Muse

March 17, 2022

24 minutes ago, Bohemian-Cygnus-Running-Out said:

Wow so much to say!

So. 37 minute album, based on a screenshot from how reliable of a source? I’m gonna assume it’s right, but I would like to know if that’s a confirmable source or not. Anyway, 37 minutes. Many of my favorite albums of all time fall under the 40 minute mark. Back when vinyl ruled the world, that was pretty standard, and ten tracks all around 3-4 minutes was also pretty standard. Muse have made a lot of weird, non standard albums in their time. Even ST had that whole disc of alternate versions. For them to sit down and focus on making a tight, catchy, pop rock record in their own way is actually a new twist for them. On the flip side. Having now heard 20% of the final album, I’m not gonna be listening to any new singles. In fact I may stop visiting the board until release day when the next pre-album single drops. Only reason I listened to so many singles off of ST before it came out was because they were sooooo spaced out and I didn’t really love the first two anyway. I’m on board with WSD mostly, and I am full throttle on board with Compliance. If it were a whole album of Compliance and the heavy bits of WSD I’d be absolutely in love, even at the shorter length. Sounds like there’s probably going to be a lot more variety (which is what I do expect from Muse), so I’ll just be on the edge of my seat waiting to hear what styles they bring back and what styles they still write well. Waiting to august will be hard, but someone made a great point about the vinyl backups and shortages possibly pushing the release date back. I totally get that, and I do prefer it when digital and physical releases aren’t separated by more than a few days. I’ll absolutely be preordering one of those fancy colored vinyl packages with the signed art cards! I’ve not much use for cassettes, but I’ll think about the super deluxe. The only thing that really bugs me is a headline I saw about Compliance being a possible anti masker song, which is going to do them absolutely no favors on social media or with the major YouTube critics (who haven’t generally been positive on them in over a decade anyway). I’m fully expecting to read a bunch of people who’s opinions I respect trash this record while I adore it to bits. T2L round 2? It may be my least favorite Muse album, but I still love just about every track on it. 3rd favorite band and only one that’s still kicking, let’s go!

Do you have a link to that headline/article? Just curious. I haven't seen it yet.

March 17, 2022

19 minutes ago, Jobby said:

There are three tracks over 4 mins, two of them basically 5.

Honestly, the wait to August is weird and sucks arse but I never get the complaints over length. There’s nothing stopping a short album from being great and nothing about a longer album that guarantees it being any better. People moan when albums have filler or repetitive songs like Psycho, but then get pessimistic about a shorter track length. I know they’re not mutually exclusive but come on ladssss, why is negativity always the default?

This!

March 17, 2022

Whatever comes of the new album, I just hope "We Are F*cking F*cked" is "Drones" part 2, where Matt repeatedly sings "We are f*cking f*cked" a capella.

March 13, 2022

1 hour ago, Hat said:

"One shouldn't be judged for the person they were, but for the person they've become."

Yeah and Matt is still writing the exact same lyrical content as then. And while dismissing the conspiracy nutters in interviews, he still acts as if his own words have no effect on the world whatsoever, while also wishing for his lyrics to inspire people. You don't really get to mirror the statements of the conspiracy nuts who these days have proven to be quite dangerous to society, while also claiming that you have no part in the spread of their propaganda.

Also don't really buy your argument that since it doesn't matter if you provide a flat-earther with evidence, you might as well give into the discourse and use it in the same way they do...but just remove the words "flat earth", so you can pretend to sit on the fence while supplying fuel for the fire.

Now, maybe Matt surprises us all and comes out with the most poignant dismantling of these matters that we've ever seen. But your argument that he can't help how a listener interprets a song is just...flawed. Sure, even Rage Against The Machine have some right-wing nutters thinking they're talking about the modern left, but don't you think that crowd would have been slightly bigger if RATM actually intended to write for right-wing nutters? Or do you really think that it doesn't make a difference?

Let me put it like this: Muse's social media comment sections these past few days have been full of people going "So true. The governments have already kept us locked inside for 2 years under the guise of fear. And they're still pushing their supposed "vaccines"". But for some reason...I don't see these comments on the social media sites of my other favourite artists...

This post is so filled with informal fallacies, I'm not going to even touch it. It should be the subject of a community college critical thinking course for the class to dissect. Feel free to continue with your fallacies. I'm done here, for I must complete a poem I started, where I will specifically detail what my intent is and how others should interpret it within the writing, because isn't that the joy of art? Being told what to think and feel when subjected to it?

March 12, 2022

18 hours ago, That Little Animal said:

Here’s my issue with that. Phrases like ‘just entertaining the ideas’ and ‘just asking questions’ have been hijacked to become gateways into nefarious narratives that people are meant to stumble upon when they ‘do their own research’ surrounding these topics.

So like I said earlier, questioning the Man and kicking against the establishment are very healthy sentiments and I only encourage it. But when you have a sizable audience like Matt does, you have a bit of a responsibility. Adopting and repeating certain phrases without considering their origins or adding any nuance might send people down information holes that are objectively harmful. Even if he himself hasn’t adopted any of the viewpoints or movements whose catchphrases he’s broadcasting.

I know Matt’s not a CoVid-19 sceptic nutter. Or a Qanon follower, or an alt-right figure (do people still use that phrase?). And I’m sure there is plenty to be critical about when you consider the WEF, for example. Just like there was plenty to be critical about when Bush invaded Iraq. But not everyone critical of that war ended up on Infowars elevating Alex Jones’ dangerous self-enriching parade of harmful nonsense.

Okay, and I'm guessing if he were inquired about it today, Matt would say he regrets appearing on "The Alex Jones Show." Said interview occurred 16 years ago. How much has changed since then? I know I've changed. He made a mistake; has illustrated progression since then; and as I always say, "One shouldn't be judged for the person they were, but for the person they've become."

I do think there's a stark difference between intentionally spouting specific disinformation like, say Joe Rogan has with regard to COVID, and writing/singing vague lyrics, which can be interpreted in numerous ways. In the former example, the purpose of the speaker's message is to misinform his listeners and provide them with specific fabrications to either spread to others or try for themselves (or both). In the latter example, however, that's not the writer's/singer's intent. How can he help how a listener interprets a song? Let's be honest; even if he were to elaborate on the message and inspiration of a song in an interview, there will be some who deny his words and interpret the song as they so choose. It's like with anything nowadays. Provide a "flat-earther" with consistent scientific and visual evidence that the earth is indeed round and what are the odds he/she will suddenly see the light and believe said fact? Given my experience, very low.

I write satire, and there have admittedly been times when I've been approached by a reader or listener who had misinterpreted a message I was attempting to convey through my work. Now, there are times when the interpretation is so out in left field, yet not antithetical to my general message, I find the creative thinking to be fascinating, and won't necessarily correct them, unless they ask for me to do so. On the other hand, there have also been times when an interpretation has run so contrary to my intent, as to become offensive, I've felt the need to be completely upfront and say, "Eh, no, here's how it actually is." At the end of the day, though, how much control can I realistically have over how others interpret my work? Similarly, how much control can Matt have over how others interpret his?

March 12, 2022

17 hours ago, Bohemian-Cygnus-Running-Out said:

Well well well, this is all very cheery! 😅

Is it at all possible Matt's going to try and write from there perspective of people he doesn't agree with? Not like portray the "villain" (hate to be using that here we are talking about real people, however misguided, but for narrative purposes...) as the protagonist, but just singing from that misguided and militant perspective to try and better reveal the cracks in its own philosophy? Like maybe Will Of The People is about people protesting mask and vaccine mandates, but narratively the song will go in the direction of showing that this "Will Of The People" is informed by crackpot news anchors and conspiracists rather than science and compassion, and ends up leading many of those same people to their own demise?

Or is that too difficult of a tightrope lyric for Matt to write, and instead he's just going to try and blend a variety of social issues into one song with some gestural slogans and easy to misinterpret references to the unrest that has become our society's daily life?

I've been wondering that too. In the band's latest photo, promoting "Compliance," I see on Chris's jacket the words "there's one in every family." Sure, that could mean a lot of things, but given what we know about the album thus far and what Matt has said about COVID, Black Lives Matter, Trump, etc., I have to wonder if said words refer to the "nutter" in every family - you know that guy the rest of the family secretly refers to as Crazy Uncle Frank after he leaves Thanksgiving dinner drunk in an Uber, due to all the conspiracies he shared while chugging his 13th Busch Light, with gravy dripping from his chin.

March 12, 2022

2 hours ago, Citizen_Eraser said:

Idk who Laurence Fox is but on that specific topic, doctors were prescribing that drug.

It's a multi faceted drug that there are human doses and applications for. The whole narrative that a bunch of nuts are going to farm supply stores and buying horse de wormer off the shelf was spread by the same morons that thought people actually drank fish tanker cleaner (mistaken for hydroxy-chloriquine) and died.

Edit: But yeah, like Jobby said. Lets not get into talking about stuff like this here.

Well, you're right that Ivermectin can be used to treat animals, as well as humans. It seems a lot of people believe a dose of the former is the same as a dose of the latter, but that's incorrect. Having said that, though, it's an anti-parasitic drug which studies have consistently shown doesn't prevent COVID symptoms worsening from mild to severe. Also, most doctors won't prescribe it for said virus. Those that do are often times in telehealth/telemedicine. Lastly, while the occasions have been scarce (at least lately; I'm unsure on the frequency before this year and am too lazy to look it up at the moment lol), people have taken the horse-dewormer dose, which has resulted in severe illness, and even death.

As a side-note, I honestly had no idea who Laurence Fox was before seeing his name on this thread prompted me to look him up. That will probably be the last time I look him up for anything. Yikes.

https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2022/02/09/1079183523/what-a-bottle-of-ivermectin-reveals-about-the-shadowy-world-of-covid-telemedicin

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/not-a-miracle-drug-experts-on-ivermectin-in-covid-19-treatment

https://www.koat.com/article/ivermectin-overdose-covid-19-new-mexico/37548538#

March 12, 2022

1 hour ago, Jobby said:

^ this is a good post (eternallypissed)

I recognise that it is likely irrational worry. Probably mostly a result of familiar phrasing triggering our experiences with all that shite over the last couple of years. Matt’s never been perfect with his words but you don’t get the sense he’s a dodgy bloke, so it’s always worth the benefit of the doubt regardless. That said, they should be aware of how these things can be construed and the kind of toxic dialogue it can breed in the current climate, but that unintentional slip isn’t necessarily anything new to Muse and it’s not a big problem.

I said in a comment somewhere else that, a statement like that wouldn’t have stood out at all anytime in the past by Muse standards. It’s just the glaring context of what the world’s gone through when it was written.

Thanks. That's a fair and reasonable take. I just know Matt has said previously he focuses on the music first, lyrics second, and I have a hunch many of us read a bit too much into things at times. One thing I've always liked about Muse is they don't seem to take themselves too seriously, so while we may read a lyric and think, "WTF?!?," Matt, Dom, and Chris may see the same lyric and chuckle, as they say to one another, "Remember what inspired this song? I'll never do shrooms and watch that 'Bob Ross Painting' show again!" Personally, I'm just excited for a new album. I'll analyze and grade it after I listen to it and read the lyrics a few times.

March 11, 2022

Okay, so I can understand how some could take "Won't Stand Down," "Will of the People," and the recent post regarding "Compliance" as a sign the new album's theme will center around espousing COVID-19 conspiracies and other right-wing talking points. However, even though some of these terms and lyrics are vague and could, in turn, be interpreted by some anti-vaxxers/maskers as defending their beliefs, I can confidently say Matt Bellamy is not a COVID-denier/anti-vaxxer/anti-masker/right-winger.

First off, since the inception of the pandemic, Bellamy has been sending masks and other supplies to healthcare workers - his cousin, in particular. On his Instagram page, he wrote the following:

"Very proud of my cousin Dr. @clairebellamy saving lives on the front lines in A&E/ER with the #nhs I'm sending her (for her and her colleagues) spare masks and stuff from our garage/#burningman supplies (hoping fedex can get it through from the US). Have a rummage through your garage and see what you can find to help #nhsheroes #clapforourcaers #healthcareforall"

With regard to COVID, he's said this:

"I think things could have been handled better. The dithering about whether to lock down or not probably will be seen as a mistake in the long-term, particularly in the UK.

And over here, obviously the leader (Boris Johnson of the Conservative Party) is an absolute buffoon, who as soon as he hears any conspiracy theory or any kind of alt-theory about some medication, you know, he'll speak about it publicly and without realising it's not actually tested or anything like that.

There's definitely some very specific examples that I think both leaders (Donald Trump as well) have completely fumbled the ball."

Speaking of Trump, here's what Matt tweeted about him:

"When a 'clown' takes the throne. Sorry I meant 'nazi c**t' #ImpeachTrump #digdown"

Bellamy has never been one to shy away from exploring conspiracy theories, perhaps more for curiosity's sake than anything else, but I think it'd be highly inaccurate to contend he's a COVID-denier/anti-vaxxer/anti-masker/right-winger or that his intent with the upcoming album is to defend said demographics' beliefs - in particular regarding the virus.

https://www.iheart.com/content/2020-03-28-muses-matt-bellamy-praises-cousin-working-on-covid-19-frontlines/

https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/muse-matt-bellamy-interview-coronavirus-quarantine-999208

January 20, 2022

5 hours ago, EternallyPissed said:

I've been writing/recording parodies over the past year or so. After releasing the anti-vaxxxer-inspired "On the Wrong Side" (based off "Mr. Brightside"), I got dared by a Twitter follower of mine to write a parody to the tune of Muse's new song, so I did that. I haven't recorded it yet, but here is the conspiracist-inspired parody, in case anyone might be curious:

“World Ain’t Round” (parody based off the Muse song, “Won’t Stand Down”)

I went on the web, to find some depth, to my tinfoil-hat conspiracies

I know that I’m right, so let me try, to fit this square peg in a circle

Your science is wrong, I heard in a song, written by a voice in my head

So back to YouTube, with some scary dude, calls himself GeniuserThenAll

I went on the web, to find some depth, on what I always want to be true

I know that I’m right, so let me try, to go and prove that which can’t be proved

Your science is wrong, I heard in a song, sung by voices in my head

So back to YouTube, with some scary dude, who appears to be on something

World ain’t round

It’s just way longer

World ain’t round

A hoax is Armstrong

World ain’t round

Greeks photoshopped five-thousand years ago

The moon is fake, so the landing was staged, just close your eyes at night to see

Illuminati, to rule all that is free, of course led by Lady G

In Roswell there were probes, green men said, “Disrobe!,” just watch all of those movies

COVID was made up, vaccines control us, all robots since we were babies

The moon is fake, so the landing was staged, astronaut suits are costumes

Illuminati, rulers of all that is free, of course led by Jay-Z

In Roswell there were probes, green men said, “Disrobe!,” just watch all of those movies

COVID was made up, vaccines control us, all robots since we were babies

World ain’t round

It’s just way longer

World ain’t round

A hoax is Armstrong

World ain’t round

Greeks photoshopped five-thousand years ago

World ain’t round

Can’t fall down

World ain’t round

World ain’t round

It’s just way longer

World ain’t round

A hoax is Armstrong

World ain’t round

Greeks photoshopped five-thousand years ago

World ain’t round

World ain’t round

...to be continued...

...and here's a link to the song/parody. - https://ifeelsnitty.podbean.com/e/world-ain-t-round-parody-based-on-the-muse-song-won-t-stand-down/

January 20, 2022

I've been writing/recording parodies over the past year or so. After releasing the anti-vaxxxer-inspired "On the Wrong Side" (based off "Mr. Brightside"), I got dared by a Twitter follower of mine to write a parody to the tune of Muse's new song, so I did that. I haven't recorded it yet, but here is the conspiracist-inspired parody, in case anyone might be curious:

“World Ain’t Round” (parody based off the Muse song, “Won’t Stand Down”)

I went on the web, to find some depth, to my tinfoil-hat conspiracies

I know that I’m right, so let me try, to fit this square peg in a circle

Your science is wrong, I heard in a song, written by a voice in my head

So back to YouTube, with some scary dude, calls himself GeniuserThenAll

I went on the web, to find some depth, on what I always want to be true

I know that I’m right, so let me try, to go and prove that which can’t be proved

Your science is wrong, I heard in a song, sung by voices in my head

So back to YouTube, with some scary dude, who appears to be on something

World ain’t round

It’s just way longer

World ain’t round

A hoax is Armstrong

World ain’t round

Greeks photoshopped five-thousand years ago

The moon is fake, so the landing was staged, just close your eyes at night to see

Illuminati, to rule all that is free, of course led by Lady G

In Roswell there were probes, green men said, “Disrobe!,” just watch all of those movies

COVID was made up, vaccines control us, all robots since we were babies

The moon is fake, so the landing was staged, astronaut suits are costumes

Illuminati, rulers of all that is free, of course led by Jay-Z

In Roswell there were probes, green men said, “Disrobe!,” just watch all of those movies

COVID was made up, vaccines control us, all robots since we were babies

World ain’t round

It’s just way longer

World ain’t round

A hoax is Armstrong

World ain’t round

Greeks photoshopped five-thousand years ago

World ain’t round

Can’t fall down

World ain’t round

It’s just way longer

World ain’t round

A hoax is Armstrong

World ain’t round

Greeks photoshopped five-thousand years ago

World ain’t round

...to be continued...

January 20, 2022

2 hours ago, Clunge said:

All three are utterly superb bands. Mastodon really deserve to be one of the biggest bands on the planet, the journey their music has undergone over the past 20 years is remarkable. Leviathan through Emperor of Sands are all 8 or 9/10 albums, I particularly like Once More Round The Sun for that Motherload/High Road combo. Emperor of Sand has so many high points too. I'm a little disappointed by their latest effort Hushed and Grim, if only because it feels a little bloated. Fun fact though; H&G was produced by Dave Botterill, who produced Origin of Symmetry.

Deftones are consistently brilliant and have been for two decades too. And I regularly go back to Red by Baroness. Few other suggestions for you if not already on your radar, really 'metal' so to speak, but all beefy:

Amplifier – Amplifier (self-titled); Arcane Roots – Melancholia Hymns; Black Peaks – Statues; Cave In – Antenna; Kyuss – Sky Valley; Monster Magnet – Spine of God; Oceansize – Frames; Porcupine Tree – Deadwing (although In Absentia, Lightbulb Sun and Stupid Dream are all 10/10); and Turbowolf – The Free Life

And I recommend everyone giving Opeth a go at some stage. You'll love them or hate them, but Blackwater Park is truly one of the best metal albums of all time.

I second the Monster Magnet recommendation. I just started getting into them a few months ago. They've got some great tracks on all their albums, so I'd recommend giving them all a gander. My two personal faves, though, are "Last Patrol" and "Dopes to Infinity."

January 19, 2022

:: looks around for a moderator who would chew me out for this post ::

Random post, but it pertains to "Won't Stand Down," so I'm going to just go with it.