Originally posted by hudson: There's a pretty heavy political tone on the new album which is a bit of a turn off for me.
Just out interest, can I ask why?
Because I think it's played out. It seems like every band's release within the past 5-7 years has been an effort to make some big political statement and it's just wearing a little thin with me. Like I said, played out, beating a dead horse into the ground. I want something fresh.
I'll agree with the politics in this album. It's limited in content and it makes a listener think "I've heard this all before".
My thoughts on this new album. It sounds like a continuation of "Absolution" and I'm bored of it already. In fact, the first listen wasn't appealing. Muse should have explored a little more, instead of writing sequels.
Muse has the potential to be a great band. Unfortunately, Black Holes and Revelations doesn't do anything to push their sound forward. "Supermassive Black Hole" might be a solid single but otherwise the album is a big step back.
Posts: 54 | Location: St. Louis, MO | Registered: 19 May 2004
I'll agree with the politics in this album. It's limited in content and it makes a listener think "I've heard this all before".
My thoughts on this new album. It sounds like a continuation of "Absolution" and I'm bored of it already. In fact, the first listen wasn't appealing. Muse should have explored a little more, instead of writing sequels.
I haven't heard the new album yet but I look forward to it. I do have to disagree with the "should have explored a little more" part though. How many times have you heard people talk about returning to form or selling out. These discussion wouldn't be possible without a change of style or form. A wiser man than myself once said, "If it ain't broke, don't break it." I'd say that's pretty decent advice. How many cries have you heard for bands such as Radiohead, Metallica, RHCP, and others to "return to form"? I'd say that Muse are just fine where they are and if Absolution can be equalled or continued, I say go for it.
Posts: 1206 | Location: Hunting in the Korengal | Registered: 04 January 2006
I'll agree with the politics in this album. It's limited in content and it makes a listener think "I've heard this all before".
My thoughts on this new album. It sounds like a continuation of "Absolution" and I'm bored of it already. In fact, the first listen wasn't appealing. Muse should have explored a little more, instead of writing sequels.
I haven't heard the new album yet but I look forward to it. I do have to disagree with the "should have explored a little more" part though. How many times have you heard people talk about returning to form or selling out. These discussion wouldn't be possible without a change of style or form. A wiser man than myself once said, "If it ain't broke, don't break it." I'd say that's pretty decent advice. How many cries have you heard for bands such as Radiohead, Metallica, RHCP, and others to "return to form"? I'd say that Muse are just fine where they are and if Absolution can be equalled or continued, I say go for it.
Radiohead return to form? why for. All their albums from The Bends to Hail To the Thief have been excellent. I prefer bands to experiment more. Anyway, the new radiohead songs sounds like a "return to form" for all the people that believe they need it. Back onto the topic at hand, I do think BHAR is a great album. I also think it is a bit political but really would "Take A Bow" be as good without the politically charged lyrics? I don't think so. It's certainly my favorite Muse album so far. Looking forward to seeing them August 24th (2 Days after Radiohead good week!)
Oh, and Starlight has a great upbeat tune but contrasting lyrics. It's also another one of my favorites on the album
I dont know if you people realise we are going to the past, this guys sound a lot to Depeche MOde, more that on their former album which was more a concept ( Of course much better), they are deterioring their sound just looking for some good hits like track 3, which is the first single cause they know they have to be commercial if they want to be kept alive. Do you really think this is their best album? they deserve my respect, but...
Posts: 4 | Location: MÁLAGA | Registered: 09 July 2006
I noticed those idiots at pitchfork gave another fun, rockin', and well produced album a terrible rating simply because it doesn't fit their condescending, closed-minded criteria for what a good record really is. They actually called Muse "...lame". What a bunch of arrogant pricks.
This is a band that is adored here in the U.S. and even more beloved in Europe and Britain. They sell out stadiums, they make great music, and they love their fans. But pitchfork goes and calls them lame. How can you call yourself a professional music critique and then use the word "lame" to describe a band? Especially a band of the caliber of Muse.
Obviously the critique was written by some punk that has probably never even listened to a Muse album before because he's been too busy trying to be 'indie cool' for all his other music snob buddies that are playing Scott Walker's new album or some other unlistenable, new indie piece of crap.
"Black Holes..." is the alt. rock record people have been waiting for. It's fast, it's fresh, it's loud, it's well written, it's fun, it rocks.
So what if they didn't break any new ground with their new record, so what if they're not redefing their style? They do what they do, and well.
PF gives a damn near unlistenable, horrible album that I can't imagine anybody enjoying like Scott Walker a 9.0 but Muse gets a 4.2? Please.
Those snobs at PF can kiss my butt, so can CMG and that guy who likes "hollaback girl" and nelly furtado...pulease. All the other critics seemed to think "black holes..." is a great album, and so do the consumers. That's all that matters.
I won't dis you but I did pick up the copy that you refused to buy on Monday. So far, I love it and it's still growing on me. I think it's a terrific step forward and a super solid effort from a great band.
Posts: 1206 | Location: Hunting in the Korengal | Registered: 04 January 2006
Originally posted by pak: Hooray for flaming all those who disagree with your opinion! I own Absolution, I dislike it, I will not buy another Muse album. Go ahead, diss me.
Pak, I don't care if you don't like Muse or their album "absolution" which is nothing less than an alt. classic. Your loss there, imo. What fun would it be if we all liked the exact same music?
My problem is that this punk,with no seemingly no grasp of alternative music parading as a professional critic, critiques a band that he has clearly never listened to before by calling them lame.
Thats the same as a person calling Radiohead or Queen or Tool or Pearl Jam lame simply because they heard a couple of their songs once, didn't like or understand their sound and decided to write them off as lame.
It takes absolutely no intelligence or talent to call a band lame. And the fact that this guy from pitchfork did, only confirms that he lacks both. Calling a band you don't like lame is a cop out and it's what you do when you have no clue what the hell you're talking about, period.
About this pitchfork dismissiveness: NME is normally no authority on anything but UK modish hype - but their review of BHR touches on this debate - they locate the typical reaction against Muse's prog theatricality as coming from the 'keeping it real' tradition of music criticism. Why not? I have friends in this boat and while they can be a little earnest and self-important they are also straight shooters and keep me honest and point me to great visceral and gripping intensely personal music. Still, I also come to music for a thrilling experience on the more extroverted end of the scale and bow down to the likes of Little Richard who had the balls to don make up, holler to the roof tops in glittering suits and thus brought rock out of the juke joints and streets and into a surreal performance space.
Keep on keeping it real, but for god's sake (pitchfork and others) don't make it a new limiting religion and shut yourself off from some good old fashioned partying at the end of the world - on mars! I think some people forget blood doesn't just pump through their heads!
Meta-music lovers - please tell me why there is so much focus on some sort of pseudo-scientific evolution process in music appreciation? This is the real pretentiousness. So often this just hides people's preferences as to which direction THEY would LIKE their idols to head - either in a direction they are not familiar with (unlike many others who may be very familiar, ie Kid A just loves 20 yr old Kraftwerk) or one they are familiar with and love but one their band has not headed in as yet.
Call it like it is peoples - as for BHR: I just happen to love my darker electro, my flamenco prog and space-ghetti westerns and am very happy Muse have hysterically spun these elements into one absurdly enjoyable space-rock opera.
Does it reinvent the wheel - puhlease, Ecclesiastes (FYI: the good ol bible) sang of nothing new under the sun millenia before some upstarts in awe of their own illusory control of the earth became so impressed with their ingenuity!
Now there's a rant in the spirit of BHR - minus trying to work in an alien conspiracy angle - I'll leave that to Muse.
Originally posted by hudson: There's a pretty heavy political tone on the new album which is a bit of a turn off for me.
Just out interest, can I ask why?
Because I think it's played out. It seems like every band's release within the past 5-7 years has been an effort to make some big political statement and it's just wearing a little thin with me. Like I said, played out, beating a dead horse into the ground. I want something fresh.
Jesus, dude. How can you get more fresh than the end of the world at the hands of 21st century white slave-owners?
________________________________________________________ "The music business is a cruel and shallow money trench, a long plastic hallway where thieves and pimps run free, and good men die like dogs. There's also a negative side." - Hunter S. Thompson tinymixtapes.com / The Skinny / PopMatters
Originally posted by hudson: There's a pretty heavy political tone on the new album which is a bit of a turn off for me.
Just out interest, can I ask why?
Because I think it's played out. It seems like every band's release within the past 5-7 years has been an effort to make some big political statement and it's just wearing a little thin with me. Like I said, played out, beating a dead horse into the ground. I want something fresh.
Jesus, dude. How can you get more fresh than the end of the world at the hands of 21st century white slave-owners?
Absolutely nothing is fresh about it Filmore. Musically I think the new album is fresh. But on a several songs I think they beat the same dead horse that Pearl Jam and countless other of some of my favorite liberal leaning bands have been beating to death for the past 5-7 years. That's all.
It's a bit of a turn off for me, as is it for all the other people who love those bands but are sick of them pushing their politics in our faces.
I enjoyed rock and roll when it was more about giving the fans a rockin' album and less about using your popularity, clout and music to disseminate your political views. I like apolitical music. That's just the way I am.
I don't want to listen to some musician constantly singing about how much he hates America or hates Bush or thinks that Republicans are religious zealots. Or, for that matter, I don't want to listen to a musician sing about how much he loves Bush or thinks Dems are all misguided bafoons.
I just feel like telling all these damn bands out there:
WE KNOW, BUSH IS A MORON, BLAIR IS AN IDIOT, THEY ARE SINGLE HANDEDLY DESTROYING THE EARTH, THE IRAQ WAR IS THE BIGGEST FUCK UP OF ALL TIME! WE KNOW ALREADY YOU PIG HEADED MUSICIANS, SO FIND SOMETHING NEW TO SING ABOUT ALREADY AND QUIT BEATING THE SAME FRIGGIN' DEAD HORSE. BE CREATIVE, YOU ARE ARTISTS...RIGHT?
I haven't heard the new album yet, but bands (at least those with big heads and the clout to do it) often feel the need to try to right what they consider wrongs, and even when it's beating a dead horse, they continue to do it. It's called trying to sway public opinion, aka the Vietnam Syndrome. ("Bring them home.") Of course, it takes lots of dead horses...and humans...for it to ever happen, if it does.
"Naked Woman, Naked Man Where did you get that nice sun tan?"
Posts: 12901 | Location: Behind the Orange Curtain | Registered: 14 May 2004
Originally posted by mark f: I haven't heard the new album yet, but bands (at least those with big heads and the clout to do it) often feel the need to try to right what they consider wrongs, and even when it's beating a dead horse, they continue to do it. It's called trying to sway public opinion, aka the Vietnam Syndrome. ("Bring them home.") Of course, it takes lots of dead horses...and humans...for it to ever happen, if it does.
I agree with you markf. However, when a band does that it just makes me feel that they no longer give a crap about their fans, their faithful supporters throughout the years, their bread and butter. They don't care who they push away or offend. And they have every right to do that, it's their music.
But I don't like it, and as a fan and supporter who pays for countless concert tickets, buys their albums year after year(when I could just as easily swipe one for free off the internet), wears the t-shirts, spreads the good word, I have a right to voice my opinions about their product.
I appreciate the conviction of these bands to so adamantly voice their views, but the divisive nature of their "in your face" political message doesn't bode well with the entire fan base. They should at least be aware that they push a lot of their diehard, faithful fans away, fans who have commited the unforgivable crime of disagreeing with their political viewpoint.
If bands would keep their message primarily apolitical, this wouldn't be a problem. But that just ain't the way it is in our present sociological climate, and I understand that, I just don't really like it.
good week!)
