Today saw the release of the highly anticipated fifth studio album from Muse. Titled The Resistance, the album has all the familiar dark and eerie, distorted Euro-pop flavors that fans have come to know from the band.
Upon a first listening, fans may be disheartened by the venture away from the faster, thrashing , but let me assure that Muse has not abandoned anyone. As announced in interviews, Muse set to make a new album, this time incorporating more techno and classical elements. Like all Muse albums, this one is tied together very elegantly with transitions reminiscent of what made Absolution great. Also, live shows won't suffer with groovin' jams like Undisclosed Desires and I Belong to You being added to the repetoire. I could very much see The Resistance climbing a British adult contemporary or alternative chart with this release; however, such an event would be only a peripheral effect of the band coming up with yet another new sound for a new album and still remaining Muse in sound and presentation. Lead singer Matt Belamy has added some new word's to the Muse vocabulary with 'hope' and 'love' taking a frontal position to the norm of spaceships and conspiracy theories.
Overall, I'd say that Muse is growing, and true fans should be glad that the band isn't remaining static. The Resistance is not a collection of new songs that could be slapped on to the end of some earlier record, but a testament to the creative endeavors to the band we've come to know and love. Here are my first impressions:
Uprising Unlike the last two albums, and arguably Origin with New Born, the first song doesn't start out with a build up, but kicks off with driving bass and drums, setting the tone for the album with characteristic Muse crunch and distortion. Oh, yeah. Don't forget the synth. It's back and as permeating as always. Warning: This song will find a way to stick in your head
Resistance Here's where the greater part of the techno feel of the album kicks off. The drums and bass play off of each other to give the illusion of a beat machine, but it's none other than Dom Howard and Chris Wolstenholme. Quelle façade!!!
Undisclosed Desires Has initial allure of a hip-hop ballad; same Muse sound, but techno effect added to the drums turns the percussion a bit synthetic, which, coupled with Matt's super reverbed vocals, could very easily find its way to the radio.
United States of Eurasia The synthy transition to this song is, as aforementioned, reminiscent of the Absolution album. Next, you find yourself on a dynamic rollercoaster, as Bellamy's classical influence shows up in the piano work in what another reviewer referred to as Bohemian Rhapsody meets Lawrence of Arabia. One second you're part of the Muse Army, marching off to fight interplanetary warfare; the next, you're looking at ballerinas in a Degas painting.
Guiding Light More of a Top Gun anthem variant for Muse. Matt's guitar work comes more to the forefront, and at parts, we're reminded of the gem of a Kaoss pad stuffed in his guitar. "You're my guiding light" is the most melodramatic that I've ever heart the band: Muse is maturing....
Unnatural Selection Upbeat pop riffage. The breakdown in this song is really refreshing: even though the tune becomes slower and smoother like jazz, it's a travel back to Showbiz and a bit of Origin of Symmetry with the bluesy phrasing of the guitar solo.
MK Ultra You're transported to an 80's arcade fighter game, and at ~2:10 find the secret level. There is a greater emphasis on Matt's voice in comparison to the other instruments. The falsettos aren't as high as they used to be, but somehow, they don't seem as if they be as appropriate in this album.
I Belong to You Whooh! You've gotta love the way Chris swings this one with the bass. Having a French subtitle, I was drawn to this one and was not disappointed. I Belong to You is a great example of Muse taking a great start to a song, breaking it down, and coming back to it. Ah, la complétude!
Exogenesis Instead of breaking the three symphony parts up into three different reviews, I thought it best to tackle them together, for now at least. Muse may have gone to the keyboards to elucidate a more techno-sounding album, but they certainly didn't stop there. The keys (this time in true piano form) and the orchestra delight the palate with a classical finish to the album, but the dissonant storm clouds do hover over each of the symphonies in a dark and most Muse-esque fashion.
During first listen, I was initially turned off because I wanted to hear old Muse. That regret faded while listening to the Exogenesis trinity. Muse have done something special once again: they've pushed their sound without losing any integrity and added a new dimension to 'Muse'. It's a new and different chapter, but still the same book. Having arrived at this conclusion and the end of the CD, I was certainly not disappointed, nor had I expected to be. I'm not jumping up and down after listening to it either. I'm just satisfied. It's a rich feeling, not lustful, but I believe my enjoyment with The Resistance will grow each time I listen to it. Thinking back to the opener, Uprising, and finisher, Exogenesis: Redemption, I feel as if I've taken a journey. This may sound undeveloped or silly to someone who has not followed their career, but I would say that Muse has once again pushed my musical taste buds. The cover art is pretty sweet too.
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