Ah, Muse...how I always wait in bated anticipation for your new albums. You have yet to ever really let me down with an album (though you came close with Black Holes and Revelations). I finally received The Resistance this week after a shipping 'incident' delayed its arrival. I opened the package with high hopes and eagerness, since its been three years since their last album. I loaded The Resistance into my iTunes and waited impatiently for it to finish importing before slapping on my headphones and getting to business.
The album opens with "Uprising", the first single from the cd. Its a fist pumping, high energy anthem the likes of which only Muse could deliver so successfully. Its got a great chorus that is easy and fun to sing along with. However, soundwise the song is sorely out of place on this album and would fit better in Black Holes and Revelations (it would slide in right behind Knights of Cydonia quite nicely). What ties it to the rest of the album is its theme: a wold at war, brewing revolution, and political unrest
Next is the album's title track, "Resistance". This song is much more representative of the overall feel and sound of the album than "Uprising". This track is a standout, and at moments brings memories of Queen's body of work. Its definitely a new sound for Muse, and they pull it off perfectly.
"Undisclosed Desires", while not 'technically' the best song on the album, it is easily my favorite. It has a hip hop beat that is incredibly fun to dance to. Whenever I hear this song, its just instinctual...doesn't matter if I'm at home listening on my iPod or in the car going 70 down the interstate...when this song comes on, my body just starts dancing. This track would not be out of place on a Depeche Mode album. This could eventually make it onto the radio as a single as it is the perfect length for the radio.
The next song, "United States of Eurasia", is an interesting track. It again continues Muse's tribute to Queen seen throughout the album. So much so that if you didn't know it was Muse, you would think you were listening to Queen. Its a good song, but I feel that for the scope and scale of importance they try to give this track, its just not long enough. The song clocks in at 5:47, but the last 2:06 of the song is spent by Matt Bellamy playing through Chopin's Nocturne (which makes the track come off as forced and pretentious). It still is fun to listen to, and Freddie Mercury would be proud.
"Guiding Light" is an okay song, but thats about it. It also has an excellent solo (no, Matt Bellamy is not Jerry Cantrell, but the solo fits the song perfectly). Thats really all there is to say about this track.
The next song is "Unnatural Selection". Its a decent song, it just doesn't really stand out. The same can be said for "MK Ultra".
"I Belong To You" is much better than the two songs preceding it. I love how halfway through, the pace slows and Bellamy starts crooning away in French and then belting out the sound again. This song grows on you the more you listen to it.
Next we have the "Exogenesis Symphony". A series of three songs tied together in Muse's idea of a rock opera. It starts with a rousing symphany overture composed by Bellamy. In the middle of part 1's overture, Bellamy starts to sing in his haunting falsetto that few can pull off. When the guitar kicks in, things get even more haunting. Its weird, but it in the context of these three tracks, it works. In this trilogy of songs, Muse try very hard to blend classical music and rock and roll more than they ever have before (and that IS saying something). They accomplish this masterfully during the three track symphony. It is a shining light on this album, and definitely worth listening to over and again.
I really enjoy this album by Muse. Is it as good as "Absolution"? C'mon, you already know the answer to that. "Absolution" is to Muse what "OK Computer" was to Radiohead in the 90s: unbeatable. Sure, Radiohead continued to release great albums after "OK Computer" (except "Amnesiac"...what was up with that album), but they never reached creativity of that level again. The same is for Muse and "Absolution". I will say that "The Resistance" is one of my favorite albums of the year. My absolute favorite? Its tough to say. Muse faces tough competition from Mat Kearney, U2, DMB, and Needtobreathe's 2009 releases. Plus, with next weeks releases of new albums for Alice in Chains and Paramore (yes, I listen to Paramore, get over it) the discussion of album of the year is only just beginning.
The album opens with "Uprising", the first single from the cd. Its a fist pumping, high energy anthem the likes of which only Muse could deliver so successfully. Its got a great chorus that is easy and fun to sing along with. However, soundwise the song is sorely out of place on this album and would fit better in Black Holes and Revelations (it would slide in right behind Knights of Cydonia quite nicely). What ties it to the rest of the album is its theme: a wold at war, brewing revolution, and political unrest
Next is the album's title track, "Resistance". This song is much more representative of the overall feel and sound of the album than "Uprising". This track is a standout, and at moments brings memories of Queen's body of work. Its definitely a new sound for Muse, and they pull it off perfectly.
"Undisclosed Desires", while not 'technically' the best song on the album, it is easily my favorite. It has a hip hop beat that is incredibly fun to dance to. Whenever I hear this song, its just instinctual...doesn't matter if I'm at home listening on my iPod or in the car going 70 down the interstate...when this song comes on, my body just starts dancing. This track would not be out of place on a Depeche Mode album. This could eventually make it onto the radio as a single as it is the perfect length for the radio.
The next song, "United States of Eurasia", is an interesting track. It again continues Muse's tribute to Queen seen throughout the album. So much so that if you didn't know it was Muse, you would think you were listening to Queen. Its a good song, but I feel that for the scope and scale of importance they try to give this track, its just not long enough. The song clocks in at 5:47, but the last 2:06 of the song is spent by Matt Bellamy playing through Chopin's Nocturne (which makes the track come off as forced and pretentious). It still is fun to listen to, and Freddie Mercury would be proud.
"Guiding Light" is an okay song, but thats about it. It also has an excellent solo (no, Matt Bellamy is not Jerry Cantrell, but the solo fits the song perfectly). Thats really all there is to say about this track.
The next song is "Unnatural Selection". Its a decent song, it just doesn't really stand out. The same can be said for "MK Ultra".
"I Belong To You" is much better than the two songs preceding it. I love how halfway through, the pace slows and Bellamy starts crooning away in French and then belting out the sound again. This song grows on you the more you listen to it.
Next we have the "Exogenesis Symphony". A series of three songs tied together in Muse's idea of a rock opera. It starts with a rousing symphany overture composed by Bellamy. In the middle of part 1's overture, Bellamy starts to sing in his haunting falsetto that few can pull off. When the guitar kicks in, things get even more haunting. Its weird, but it in the context of these three tracks, it works. In this trilogy of songs, Muse try very hard to blend classical music and rock and roll more than they ever have before (and that IS saying something). They accomplish this masterfully during the three track symphony. It is a shining light on this album, and definitely worth listening to over and again.
I really enjoy this album by Muse. Is it as good as "Absolution"? C'mon, you already know the answer to that. "Absolution" is to Muse what "OK Computer" was to Radiohead in the 90s: unbeatable. Sure, Radiohead continued to release great albums after "OK Computer" (except "Amnesiac"...what was up with that album), but they never reached creativity of that level again. The same is for Muse and "Absolution". I will say that "The Resistance" is one of my favorite albums of the year. My absolute favorite? Its tough to say. Muse faces tough competition from Mat Kearney, U2, DMB, and Needtobreathe's 2009 releases. Plus, with next weeks releases of new albums for Alice in Chains and Paramore (yes, I listen to Paramore, get over it) the discussion of album of the year is only just beginning.
i'm digging the music reviews...i want to see more! :]
ReplyDeletemichelle (your cousin)
What do you think about Jars of Clay's newest album? Or are you only doing BRAND NEW albums?
ReplyDeleteYou'll see more reviews, Michelle. In fact, I should be getting AiC and Paramore's new albums this week...and reviews will be up shortly afterward.
ReplyDeleteJosh, I really planned on reviewing brand new albums only, but if I can get my hands on a copy of Jars of Clay's new album I wouldn't be opposed to reviewing it *hint*
I took the hint as i typed my comment
ReplyDelete