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sade

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Posts posted by sade

  1. I'm more surprised that you just described the song as "okay". Not the sound of angels orgasming, not literal fucking cancer burn it, but okay.

     

    I can see what they were going for, and I appreciate the ambition to try something different but for a supposedly innovative track it's not really...that innovative or captivating. That said, it's not a piece of turd either.

     

    But as maybe my top 5 in the previous post suggests I think in recent years Muse has been at their best with their pop hits (not all are so succesful, like Mercy or GUAF), with some exceptions (Isolated Systems, Animals at least in addition to the tracks I listed). I mean, the "experimentation" in the last few albums has been quite literally following what others have already done. BITM is a little different in the sense that while some influences can be spotted (RATM obviously), and they are breaking away from the mainstream rock/electro rock formula and the track stands out in that sense. But I just don't think it's particularly spectacular.

     

    Final note, for me Muse staying in their lot is not a problem at all, and I don't crave sonical experiments in a way that would lead them away from standard Western pop/rock music as the previous albums have proven that they dont quite have the talent*/need or want/taste level for it. I moreso wish for better produced, more original take in the production- the writing is fine.

     

    *I hesitate to use the word talent as I think Matt is an immensely talented songwriter/singer/musician but if he was a visionary in leading rock music to new paths I think it woud have emerged by now

  2. I wanna play too, even if I'm not sure how this relates to the thread title.

     

    Best 5 (not in order)

    The Handler

    Dead Inside

    Propaganda

    Madness

    Either Exogenesis in its enterity (I don't think one of them in themselves would make the cut) or if not allowed, The Dark Side (I've come around) or Algorithm

     

     

    Worst 5 (not in order)

    Save me

    Drones

    Mercy

    Get up and fight

    Explorers

     

    I'm honestly a bit a puzzled at the love Break it to me is getting. Are Muse fans so hungry for distantly reminding of something even a bit more out of the box/experimental that this (imo) in the end "just okay" track gets so much attention?

  3. The Drones show that I saw had the usual Drill Sargeant, JFK, Isolated System and Dronezzz twice (not to mention 10 minutes of TG) but they couldn't be bothered to play a single song off their first two albums. For me, that's inexcusable. I'm not saying that they should be playing half of OoS or anything like that but could not have taken 4 minutes to even throw in Plug In Baby for the longtime fans? If they really think that fans are blown away by a fleet of half-functional floating orbs and some big video screens, then I don't know what to say.

     

    If you think about what is common for those tracks is that they are studio recordings clearly being utilized to give the band a breather/possibly facilitate some production issues. So I doubt we'd get any more songs if they were removed. That said, I agree that if the more casual fan gets bored during one oldie/rarity, who cares-I'll get bored during TiRO in exchange. If the slightly slower selling tour dates suggest anything the band should probably understand to give a nod to the more dedicated fans.

     

    Oh yay, Muse setlist bitching, so 2010.🙂

  4. I suspect that the people who do music for sports productions have Muse album news on their news alerts . :chuckle: The band seems to be very aware of this particular way of promotion with the marching band versio on the album. I remember even Madness being used in edit:basketball ("March Madness").That being said, I don't know if Pressure has the potential as being as big of a sports song as Uprising.

  5. I think they should release it as a single. I mean, signs point to Get up and fight being the next single, but I think it will be a mistake. Muse is already threading water, in the US at least, as being a generic radio band. Despite the chart success of previous singles, apparently new album first week sales figures (in US) look quite grim which speaks of a disinterested/lack of a core fan base. While GUAF may be more pleasing to the casual radio listener and short term might reach better chart positions, I can't imagine anyone buying a Muse album because of it. Propaganda on the other hand, in my opinion is pop perfection. It's more offbeat for mainstream alternative radio ( a concept not an oxymoron these days), but I think it will spark more of an interest in a listener geared at "getting" Muse.

  6. Blockades>MK Ultra>Exo-Politics>Defector

     

    Song with pretty similar roles on their respective albums imo.

     

    True, I was also thinking of Defector.

     

    I know Exo isn't particularly inspired but I don't think every Muse needs to be particularly "interesting". I've always just loved the chorus.

  7. And it’s a well-informed, well written review actually.

     

    Though I disagree with their main point that Muse have always taken themselves too seriously. That was a problem with Drones, but not a theme throughout their catalogue. I mean, have they seen the KoC video? Have they heard Panic Station?

     

    Also, I could have done without the inevitable Radiohead mention.

     

    I think it's an odd review with some valid if obvious points. There is a weird undercurrent of resentment in the text which makes the writer come across as obnoxious.

    The reviewer uses a whole lotta words to essentially say, I guess:

    -the album is approachable and poppy

    -various references about that song reminded them of another artists and genres, the overall implication I guess being that it is commercial and derivative

     

    Of course there is the far-fetched Radiohead reference just for the sake of it , other example of pointless snark being that "they get the lesser-known of Los Angeles’ major college marching bands to play on the alternate version of “Pressure" -what is the implication here, they are so second grade they couldn't get the better one, since obviously any college band would turn down such an offer...

     

    Then what I guess is supposed to be the crux of the review, they say that the album's most succesful part is the right balance of camp and this is due to the band finally adding humour to the mix. This is a truly bizarre conclusion considering that Muse have always been intentionally cheeky, and the reviewer probably should be aware of this, having reviewed e.g. The Second Law. It's one of those instances of a reviewer pushing an alien narrative which makes you go "huh" to anyone familiar with the subject, the real reason for the paragraph I guess being making some "witty" punchlines. Second point I guess is "finally" admitting they are a pop band. This is a weird conclusion as well as Muse have done pop tracks since 2006. The rating doesn't really match the review as they don't compliment anything on the album- other than "right amount of camp" I guess. I mean, 60 is basically 3/5.

     

    This probably comes across as I'm really pressed about the review, I'm honestly not, I just don't really think it warrants a "good review" label.

     

    Oh and Exo-Politics and Blockades are both great. :happy:It's MK Ultra that is the blandest of Muse-by-numbers.

  8. I am up so I watched this. The setlist was beyond obvious and boring, but I guess that's 50 min promo gigs for you. TDS sounded great, and SH was good.

     

    They basically said about NY gigs that there will be one in Brooklyn and one in Manhattan in spring.

     

    Most interesting tidbit was that they are planning on bringing more musicians on tour, like horns players. Return of KOC trumpet? Finally hope for my pipe dream for CoD? (probably not)

  9. My take after a few listens and a few glasses of sparkling wine:

     

    Overall, I think this is their most coherent and best album since BHAR. What I like about the album it's that it feels more than a sum of its parts (songs), i.e. even if some individual songs are not standout tracks in themselves, they work very well in the album context and add to the whole. I think they found a good way of pleasing the older fans in that lot of the atmosphere is very Abso/BHAR but there are new interesting things as well. That is not to say the album can be congratulated on being particularly innovative, as the 80's retro thing has been done by many, but Muse has never been a particularly groundbreaking band, I accept that and appreciate them for what they are.

     

    Algorithm: Nice and atmospheric opener, sets the tone for the album right away. The retro synths being followed by the signature Muse piano on the intro put a smile on my face as it feels so appropriately Muse. Great opener for tour also? 8/10

     

    Dark Side: Great punchy track. I don't find myself loving it as much as many of you, but I do really like it. I don't think it will ever a favourite of mine but it's certainly a quality song. 7/10

     

    Pressure: I loved this when it came out, but it has lost a little of its charm since then. I think it's like Uprising in the sense that it's great fun and has great commercial potential but it's hard to imagine it being anyone's favourite Muse song. It's fun, it's easy and should be great live song 7,5/10

     

    Propaganda: Instant Muse classic, I really really love it since the first listen. I don't even mind the overt Prince-ness. Sexy and Matt sounds so good. 10/10

     

    Break it to me: This is a head scratcher. Somehow it feels the most interesting/innovative track, but it feels like some sonical experiment/B-side rather than a "proper song". I don't think I'd recognise it being Muse if I heard it on the radio (no worry about that happening..), rather than think Matt has featured on some other band's song. I don't particularly like it, I don't dislike it, but it doesn't feel like it deserves an average 5/10 ether. So I'll give it ???/10.

     

    Something human: When it came out I really disliked it for being so bland. But with repeat listens I've learned to appreciate it more. The solo is one of the loveliest things on the album, I like the verses but the song is hampered by the bland chorus. A slice of AOR, and that's fine. It feels like a nice brighter spot in a more darker/atmospheric album. 6/10

     

    Thought Contagion: I'm surprised about the generally negative/meh feelings about this songs. The lyrics are what they are but for once Matt is on a very topical and important theme. But disregarding lyrics, I think the chorus and the woos are great fun and I like the tight/hysterical edge in Matt's vocal delivery. 9/10

     

    Get up and fight: A mixed bag. I like the female vocals and the verses feel contemporary, the bridge is nice but the chorus is very 00's - the more meh tracks of MCR. Won't end up on any of my Muse playlists... 5/10

     

    Blockades: I get what people are saying this being very standard Muse but I for one won't it hold it against them - this is what we've been asking for- more Abso sound! Good solid song 8/10

     

    Dig Down: This is a song that is a victim of its circumstances. If there was no Madness, I think I would really like it. However, it won't ever escape its "Madness-but-poorer" origin. It's also a victim of a particularly bad planning on the band/record label, who decided to release it as the first song from the album. Did they really think fans would not get pissed off/worried about the first "single" being a poorer rewrite of a big hit, after a lacklustre album? I know I was ready to write them off after hearing it for the first time.

     

    So I think in itself DD is fine, but it's really hard to overcome the context and I don't think I'll ever particularly like it. 4/10

     

    The Void: Haunting and beautiful. I don't usually pay attention to lyrics that much but for some reason the lyrics touch me. Something about combination of the sad atmosphere and the hopefulness ("They're wrong"). The first half is very intimate and overall it's just a very beautiful track in a Ruled by secrecy fashion. 9/10

     

    (Although not exactly about the album itself,) in retrospect (can you say so after two days?) I think I would have preferred a more traditional release strategy. The known tracks lose a little bit of their punch when we've had months to listen to them, listening to the album feels very "the old songs and the new". I think the album would have been even more powerful of an eperience if half the album wasn't already known. Plus I can't keep track of all the music and lyric videos and whatnot...

     

    But I don't want to end on negative note when there is no need. Well done Muse, easily a 4/5 album. :happy:

  10. Gotdamn it leaked? Hmm, maybe I'll wait for the official release. I assume it will be on Spotify. Good to hear initial reactions seem quite positive.

     

    The most puzzling question is where does one buy physical CD's? I assume there are stores in Helsinki that still sell them. :unsure: Drones is probably the last CD is bought. #modernproblems

  11. Interesting that they are bombarding us with new songs. Have they discussed the release strategy in the media? I'm way out of loop in day-to-day Muse.

     

    I can see it being a clever tactic, especially in the US. Alternative radio there seems to be in their pocket, any song seems to go top 10 in the Alternative chart (according to that great Chart thread by muse s'amuse). Even SH reached top 10. Having the obviously radio friendly TDS and Pressure doing damage one month before and after album realease, plus SH and TC receiving radio play might create a wave for the album in the target audience. Or then again, the songs might cancel each other out - I don't know how commercial radio/record label release strategy work - do they push for one song over the others?

     

    Interesting strategy in any case, in this era of short attention spans.

  12. I LOVE IT. I wasn't sure about the chorus at first, and I agree it would be nice if there was an additional gear to the song. But after 10 + listens it's coming together as a fun banger. This is the Muse I'm happy to get these day: catchy as hell, no contrived attempts at meaningful substance, no obviously in-your-face borrowings from other artists.

     

    I'm actually looking forward to the album.

     

    Pressure->TC->TDS->SH->DD.

     

    I Also, St Vincent's and Radiohead's most recent stuff has been wayyy more interesting and well-executed than anything off Simulation Theory so far, but they'll come off positively in comparison to most stuff anyway imo. Doesn't mean Pressure and The Dark Side aren't enjoyable

     

    Not digging St Vincent's new album. The previous ones were good. But going back to Radiohead, I put on "In Rainbows" yesterday and it struck me that they're operating on a level 10000x higher than Muse.

     

    I honestly don't get comments like this. Considering the five songs we've gotten, do people really think Muse is aiming for any type of complex, groundbreaking, cricically acclaimed music? The videos are 80's pastiches and lots of the music very referential. It's fun, instant pleasure, alternative radio party rock. Listening to Pressure and saying "yeah but Radiohead's new material is much more refined" is about as useful as discussing the merits of J.K Rowling to Hemingway as a writer.

  13. After two listens it indeed is miles better than DD and SB. The grooviness is infectious. The chorus is maybe a bit flat. I think I slightly prefer TC but this could easily change in a few listens. What bothers me is that parts of the track sound straight out of a Kavinsky ep. (I have no deeper knowledge of the referenced genre so I don't know if it's actually more about general genre sound).

     

    It did take me couple of days to get around to listening to it, in fear of it being as disappoiting as DD and SB, so this is a relief.

  14. The verses are fine but the chorus is blander than bland. Is this really the best radio material they have this time around? Matt has really lost his writing edge.

     

    I can't imagine ever purposely putting this song on. :erm:

  15. Knights of Cydonia

    Dead Inside

    Hysteria

    Apocalypse Please

    Cave (piano)

    Endlessly

    Space Dementia

    Madness

    Supermassive Black Hole

    Big Freeze (rearranged to get rid of the overt U2 sound)

    Unintended

    Animals

    The Handler

    Citizen Erased

    ---

    Muscle Museum

    City of Delusion

    Butterflies and Hurricanes

    ---

    Exogenesis parts I-III

    Stockholm Syndrome

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