Muse - Black Holes and Revelations... [Archive]

hellodon

Jun 10, 2006, 10:45 PM

jaysmith

Jun 11, 2006, 10:48 AM

i've had muse in my playlists for years, and even though i don't usually make an effort to listen to them, i never skip them when they popup randomly. i'll definitely check this album out.

hellodon

Jun 12, 2006, 11:08 PM

I can't get enough of it. it's better every day...havent been able to go a day without listening to it all the way through

applemacdude

Jun 13, 2006, 02:05 AM

hellodon

Jun 14, 2006, 12:19 AM

I tried to download it and the torrent was stuck halfway through. Then 2 days later I actually got a promo in the mail. I do a lot of promotion for Filter Magazine in the UK and it was sent direct from them. It's in a silver bag with just the tray inside. I ripped and burned a copy and have the promo nicely stored away with the rest of my muse stuff (i have like 50 CD's by them...big fan)

gloss

Jun 15, 2006, 10:44 AM

I have several friends who are into Muse, but they never really grabbed me. Too little musical continuity...it feels like their songs are assembled with Legos.

I'm in a definite minority, though. I'll probably end up listening to the new album regardless.

Nutter

Jun 15, 2006, 07:01 PM

I've heard the (poor quality) leak of this album, and I agree that it's amazing. I've been a big fan of muse for a long time, but this may be their best work yet.

Can't wait for July 3rd. :D

Mike Teezie

Jun 15, 2006, 09:00 PM

Excellent. I didn't even know Muse had a new album coming out.

I'll be sure to pick it up on the 3rd.

hellodon

Jun 15, 2006, 10:19 PM

Be sure to pick up the one with the bonus DVD. Absolution had that package initially and it was a GREAT DVD. Over an hour of footage that's actually worth watching. These DVD packs these days are usually crap.

Nutter

Jun 16, 2006, 02:51 AM

Yeah.

The American special edition of BH&R is going to come with a DVD of their live Absolution tour. Now that's good value!

Unfortunately, I don't see that happening here, as the Absolution tour DVD is already for sale separately. Still, the special edition should be worth picking up if you're a fan of Muse. (And if you aren't yet, you probably will be.)

nesbitt_a

Jun 18, 2006, 12:44 PM

Just listened to BH&R today - and it's completely amazing. I love 'Starlight', definitely my favourite on the album.

Can't wait to get my preordered CD.

Lara F

Jun 18, 2006, 08:07 PM

I'm a relative newbie to Muse but instantly loved Starlight. The rest will take a little warming up to, but I can tell it ought to grow soon. :)

Nutter

Jun 18, 2006, 08:53 PM

That's odd, Starlight is actually my least favourite song on the album. I hate the Piano riff at the beginning, it sounds so bland, like something from a Coldplay album. Oh well, perhaps I'm just weird.

MajereXYU

Jun 18, 2006, 09:36 PM

I love Muse and have been listening to their previous albums for years on end.

I just can't get bored of them...

I have BH&R (leaked version, gonna buy album the day it is out) and I must admit at first I was disappointed.

I thought the album lacked some of the urgency/distress/emotion and gut feeling of the previous albums (especially Absolution).
I had the feeling it was more of a commercial album (almost radio-suited).

But after listening (hundreds of times) again, I really love it, at the same level I love their other albums.
It's just really different.

I love Starlight "I just wanna hold you in my arms" but I didn't like the piano intro, sounded like a cheesy song from the 80's.

Take a Bow, Exo-Politics, Knights of Cydonia, City of Delusion are all pretty awesome too. The whole album rocks.

Long live Muse! definitely one of the greatest bands I've listened to (my opinion).

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

For those of you who love Muse, I think it takes an open mind to like them because it's pretty far from commercial cr@p you hear on radio or see in the ITMS top 10.
If you love them, check out:

-Radiohead (same musical technical prodigy and great falsetto singing),

-Smashing Pumpkins (voice takes some getting used to for some but musically awesome, really varied, from seething rock to slow ballads) Try to listen to "Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness" album first. Previous ones (Gish, Siamese Dream) were mostly heavy and later ones (Adore, Machina) were mainly electronic sounding.

-VAST is good too

aspro

Jun 19, 2006, 06:22 AM

I'll have to add my vote.

The first time through I wasn't sure, but this album really grows on you. I still can't really stomach "Supermassive Black Hole", but I listen to the rest of the album at least once a day, superb!

MajereXYU

Jun 19, 2006, 07:11 AM

Same here, I don't like Supermassive Black Hole.

If I had to base a purchase on this single, I wouldn't consider buying BH&R.
It doesn't represent Muse very well.

Sound more like something from this new rock band "The Darkness" I think.

gloss

Jun 19, 2006, 07:44 AM

I have distinct trouble imagining anything from Muse sounding like something from The Darkness.

Nutter

Jun 19, 2006, 07:54 AM

Indeed.

Falsetto != The Darkness.

Although The Darkness have a lot to answer for in that regard.

acircularmotive

Jun 19, 2006, 10:27 AM

Briefly heard that the album was a bit.. different, but as a big fan of Muse I preordered the album a few weeks ago, and can't wait to hear it. Out of interest, how much do the tracks differ from say Supermassive Black Hole, and their past albums?

bitfactory

Jun 19, 2006, 10:44 AM

Suppose I'm in the minority here. Huge Muse fan - even Hullabaloo gets constant play... but I don't get BH&R. I think it's lacking the same quality of melody lines found in earlier releases. Oh well. There's no doubt the boys can play - they just forgot to bring good songs this time.

Nutter

Jun 19, 2006, 10:57 AM

I would say that Supermassive Black Hole is not particularly representative of the rest of the album. Although you can hear the same electronic and dance influences in some of the other songs, this song is more straight-forward than most of the other songs, and is the only song to feature falsetto throughout.

In general, the production on this album is similar to Absolution, but the sound has changed a lot. The arpeggiated synths from Origin of Symmetry are back. Clean piano can only be heard on one track. The kind of vocal harmony used in Stockholm Syndrome's chorus is everywhere on this album, and it is very well done. The string arrangements are much more sophisticated than on Absolution, which to my mind makes the two songs they feature in the best on the album. There's less direct influence from Classical music on this album, although one of the songs contains a quotation from Schubert's "Ave Maria" that tickled me a lot.

The lyrics are extremely political, much more obviously so than on previous albums.

This album will surprise you.

acircularmotive

Jun 20, 2006, 08:08 AM

That does sound pretty interesting. I'm surprised I've been able to stop myself from downloading a copy of it already, but patience is a virtue.. or so they say. :cool:

bwanac

Jun 20, 2006, 10:47 PM

..is incredible. I got a promo of this album 2 days ago and I've listened to it about 30 times since. Definitely check it out. They've been my favorite band for years. After the weird (but good) single, I wasnt sure what to expect with this album but they never seem to disappoint. Every time i listen it just keeps getting better.

Taht is wonderful to know. AFter the first single, and then "Knights of Cydonia" I was kinda worried this would be bad. However, when I saw them in concert here stateside they played some not released songs that were amazing, so I have high hopes those are on this album.

And if you have never seen them in concert, it is the most amazing experience in your life. Hell... they are better than Radiohead live! :eek:

bwanac

Jun 20, 2006, 11:24 PM

Huge Muse fan - even Hullabaloo gets constant play... but I don't get BH&R.

Hullabaloo is one of their best IMO.

Origin of Symmetry is the most amazing.
Then Absolution, still listening to the new one right now. May need to update later. :rolleyes:

bwanac

Jun 21, 2006, 01:03 AM

CD is pretty good... but it is all over the place.

I like Muse for more of their "hardcore" songs, but even those are often broken up by some slower parts. Stockholm Syndrome point in case.

Breakdown: EDIT

All of the songs are amazing.
City of Delusion is my favorite by far!!!
Soldiers Poem and Invincible are least favorite.

Overall this CD is amazing. Im gonna pick this up as soon as it comes out here. Only my third CD purhcase in the last 5 years, the other two being Absolution and S.C.I.E.N.C.E. There are some great songs here, and the CD as a whole will be getting many many plays from me.

JackSYi

Jun 21, 2006, 04:25 AM

CD is pretty good... but it is all over the place.

I like Muse for more of their "hardcore" songs, but even those are often broken up by some slower parts. Stockholm Syndrome point in case.

Breakdown:
Take a Bow - Starts off good... but it never builds into what it should.
Starlight - Good song.. too pop for my tastes... but its ok.
Supermassive Black Hole - This song has really grown on me... I love it!
Map of the Problematique - Far too electronic sounding... not really a fan.
Soldier's Poem - Bleh...
Invincible - Bleh again... some nice playing at end... but overall *****.
Assasin - Amazing, from beginning to end.
Exo-Politics - Again, amazing from beginning to end.
City of Delusion - Easily my favorite so far... the guitar playing is impeccable!
Hoodoo - Not that good.
Knights of Cydonia - Decent... but not amazing.

Overall this CD is amazing. Im gonna pick this up as soon as it comes out here. Only my third CD purhcase in the last 5 years, the other two being Absolution and S.C.I.E.N.C.E. There are some great songs here, and the CD as a whole will be getting many many plays from me.

I agree, its solid.

bwanac

Jun 21, 2006, 06:35 PM

Ive actually changed my idea ... the whole thing is amazing. Minus maybe Soldiers Poem, which really is just a poem. And Invincible which isnt that great IMO..

City of Delusion is amazing... I must learn this song now! :cool:

Abstract

Jun 21, 2006, 08:57 PM

I think Muse pulled a Red Hot Chili Peppers on us and went all soft on us.

Supermassive Black Hole isn't representative of the rest of the album, which is good news. Was Muse highly influenced by Prince or something between albums? Unfortunately, the rest of the album isn't good either, but "not good" in a different way.

Some of the songs on the album are ok, but sound much too similar to quite a few past Muse songs. The first song, Take a Bow, is an example of this. I don't mind it, but there must be a Muse song that's like 90% the same.

And Starlight is just too "Red Hot Chili Peppers Gone Soft". I hope Muse don't end up like RHCP, even though they'll definitely sell more records now than ever.

NarCisero

Jun 22, 2006, 05:59 AM

I have read your comments on the new Muse album with gret pleasure. I'm a huge Muse fanmyself since their first single. I really do think this new album is briljant. Allright, I must admit, it has to grow on you, but when it hits.... o man!
Once again they delivered great music.

But what I like most about this album is the story. And thats something that I havent heared anyone talk about. The entire album is one big story. It starts with "Take a bow" and ends with "Knights of Cydonia".
I'm not going to tell you whats it about, listen to it again and find out.
I'm really curious to your findings.

noyb76

Jun 26, 2006, 09:13 AM

Sepultribe

Jun 26, 2006, 12:57 PM

Awesome! I am looking forward to it. I dug the single. One week to go!

Nutter

Jun 27, 2006, 11:51 AM

I got BH&R 3 days ago and listened to it probably 96 times by now... It just keeps on growing on me. I was really surprised by SMBH but I adopted it too pretty quickly. I find all the tracks awesome, except maybe Starlight, too pop for Muse and the piano in the intro is annoying.

I read about new songs that were played on stage (Crying shame, DES...), and rumoured to be on the new album. Is it known that the leaked version is the complete version? Can we hope for a couple bonuses :rolleyes:?

I agree with you 100% mate! I'm glad I'm not the only weirdo who doesn't think much of Starlight.

The leak is definitely complete, but it is a mono recording from one channel only, which means that not only is there no stereo effect, the mix is all skew-whiff. At least, that's the leak that I have.

Anyone who wants to listen to the album can now hear it (completely legally!) on Muse's Myspace page (http://myspace.com/muse).

noyb76

Jun 27, 2006, 05:57 PM

The leak is definitely complete, but it is a mono recording from one channel only, which means that not only is there no stereo effect, the mix is all skew-whiff. At least, that's the leak that I have.
Must be the one I have too... I just had time to check "Take a bow" on Muse's Myspace (Thanks for the info :D!) and it sounds definitely different, with more vocal effects... I'll check all titles asap! and I can't wait to get my CD.

Obsidian6

Jun 28, 2006, 08:50 PM

I too think that its very different from their former work. but i do however like it a heck of a lot.

i still think origin of symmetry is the best album by far. ( although hullabaloo finds its way into my ears just as much )

FTR - the leak i have sounds damn good.

MacRumorUser

Jun 29, 2006, 07:32 AM

Thought it was pompous, iritating, self indulgent, lacked focus & direction..

Really loved muse, but this was just pure rubbish...
I think Muse are getting too high feluting & indulgent. Much like Radiohead later albums and Thom Yorkes recent solo album.

Looks like its back to the back catalogue for the good stuff.

JackSYi

Jun 29, 2006, 11:44 AM

The Supermassive Black Hole single has grown on me and I love it.

cait-sith

Jun 29, 2006, 02:03 PM

Supermassive Black Hole isn't representative of the rest of the album, which is good news. Was Muse highly influenced by Prince or something between albums?

I had to laugh out loud at that statement, I thought the *exact* same thing during my first listen.

Muse is alright but.. way over the top. It's hard to take them seriously.

I'm sure they must have legions of die-hard fans in the UK that would argue till their last breath about their musical genius, though.

ilduce86

Jun 30, 2006, 06:12 PM

this is by far a better album than Absolution, even if i never thought i could possibly say that! hysteria was my favourite song until now. i've been a muse fan since i heard origin of symmetri and then i bought myself a nice muse sweather from recordstore.com. ASSASIN people... it's just a fantastic sound in my ears when my koss porta pro's are giving me the fantastic drums from that song! :) :)

Muse forever my people! MY GOD WHAT AN ALBUM !!!!

frick

Jun 30, 2006, 09:13 PM

The new Muse album is terrible compared to their older work, but still decent enough that it's worth a listen.

Showbiz had two outstanding songs (Sunburn and Cave), and the rest of the album was excellent/good. Origin of Symmetry had three outstanding songs (New Born, Bliss, Dark Shines), with the rest being excellent/good. Absolution had one outstanding song (Stockholm Syndrome), with the majority of the remaining songs still being excellent/good.

But Black Holes and Revelations has one good song (City of Delusion) and two mediocre songs (Starlight/Map of the Problematique), while the rest of the album is pretty much trash (Hoodoo was going places, but it's far too short). Moreover, Supermassive Black Hole sounds like Muse's imitation of Prince... honestly, I didn't see the band changing the focus of their music to such a degree considering their success in the past.

Though I still listen to songs from the past three Muse albums (as well as their b-sides) on a daily basis, BH&R has already faded out of my rotation. I appluad Muse for trying to reinvent themselves, but the direction they took with this new album is strange, to say the least.

kksolano

Jul 7, 2006, 03:32 PM

DOne word describes this ablum "Sci-Fi"
Listening to this album reminded me Ziggy Stardust & the music of the space race years.
I wont go on and on about this album, but i listened to the album cycleing into work today & was a whole 5 mins quicker!

gloss

Jul 11, 2006, 03:53 PM

I've got this and the new Thom Yorke album waiting for me at home. Calloh callay.

steviem

Jul 12, 2006, 07:17 PM

I had to laugh out loud at that statement, I thought the *exact* same thing during my first listen.

Muse is alright but.. way over the top. It's hard to take them seriously.

I'm sure they must have legions of die-hard fans in the UK that would argue till their last breath about their musical genius, though.

:eek: Matt Bellamy is amazing!!!

and if i hear any different I'll 'ave to go east end ganster style on yer, guv!

lol, but they are the best british live band at the moment, well for the last 4 years anyway...

cait-sith

Jul 12, 2006, 11:42 PM

:eek: Matt Bellamy is amazing!!!

and if i hear any different I'll 'ave to go east end ganster style on yer, guv!

lol, but they are the best british live band at the moment, well for the last 4 years anyway...

I agree they're good, just a bit over the top. :D

I'll be on the lookout for Phil Mitchell.

needthephone

Jul 13, 2006, 07:32 AM

Agree absolutely, what a masterpiece. Surely this is a classic album which will still be revered in 10, 20 30 years plus. I knew of muse and liked their stuff but not enough to buy any of their music.

But as a new fan I am blown away, wow, I can't stop lisening to it whether on my nokia (sorry but they beat apple to it-it keeps crashing so come on apple hurry up get your phone out before it's all over for you- sorry back to muse), my car CD or my main CD player.

What a blissful album (that's a good song too - bliss ), its stunning, glorious I just can't get over it.

Can you imagine seeing this done live - in a massive stadium.

It has so many potential singles which could break them here (Australia) eg Starlght (gorgeous), Map Of The Problematique (Ahhhhhh simply stunning) Super Massive Black Hole (great fun ) Assassin (They played this on JJJ radio and the DJ said it was one of he best things he's ever heard-mighty, epic)

Knigts of Cyndonia (over the top but they pull it off )

Muse the best group in the universe (they are just too big for the one planet!!)

You can watch all the previous Muse videos here ( I reccommned Bliss)
http://www.microcuts.net/uk/multimedia

PS I agree with the guy who said hey cycles quicker listening to it BUT I was driving. So a word of warning I was going just a bit too fast, taking the apexes of bends, every gear change when it should have been but it was suburban road in Sydney, not a race track. What an album

MacRumorUser

Jul 13, 2006, 10:16 AM

But Bliss is from the Origins of Symmetry album - not Super Massive Black Hole????

'Time is Running Out' from Absolution is still my favourtie,

gloss

Jul 13, 2006, 10:35 AM

You criticize Supermassive Black Hole for sounding like Prince but you like Time Is Running Out, which sounds like a Michael Jackson single with crunchier guitars. Hm.

Perspective, I guess. I'm not a huge fan of their earlier work, but I enjoyed the new album far more than I was expecting. All the pretense, twice the cohesion. The complete musical shamelessness they exhibit reminds me a bit of Queen. Sort of admirable, these days.

steviem

Jul 13, 2006, 11:07 AM

But Bliss is from the Origins of Symmetry album - not Super Massive Black Hole????

'Time is Running Out' from Absolution is still my favourtie,

I think needthephone was using it as a tenuous link rather than saying what album it was on...

Supermassive Black Hole is a bit of a departure for Muse, its a bit funkier, but I like it a lot...

I like Time Is Running Out, but I feel it was their most 'commercial' song in terms of how it sounds.

Showbiz and Origin... are my favourite albums by them still.