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Muse - yay or nay? - 11/2/2013 7:28:19 PM

Cloud Cuckoo

Posts: 394
Joined: 7/2/2013
From: Mind your own

What do you reckon?

I own all their albums. I like their music. It is admittedly not terribly subtle, and prone to be grandiose/cheesy, but they are talented musicians and I rather like the classical slant they bring to some of their songs. I find their melodies and chord combinations pleasing to the ear. And Bellamy has certainly got a good pair of lungs; no one could fairly contest that.

HOWEVER...

I find their lyrics abysmal, really meaningless. Bellamy's vocal gymnastics can be a bit, well, hysterical, to the point he sounds like Thom Yorke in the midst of a panic attack. Rein it in a bit, man! And why does he have to slide around the stage on his knees as though possessed by the ghost of Jimi Hendrix? Hendrix could pull it off; he just looks like a dick.

I can't decide if they are good or a bit rubbish. And I'm always a bit embarrassed to admit I like them, which suggests the latter and takes any admiration into guilty pleasure territory.

What say you?

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RE: Muse - yay or nay? - 11/2/2013 7:52:41 PM

AxlReznor

Posts: 1095
Joined: 2/12/2010
From: Great Britain

Everything they did was great, until The 2nd Law which has some good stuff, and some complete bollocks on it. So yay!

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Post #: 2

RE: Muse - yay or nay? - 11/2/2013 8:40:28 PM

Hobbitonlass

Posts: 11519
Joined: 30/9/2005
From: Westeros

YAY!

Can't wait to see them at the Emirates stadium at the end of May

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RE: Muse - yay or nay? - 11/2/2013 9:54:01 PM

Cloud Cuckoo

Posts: 394
Joined: 7/2/2013
From: Mind your own

quote:

ORIGINAL: Hobbitonlass

YAY!

Can't wait to see them at the Emirates stadium at the end of May

Yeah I'm going to their Manchester gig at the beginning of July, they are supposed to be phenomenal live. Maybe they'll fully win me round then.

I still think their lyrics are guff though.

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Post #: 4

RE: Muse - yay or nay? - 11/2/2013 9:54:45 PM

Mister Coe

Posts: 580
Joined: 20/10/2012

I really like Muse, one of the few bands who got better with every album UNTIL the fifth.

I disagree With Axl, I think that The 2nd Law is a real return to form, the previous album was a disappointment, to me at least.

I grew up listening to Rush and Queen and I love the fact that there is a band out there who are playing stadiums and arenas with that same over-the-top, truly mental spirit.

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RE: Muse - yay or nay? - 11/2/2013 10:06:50 PM

Cloud Cuckoo

Posts: 394
Joined: 7/2/2013
From: Mind your own

quote:

ORIGINAL: Mister Coe

I really like Muse, one of the few bands who got better with every album UNTIL the fifth.

I disagree With Axl, I think that The 2nd Law is a real return to form, the previous album was a disappointment, to me at least.

I really enjoyed The Resistence, especially I Belong To You and the Exogenesis numbers (particularly the first, which is quite beautiful). I like The 2nd Law as well.

Absolution is probably my favourite though; that gets played a lot on the old iPod.

quote:

I grew up listening to Rush and Queen and I love the fact that there is a band out there who are playing stadiums and arenas with that same over-the-top, truly mental spirit.

I can really hear the influence of Queen in a lot of their work.

< Message edited by Cloud Cuckoo -- 11/2/2013 10:48:23 PM >

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Post #: 6

RE: Muse - yay or nay? - 11/2/2013 10:40:12 PM

Hobbitonlass

Posts: 11519
Joined: 30/9/2005
From: Westeros

quote:

ORIGINAL: Cloud Cuckoo
they are supposed to be phenomenal live.

They are, I saw them at Wembley a couple of years back. Awesome!

quote:

ORIGINAL: Cloud Cuckoo
especially I Belong To You

One of my favs along with Feeling Good and New Born.

I reckon Showbiz is my most played album

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Post #: 7

RE: Muse - yay or nay? - 12/2/2013 12:27:25 AM

Mister Coe

Posts: 580
Joined: 20/10/2012

Yes, The Resistance was the name of the fifth album! I'd forgotten that when I posted my last message!

Uprising and the Exogenesis trilogy (especially Part 3) are great but I didn't think TR was as good as BLACK HOLES AND REVELATIONS, their best album, IMO.

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Post #: 8

RE: Muse - yay or nay? - 12/2/2013 12:39:13 AM

rich

Posts: 4138
Joined: 30/9/2005
From: Neo Kobe

I like Origin of Symmetry and Absolution. The rest is hit and miss.

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Post #: 9

RE: Muse - yay or nay? - 12/2/2013 12:51:51 AM

Cloud Cuckoo

Posts: 394
Joined: 7/2/2013
From: Mind your own

quote:

ORIGINAL: Mister Coe

Yes, The Resistance was the name of the fifth album! I'd forgotten that when I posted my last message!

I had to look at my iPod!

I struggle to remember a lot of their album/song titles, actually, which isn't a good sign in itself. Unlike, say, Radiohead and The Beatles, whose works are tattooed onto my brain.

quote:

I didn't think TR was as good as BLACK HOLES AND REVELATIONS, their best album, IMO.

That one didn't grab me as much. Starlight is one of my favourite songs, Supermassive Black Hole is great and Knights of Cydonia is positively epic, but as a whole I was never compelled to listen to it as much as their other albums.

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Post #: 10

RE: Muse - yay or nay? - 12/2/2013 1:01:39 AM

Olaf

Posts: 23364
Joined: 26/2/2007
From: 41�N 93�W

quote:

ORIGINAL: rich

I like Origin of Symmetry and Absolution. The rest is hit and miss.

This, both really great albums - OOS particularly reminds me of my teenage years - but the last three records have been a depressing slide into pompous silliness. though I really like Knights of Cydonia, partly because it was conscious of its own OTTness unlike the material after that (see the video) and partly because it reminds me of Telstar by The Tornados which is one of the best songs ever ever.

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Post #: 11

RE: Muse - yay or nay? - 12/2/2013 1:16:01 AM

Rhubarb

Posts: 24398
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From: No Direction Home

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Post #: 12

RE: Muse - yay or nay? - 12/2/2013 8:04:19 AM

AxlReznor

Posts: 1095
Joined: 2/12/2010
From: Great Britain

quote:

ORIGINAL: Olaf

quote:

ORIGINAL: rich

I like Origin of Symmetry and Absolution. The rest is hit and miss.

This, both really great albums - OOS particularly reminds me of my teenage years - but the last three records have been a depressing slide into pompous silliness. though I really like Knights of Cydonia, partly because it was conscious of its own OTTness unlike the material after that (see the video) and partly because it reminds me of Telstar by The Tornados which is one of the best songs ever ever.

You don't think United States Of Eurasia was aware of its own OTTness? Apparently they were rolling about with laughter as they were listening to playbacks of that song.

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Post #: 13

RE: Muse - yay or nay? - 12/2/2013 12:23:46 PM

great_badir

Posts: 4178
Joined: 6/10/2005
From: A breaking rope bridge in the middle of the jungle

I must admit I've not really stuck with them, but I don't mind them.

I used to see them quite often in the 90s where they had a fairly regular slot at the Fleece and Firkin (a tiny pub-cum-concert venue) in Bristol, where they'd invariably be supporting much bigger acts (at the time, anyway - 99% of those acts have now disappeared and are long forgotten, but Muse have obviously gone the other way). They weren't too shabby then.

I applaud that they are trying to make mainstream pop more technical, however they need a drummer who is technically as proficient a musician as Matt Bellamy and Chris Wolstenholme. Unfortunately, Dominic Howard isn't.

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Post #: 14

RE: Muse - yay or nay? - 12/2/2013 1:07:59 PM

MonsterCat

Posts: 6223
Joined: 24/3/2011
From: St. Albans, Hertfordshire

quote:

ORIGINAL: great_badir

I must admit I've not really stuck with them, but I don't mind them.

Pretty much my sentiments, too.

I like Origin of Symmetry and Showbiz, but I find they're becoming less and less interesting as time goes by. I think it's because they've found a formula and are sticking to it as opposed to pushing themselves out of their comfort zone.

< Message edited by MonsterCat -- 12/2/2013 1:08:44 PM >

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Post #: 15

RE: Muse - yay or nay? - 12/2/2013 1:34:43 PM

jcthefirst

Posts: 4076
Joined: 6/10/2005
From: Bangor

quote:

ORIGINAL: MonsterCat

quote:

ORIGINAL: great_badir

I must admit I've not really stuck with them, but I don't mind them.

Pretty much my sentiments, too.

I like Origin of Symmetry and Showbiz, but I find they're becoming less and less interesting as time goes by. I think it's because they've found a formula and are sticking to it as opposed to pushing themselves out of their comfort zone.

Listen to Panic Station off The 2nd Law.

In fact, all of The 2nd Law. It's not mindblowingly different or anything but it was the last thing I'd expected from a Muse album.

I didn't care for The Resistance.

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Post #: 16

RE: Muse - yay or nay? - 12/2/2013 5:47:20 PM

SwozTheRevenge

Posts: 221
Joined: 22/10/2010

Thumbs down. Awful. Fucking awful.

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Post #: 17

RE: Muse - yay or nay? - 13/2/2013 12:17:35 AM

Mister Coe

Posts: 580
Joined: 20/10/2012

quote:

ORIGINAL: Olaf

quote:

ORIGINAL: rich

I like Origin of Symmetry and Absolution. The rest is hit and miss.

This, both really great albums - OOS particularly reminds me of my teenage years - but the last three records have been a depressing slide into pompous silliness. though I really like Knights of Cydonia, partly because it was conscious of its own OTTness unlike the material after that (see the video) and partly because it reminds me of Telstar by The Tornados which is one of the best songs ever ever.

Yes, THAT'S the song that's KNIGHTS... reminded me of! It's been bothering me since I first heard it!

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RE: Muse - yay or nay? - 13/2/2013 12:26:26 AM

Olaf

Posts: 23364
Joined: 26/2/2007
From: 41�N 93�W

I'm pretty sure Matt Bellamy's dad was the guitarist in The Tornados for that matter. The Tornados > Muse.

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Post #: 19

RE: Muse - yay or nay? - 13/2/2013 12:50:50 AM

ElephantBoy

Posts: 7353
Joined: 13/4/2006

Yay when I was 18, very much Nay now.

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Post #: 20

RE: Muse - yay or nay? - 13/2/2013 1:32:45 AM

Cloud Cuckoo

Posts: 394
Joined: 7/2/2013
From: Mind your own

quote:

ORIGINAL: Olaf

I'm pretty sure Matt Bellamy's dad was the guitarist in The Tornados for that matter.

Oh dear - ripping off the old man, eh? For shame.

It's interesting seeing the variety of opinions thus far, from those who love them to those who just like their early work to those who think they're, well, keech.

Their sound has evolved - which explains why some dislike their more recent output - but not hugely; it's hardly Pablo Honey to The King of Limbs. They aren't the most experimental act in the world; they don't strive to break new ground. Perhaps they don't wish to alienate their fans, or perhaps they just like the niche they have.

What's more, I can't think of one single song of theirs to really mark them, to call a classic. They are probably most admired for Feeling Good, obviously not their own song, but which was voted greatest cover ever (scandalous imho).

They're talented, but they'll never be truly great.

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Post #: 21

RE: Muse - yay or nay? - 15/2/2013 8:57:15 PM

Lazy wolf eyes

Posts: 4086
Joined: 9/9/2006
From: Royston Vasey

I think they're fun, but throwaway. Like Elephant Boy I thought they were brilliant when I was about 17/18 but not so much these days. There's a lot of power but the lyrics don't really cut it.

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Post #: 22

RE: Muse - yay or nay? - 15/2/2013 9:16:29 PM

Super Hans

Posts: 2291
Joined: 30/9/2005
From: Watford

I really like them, own all their albums and am looking forward to seeing them for the first time in May!

Admittedly I haven't been there from the start - while I liked the odd song before it, the first album I bought was Black Holes and Revelations the I bought the rest of them since. They've since become one of the most listened to bands on my iPod.

While I haven't listened to Showbiz enough to have a view on how it compares to the others, from Origin of Symmetry onwards i think the albums have gotten gradually less impressive but still very listenable!

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Post #: 23

RE: Muse - yay or nay? - 15/2/2013 11:10:11 PM

rich

Posts: 4138
Joined: 30/9/2005
From: Neo Kobe

quote:

ORIGINAL: Mister Coe

quote:

ORIGINAL: Olaf

quote:

ORIGINAL: rich

I like Origin of Symmetry and Absolution. The rest is hit and miss.

This, both really great albums - OOS particularly reminds me of my teenage years - but the last three records have been a depressing slide into pompous silliness. though I really like Knights of Cydonia, partly because it was conscious of its own OTTness unlike the material after that (see the video) and partly because it reminds me of Telstar by The Tornados which is one of the best songs ever ever.

Yes, THAT'S the song that's KNIGHTS... reminded me of! It's been bothering me since I first heard it!

I really like Knights of Cydonia too. Shame that it's not the opening track on an album which follows on that style, instead of the last track on a load of randoms which are mostly dissapointing.

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RE: Muse - yay or nay? - 17/2/2013 2:37:59 AM

Cloud Cuckoo

Posts: 394
Joined: 7/2/2013
From: Mind your own

^ Yup, kinda agree with that.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Lazy wolf eyes

I think they're fun, but throwaway ... There's a lot of power but the lyrics don't really cut it.

This sums up my thoughts exactly. You have put into a few words what I've been blabbering about all thread!!

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Post #: 25

RE: Muse - yay or nay? - 17/2/2013 3:56:30 PM

Lazy wolf eyes

Posts: 4086
Joined: 9/9/2006
From: Royston Vasey

It's a skill.

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Post #: 26

RE: Muse - yay or nay? - 19/2/2013 8:29:59 PM

BigKovacs

Posts: 3144
Joined: 6/4/2006
From: Textile Street.

Nay. Pretentious and take themselves way too seriously.

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Post #: 27

RE: Muse - yay or nay? - 21/2/2013 9:45:27 PM

Mister Coe

Posts: 580
Joined: 20/10/2012

quote:

ORIGINAL: BigKovacs

Nay. Pretentious and take themselves way too seriously.

You think that, BigKovacs? I always thought that when Matt has been interviewed, he seems quite tongue-in-cheek.

Just my opinion, mate.

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RE: Muse - yay or nay? - 22/2/2013 8:53:22 AM

twisted_state

Posts: 21
Joined: 20/2/2013

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Post #: 29

RE: Muse - yay or nay? - 16/3/2013 11:52:52 PM

Musefan

Posts: 115
Joined: 21/12/2005

Yay. Muse are great. One of the best live acts around with a incredible impressive collection of songs. Their new stuff isn't up to scratch with their classic albums, but they're still capable of producing great rocking anthems.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Cloud Cuckoo

I find their lyrics abysmal, really meaningless.

Really? I think the meaning of most of their songs is pretty clear. Maybe the problem is the opposite - not that their lyrics are meaningless, but that the meaning is so clearly laid out that their songs don't have the ambiguous poetic (meaningless?) quality of a band like Radiohead.

quote:

And I'm always a bit embarrassed to admit I like them, which suggests the latter and takes any admiration into guilty pleasure territory.

That's fair enough. I do think though with any band of their stature, making music right at the heart of popular culture, there's always gonna be alot of hate directed at them. Look at their peers - U2, Coldplay, Kings of Leon, etc... all not the most fashionable bands in the world right now.

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Post #: 30