Muse - Black Holes and Revelations

[DreamThrall]

It came out like 2 years ago, I know, but for the longest time I didn't listen to anything but "Absolution". I'm really enjoying "Black Holes"... its very well done imo. My favorite track is definitely "Starlight". Discuss...

 

[Bad^Hat]

It's pretty good. I liked Absolution and Black Holes but thought they were both a little over-produced. Black Holes would have to be the better of the two, but it doesn't stand up to Origin of Symmetry, which is by far their best.

Anyway, am I the only one who really ****ing hates Knights of Cydonia? Could have something to do with Guitar Hero 3, but I still don't see the fuss over it, nor did I really think it was single material.

 

[Cormeh]

I don't care much for Muse, but I thought that was an excellent album.

"Starlight" takes me back to Euro 2008 qualifying highs and lows...

 

[soulslicer]

Nothing will ever beat the epicness of absolution. My god that album is beautiful. Every single song from Sing for Absolution, Time is running out, Hysteria, The Small Print (awesome song), endlessly. Wow, that is one hell of an epic album, the one that propelled them to mainstream fame btw. Although, my fav song is not from this album (Hyper Music lolz)

Black Holes is not bad though, shows how Muse is always changing their style. Star Light, City of Delusion, Map of the Problematique, Knights of Cydonia (Awesome Song) and exo-politics are my favourites. Definitely very electronic..

 

[Shift]

Absolution is their best, just because its so perfectly made, mixed by Rich Crosley, absolute legend. Origin was when they really took off, and was their most exiting album, but Blackholes, although not as good as Absolution, was really good I thought.

But its when you hear the songs played live, that you REALLY appreciate them, I was speechless after Wembley, nothing like it on this earth, not just the lights and the eye candy but the music itself is fantastic, best live band ever imo.

And I think you are insane if you hate Knights of Cydonia, absolute tune, and really fun to play on the guitar.

 

[Fliko]

The nice thing about Muse is you can usually find something in their albums that EVERYONE will like. I really haven't found anyone 'cept 1 person that doesn't like 1 thing from Muse (This dude says everything sucks though.)

 

[ericms]

Is that me? Because I hate everything from Muse. Also, they don't know shit about some of the artists they cover. They completely embarrassed themselves when talking about their cover of "Dracula Mountain."

 

[Septih]

Good album, but starlight is far too poppy for me.

Saw them at the second wembley date but having my camera stolen slightly marred my memories of it. Oh and **** the golden circles, 8 hours on a coach and i can't get the front because it's first come first served.

 

[Sulkdodds]

Black Holes isn't as good as Absolution or even Symmetry, but it's pretty fun. It was one of those albums that, upon first listen, left me completely nonplussed, but began to came together for me the more I heard it. I especially like Starlight and Exo-Politics.

 

[French Ninja]

My sister likes Starlight.
She hates Knights of Cydonia and Map of the Problematique.
I love KoC and MotP. D:

 

[Shift]

Map of the Problematique is one of the most original songs ever created.

 

[soulslicer]

Map of the Problematique is one of the most original songs ever created.

Not really, it's been known to sound like Depeche Mode's Enjoy the Silence..according to Wikipedia

 

[Shift]

Never heard of them, and Bellamy put around 20 grand into developing the guitar effect used in it, its completely unique.

 

[99.vikram]

Never heard of them, and Bellamy put around 20 grand into developing the guitar effect used in it, its completely unique.

You haven't heard electronica till you've heard Depeche Mode. My fave, anyway.

 

[Fliko]

Never heard of them, and Bellamy put around 20 grand into developing the guitar effect used in it, its completely unique.

What effect is this? It is definately unique, and it's very unique in terms of music theory, but 20 grand into a guitar effect that I can nearly reproduce on a 400$ multi-effect pedal?

 

[Lucid]

They're the only 'electronica'-esque band that I somewhat like... even though this is the only album I've ever heard by them.

I thoroughly enjoyed almost every song on it... specifically Map of the Problematique and Knights of Cydonia.

 

[Hectic Glenn]

Really enjoyed that album, I thought it was excellent. Map of the Problematique, Knights of Cydonia and Exo-Politics are my favourites with Starlight and Soldier's poem not far behind. My missus has seen Muse live and I'm hugely jealous, I'm sure it would be quite an atmosphere...

 

[DreamThrall]

Never heard of them, and Bellamy put around 20 grand into developing the guitar effect used in it, its completely unique.

Really? It just sounds like a distorted guitar with an arpeggiator.

 

[mrbloke]

i love all their albums, no band compares to the majestic masterpeices of Muse
I do love BHR, but i think its the worst apart from Hullabaloo (Only beacause its songs ive already got and a few decent B-sides) My favorite track on BHR is probably map of the problematique.
Origin of symmetry is thier best IMO. But i cant decide between Citizen Erased and Stockholm Syndrome D:

 

[jpventoso]

Is that me? Because I hate everything from Muse. Also, they don't know shit about some of the artists they cover. They completely embarrassed themselves when talking about their cover of "Dracula Mountain."

It is you. Yeah, that's you. Anyway, I like Muse, and I think that Black Holes is a much well-rounded album that Absolution, but it's not my favourite one.

 

[DreamThrall]

no band compares to the majestic masterpeices of Muse

Well, Radiohead, for one... I love Muse, but Radiohead is definitely better...

My theory is that Thom Yorke's alien parents came to Earth when Thom was young. After arriving, they divorced, and Thom's father had an affair with a human. That woman gave birth to Matthew Bellamy.

So, Thom Yorke is 100% alien awesomeness, and Matthew Bellamy is his bastard half brother.

 

[Shift]

Really? It just sounds like a distorted guitar with an arpeggiator.

Nah it has like shifts the octave up by 3 paces and then loops it through delay channels, i dont know the specifics of it, but my rythme guitarist developed the exact sound using Guitar rig.

And yeh its easy to say, that people can make the sound in an hour or two, put it cost 20 grand because he had to come up with the idea himself in the first place. He just set a target of creating a wierd and wonderful knew guitar effect to go over a basic chord progression, and then money obviously went into testing new ideas.

And you could well compare Radiohead and Muse back in Muse's early days, but by the time Muse got to Absolution, they were two completely different bands. But in terms of how much I enjoy the music, Muse is more appealing to me, but Radiohead are still a very strong influence for me.

 

[Geogaddi]

Shift, the fact that you've never heard of Depeche Mode supports the fact that you have no idea what you're talking about.

 

[Murray_H]

Nah it has like shifts the octave up by 3 paces and then loops it through delay channels, i dont know the specifics of it, but my rythme guitarist developed the exact sound using Guitar rig.

It can be recreated (albeit with presumably lower fidelity) with a sequenced whammy/other pitch shifter. It's relatively simple to get the effect if you know about midi data and sequencing programs (e.g. cubase), and although I have the required equipment I know sod all about both. Toot!

 

[Shift]

Shift, the fact that you've never heard of Depeche Mode supports the fact that you have no idea what you're talking about.

I probably dont, but I dont see how one band not reaching my ears effects my knowledge about Muse and Radiohead of whom I do know a lot about.

 

[Iron Kat]

Really enjoyed that album, I thought it was excellent. Map of the Problematique, Knights of Cydonia and Exo-Politics are my favourites

I agree. These are definitely (in my opinion) the best tracks on the album. The album is amazing, but my favourite one is Showbiz. I mean, what an amazing debut album to have!! Cave and Uno were their debut singles and you can't get any any better than them. My other favourite tracks are Plugin Baby, Citizen Erased, Butterflies and Hurricanes, Hyper Music and Dead Star.

 

[soulslicer]

Am I the only one here who doesn't like Plugin Baby. I think it's one of their major singles I don't like..

 

[theotherguy]

Yeah, basically didn't like it at all.

 

[Bad^Hat]

Well, Radiohead, for one... I love Muse, but Radiohead is definitely better...

My theory is that Thom Yorke's alien parents came to Earth when Thom was young. After arriving, they divorced, and Thom's father had an affair with a human. That woman gave birth to Matthew Bellamy.

So, Thom Yorke is 100% alien awesomeness, and Matthew Bellamy is his bastard half brother.

GODDAMNIT, Muse sound nothing like Radiohead. I will never understand why people insist on hammering in this comparison...

Nice analogy, though.

 

[Stigmata]

GODDAMNIT, Muse sound nothing like Radiohead. I will never understand why people insist on hammering in this comparison...

Nice analogy, though.

The only reason Muse sounds anything like Radiohead is because Matthew Bellamy's voice sounds somewhat similar to Thom Yorke's in higher octaves and/or falsetto singing.

But their actual vocal styles, and music in general, are completely different.

 

[soulslicer]

Wonder why some jackasses in school say Radiohead sounds like Coldplay. It irks me everytime people say that.

 

[Bad^Hat]

The only reason Muse sounds anything like Radiohead is because Matthew Bellamy's voice sounds somewhat similar to Thom Yorke's in higher octaves and/or falsetto singing.

But their actual vocal styles, and music in general, are completely different.

Huh, never even noticed that, but I guess they do a bit. Everyone starts to sound more similar up that high, though, and both singers have a pretty excellent range. I always thought it was because they were both english and belonged to the same sort of genre, and were both quite well-known at the time. Admittedly Muse's first and maybe second albums may have taken a few cues from Radiohead, but once you listen to and appreciate both bands to an extent, it's easy to see the similarities are skin-deep, if that.

 

[Shift]

The Bends and Showbiz were similar in a few aspects, you could tell it was an influence, but I think with Origin they had developed into a completely new way of writing.