Eleven tracks by 3 piece Devon-based band most known for their 2006 Black Holes & Revelations CD. This time around while self-produced CD, you still think you’re listening to Rich Costey until about track 6, when Unnatural Selection gives us hope that maybe we’ll be hearing some new directions. Tracks 1-5 & 7 are all over the place spanning sounds from past Muse (Black Holes) to the strange Undisclosed Desires (which sounds like some struggling 90s white cheeezy pop boy band trying to please 14 year olds with their first CD). United States of Eurasia quite simply just rips-off Queen & the typical 90s hard rock band. They’re conscious decision to keep the Freddy Mercury voice & outcries was just, plain, bad in so many ways.
With the CD & one single charting already (Uprising) they’re having commercial success in several countries but their best stuff (I belong to you, Symphony Part 1,2,3) is too long & prog for radio play. This is unfortunate as these tracks (& United States of Eurasia) are likely the pieces they’re referring to when publicly discussing their creative choices/outbursts for this album. And attempts – some successful here – at creativity and branching out are always better than wallowing in the known, so for that I commend them.
Lead Matt Bellamy’s voice is strong & full to match the powerfully emotive songs – though their live shows (already sold out in some cities) will prove how much of this is production based. His use of piano throughout (eg United States of Eurasia, I belong to you, the Symphonies…) is a nice change from keyboards and a nice touch from today’s mega return to synths.
If it wasn’t for the pick n choose feature of ITunes I’d have to say skip this CD, but I belong to You right through to the last track are worth your $4 or pounds. So crank up the speakers and enjoy these rock opera production tracks that will no doubt blow away live. … and Muse are smart to make music that will blow you away at live venues – they may not get all your CD or ITunes money — but if they can get 4 pounds + another 60quid for your concert ticket they won’t be going hungry in 2009.
3 DL Recommendations: Unnatural Selection, I belong to you, Symphony 1 & 2
