New Muse album...

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.

How ya doing, buddy?

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.

How ya doing, buddy?

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.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

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 am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

Originally Posted by Majin yami

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.

Most amazing jew boots

Originally Posted by Majin yami

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

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

Originally Posted by Arkhangelsk

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

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:

Quote:

"--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The fact we're wearing some ludicrously expensive headphones in an overly posh London restaurant means little. It's 'Black Holes And Revelations' unveiling, and you could cut the tension with a knife (or at least a few of the numerous cocktails and bottles of wine littering the place - slightly sozzled Ed). First listen time? You bet.

'Take A Bow'
Muse aren't starting things with a bang, or even a steady march. Instead they've plugged into an old Spectrum ZX and have gone retro computer-pop. Things all go a bit Queen, the entire universe seems to explode, and the lyrics get broody. "You'll burn in hell for your sins", apparently. Bloody hell!


'Starlight'
Funked up with handclaps, you'd be forgiven for choking on your digestive when we tell you that 'Starlight's hook line reminds us a bit of Coldplay. It's certainly not MOR, however; guitars come in, the wiggly beeps of 'Origin Of Symmetry' make a welcome return. It's bleedin' massive.

'Supermassive Black Hole'
Is this Millionaire? Muse turn space funk in their lead single. Already tearing up the airwaves, it sounds even more like the pure pop genius it undoubtedly is within the confines of the album. Hardcore fans scared off by the single take note: it'll all make sense when you hear it in context.

'Map Of The Problematique'
DIY is at war. Half of us think 'Map Of The Problematique' should be the new theme music to The Bill, the other half thinks it's The Clothes Show. Electro bass mixes with piano, layered harmonies and something close to Eurotrance to make something that, on first listen, is either madness or genius. The last ten seconds, however, could well be the best thing Muse have ever done. Honestly.

'Soldier's Poem'
The first quiet one proper, Matt goes crooner. Stripped down to some Twenties/Thirties style vibe, complete with ultrasonic, unnerving backing vocals, 'Soldier's Poem' probably wears a smoking jacket and scares small children at night. Genuinely haunting.

'Invincible'
If we said Bellamy had written a song based upon the last ten minutes of Robin Hood, Prince Of Thieves, you'd tell us we've gone mad. Our first thought? Will there be bagpipes. Seriously. There aren't, but we wouldn't have been surprised. An ethereal march and the odd floaty harmony sound like the myst clearing at the end of the battle that ends the world. We're talking epic here. There's chunky bits, lyrics that could be a paranoid Westlife if we didn't know better ("Together we're invincible"), and a bass line that sounds like 'Time Is Running Out' on a sugar rush at times. The fact it actually works is more remarkable than the lot.

'Assassin'
Knight Rider. It sounds like bloody Knight Rider, or at least for the first ten seconds. Then it all goes metal; massive riffs, harmonies that sound like Queen and a whole chorus of vocals combine to sound like Metallica going to the opera.

'Exo-Politics'
Remember the Franz Ferdinand comments? We'd assume this is what they're on about. Funked up, fuzzed out guitars pull out one of those arch art-rock riffs that have Kapranos all over them, albeit if he was covering 'On A Rope'. If it wasn't for the rubbish title, we'd say this was a nailed on single, but then it's not like that will stop Muse.

'City Of Delusion'
Spanish guitars make their first appearence, turn electric, are joined by an orchestra of strings and go post apocalyptic. The last flamenco at the end of time? Quite possibly.

'Hoodoo'
Certainly this album's 'Unintended', genetically spliced into a Mexican western, it's Zorro without any of the doughnuts. Crashing down by the end, it's understated, but really bloody good.

'Knights Of Cydonia'
At one point, Knights Of Cydonia reminds DIY of Erasure. Not for long mind, as monk like chanting and a falsetto that could deafen a dog at the other end of the earth kick in. Backed by a brass section and what sounds like a whole choir of battery opperated Clangers, it's the first ever space western. A shootout at high noon between R2D2 and the Milkybar Kid, before the end it all cuts out and Muse go more Queen than ever before. An AC/DC sized riff arrives and the world promptly ends. Blimey!

'Black Holes And Revelations' is certainly an album, rather than a collection of songs. On the first listen it sounds impressive, but it'll take more than one to work out exactly how good it is. The biggest thing Muse have done to date, they're hiding from nobody. The signs look more than promising."

FELIPE NO

Originally Posted by Dee

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.

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

Originally Posted by Majin yami

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.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Originally Posted by Dee

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.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

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.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

Originally Posted by Majin yami

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.

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

Originally Posted by Majin yami

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.

I was speaking idiomatically.

Originally Posted by Majin yami

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.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

Originally Posted by Majin yami

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 ;_;.

FELIPE NO

Originally Posted by Majin yami

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.

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

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...

Jam it back in, in the dark.

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.

How ya doing, buddy?

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.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

Originally Posted by Shiki

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

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

Originally Posted by OmagnusPrime

Like that was ever in question.

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.

I was speaking idiomatically.

Originally Posted by OmagnusPrime

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.

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.

Quote:

To: Miss S J Walmsley

Your order for "Black Holes And Revelations" has been received.

:biggrin:

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

Originally Posted by Arkhangelsk

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.

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.

Originally Posted by Dee

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).

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.

FELIPE NO

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.

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

=DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD

I think I might cry with excitement.

Jam it back in, in the dark.