowing. "Stockholm Syndrome", though a little self-indulgent, is one of the reasons I checked the album out, alongside the amazing groove that is "Hysteria". "The Small Print" is an excellently-paced, high energy rockout, and songs like "Bliss", "Newborn", and "Space Dementia" are simply brimming with awesome.

"Citizen Erased" is a fantastic song, and probably the best in their arsenal. Discuss.

I'm not a great fan of Citizen Erased. It's awesome live, but the studio version is just "ehhh?" In all honesty, I love 'Sing for Absolution', 'New Born', 'Bliss' and 'Plug in Baby' the best. They're awesome live as well.
Oh, and Muse will most likely be playing at Reading Festival this year. Guess where I'll be going August Bank Holiday...

Yeah, I've heard that "Citizen Erased" is amazing live. I've only seen two live videos, and that was a Fuse special: "Live at the Wiltern". I got to see them close the concert with "Butterflies and Hurricanes", in which Bellamy totally owned the piano bridge, and "Stockhold Syndrome" in which he both literally and figuratively destroyed. At the end of the song, he basically just sat on the last chord, picking and strumming wildly, jumping onto the bass drum. He began to hit one of the cymbals in time with the music, with his guitar, then divebombed the kit - while the drummer was still playing. Stuff went everywhere. He and the drummer left, then the bassist came over and knocked over what remained up with his bass.

So, in short, I NEED TO SEE THEM LIVE.

Put it this way, get the Hullaballo DVD. Soooooooo good. Absolution's good (it's where I learnt to love 'Blackout'), but there's not as much, shall we say, destruction...

Yeah, Absolution has less "destruction" in it, save for great songs like "Apocalypse Please" and "Stockholm Syndrome"... I love playing both of those on the piano. I actually self-arranged "SS" for the piano, and the solo is a lot of fun to play on the piano for some reason. I personally like the contrast Absolution had between tracks like those two, and songs like "Sing for Absolution" and "Blackout", both of which are lovely songs, as well as "Falling Away With You", which is simply amazing.

I don't like 'Falling Away With You'. I think it's their weakest melodic song (save for 'Unintended'). And by destruction, I meant actual destruction like trashing of stage, not metaphorical destruction.

Looking forward to the new album. I was introduced to Muse with Origin of Symmetry and soon became a major fan of all their works. It'll be interesting to see which approach they take. I think they require some expansion of their style, as they verge upon samey at times, however, particularly with their softer works.

Personally, I found Absolution to be their weakest work to date. I actually consider the second side to Hullabaloo to actually be of better quality. Though there were some great highlights, the second half (apart from "Thoughts of a Dying Atheist" and "Butterflies and Hurricane") was quite dull. Still think Origin of Symmetry and Showbiz is near-enough perfect, though.

Oh, also I must disagree with the Thom Yorke vs. Matthew Bellamy comparison. Thom's voice is much more beautiful and rich, in my opinion, though Bellamy's fits his music perfectly and his falsetto is incredible.

I agree Absolution wasn't their best work but its still still miles ahead of the crap we mostly have to hear through the media. Looking forward to their next album though, can't wait.

I get fed up of the Radiohead/Muse comparisons. They sound nothing alike (at least not if we're talking about OK Computer/Pablo Honey Radiohead. Not listened to any other albums).

Muse sound nothing like Radiohead's other albums either. I think the comparison is mostly focused on The Bends, but even that's going out on a limb. I've always found the comparison quite bizarre.

I have to agree. it was a great album, but as far as the others go, this one sounded a little more geared for a mainstream audience. not necessarily a bad thing, I mean some of my favourite muse songs are off Absolution, but I think Origin of Symmetry wins it for being a better overall album.


sian is my main source of muse information, and she's sent me a couple live recordings of their new songs; Debase Masons Grog, Timescale Keeper, and DES. I'm not 100% sure that they'll be on the new album, but I wouldn't be surprised if they are. Debase Masons Grog and Timescale Keeper are pretty :rock:ing

I can't wait for the new album. they've got such a wide range of song types and instruments they use in them, so I never get bored of listening to them. always curious to see what they'll do next <3

It feels like forever since Absolution was out... (and if they released something after that then I must of missed it). So I've been wondering what happened with them and if there was going to be another release.... Good news, thanks.
I think I may of first heard them on a compilation 2 CD release called The Album with different artists, including Muse - Plug In Baby. I like all their albums, each has some nice tracks. Personally I like most of their stuff, but of course some seem to drag. But on the whole they're rather interesting.

Absolution was vastly different as it was the album that was gonna try and break America, so had to be more radio friendly. They spent all of 2005 touring (they did Live 8 as well). The new album apparently will be finished soonish.

It's been almost three years since they released a studio album. They were still touring until May of last year (when I missed them by two months >_<), so this is a treat. Really, since I was busy discovering their previous albums I didn't notice that it had been so many years since new material was released.

Absolution has it's slow spots, yes...but I still think it's a wonderful album -- even if I didn't think so at first. Initially I bought it just because I was obsessed with the song "Thoughts of a Dying Atheist." It took a few listens for the stuff to grow on me.

One of the more interesting covers I've heard is their version of "House of the Rising Sun" by the Animals. Muse really puts their own spin on it.

I am a brand new muse fan!! The only album I have is Absolution, but man... that piano solo on track 10... and track 5, 6... EXCELLENT stuff.

I even like Matt's solo piano diddy called "Piano Thing." I feel bad, but it really is the Matt Bellamy show most of the time :(. But for a trio, they sure put out a hell of a sound, even live.

It's about time they released something new. I haven't listened to Muse in so long now, it's ridiculous. I hope this album will be a little rockier than Absolution, although it did have it's moments (Hysteria and Stockholm Syndrome were my absolute favourites) If it was mosre along the lines of Origin Of Symmetry i'd be happy. Can't wait to hear it

It's not the Matt Bellamy show when "Hysteria" starts up. The bassist gets the groove on that one. Though, Matt is the one out front all the time. However, in contrast, each band member does their job, and does it damn well. It wouldn't be the same Muse without Chris' quick bass attack, or Dom's adaptive drumming. And yes, for a trio, they really do put out quite a lot.

Does anyone know the name of the song in which he says the line "I have slept in every toilet, but you still want to spoil it," I know its vague, but I remember this being the first muse song I heard, and would like to know its name.

I myself haven't been listening to Muse lately. But I still like them tons.

I might be the only one here who likes Absolution. The way I judge an album is not by the excellent songs it delivers (as in one of their album has about half of their songs being enjoyable and the other half skippable), but by the album as a whole, because one song doesn't represent an album (otherwise a ton of albums would be labled good). I find almost every song on Absolution great to listen to. Like on Origin of Symmetry, sure, it's a good album, but I only like a few notables (ex: Bliss, Hypermusic, Plug in Baby, Citizen Erased, etc). Or Showbiz, some good songs are Sunburn (nice piano!), and then some, can't think of any now.

But Absolution is great as an album in its entirety. It definitely shows their growth as a band. The guitar(s) in Hysteria are so awesome. I actually enjoy their "ballades" of Falling Away with You and Endlessly. The lyrics are pretty cool. And let's not forget their pop hit Time is Running Out, which is also catchy.

That would be "Muscle Museum" from the disc Showbiz. I love that song...well...I love a lot of their songs. At the moment I've been obsessed with "Megalomania" (love the organ stuff on that) and "Bliss." I do prefer when they actually get the guitars heavy and do some real rocking, but their slow atmospheric stuff is great, too. And does anyone think that Matt has some sort of megalomaniacal streak? Several of his songs have to do with controlling the world. It amuses me greatly.

Not to mention their music vids are usually very interesting. I love watching Matt writhe around and make faces while he sings and plays -- although sometimes I wish he'd wear non-skintight clothing. It reminds me how skinny he is...something find both attractive and rather frightening :confused:.

No, you're not the only one. I lovelovelove Absolution, as it's really the only album of theirs that I like to listen to the whole thing in one fell swoop (although I do like certain songs more than others). It just flows together so well...it's concieved as an entire piece more than the others.

Their B-Sides are rather excellent. 'Fury', 'House on the Rising Sun' and 'Hyper Chondriac Music' are superb.
And while I do like Absolution and I think it's a great album, I think it's just a poor Muse album.

Awesome, its any amazing song. I think ill try to find the album at borders this evening.

Muse is amazing and I have a feeling the new album will be phenomenal.
My favorites are
Butterfiles and Hurricanes
Hysteria
Stockholm Syndrome
New Born
Sun Burn
Map of Your Head
Endlessly
Thoughts of a Dying Atheist
and sooo many more lol.

I think the comparison is mostly because Matt Bellamy tried a bit too much to be like Thom Yorke (when Muse were just starting)

Muse did get a lot of critism in the early days about being too Radiohead, but during the "Showbiz" era for Muse I think they were just trying to figure out their own style. It's obvious that they nailed it when they came out with Origin of Symmetry, and since then they progressed their sound even further with Absolution.

Judging from what i've heard from their new songs it looks like this new album will be slightly more uplifting, as Matt Bellamy has said that he wants to write songs that a more cheery because it's so much harder to write a good uplifting song without it sounding a bit too cheesy. Butterflies and Hurricanes is Matt's favourite song from Absolution, mainly because it's his first song that he felt was uplifting.

Their new material sounds awesome though, and being the biggest Muse freak evar here i'm peeing myself with excitement. They'll be doing festivals in summer and probably touring after that so i'm estimating a summer release for their new album.

As for the whole Absolution discussion that's going on, people can't deny that it's the album that got their name out there. It's been their most successful album to date, hitting number 1 in the UK album charts on it's release. It sounds a little cheesy to say, but I really do love all of their songs including all the b-sides. It's why they're my favourite band after all ;). It's hard to say which album is my favourite, but i'd say Absolution because I love every track on the album. Origin of Symmetry is a close second though, tracks from that album are a lot more suited for a live concert, because during their Showbiz touring they just wanted to rock out more than what they were doing and the product of that was Origin. Citizen Erased, New Born, Space Dementia, Bliss, Micro Cuts, Plug in Baby; those songs are fucking intense live.

While they are my fave band, they do have some pap songs: 'Falling Away With You', 'Fillip', 'Ashamed' and 'Unintended' being the biggest offenders. However, even thir bad stuff is better than most of the best stuff some bands come out with (hello Greenday)...

Just thought I'd post to let people know that today the new single hit airwaves (in the UK, at least), called "Super Massive Black Hole." The single itself will be released the 19th of June, and the new album on July 3rd.

Also, Muse plans to tour the US in the fall. I hope they swing around Austin like they did on their last tour.

I listened to Super Massive Black Hole last night (if anybody wants, PM me). It's ...kind of poppish. So far, I don't like it much, but that may change once I give it a few more listens. I hear the rest of the album is supposed to be awesome, though.

Wow Muse's new album coming out this month? That's awesome, I can hardly wait for it.

And yes, Showbiz is highly underrated. Unintended is just wow. However I can't say I have a favorite album from them...just all their albums so far have a song that to me, stands out completly and just owns it all.

Well...Dead Star would have to be a real big fav. of mine, even though it's just a single. Sucks it never got onto an album.

No no...the single is out this month. You have to wait at least two more months for the actual album :p.

And it appears to be their thing to catch people with a poppy single, then make them listen to the rest of the album, which is most decidedly not pop.
Or at least, I hope that's how they're doing things this time around...

Oh my bad, read it wrong.


Well Matt Bellamy has even said he wanted the album to be more...'optimistic'. I wouldn't be surprised if there's more upbeat songs off of the new album.

I, personaly, love the new single. It's so completely removed from anything they've done previously and I love it. It deinately takes some listening to get used to though. After my forth time of listening to it was when I really liked it.

I loved the new single when I heard it, it's so danceable and sexy rawr. I can't wait for the new album, July 3rd isn't that far off =o.

If you dont mind me asking...is this single available for listening on a website, or is it only on the radio for you guys in England?

It was aired officially on Radio today, however I managed to grab the leak of it before it was taken down on various fan sites.

Limewire is your friend.

Mm...speaking of the single and all, the title of the album (forgot to mention) is called "Black Holes and Revelations" and will be much more diverse and different than Absolution.
Also, the video for "Supermassive Black Hole" is set to air May 17th (in the UK, I assume).

Oooh, a new Muse album! I really loved Absolution. I didn't read all of the posts in this thread. Are there any singles of theirs on the radio in the US yet?

I don't listen to much radio, but I haven't heard their latest anywhere outside of my MP3 player/computer.
I'm really loving the new single, though. True, it's completely different from their other stuff, but there's still similarities to be found from their old sound. I can't wait to see the music video...

Well, I just heard the single...and already people are bitching about it. It's so depressing when a band can't at least do ONE song that different than anything they've done. Me personally, I quite liked the song...I found it to be extremely catchy and funky. Something you could dance to, you know? lol.

I find the single quite boring, but then again - I find Muse boring to begin with.

edit: alright, after a few times the song is not THAT bad.

I like some pretty random songs.

Map of your head is a cool kinda upbeatish song. I love some of the acoustic versions of their songs: cave and sunburn are my favorite ones.

I haven't really listened to any of their new stuff, but hopefully when the album comes out it'll be good!

Fantastic, a new Muse album! I RARELY buy cds anymore, and not even because I DL them. I just don't find anything interesting anymore. This will be one cd I definitely get though.

Wish I can get a listen to the single! Almost all torrents I find have no seeds. I don't think the US has an official airing of Muse (or do we?)

Tracklist for the new album

Black Holes and Revelations:
01. Take A Bow (Starts off with violins, becomes apocalyptic with a Queen like chorus "You'll burn in hell")

02. Starlight (Single material about "how women are nice". From a live performance I heard it sounds very upbeat and catchy. The title of the album was taken from a line in the song. "Our hopes and expectations, Black holes and revelations")

03. Supermassive Black Hole (New single off album, inspired by many artists such as Prince and Scissor Sisters
"Oh baby don't you know I suffer
Oh baby can you hear me moan
You caught me under false pretences
How long before you let me go?

You set my soul alight,
Glaciers melting in the dead of night
And the superstar sucked into the supermassive

I thought I was a fool for no one
But oh baby i'm a fool for you
You are the Queen of the superficial
But how long before you tell the truth")

04. Map Of The Problematique

05. A Soldier's Poem (Originally a song from the Absolution era, but was supposed to be a big rockin' song. They stripped it down completely for the album and used simple jazz type instruments. Oh and it's not a poem =p)

06. Invincible (A song with a military type march beat, apparently one of the heaviest songs on the album. "Tonight we can truly sing, Together we are invincible" Rumoured to be "Debase Masons Grog" a live recording from the American tour last year. The title is an anagram of Message Board Song, a little game the band played with the fans so they could win free signed bikes.)

07. Assassin

08. Exo Politics (A change of periodic agreements which are at the brink of exploding. Its structure is mathematical, the main idea being a formula with neither chorus nor verse. Drums have very jazzy rhythms, slow ones, followed by more chaotic bits integrated into the whole.)

09. City Of Delusion (Intimate Flamenco inspired song)

10. Hoodoo

11. Knights Of Cydonia (Western type song with a trumpet solo. The song Matt Bellamy was referring to in early interviews saying it sounds like "a man riding a horse through Mexico playing a trumpet, then being shot down by bandits")

Dee, if you PM me your email I could send it to you if you like.

I gave the single ("Supermassive Black Hole") a listen and I like it. I can't wait for [read: to download] the next album. I've enjoyed Muse ever since they performed here at my school last year. My roommate got me into them and got me to go the concert. Good stuff.

I found a torrent. I had to listen to this very softly in fear of waking someone up. I think the single is rockin'! Although it deviates from their traditional sound, it reminds me of something as changing as the Bee Gees going falsetto (but not as upsetting). Kind of reminds me of a retro sound. Rockin'!

If you think SMBH is good, listen to Knights of Cydonia. Wow!

I know, can't wait to hear the recorded version it sounds awesome. I love the bit where you just hear Matt singing "No one's going to take me alive" orgasmic =p. From that moment to the end is just epicness.

Starlight is awesome too, that riff is so catchy. Such a nice song.

Knights of Cydonia > Starlight > SMBH.

Truth.

It is indeed the most impressive song i've heard so far, but it's more opinion than truth ;)

Yeah, this is going to be one of the few that I actually go out and buy. At the moment I'm not buying many CDs either, nor downloading (although I expect that to change this summer...as school breaks usually have that effect on me).

And Sian, you already have a "pre-release" of the album? Or is it something like demo takes?

Well, the new single came out last week for download and two other tracks (Starlight and Knights Of Cydonia) were played at Radio One's Big Weekend last weekend.
Oh, and the video for SMBH will be shown thursday morning at 12:05AM on Channel 4 for us British folk.

I still don't understand why Channel 4 airs the music videos so late they could easily fit it in during an advert break, but of course I do plan on watching it. It should up on you tube within a few hours anyway after airing.

I can't wait to hear their new album, Absolution was a bit of a hit and miss, I liked it, but it just didn't have that feeling of awesomeness that Muse albums usually do.

Also I'm watching them live at Reading Festival Weekend in August where hopefully they should play alot of their new stuff.

Quoted for truth.

Lucky beggar. Hopefully they won't play too much new stuff though. OOS and Showbiz still need loving.

No, I just read a lot of news about it and what it's going to sound like. I have recordings of Starlight and Knights of Cydonia though.

I saw them live at Earls court last year and again at Leed this year. I'll probably go see them again when they tour. Can't wait.

Review:

Is anyone else getting a 'New Born' vibe from Knights of Cydonia? God that song was awesome...

That review looks very, very promising. I'm hyped for the album. Who wrote that review? And when is the album coming out? I'm just shocked how Muse goes complete 180 on their style according to the review.

The album is out in the UK on July 3rd, I have no idea about everywhere else though.

I saw the video to Supermassive Black Hole last night, it's quite impressive actually. It has a very surrealism arty vibe to it, combined with a eyeshadow sweaty matt hah. I likes it though.

It was indeed weird. Loved the cameo by the "O Rly?" Owl...

I found a link to three of the new songs...

http://www.endlessly-muse.net/en/?ref=news&idnews=4945

Starlight is just great. Feels like hope.

I dunno, Starlight's a bit dull to me tbh. Sounds like their old stuff and is unoriginal. Gimme Supermassive Black Hole and Knights of Cydonia anyday.

It is a more simpler song than the other 2 newies, but I still like it a lot. I'm a huge fan though, so I tend to like all their songs. I don't think I dislike any of them, s'why they're ma favourite band :). I can't wait to hear the songs they played on their American tour, those were awesome.

I took a whirl with the subpar recordings of Knights of Cydonia and Starlight. I could make a just comparison with Supermassive Black Hole if they had studio recordings, but so far I like KoC and Starlight, but not as much as SBH. SBH just really stands out in my mind now. It's just so trippy.

I'd probably have to agree, i'm sure that my opinion will be changed when I hear the recorded versions in all their glory. The recordings of the new songs are from the first time they played them, so once the dudes loosen things up and get used to playing them they'll get way more experimental with them.

New song released, "Map of the Problematique": http://www.muse-download.com/ftp/new...tv%20Italy.mp3

Too average. :\

I love Map of the Problematique. Although, it's the weakest after 'Starlight'. MOTP has some crazy ass drumming though.

There's a bit of a techno vibe to MotP, but I like it. Maybe not so much as other songs, but it's a bit different from the Absolution tracks.

Also, the new album artwork:
http://www.microcuts.net/uk/news/arc...mages/bhar.jpg

Also, Black Holes & Revelations will be released in the US July 11th, with Knights of Cydonia being the radio single. Personally, I think SMBH would be better, but what do I know >_>... oh! and they're definitely coming to the US to tour this fall! They had better come around Austin, TX. I mean, they were in Houston, Austin and Dallas for the Absolution tour, so...yeah.

Also, I like the Muse av/sig thing going on in this thread :)

even though i live in the same country i have been unable to attend a concert so far, although i have a concert dvd and ALL of muse's cds currently. i do not listen to the radio frequently and have heard that their new music is a drastic change in direction but i have heard the differences between one and the next album and muse never say the same for long. i wish they were bigger if only just becuase the credibility of their first few albums is equal to that of enormous bands such as queens first few albums. most people will think that is an enormous exageration but i have grown up with queen and this is huge stuff!

I'm like the only one not using Muse for their avatar/sig. :(

What? Knights of Cydonia as the single? Oh man that sucks! Supermassive Black Hole trumps all songs that are released so far. :( :(

After all of the recordings i've heard from all of the new songs, I have to say i'm more excited than ever for the new album. I love Map of the Problematique, i've read all the comparisons which I wont state here since I don't like saying "oh it sounds like ___" since I just tend to listen to the song and say if I like it or not.

I'm so glad they got Storm Thorgerson to do the new artwork, it looks like it's heavily based on the imagery of Knights of Cydonia, with the earth being in the sky since Cydonia is a place on the moon, the general western surroundings and horses on the table. Thumbs up.

Japan release it June 28th with a bonus track - rumoured to be DES, apparently German release June 30th, UK release is July 3rd and US release is July 11th.

I think they made a mistake with releasing Knights of Cydonia for the American release, I think Supermassive Black Hole would've done a lot better for the American market since Knights is a bit weird for a single.

They're doing a gig in London on June 12th, it's going to be recorded by AOL as an AOL session. I would've gone, but I come back from Download festival that day and there's no way I would've made it to London ;_;. Still there's always Leeds and their tour in October/November time <3.

I love the album cover, although I think it would have been better on a Knights of Cydonia single cover, but there we go.

I really, really, really wanna see Muse live, but they never play anywhere near Bristol.

Travelling is your friend kind sir.

I was desperate to see them live, so I went all the way to merry old London for their shows at Earls Court from Preston. It was worth it all though, best band i've seen live for sure.

Ahhh, but lack of money is my enemy. I suppose I could fork out for a train ticket to somewhere like Birmingham or Cardiff, but I dislike public transport so much. Can't wait til I can drive.

Guess i'm uber lucky to have parents that like Muse. Once they hear something being played in my room about 50 times it starts to grow on them and in cases, they ask for copies themselves.

Not sure where abouts you live but they'll be doing a UK tour soon enough where they'll play all the arena's in the major cities. Make sure you're online to order tickets as soon as they go on sale, they sell like no other.

My Mum adores 'Sing for Absolution' which is good 'cause it's one of my faves as well.

Yeah, learnt my lesson from Reading this year. So wanted to go...

Why don't you try for a day ticket, it's what I did for Leeds. I remember when I was booking tickets for Earls Court I was online at bang on 9.00am and standing tickets were sold out when I tried. I was sooo fucking pissed off. Still, even with seating tickets it was the best concert i'd been to. Can't wait for Leeds though since it's all standing, get to jump around like a loon =D.

I know they definitely came to Toronto and Montreal when they did the last North American tour, so there's a good bet they'll do so again if they decide to stop at the same places as before. I wonder how big they'll be this time around. I know quite a few people who know of muse, but as far as I'm aware they're still playing clubs and smaller venues as opposed to headlining at arenas. which is radfabulous, because I'm definitely going to make a point of going to see them this time. I MUST.

I'm holding off on the muse-enthused avatar/sig sets 'til it gets closer to the album release. hopefully not too many more songs will be leaked, because if I hear all the live versions of the songs now it just won't be the same as discovering them all at once when the album hits. a little hype isn't bad, but hype tends to ruin everything and as awesome as muse is, I don't think I want to see too much of this new album end up on the internet before the album is even released.

anticipation people!

Yeah, my parents (especially my dad) like Muse pretty well. My mom likes "Sing For Absolution" the best. I'm always putting on random things in other languages in the car, so maybe they're just glad that it's rock in English :p. Unfortunately, I think that Muse still plays fairly large venues in the US...at least, last time they came around they were on the MTVU[niversity] lineup, so the venues were large if only because of that. But maybe if they come around Austin under their own steam they'll play in some of the clubs. I'll be 21, so it won't matter to me where they play as long as I can get a ticket soon enough!! I have a friend that's interested in making them his 'first concert' as well.

I signed up for Infernal's "random av/sig" thing, so I'll leave that up in lieu of the Muse one for awhile. And just when I had switched...:).

I would try for the day ticket, but I only really wanna see Muse and Feeder on that day, so it'd be a bit of a waste of money.

I didn't care how much it was, I just saw MUSE and booked them =p.

Well new album release or not I tend to have a Muse sig going anyway. They were playing the clubs in America and Canada, so now they'll probably bump up a venue and be playing a slightly larger venue. I'd love to see them at a small club though, but there was something about the arena shows - the huge ass screens, the thousands of lights, the balloons, the confetti, the 30,000 people singing along, the general out of this world atmosphere...oh the memories ;_;.

http://www.yousendit.com/transfer.ph...3C29396EC88DE7

Studio Knights of Cydonia. It's like Queen on Speed with voice synths and trumpets thrown in. My ears are orgasming (is that even a word?)

Eargaasssmmmm. It's funny I had a dream last night that I had news that the album was out that very day since they released it early and I was trying to get a way to buy it =p. That MSN Messenger is really annoying, I hate having announcers and other things disrupting. Sounds so different and weird, the "No one's going to take me alive" sounds very Queen. I can't wait to hear it full quality (i'm a quality whore, gotta love bass), I think the live version sounds better at the moment.

I think eargasm is about right. I'm loving the trumpets. Once you get over the voice synths it's such a tune!

Yeah trumpets are awesome, the track before it on the album is supposed to have loads. The synths are a little too high, but i'll get over that eventually. I wonder if a clear copy has been leaked yet...

I dunno, doubt it though. We only just got that this morning. The trumpets need to be louder. LOUDER I SAY!!!

Give it time, some obsessed Muse fan will raid a radio station and upload it for the world. I hope ;_;. Wanna hear those trumpets in full quality after all =p.

I cannot wait for this album. Dare I say almost as good as OOS? Hmmmmmmm

Sup homies?

http://www.torrentazos.com/descargar.php?id=3964

Album is out.

http://img480.imageshack.us/img480/6...eedisok4vc.jpg

You're just lucky I don't know how Torrents work....

Plus, according to the Muse forums it's shite quality (mono wtf?)

Here's a stereo version of Knights of Cydonia though:
http://www.myspace.com/muse

If with "mono" they mean "stereo" and "VBR", yes, they are right.

This is just a high-quality album. They should learn to live with the fact the album leaked.

Also, the album is actually pretty good. Best Muse album so far.

edit: uploading the album just so you can listen to it too.

edit 2: Enjoy - http://rapidshare.de/files/22658320/....com_.rar.html

So far, I really really like this album. Assassin, Take a Bow and Exo-Politics are amazing.

I definitely know I will be buying this album [as if I wasn't going to, lmao]

erg, so very tempted to download that, but I think I want to wait for the actual album release. I pretty much never buy CDs, but muse is always the exception. I'll wait 'til it's out and get it on the first day and it'll be more enjoyable that way, because then I won't have the twinge of guilt for having it long before I should.

wait, why does all that sound like a parallel to sex before marriage. :'D

:D.
I feel the same way...although when the new Kaizers Orchestra CD came out, I gave in and downloaded it/played it on infinite repeat until I got my 'official' copy. Of course, that was a different situation, because I knew it wouldn't be available in the US. But this is definitely coming, so....errm...damn. I'm so tempted.

I don't know what I'm going to do.

It's been 3 years since their last album, i've waited long enough so i'm downloading it. I'll download it, then buy it on the release date. Yeah sure it'll spoil the moment of putting the CD in and pressing play but right now I was tempted and I clicked that big download button. It's like 2am right now, i've just come back from Download festival so i'm gonna download it all, upload it to the mp3, sit in bed with the headphones and listen to the beauty.

hahaha I was thinking that as I read over your post!

Anywho, got the link from someone last night and listened to it. Not what I was expecting, but it was certainly good. Showbiz is still my favorite by them though ;)

I'm still gonna wait for my CD quality stereo version. I have patience for Muse.

I don't know if it's the mp3s, but the sound quality of this album sounds worse than the previous 3 albums. It sounds distorted and harsh, though that might be what they intended...

It's the quality.

Well i'm the most impatient person in the world, if it's for my favourite band or not. Looking at the track list, there's 5 songs I hadn't heard previously from a live version. Still, it may seem like it's cheating by downloading but i'm still gonna buy the album on the day of release which is what counts really. The quality of the torrent is pretty shite that listening to it from a CD will be like a new experience anyway =p.

Well my thoughts on the album, extremely different. Not what I was expecting at all from everything that i've read about the album. It's very experimental, while the last 3 albums have had a very "live" feeling to them this one is definetely out there. It'll be interesting to see it live.

Take a bow is like floating through space while singing about politics.

Starlight, well not too different from the live version a little more mellow (or just a lot simpler) on the recorded version. Single material, though I hope they don't release it as a single since it's too expected. Gotta love the chorus.

Supermassive Black Hole, one of the strongest tracks on the album in my opinion and it was a big change in their sound when we all got to hear it. A change meaning it's more...well dancey.

Map of the Problematique, another strong track with some intense drumming going on in parts.

A Soldier's Poem, it's like Unintended but it's got a "Grandad" vibe to it. Sounds like a lullaby, very simple with lots of layered vocals to make it sound that extra bit dreamy. It's short and sweet.

Invincible, sounds like you're waving troops off to war. Organs, drum march, a meloncholy vibe to it. Half way through it kinda breaks out into a boppy beat, followed by a random guitar solo.

Assassin, or Debase Mason's Grog as some of us may know it by. Sounds very different from the live version, faster got a more metal distortion to it. It really does sound like System of a Down I have to say. They cut out the part from the live version where it breaks down and sounds all Westerny. On the chorus there's a lot of awesome layered vocals going on, very interesting indeed.

Exo-Politics is Timescale Keeper, sounds like a dance track mixed with a sci-fi backing track. I'm sure the lyrics are different too, the guitars are very clean too, i'm not sure what's the correct terminology for it but in the live version all the notes were left to ring out but on the recording version it's just cut short to give it a sharper edge.

City of Delusion, one of the stand out tracks to me on first listen. Flamenco guitars, strings are very spanishy i'd say - they're amazing put it that way. It's just so diverse, come on there's trumpets in there and everything. I can picture flamenco dancing to it in the middle of the desert.

Hoodoo, very dramatic echoed guitar to begin with with Matt singing "come into my life" like the voice of God. Sorrowful violins and gentle drumming enters in as you begin to sway as it builds up beautifully, then it breaks in with piano, drums, more strings and more dramatic singing. Then as it ends it slows down to match the beginning to fade into the next track.

Knights of Cydonia, opens with space like effects with the sound of horses. Then breaks out into what seems to be apart of an epic western soundtrack. Lots of falsetto harmonising, trumpets galore and all the rest. A very interesting ending compared to previous albums where the album ends on a very slow track.

Final opinion, it's different. I know that's a crap sum up but it really is, i'm shocked in a way that it sounds so different from what Muse have previously done. You can tell that they've been influenced heavily from the new wave of dancey type rock and also western, flamenco, italian influences. The album has a political feel to it like Absolution I might add, more so than Absolution in fact. It's a lot less rocky, there seems to be less guitars and a band feel to it and more focus on the weird wobbly bits like synths and the such. I really like the album, i'm sure when I hear a full quality version (quality whooore) I will be blown away since that'll be another experience in itself on my awesome stereo of life. But for now it's all sinking in and soon enough i'll be ranting on about how amazing it is. I just hope they don't take so fucking long with making another album because this is such a different direction in their sound i'm wondering what else they're capable of.

Edit: Yup, it's sinking in and it's becoming more amazing each second I listen to =D

Like that was ever in question. :rolleyes: :p

Haha well you always get the people who are like "omg you are cheating your band since you're not fully supporting them by handing your money over to help them" etc etc. They receive more money from touring and playing live shows anyway, and rightly so since I think it's all about the music itself than sales. Still, I like having the official copy in my hand.

Heh, exactly. I sadly do download some leaked albums of bands I love [I just can't help it], but I think in doing that, re-inforces the fact it WILL be bought by me. Plus, it's a very sentimental feeling for me to hold the album in my hands. Stupid, but it just feels better holding it rather than just having it on a computer or mp3 player.


I do hope though, the album's production will be better on the final release. Even though I have the album at VBR quality, it just sounds...not LIKE vbr quality.

No, it's the fuckers who download a leaked advance of the album and never bother buying it, they deserve to have their kneecaps blown off they do.

I use mp3s as a sampler, if I really like what I hear I usually buy the CD.

Yeah, I tend to download albums as previews. If I don't like the album i'll delete it, if I like a few tracks yeah i'll keep them as mp3s but if I do like the album i'll go out and buy it. There's just something about having the physical copy, you can keep it for years and years whilst mp3s are just a file on a computer or an mp3 player. I love going through my parents old LP's since they seem to just have a history to them.

:biggrin:

I downloaded it. :(
But I'm really glad that I did. I think I'll listen to it a few times and then delete it, wait for the official release, and then rip it (in my own choice of format and quality) to my laptop for use at school. That way I'll still leave myself 'wanting more' until July 11th.

Also, I'm wondering if KoC is going to have an American Radio edit or something, since it's the rumored US single. I mean, I love the instrumental intro (I think that will be *awesome* live), but for a radio song....especially in the US, I'm not so sure. I really hope that the rumors/PR is mistaken and they'll release SMBH as the US single instead.

The quality is crap. The bass is too much and it's not crystal clear as it could be. I'm awaiting the actual release.

The album has a few weak songs, and I believe the last half of the album crumbles until KoC. Starlight and KoC sound amazing in studio. From the first hear through, I thought Invincible was the weakest song, but we'll see after each listen. But overall, I like the new sound. It's refreshing (not like they weren't refreshing to begin with).

There is an edit, but they only cut out some of the long winded intro to shorten the time. Thinking about it now yeah if they came onstage live with Take a Bow that intro would be pretty amazing, like a spaceship landing or something.

Some of the songs take a little getting used to, but I think the album has a pretty good structure of songs. I'd agree with you that I think the weakest is Invincible, but then again it could just take a few listens. City of Delusion is standing out for me at the moment.

I love the themes of the album, it's like space politics, dance tunes and western soundtracks all blending wonderfully into one album. Hoodoo sounds like it was influenced heavily from Kill Bill and it sounds so powerful.

The quality of the torrent is effecting the full listening experience, so when I get the crystal clear pre ordered copy of the album I think i'll be blown away even more than I am now.

Eeee can't wait to see them at Leeds they're going to be incredible.

So, did anyone pick up the single yet?

I've never heard a Muse song until they played on Friday Night with Jonathan Ross. That Supermassive Black Hole song is very catchy.

It wasn't even a good performance. Hell, it wasn't one of their best tracks! Download New Born, Fury, Sing for Absolution, Eternally Missed, Blackout, Hysteria and Plug in Baby. That should be a good base to get ya started

Bought the CD and DVD versions the day they came out. Brilliant song. I'd heard it on the radio and liked it, and eventually like billowed into love, and as a result it's actually the only -single- I've ever bought the day it was released. Really looking forward to BH&R now, from what I've been told it experiments more than the others. Refusing to download it because I want the surprise when I buy the album.

Crying Shame, the non-album track, is quite fun, but the prechorus grates on me a little tbh. There's something about it.

I love the cover of the single...however, I probably won't be buying it. That's the only thing that kind of irritates me about Muse, is the release of sooo many singles and random things on all different albums. It's like how they release 5 different covers for one comic book. I would love to have all their music videos, or all their B-sides in one collection instead of spread over many different singles.

However, I do have Hullabaloo, so I suppose that's kind of satisfying my wish in a way. But still...I would really like to have all their music videos (or even a few in a collection) on a good-quality DVD. :(

10 days =o. If I would be buying anything it'd be the DVD single. I already have Crying Shame and besides DVD singles have cool little videos and the such. I tend not to buy singles anyway, I download the B-Sides and head for the DVD singles. However if they did that U-Mix like they did with the Butterflies and Hurricanes single i'd buy it.

I'll most likely get it before I go to work on saturday. It's only a couple of quid and I love the album art!

I find CD singles in Canada are absolutely stingy. they used to have atleast four songs on them before; there'd be the original song, a couple remixes or live versions and a b-side. now they're just the single and maybe one other version of it that nobody cares about. the cover art for them are way less impressive too. ;_;

even if I could find a muse CD single, which I doubt I could offline, it'd probably not be worth it. for the amount of songs on it, you could probably pay the legal download fee and get twice as many songs for the same price.

ah well... 19 days 'til I can buy the actual album in stores! stupid release dates

They were only £2 each in the UK which is pretty reasonable imo, I ended up getting both the CD and the DVD versions. [edit: aha, I already said that.]

That's kind of a double edged blade. I love having little rarities to collect (that kind of thing's one of the nicest bits about having a music collection) but I don't like the weight off my wallet. Similar deal going on with Porcupine Tree; loads of limited editions, singles, weird stuff like that.

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c3...ed-1copy-1.jpg

=DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD

I think I might cry with excitement.

Jammy git! Here's hoping they tour near Bristol in the near future. Although, Dragonforce gig at Bristol Academy!! :edgarrock:

OMFG. I really wish I lived in the UK right now. :( But congratulations to you! That's hella lucky.

Yeah, I was on HMV.com the other night and I saw how cheap the singles were (and in the UK, free shipping! ;_; )...then I did the currency conversion. And decided $12 for one single was too much at the moment.

I love the cover of the 7" Single as well! I would love somebody to make some high-res scans of them...

I was pleased to see on Muse's myspace that they have some tour dates in the U.S. I could attend their Boston show, if I can find someone to attend with. Not many of my friends listen to them, so they probably won't pony up the dough to go. But I want to go so badly that I'll probably end up buying a ticket fo whomever decides to go with me.

Nobody I know listens to them, but I might see if one of my friends who listens to Nickel Creek will want to go see the Austin City Limits Festival, where both them and Muse will be playing. Shameless plug: journal entry here discussing the festival.
I find it odd that Microcuts knows Muse's tourdates before they're posted on either their MySpace or their actual site; I didn't know that Muse were signed onto the ACL festival until I checked Microcuts' news.

Holy shit! Congratulations, seriously. I was going to try for that but I didn't have any transport. :( I was also going to get them at Reading or Leeds until I discovered they were both festivals, and I didn't like many of the other bands on the bill very much at all. Guess I'm not going to see Muse for a while now.

I'm going to see them at Leeds too, and probably when they tour later this year too. That'll be 3 times I get to see them this year =D. Lucky for me I have the best mum in the world who likes Muse so she's driving me from Preston. Can't wait, 3 days to go!

As for the people who don't have anyone to go with, go on your own! Yeah it might seem sad but you could always meet people there, I found people at concerts to be friendly over here. And it's MUSE, you have to see them =D.

My mum LOVES Muse. However, she also has work, and she also has to pick my brother up from school (school days for him), so there's no chance of making the voyage. I had a friend I was hoping to win tickets for, too. D:

Better luck next tour, I guess. It's a shame, I've been listening to them in a major way lately, too.

My dad really likes Muse (when I put it on...he never puts it on himself) and my mom thinks they're good as well (she thinks Bellamy's voice sounds a bit like Freddie Mercury). I think it's funny, because in an interview from 2000-ish Matt said: "Our music is written for people our own age. I don't expect people in their 30s or older to be interested in it." :p

My parents would have to drive a long way to get me to a Muse concert at Leeds.

Just found out that when the new album is released in the US, there will be either the CD itself or a double pack with both BH&R and the Absolution DVD. YES!!! I mean, I was thinking of getting the PAL edition anyways (since I already bought a compatible DVD player for my Kaizers Orchestra and HIM DVDs), but if it's an official NTSC release I won't mind forking over the money.

What the... you lucky bastard Sian!

And Austin City Limits, dangit if only my classes started two weeks later I wouldn't mind driving to Austin to see them myself! Errr, and their lineup is rockin.

http://www.myspace.com/muse

You can now listen to the entire album on their MySpazz. Loving Take A Bow...

That's right, they were doing the "MySpace Listening Preview." I had completely forgotten about it :). I guess I have 'til Thursday to listen to it, so I'll wait a bit longer.

I had downloaded the leaked version, but I only listened to a little and then deleted it, feeling ashamed of myself :(. And dammit, if they weren't releasing another bonus track ("Glorious"). And I don't fucking have iTunes nor do I want it!!! >_< I'll wait for somebody to post it somewhere...

AHHH. STOP TEMPTING ME, MUSE YOU DEMONS.

I want to go to the shop in... ooh, about six days now :D:D:D, put it in the CD player, and have everything (except SMBH :P) totally fresh. So I'm going to have to keep well away from their MySpace for a while.



In other news, I'm also really excited for this...

http://uk.news.launch.yahoo.com/dyna...ml&e=l_news_dm

Not the thunderstorm, third paragraph onwards. I loves prog me, so Muse + prog is a really exciting combination for me.

*__*
Wow. I can't wait --dammit, they just released a new album, so we'll have to wait at least 3 more years for another. I just want to hear Matt do a 15-minute piano solo, really. It seems like a natural evolution of the band to go on to some real prog-rock stuff. Fine by me! And the thunderstorm bit is so ironic. I mean, it was the Hurricane Festival. Hurricane, knocked out by a storm, when Muse went on. They're a stormy group as it is ;).

Also, if anyone has a hint on why the official ACL Festival page would list Muse as being in the US on Sept. 15th, as does Microcuts, yet the official Muse site and official Muse MySpace don't list anything other than the Turkey gig in September; I'm a bit dubious about plunking down $140 for a ticket when I'm not guaranteed of the reason I'm going in the first place :(.

*Imagine's the 'Piano Thing' b-side extended to 15 minutes*

:edgarrock:



Ooooh, fuckety, fuck fuck fuck. I've listened to the whole of the album and I can't chooooose!! City of Delusion, Hoodoo or Knights of Cydonia? Gahhhhhhhh!!

=1. Knights of Cydonia - 9.5
=1. Hoodoo - 9.5
=1. City of Delusion - 9.5
=4. Assassin - 9
=4. Take a Bow - 9
=4. Exo-Politics - 9
=7. Soldiers Poem - 8.5
=7. Supermassive Black Hole - 8.5
9. Map of the Problematique - 7.5
=10. Starlight - 7
=10. Invincible - 7

94/11 = 8.54

I also admit to downloading a better leaked version. Ahh, good rips mean clarity!

How many bonus tracks are there?

So far, two that I've heard of:

Glorious (iTunes exclusive d/l and the japanese bonus track)
Crying Shame (b-side from the SMBH single)

I'll have to wait for leaked internet versions for them, since I don't have iTunes and I'm not importing any CDs that I don't absolutely have to (ie: things released here as opposed to bands that only release in Germany/Norway/etc.).

You may throw your insults at me now.

:tpg::tpg:
OMG CHRIS' MOUSTACHE. WHAT.

If only I were in England, somewhere. It appears I won't get to see them unless an act of God brings them to me. But I digress, this was a great thing for you. Awesome, awesome pictures, Sian. If I would have taken them, they would have been blurred and stupid. Thanks a billion for putting them up! I assume it was a fantabulous concert, yes?

:biggrin:

Oh -- what was the setlist?

You can read all about it here =D

Oh oh!

=D

that must have been the most radfabulously awesome show ever. only 31 days 'til I get my turn to go see them. <3

I hope I get as close as you did. I'm definitely standing, so I'll fight my way to the front whether my friend keeps up with me or not!

Muse - Black Holes and Revelations
 

As a die-hard Muse fan, I was nothing but eager to hear the new album. Showbiz, Origin of Symmetry and Absolution are 3 spectacular albums, and IMO OOS is one of the best albums ever recorded. Black Holes and Revelations is the new album from these guys, due out July 11th in the US. Does it live up to the hype? Maybe...

1) Take a Bow
This song picks up right where Origin of Symmetry(!) left off. It immediately opens with dreamy synth work reminiscent of Bliss. The lyrics seem to hint at accusing president Bush of being the devil basically. The drum track goes along perfectly with the song and really pulls it together. Good samples and distortion work near the end of the song, make this one of the best songs on the album. (9/10)

2) Starlight
This song starts off with a scratchy bass riff, but quickly goes downhill once the piano kicks in. It seems our boy Matthew has borrowed skills from our pal Yanni on this one. Don't like Yanni? Me neither. It picks up quick though with an emotional Matt singing about a (lost?) love. Good heavy bass hits troughout the rest of the song, and the always excellent drums personify the lyrics beautifully. If you can get over the horribly-out-of-place piano, this is a half descent song. (7/10)

3) Supermassive Black Hole
It's a shame that this was chosen as a single, or to even be recorded for that matter. This song is HORRIBLE. Matt's lyrics are barely discernable, that is if this song has lyrics in the first place. The "guitars" and the drums sound like synth, and the song itself follows the exact same formula of all mainstream popular garbage polluting the airwaves today. If I want to listen to a cookie-cutter dance-pop song, I'll listen to Britney Spears. I hate Britney. (0/10)

4) Map of the Problematique
Ah! Here we are!! This is the direction I had hoped Muse traveled in after Absolution. This is the more experimental sounding like OOS, with the experience of Absolution. This song has a spacey feel that doesn't shy away from the rocking out of past Muse. The lyrics are relevant to anyone who likes to dig a bit deeper in their music and see the underlying problems of society. Matt's voice sounds inspired and fresh, sort of evolved from past albums. This is Stockholm Syndrome for the more sophisticated generation. Best song on the album. (10/10)

5) Soldier's Poem
Now that things have settled down from the previous song, we are treated to a short little acoustic piece. Upon first listen this song immediately reminded me of their song, Map of Your Head. It sounds like its little brother. Not a bad song, but basically forgettable. (5/10)

6) Invincible
We're not even halfway through the album and things make a sharp downturn. This song is a slow ballad, but it just feels generic. You can't help but think I've heard this before. Then you play something from Absolution and you realize that you have. (2/10)

7) Assassin
This song starts off with a nice upbeat guitar riff that entices you and draws you in, only to come to screeching halt when the song really gets going. This is another mesh of sounds, that again sounds generic. I swear I've heard this song before... I think it was on that latest KoRn album... man I hate KoRn. (1/10)

8) Exo-Politics
Three subpar songs in a row, I hoped it was time for a descent one again. Much to my surprise, we do get a semi-descent song. Dom's drumming starts this one off with a drum track you swear is straight out of the 80's. The guitar hits soon after, with Matt using a nice FX pedal for this one. Matt's voice sounds emotional and angry all at once. However, the chorus reminds me too much of Audioslave's "Like a Stone" when Matt says "patiently." Too bad I can't stand Chris Cornell when he did this song. (4/10)

9) City of Delusion
This song starts off with an acoustic riff on guitar with uninspired lyrics and vocals. There's just not much to say about this song but it's heavily recycled material. Overall this song just sounds way too much like Hysteria from the previous album. Do yourself a favor, listen to previous album instead. (2/10)

10) Hoodoo
This song has distinctive Spanish/Mexican flair. That's not neccessarily a bad thing, but the guitar sounds unkept and just thrown together at the last minute. Again, nothing much to say about this one except that it is easily forgettable fodder that we've all heard before. (2/10)

11) Knights of Cydonia
This happens to be the longest song on the disc. I'm usually a fan of long songs, but only when they keep me entertained the whole way through. This song, unfortunately, loses focus and I find myself quickly getting bored. The first 2 minutes or so don't really do anything except showcase Matthew's talent for the guitar. Whether it's showboating, or neccessary to have an introduction so long (you're not Tool), it just doesn't work. The rest of the song is just bland and reminiscent of Queen's Bohemien Rhapsody. Pass this one up. (1/10)

12) Glorious (bonus track for Japan)
At least the Japanese get a good song on their release. It starts off with a somber piano and a nice drum track by Dom, which quickly picks up with a climatic guitar riff. Good lyrics and vocal capabilites keep this song entertaining to the very end. It's just a shame that one of the best songs on the disc is only a b-side, and one that isn't in the US release. (8/10)

...not. This album is a huge disappointment. It started off well, but just went downhill, over the cliff and never recovered. It seems that the all-too-familiar story in the music industry has happened once again: Sell your soul/fans/sound to make a record. The entire record sounds rushed, bland and horribly uninspired. Muse seems to have given up most of their signature sound in favor of more "American Radio Friendly" blend between Britney Spears, Nickelback, Audioslave and <insert trendy/popular band/singer name here>. This album reminds me of that abomination Weezer released a while back. However, at least I still want to listen to old Muse. There are a few standout gems, and one perfect song located here, but $15 is a high price to pay for 3 songs. I suggest borrowing the disc from someone who is actually brave enough to own it, or just download it. I just hope that future albums can get these 3 back on track.

Final rating: D, for Did they think this was really gonna fly!?

EDIT: fixed some typos

YOU FUCK D:

Seriously, holy shit that's awesome. And, I love Chris's beard. Jordan Rudess much. :P

Only two days before it's released over here, and I'm so glad I managed to resist the temptation to listen to any samples. Monday can't come quick enough.

I am very disappointed by the new album so far, even after 6 or 7 listens. It just doesn't do it for me. A few standout songs here and there, but the majority sound like Absolution rehashed.

I reviewed the album here if you want to read it:
http://www.gamingforce.com/forums/al...velations.html

It may seem harsh, but that's what intense hype and opinions are for.

My copy came 2 days early, get in =D. I think it's stunning, especially in stereo and being played on my awesome sound system <3. The artwork is lovely too, I pay attention to detail ok >_>. I reviewed it earlier in the thread, but the thing that has changed is that i'm officially in love with every song on the album. After hearing Invincible live, it just clicked and it became a highlight of the album. Soldier's Poem is just gorgeous and Hoodoo is just amazing. I think it's their best album yet, i'm always astounded at how they can reinvent their sound with each album and make it better than the last.

I like this album. Muse is a really good band, coming close to the best band ever alive.

You're forgiven ;).

Holy shitmice.

Just got back with the album. Map Of The Problematique just came on (this is my first listen through), and it is PERFECT. I love this album.

[EDIT: I'm also very much enjoying City Of Damnation. :D]

It's City of Delusion. And I didn't really like Map of the Problematique. Not bad, but not brill either. Hoodoo's excellent though. The last 5 tracks all are.

You're right; I didn't check the title before posting, that was from memory.

So far, I'm loving the first four and the last three the most. It's all brilliant, though. This and Synchestra have to be the best releases of 2006 so far.

'City of Delusion', 'Hoodoo' and 'Knights of Cydonia' are tracks on a par with 'New Born' and 'Stockholm Syndrome'. This album is only slightly weaker than Origin of Symmetry. That's some darn high praise!

Whenever I hear Exo-Politics it makes me laugh because of this interview I heard with Matt and Dom and Matt just couldn't stop laughing when he was describing the theme behind it. I think every song on the album are strong, which makes it the best album they've done so far in my opinion. Man these guys just keep getting better and better.

I heard that interview. XFM wasn't it? Absolutely classic!

Anyone happen to have a recording (or a link) to that interview? I'm always looking for interviews with them... for some reason it's kind of hard to find.

Damn it, I still have to wait 8 days ;____;.
BUT, I'll be buying the special 2-pack with the Absolution DVD, if I can find it.
Which I already had downloaded, but I want the real thing in NTSC format...

Yup, I couldn't stop laughing. The thing I love about Muse is that they're just hilarious in interviews and extra footage of them touring. Hullabaloo was just legendary with all that backstage footage, I got the Supermassive Black Hole DVD single and the Making of is quality.

I thought that the extra footage on Hullaballo was classic. When Dom nicked the Slipknot mask:
"Sit the fuuuuuuck DOOOOOOOWN!!!
I was practically pissing myself! I'm sure it's on YouTube somewhere.

Ah yes, here it is:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zOcEV...h=Dom%20Howard

Anyway, this is the interview from XFM (songs not included). It's in bits and each part contains stuff relating to each track.

http://www.yousendit.com/transfer.ph...D8A14715F61F2A

http://www.yousendit.com/transfer.ph...F6C42C280D361D

http://www.yousendit.com/transfer.ph...EEAE4C4D848A26

http://www.yousendit.com/transfer.ph...2A21E01AA2228D

http://www.yousendit.com/transfer.ph...A281015D0E24E6

http://www.yousendit.com/transfer.ph...AD038C120B129B

http://www.yousendit.com/transfer.ph...F4E45B4300D534

http://www.yousendit.com/transfer.ph...1BBFD960689614

http://www.yousendit.com/transfer.ph...2C2F5D493AE6AE

That interview is awesome, loads of stuff to sink my teeth into. Thanks loads.

Thanks! That's awesomeness ;).
And yeah, the Slipknot thing is brilliant. And so accurate! I like how Matt's rolling around laughing his ass off.

I love his laugh. It's so infectious and suits him so much. I love the bit with the sombrero in that vid.

God, I wish I'd been paid already so I could actually get the damn album. Only £9.99 at my local Safeways...

Definitely worth it. It's a really nice package. Lots of attention to detail, on the digipack version at least (is there even a jewel case?).

The slipknot thing is hilarious. Even funnier when you see how offensive some people found it, if you look at the comments on youtube. Don't think I've laughed so much at anything on the internet recently.

"look Dom I got a pwopa fish!" Legend.

My Dad was just telling me Woolies are selling it for £8 something.

Talking about Matt's laugh, it was just hilarious when they were presenting Rage and they just couldn't stop laughing. I've got like 10 snippets of them just bursting into laughter every 2 seconds.

Yeah there is a jewel case, I have it.

Ahh, I didn't see any in HMV when I went. Either way, it's a very nice digipack. I don't generally like digipacks very much, but this one's earned my respect. :P

What is this jewel case thing? And digipack? Eh?

A digipack is the big cardboardy casing that a growing number of recent releases are using, a jewel case is when you have the neat plasticcy thing which the lyric book slots into the front of.

You should be really nice to your fellow Muse fan and take pictures of the digipack for me to see =D. I would've bought the digipack, but the other 4 albums I own are jewel case and I have a weird OCD about things being the same size in my CD collection >_>.

Ah right, so a jewel case is your standard CD case then? Now it makes sense.

Yeah, all these fancy names huh? They should just be "the plastic one" and "the cardboard one" =D.

Hell yeah! Darn record companies and their weird names for everything...

*Mumbles*

Have you noticed how Muse are EVERYWHERE? Not that it's a bad thing but since they've signed to Warner i've noticed they're advertising this album to the death. I even heard on TV as I was walking near my front room "the original Star Trek series is sponsered by Muse, Black Holes and Revelations". I was just like whuuuuut.

But does the digipack have different artwork? That would seem silly, but you never know.

I was wondering if anybody had a high-res scan of either the SMBH CD single (not the DVD one particularly) or the 7" cover art? I'm really fond of those covers, and I haven't been able to find a really large version of either. Come to think of it, has anyone bought the vinyl of either BHaR or SMBH?

I hear that actually, if they had the jewel case in stock I'd have had to give it serious consideration, and would probably have ended up calling friends to ask which to get. :P

Anyway, here are les photos, they're not very good, but to compensate there are loads.

Front
Back
Spine
Open the packaging and OMG IT'S MUSE :0
Open it again and you get a neat CD, full of musiccy goodness
Take out the CD and AAAH IT'S A PLANET

And that's about it. Note the neat glossy patterny shit on the left hand side of the fourth one. It's very neat, I'm no photographer so you can't see it well, but it has lots of neat circley patterns and the words "BLACK HOLES AND REVELATIONS" floating around in capital letters and stylised text.

I like the spine a lot. It's a good spine.

Nice onnneeee.

The jewel case is pretty much the same, but it doesn't have the cool circley pattern picture and the PLANET OF DOOOOM. It has the band pic underneath the CD =D. Did it come with the inlay with all the lyrics in and such? I love the artwork, well obviously it IS the work of Storm Thorgerson who's a GENIUS.

I think I like the digipack inside better than the outside *_*.
Thanks for the pics! I'm definitely getting the digipack, so...yeah. Sneak preview.

Storm is the man. Love his stuff, the surreal vibe is really neat.

And yeah, there is an inlay. It kind of... uhh, comes out of the front panel. It's hard to describe, so I drew a picture.

picture..!

You are a true artist my friend.

Thanks, now you mention it I'm actually replacing Storm Thorgerson and doing their next album art. It's going to be called "Stick Men & Squiggly Lines."

It'll be the best album cover they'll have by far!

A little update for y'all, Black Holes and Revelations has hit number 1 in numerous album charts here in the UK. They occupy the number 1 AND 2 slots on amazon.co.uk and play.com and apparently are number 1 in shops such as HMV, WHSmith and Woolworths. And rightly so =D

Brilliant. Everyone should have a copy.

This might just dethrone Absolution as my favourite Muse album actually, they just keep getting better and better - and if the next album is full-on prog as they've said they're considering, I don't see any reason that pattern should stop with album 5.

Quoted for truth. I can't seem to bring myself round to skip any track on BHAR, I loves it all. It's a big pot of muse goodness.

To be honest, I skip Starlight and Invincible. Starlight's too simple for my tastes and Invincible sounds too much like Keane. The last 5 tracks on the album though are some of the best tracks Muse have ever done though.

And yay! I get to buy the album tomorrow!! Huzzah!!

Also to be honest, I skip Soldier's Poem and Invincible. Mainly because I listen to this while I work out and I don't want any slow songs to influence me. :P That's to say, I like Soldier's Poem too.

Nice pics. And the drawing. Very nice.

Off topic, Xanadu, does your name come from ELO by any chance... not the horrific movie?

I feel like Muse doesn't get any word out here in the states... I never even heard a single being played. Anyone else having the same experience? Now it's all Blue October or Nickelback (shudder).

Only track I ever skip is Map Of The Problematique sometimes. I like it a lot, but every now and then it feels too... I can't think of the word, "heavy?" Like it takes an effort to listen to it. This is really odd for me because most of the music I listen to is generally quite challenging... I enjoy it when I don't skip it, though.

Why thank you. ;D

Comes from the Rush song, actually. It's on A Farewell To Kings if you want to check it out. :P

I may or may not get this album, I haven't decided yet. I have Absolution and it has some great, and I mean great songs, but that's only about half the album and I thought the other half sounded the same. I gave the album more listens for it to grow on me, and I got sick of it before I could catch on some more.

I heard the new single from this album (forgot the name of the song, but I saw the video on YouTube, they were wearing masks for the first half of the video). I didn't like the song, but that's not to say I won't like the rest of the album. Absolution had a few clunkers but it also had some real gold.

Supermassive Black Hole. I love the song to death myself, but it's definitely the most detached from the rest of the album, everything else is very different.

This is actually a great album. It's terrible that I almost ignored it; I somehow had got the impression that Muse is a shit band (I think I mixed it up with Evanescence, because of Sian's signatures ;)). ''Starlight'' is my favourite song so far.

Haha how dare you =p.

Whoawhoawhoa. I think someone has three more albums to check out.

The same thing happened to me with Absolution. Even the good songs, after a short while, became monotonous to listen to.

I just listened to this album, and I doubt I'll do it again. Same thing. Maybe it's just me, but after a while I didn't even notice songs ending and new ones starting. I stopped paying attention and it just became background music. I wouldnt be able to name a single song, or be able to tell you what it sounded like. Overrated =/

Absolution did sound all the same to me the first few times I listened to it. Then I really listened to it, and each developed it's own personality, so to speak.

Since they made a comment that they're heading towards a more Progressive sound, it makes sense that their later albums are starting to unify. That's okay by me, but maybe it's because I'm used to listening to things that 'all sound the same' (ie: classical music) >_>...

It's always best to give an album more than one listen to develop an opinion. Some of my all-time favorite albums were like what you described, I thought they were shit the first time I heard them. The ironic thing is that I've found if an album clicks with you the first time you hear it, you're going to get tired of it quickly. If an album takes, say, five times to click, then it's a keeper. If it takes more than five times, then it just sucks.

Perfect example: I thought Thrice - Vheissu was the greatest album of all time the first couple of times I heard it, then around the sixth or seventh time, I never wanted to hear it again. Everyone kept praising The Illusion Of Safety as the best Thrice album, so I bought it. Hated it the first time, but then it grew on me, and I'm still not sick of that album. It is now my favorite Thrice album and beats out Vheissu by a longshot.

Am I the only one reminded of the Gorillaz when listening to Supermassive Black Hole?

Probably, everyone else seems to think Prince or Britney Spears.

I think the white stripes and the beach boys myself.

My parents thought Prince immediately when I played the SMBH video on TV. My mom said she liked it, though, whereas she normally doesn't like Prince ;).

Now now, don't be nasty.

Haha, it's cool, the song's way better than either of those (actually right up there as one of my favourite songs right now). The simple drum beat and the vocal style in places are what gives me the WS vibe though. "I thought I was a fool for no-oneeee," that bit in particular.

I just bought the album today, so far it's been a bit difficult to fully get into it. The other ones for me, I got into them almost instantly. I do like most of the songs on this album, I am glad it doesn't sound like something they have done before.

I will need to keep listening to this album until I finally enjoy it completely.

Some of the songs true beauty on the album do take more than a couple of times of listening to it to be fully appreciated. I've probably said this loads of times but for me "Invincible" was the one that didn't strike me as good on the first few listens but it grew on me.

Completely understandable, I am more into the second half of the album than the first. Something about the first few songs just don't strike me as to great to hear, but as always I will probably need to listen to them more. Invincible to me was a great song, I liked the closing parts to that song.

I am listening to this album again now, and finally thinking to myself..."Wow, this is kicking a lot of ass" then again, I am in the perfect mood for the music.

Lemme ask you Living Legend, when you bought the album, was it in a Digipak with the Concert DVD and the music CD? Just wondering, because I haven't bought it yet.

Right, this is just fucking odd. Muse on LoveLine:
http://www.westwoodone.com/pg/jsp/lo...29A94?pid=9152

Also, anyone seen the Knights of Cydonia vid yet? It's awesome!!

EDIT:
That interview, wtf? Is it even possible for your clitoris to move due to masturbation? I mean come on!

There was this rabid fan on the Loveline call. It was pretty funny, "Man, your vocal harmonies on Knights of Cydonia made me pee my pants." That was gold. I didn't hear the clitoris part... I skipped around because the total length was 2 hours. =\

Double Post:
Oh nevermind, found it. It was pretty funny but at the same time sad.

I think the Knights of Cydonia video is the greatest piece of video I have ever witnessed ever....it's at least the greatest music video ever.

I so wanted to see a video of that interview, I could tell there were some serious sniggering going on =p.

And Knights of Cydonia is definetly one of my favourite music videos ever, at last they're starting to get it RIGHT with their videos. Muse videos are usually shite but thank god they didn't fuck up this one.

I reckon it's because they may have listened to their fans for this one. I know that when the track was first played that people were going on about it involving horses and lasers somehow.

Waaaaay before they started recording the album Matt was saying how the song sounded like riding a horse through mexico and being shot down by bandits, so I think the idea of horses and the dessert were there in the early days. The lasers and the sci-finess probably all came in later when they stook that intro in their for the hell of it =p.

Ya gotta love Matt. He's bloody insane.

They just announced they're coming back to Belfast. I'll be getting my ticket on Friday when they go on sale. Plus, they're playing pretty much the biggest venue in Northern Ireland. Can't wait till 4th November now!

Aye, an insane genius.

Loveline?

Gah, Dr. Drew keeps having musicians I like on (Ville Valo from HIM was a surprise). I don't really understand why he does that, because he should know that 34984 squealing fangirls will call and say inane things to the singer/band. At least, that's how it was with Valo (and it made me kinda sick).

I'm downloading the Muse one, so I'll see.

Hell, you don't really have to worry about the people phoning in, it's the presenter that's awful! He's basically whacking himself off when he's speaking to them!

When the DJ was showing off the Muse medley he made, I know we had a problem here. But who could resist, seriously?

Just watched the KoC vid. Man, that was gold.

Yeah, I remember him doing a piss-poor job of having Ville on. He kept getting annoyed at all the faux-goth girls calling in just to say "I LOVE YOU VILLE <3 U R SO SEXI." He told the people to call in with their 'problems.' Like he didn't expect people to call in just to talk to the rock star :doh:...

Yeah, I still have to listen to the Muse one. I never can listen to all these things, though, since they go on and on for two hours. And I really dislike Dr. Drew -- although not nearly as much as Adam Carolla. That man is a shithead.

Heh, kind of a big bump on this thread, but I thought I'd say that the new single is "Starlight" and just was released today in the UK. Of course there's the CD single, the DVD single, picturedisc and download version.

Go Here to watch the new video and play the 'Stargame' thingy to enter a contest to get a guitar signed by Muse and see them and all that jazz. It's actually pretty amusing, how the questions are worded :).

I'm not sure I'm thrilled with this being the second single, but whatever. I mean, it is catchy, but...yeah. It's not my favorite song on the new album.

BUMP

Just saw Muse last night. It was, hands down, the best gig i've ever been to in my life. They are unbelievable. If you get a chance to see them, do, you won't regret it.

Shit, and here I was thinking there was another new Muse album coming.
Damn you randomwab! Damn you for crushing my dreams!

Well, as long as the thread has been resurrected... the new single "Knights of Cydonia" (new single as far as the UK is concerned) will be released on Nov. 27th, with the b-side being an extended studio version of "Assasin" and the DVD-single will have a making-of the KoC video, which should probably be amusing.

And yah, randomwab... I saw Muse live a little over a month ago and it was fantastic! I love music festivals, sometimes. Somehow I don't think I would have gotten autographs if I had gone to one of their concerts...

They were on another level when I saw them truly epic, only Pearl Jam and Placebo came close over the 3 days to putting up such a galactic performance. I had to go back to get my friend and it took me ages making my way back up near the front again.

Sorry for my shitty camera which I took with me in fear of Pikeys stealing my other one (without movie mode zoom, :( being far away for this song), but Stockholm Syndrome Live (.mpg, 86.5mb).

I've seen Muse in concert twice, and both performances have been jam packed with a phenomenal amount of energy. The first I went to was at The Quest in Minneapolis, MN which has a floor for people to dance on. Everyone went fuckin' nuts for Stockholm Syndrome, which they played probably 3-4 times through out that whole performance. The second was at the Orpheum Theater, where ya normally sit down to enjoy a show, but everyone stood up anyway. I have seen Air there as well. They usually have a synchronized lights at that place, and the lighting sequences thoroughly enhanced the experience.

BUT SHIT! Their concert at the Orpheum was fucking $40 US! Wowzerz! I was willing to throw it down anyway, cause a girl I was interested in invited me, and well, it's Muse.

Both great experiences. Matt's stage presence is indeed awesome. He was wearing an orange jump suit and he kind of bends and twists his thin body in strange ways when he plays guitar. It's really cool.

So, ya peeps like the new cd? Black Holes and Revelations? I sure do. It's a great little twist to their style that I absolutely adore.

^ I agree. Their new CD isn't entirely what people had previously established as "Muse-style" but it's definitely got art on its insides. The album is so overdone, but tastefully. I admire and love Muse all the more for what they accomplished and achieved with this album. What's strange about the thing is that I feel like it's a bit incomplete, if you will. The entire album seems to be stretching for some ridiculous and grand treasure, but then stops short. ...I don't know if that made any sense heh.

"Starlight" in particular is such a gem off the album...I adore how touching it is...