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Muse: The Resistance
 So the debate rears it's ugly head once again, are Muse pop, rock, prog or just too damn clever for their own good. The jury is out for this latest release from the English power trio, as they may have released, without realising, one of the most underestimated progressive rock albums since early Queen and Genesis. Prog-ceedings begin with the Dr. Who takes T- Rex for a ride in the Tardis 'Uprising', a song that on first listen made me squirm with distain but on repeat listens certainly grows on you. Matt Bellamy's quirky vocals enter Queen territory on 'United States Of Eurasia' a soaring epic track that would have Freddy Mercury giving the thumbs up of approval from beyond the grave, with strings; piano and the pomp and majesty Queen were renowned for. With a slight concept running through a few of the tracks (see if you can make it out) this album takes more twists and turns than the Monte Carlo Grand prix however, keeps your attention throughout covering many styles and genres and yet still keeping that Muse eccentricity. Not afraid to experiment with sounds and styles Muse have certainly continued to evolve and expand musically, The Resistance is yet another step closer to the cosmic ride they want you to embark on. 'MK Ultra' thunders along at the speed of a jet fighter before changing pace in order for you to catch your breath in readiness for the remaining race. With the excellent bass guitar of Chris Wolstenholme punching you in the chest throughout this album along with the very underrated Dominic Howard on the drums, Resistance enters a symphony of self-indulgence towards the back end of the album with the three part 'Exogenesis'. Remain with it and it will reward you with 13 minutes of progressive pornography, a sheer majestic, multi layered masterpiece. It comes as no surprise that three years on from Blackholes and Revelations Muse have entered another dimension and The Resistance will no doubt alienate some of their fans due to it's progressive nature. On the upside, for that very reason they will gain some maybe more mature fans, quite simply The Resistance is pushing progressive music to the masses and well into the next decade.
Track Listing
1. "Uprising" – 5:04
2. "Resistance" – 5:46
3. "Undisclosed Desires" – 3:55
4. "United States of Eurasia (+Collateral Damage)" – 5:47
5. "Guiding Light" – 4:13
6. "Unnatural Selection" – 6:54
7. "MK Ultra" – 4:06
8. "I Belong to You (+Mon cœur s'ouvre à ta voix)" – 5:38
9. "Exogenesis: Symphony Part 1 (Overture)" – 4:18
10. "Exogenesis: Symphony Part 2 (Cross Pollination)" – 3:56
11. "Exogenesis: Symphony Part 3 (Redemption)" – 4:36
Added: January 31st 2010
Reviewer: Mark Davies
Score:  
Related Link: Band Website
Hits: 2914
Language: english
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| » SoT Staff Roundtable Reviews: |
Muse: The Resistance
Posted by Jon Neudorf, SoT Staff Writer on 2010-01-31 11:27:43
My Score:
After hearing a lot of positive comments about Muse's latest release The Resistance, I felt compelled enough to give it a try. I have to say this is one CD that has stuck around my CD player since the first time I played it a few weeks ago. There are so many memorable melodies I do not know where to begin. The men behind the melodies are Matthew Bellamy (vocals, guitars, keyboards, synths, programming), Dominic Howard (drums, percussion, synths, programming) and Chris Wolstenholme (bass, vocals).
This is the second Muse CD I have heard, the first being their debut Showbiz although I have not pulled it out in ages. I think that is about to change after listening to their new album. The music on The Resistance sounds huge to these ears. This album comes at you in waves of driving beats, sinuous bass lines, bubbling synth lines, shimmering keys, tasty rhythm guitar and the vocals of Bellamy are excellent. His voice has been compared to Thom Yorke of Radiohead which may be accurate, but Bellamy has a much more expressive and versatile voice, perfect for the dramatic nature of the band's sound. The use of an orchestra also adds a nice symphonic touch when called upon. Whether this constitutes as progressive music is hard to say. For me, it does not matter as long as the music is good, and believe me this is good.
The album begins with "Uprising", an up-tempo anthem with a strong electronic vibe permeating the sound and a heavy bottom end. The melodic title track boasts sweet piano and a chorus that is pure ear candy. At times the layered vocals remind me of Queen which is never a bad thing. The wonderfully symphonic "United States Of Eurasia" features dramatic orchestral parts with a Middle Eastern melody that you will be hard pressed to forget. This song screams Queen era Innuendo and the piano outro complete with strings is very nice. "Unnatural Selection" begins with organ segueing into a driving drum beat and pounding bass becoming the perfect modern party tune, only to slow down with some atmospheric guitar crunch and droning background synths, before picking up the tempo once again.
Perhaps the album's most ambitious moment is "Exogenesis: Symphony, Parts 1 to 3", where sweeping piano and string melodies slowly build leading to some of the discs more orchestral moments. The three parts flow nicely together creating one longer piece.
The Resistance is a superb slice of modern rock with a unique sound that could only come from Muse. They are unlike any band recording today, which is no small feat in this day and age. Give this one a try, you may just find this hard to resist.
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