The Resistance

Enter at your own will
Muse has been compared to just about any band in the British landscape from the moment set foot on a stage. Fortunately this has not affected their sense of identity and that once loathed alien/apocalyptic/surreal vision of the world has led them straight to the top of the charts and to the iPods of more people than we care to admit. What is the appeal they have over their listeners? First, they CAN write great tunes but they add a twist and make them ridiculously fun. Second, they don't take themselves seriously and unlike most of their contemporaries they are able sail from political denounces to comedic spurts without problem. Third, they take in all the comparisons and make them part of who they are. This is the most obvious point in their fifth studio recording. Having blown open the contrived label that capsuled "prog-rock" with Absolution and take it a notch further with Black holes and revelations, The resistance shows a Muse refusing to mature completely and using all their cards under the sleeve to reinvent a nearly extinct genre. This time the results might be less colored and more grey than in previous opportunities, but never dull. As if the banner had been raised from the start first single United States Of Eurasia is an open homage to Queen, not only in length but in composition. Give or take some nods at Chopin and even the presence of an Exocet launch at the end. The rest of the album will see Matt Bellamy, Christopher Wolstenholme and Dominique Howard indulging in their conspiracy theories, orchestral fascination and spacial aesthetics. They move from ballads (I belong to you) to straightforward rock (Unnatural selection) to a symphony in three movements (Exogenesis) that will not only give you an inside out cerebral trip but also leave you craving for nothing else when the odyssey is over. Uprising is a radio friendly cut that most reminisces what they've done in the past (like a breeding between the jolly Supermassive black hole and the sinister Time is running out), while the title track gives cue to the plot behind the record's concept: resistance against general corporatocracy and the idea that love can cross boundaries between different political views and religious beliefs. One thing is impossible to deny: they have managed to deliver yet another amusing and tightly arranged album. The composition along with Bellamy's incredible vocals are exquisite in execution, and we can only imagine how this record will sound live. As Chris conferred on a recent interview, their sound does not necessarily becomes bigger but different. Whether they have achieved that with The Resistance is something each listener will have to deduce; if you asked me I would tell you I am eagerly expecting their new material.

No 'Resistance' to These Tunes
Only a few tracks in and it's clear that British rockers Muse had a lot invested in "The Resistance." The tremulous yet genuinely seductive "Undisclosed Desires" gives off a smooth, meditative vibe that smolders and lingers. So too does the awesome title track until the killer chorus kicks in with a refreshing torrent of electric guitars and soulful, push-all-the-buttons vocals from lead singer Matthew Bellamy. The raw, angst-ridden lead single "Uprising" is a solid track in spite of some trite, undercooked lyrics. Because high-quality playing is standard throughout the album, sometimes shadowing the melodies and Bellamy's expressive, longing vocals, some of the songs toward the center of the disc initially fade together. Increased, closer listens reveal the tracks' individual assets, however. The hard-rocking, soul-searching bravado of "MK Ultra" is a major highlight, as is "Guiding Light," which finds Bellamy in cloying but endearing voice. The latter could be a major radio hit with its juicy, evocative melody and room-to-breathe arrangement and downright awesome guitar solo. The mostly instrumental three-song suite that closes the album invites accusations of self-indulgence, but Muse score major points with each, particularly the third, which brings the album to a graceful, ambient, achingly beautiful close before one final outburst of thundering drums and powerhouse vocals. "The Resistance" is a hell of a recording from a hell of a band. It goes for the throat a little too earnestly and tries to impress a little too much, but with a set of musicians with what is clearly above-average talent the results inevitably remain a pleasure.

This is epic
This album flows very well and is very flavorful and fun. I can see Muse snobs not liking this record but I'm not one of those people. If I had to say negative things about this release it would mainly center around the blatant 'Queenish' sounds they ripped off and inserted into a few songs. Other than that, these songs stay in your head and you can't help but contemplate them during the day.

They Keep Getting Better
I've only listened to this once so it may be too soon to hail this album as their masterpiece. But it may very well be. Once pigeonholed as Radiohead clones with each album Muse releases it keeps getting harder and harder to say that with one's integrity in tact. Muse is their own band and they have combined the bombast of Queen with the the vulnerabilty of Radiohead for a while...but there's so much more to this band than that. They can be gloomy/moody, anthemic, atmospheric and that's just the tip of the iceberg. Now they have added classical music into the mix in a tasteful, exquisite way. Listening to tracks such as Uprising or United States of Eurasia and of course the mindblowing Exogenesis suite(tracks 9,10 &11) among others and then simply writing them of as knock offs of this or that band is doing them a great diservice(as well as yourself). Listen with an open mind and you may find yourself slackjawed at the genius of this band.

Muse Delivers... Again
No matter if you are a veteran fan since Muse's debut album Showbiz in 1999, or The Resistance is your first taste of Muse, you will definitely find something to like about this album. The Resistance departs from the musical flavor we have seen over the past few years from this bombastic band. If Muse's history of sound and styling were a book, and every album a chapter within the book, The Resistance would be a major plot twist. #1 "Uprising" Unlike previous albums' openings that begin slowly and build to crescendo, The Resistance kicks right into high gear with "Uprising". This is one of a few songs on the album that has been criticized by veteran fans for sounding too "poppy". The vocals are strong, the rhythm is forceful, and the lyrics are Muse's same brand of "Conspiracy's in the air", although some will find the lyrics somewhat clichéd on this particular song. #2 "Resistance" Brilliant track. I think listeners will enjoy this song regardless of how familiar they are with the Muse discography. Lilting verses with a soaring chorus. Vocals and measure are juxtaposed to create a beautiful piece. #3 "Undisclosed Desires" This is a good track. That being said, what the hell was Muse thinking when they included this song on the album? This track is like a disfigured puzzle piece that does not seem to fit into the discography of Muse. "Undisclosed Desires" seems like a concept that would be discussed in the studio in a "I wonder what this might sound like" context. But why this track even reached the mixing stage of production is beyond me. #4 "United States of Eurasia/Collateral Damage" Listening to this track is like looking at a piece of modern art; it has the feel of masterpiece, but it is just so ridiculous that it is laughable. Some are already calling this song a cheap rip-off of Queen. But anyone who makes this accusation is only proving that their familiarity with the works of Queen ends with "Bohemian Rhapsody". This track continues the lyrical milieu of conspiracy and closes with a beautiful interpretation of Chopin's Nocturne in E-flat. #5 "Guiding Light" Much of the inspiration for this song came from U2. This is a beautiful, flowing song with a short guitar piece toward the end that puts the icing on the cake. This track will undoubtedly become a favorite for arenas/stadiums. #6 "Unnatural Selection" Spectacular. This is the heaviest track on the album. Opening with pipe organs and soft Bellamy vocals before lifting off the ground with an entourage of high speed Manson chords. This song rocks hard and has a solid guitar solo toward the end. #7 "MK Ultra" The album keeps the momentum going with "MK Ultra". High energy through passionate vocals and intense guitar help to make this track not just a superior piece of rock, but an impressive bit of technical complexity. #8 "I Belong to You [+Mon Coeur S'Ouvre A Ta Voix]" Muse has stepped out on a limb with this track, not just lyrically, but musically as well. And the result is a beautiful song laced with love, lust, and tenderness. Some have compared the sound of this track to that of Maroon 5, and I guess that is not too much of a stretch. #9 - 11 "Exogenesis" This piece steps above the standard of modern music entirely. Matthew Bellamy has successfully blended orchestral concepts of old with modern technology and technique. Muse is navigating uncharted waters with this amazing work of art. I am convinced that Matthew Bellamy wants nothing less than to have his name written into rock history amongst the greats, and "Exogenesis" is yet another step that he has taken in that direction.