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Lollapalooza 2011 review by music.ign.com


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I couldn't find a thread for Lollapalooza reviews, hope it's fine to create one for this.

 

http://music.ign.com/articles/118/1186919p1.html?RSSwhen2011-08-08_185100&RSSid=1186919

 

Muse

 

Walking around the park, it was strange to hear how many concertgoers were still wrestling with the decision between catching Coldplay and Muse, given how different the two bands really are. Perhaps sensing the dilemma, Matt Bellamy and crew delivered a set that was front loaded with hits. They slammed through stomping anthem "Uprising", with thick bass groove and Bellamy's soaring vocals, and dance-happy falsetto winner "Supermassive Black Hole" right out of the gate. The large hive shaped video screens above the stage played stylized videos intermixed with the performance for a cool effect. The towering sound of the trio is made for giant outdoor stages.

 

"Hysteria" was already a crowd pleaser, with its killer punchy bass and grating guitar, before the fireworks started over the stage. The band continued the more recognizable fare with the twinkling grit of "Map Of The Problematique", with cool "Star Spangled Banner" guitar riff intro and firework finale mid-song, before dipping into Absolution for "Butterflies & Hurricanes". The sleepy, dramatic "Guiding Light" gave many of the concertgoers curious about Coldplay a chance to head across the park. The band made up for the bland tune by dipping into Origin Of Symmetry for stormy rocker "Citizen Erased".

 

The skyward vocals of Bellamy and the giant wall of sound they can create on their heavier rock tracks make the high drama of piano-infused cuts like "United States Of Eurasia" feel like a waste of time live that the few fiery instrumentals, like "Helsinki Jam", do not make up for. There is a lot to love about Muse live, but with the wealth of material to pull from, there were moments that left you wishing they would keep the foot on the gas.

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Fantastic review. It's great to finally see a reviewer who understands Muse, and isn't afraid to call them out on their mistakes.

 

One thing I don't like is he says is that they don't play enough of their "heavier rock tracks" and then doesn't mention Stockholm Syndrome, Plug in Baby or Knights of Cydonia at all

 

Not sure why he would need to mention those? The way he worded it suggests there were a few heavy songs played, but they were outnumbered by softer songs, which is correct.

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Not sure why he would need to mention those? The way he worded it suggests there were a few heavy songs played, but they were outnumbered by softer songs, which is correct.

 

It's just that he stops naming songs after UD, leaving the uninformed reader with the idea that Muse started off with a few heavy songs and ended with all piano and pop softies

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Seriously, the people that say this is a great review just because he wasn't very impressed are just as bad as the people who say the same about any super positive review. It's just poorly written, and I think it is unfair to not mention the incredible energy Muse had that night which made up for any of the less than stellar set list choices.

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