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The 2nd Law Review (Italian Rolling Stone)


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Ok I just spent way too long transcribing this image into Google translate. Hopefully an Italian will come along soon with a better translation. Regardless, they seemed to like the album quite a bit, and it's an...interesting read despite not containing any new info.

 

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151145355561585&set=a.393319721584.161466.355683106584&type=1&relevant_count=1&ref=nf

 

 

 

 

Miracle in Devon

 

Yes, just as pompous and arrogant as we remembered them, but this disc is the bomb

 

What can you write when one of the rock bands most pompous and pretentious and irritating and raving release a great record? And so bothersome, but you have to give up - written through grit teeth: this is a really good record. We do not give the highest grade, and for two reasons. The first, to this writer, masterpieces always require time to be recognized. One must be wary of the albums that seduce at first sight (and this is definitely a seducer, lazy and ugly). Secondly, the beginning, (the Olympic pretentious Survival) and the final epic and catastrophic suite, as they are in their own way a sign of continuity with the profound identity of Muse, ballast this collection of songs that might otherwise go to a greatest hits album.

 

Songs that crucial detail, seem to have taken the secret ingredients of the biggest bands in the UK repurposing them in a unique blend apparently the daughter of U2, Led Zeppelin, David Bowie, Radiohead, The Who, Queen, The Beatles (McCartney side), even Eurythmics . You should not struggle to grasp much similarities, however clear kinship with historical pieces of rock, yet, the three dudes manage to combine all these names - often - have very little in common between them, and stay clearly Muse . For example, in the tendency to explode, but never gratuitous or unexpected. Or the ability to stage whole universes in four minutes, as if to perpetuate the intuition of "pocket symphonies" by Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys. Or in the ease with which they pass from a distorted bass and loud electric one entrusted fully to the synth, or alternately funky and prog, registry sexy and romantic, and make us look exactly where you want them, just like magicians. And seducers.

 

Honestly, despite the positive score, it seems like they still despise Muse but love the album somehow. :wtf:

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They obviously don't know much about the band members, or they would never have said that stuff. Some people simply resent success I think.

 

However I like what they have said about the album, particularly that they appear to find that the flow of it works well, something which, when reading reviews of the individual songs, seems to be in question. Well I think The Resistance flows well. Not everyone agrees, but this review suggests that The 2nd Law is going to be at least as good as the Resistance in that department, something that appeals to me. An eclectic collection which perhaps pushes the listener from pillar to post but nevertheless somehow works as a coherent whole.

 

I am ready to be seduced! :happy:

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I really don't get why reviewers insist on calling Muse pretentious.

Muse themselves have said numerous times that they embrace their ridiculous side and they don't take many of their own songs that seriously. This is the opposite of being pretentious.

 

*sighs*

 

because it's a 'cool to use' buzzword that people can label a band with as a reason not to like them, similar to emo and such from a few years back

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I really don't get why reviewers insist on calling Muse pretentious.

Muse themselves have said numerous times that they embrace their ridiculous side and they don't take many of their own songs that seriously. This is the opposite of being pretentious.

 

*sighs*

 

Actually, I think that they don't mind being called pretentious and bombastic....One of my favourite interview quotes went along the lines of Matt being accused of being a pretentious wanker (can't remember if he mentioned it himself, or the interviewer) - and him agreeing ("fair enough, I am")!:LOL:

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What can you write when one of the most bombastic and opinionated, most irritating and raving rock bands does a great disc? It's annoying, but you have to surrender and write it: this is a great album. We don't give a full score for two reasons: the first is that, for me,

masterpieces need to be acknowledged. Secondly, the beginning (the olympic, pretentious Survival) and the epic and catastrophic ending suite, even if they are a continuity signal of the deep Muse identity, they ballast this collection of songs which could otherwise be a greatest hits.

 

Songs that, crucial detail, seem to have taken the secret ingredients of the big UK bands to re-offer them in an original mix, even if son of U2, Led Zeppelin, Bowie, Radiohead, Who, Queen, Beatles (McCartney side), even Eurythmics. You shouldn't find hard to find not similarities, but clear kindred with historic rock tracks ("Hey, but this doesn't remind you of Killer Queen?","But this doesn't sound like Fame?"). However, the three dudes manage to unify all these names who -not rarely- have nothing to do between them, and to still have a clear Muse sound. For example, in the trend of exploding, but never in an unexpected way. Or in the ability to put on the scene whole universes in 4 minutes, almost perpetuating Beach Boys' Brian Wilson's intuition of "pocket simphonies". Or in the ease with which they go from a distorted and heavily electric ass to one completely synth-based. Or they alternate funky and prog, sexy and romantic register, while they make us look just where they want us to do, exactly how magicians do. And seductors.

 

Not sure about the quality, my Italian is rusty.

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What can you write when one of the most bombastic and opinionated, most irritating and raving rock bands does a great disc? It's annoying, but you have to surrender and write it: this is a great album. We don't give a full score for two reasons: the first is that, for me,

masterpieces need to be acknowledged. Secondly, the beginning (the olympic, pretentious Survival) and the epic and catastrophic ending suite, even if they are a continuity signal of the deep Muse identity, they ballast this collection of songs which could otherwise be a greatest hits.

 

Songs that, crucial detail, seem to have taken the secret ingredients of the big UK bands to re-offer them in an original mix, even if son of U2, Led Zeppelin, Bowie, Radiohead, Who, Queen, Beatles (McCartney side), even Eurythmics. You shouldn't find hard to find not similarities, but clear kindred with historic rock tracks ("Hey, but this doesn't remind you of Killer Queen?","But this doesn't sound like Fame?"). However, the three dudes manage to unify all these names who -not rarely- have nothing to do between them, and to still have a clear Muse sound. For example, in the trend of exploding, but never in an unexpected way. Or in the ability to put on the scene whole universes in 4 minutes, almost perpetuating Beach Boys' Brian Wilson's intuition of "pocket simphonies". Or in the ease with which they go from a distorted and heavily electric ass to one completely synth-based. Or they alternate funky and prog, sexy and romantic register, while they make us look just where they want us to do, exactly how magicians do. And seductors.

 

Not sure about the quality, my Italian is rusty.

 

-

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because it's a 'cool to use' buzzword that people can label a band with as a reason not to like them, similar to emo and such from a few years back

 

Sadly this is correct. It feels like almost every music reviewer is either emulating pitchfork nowadays, or just can't be stuffed to write a decent review.

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I can see why that guy called Muse pretentious, as in going too much OTT usually.

 

And I thought the review was fair enough, the guy doesn't like Muse but the album is actually great, and he said it.

 

yeah, the fact that someone who obviously dislikes Muse thought the album was great really reassures me.

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The funny thing about the word pretentious is that the people I usually hear saying it are the kind of people that insist that everything that isn't acoustic indie isn't "real music" and hang about trying to one-up each other with how obscure the bands they like are.

 

On the subject of the review, I'm not sure what to make of my excitement is definitely increasing. To think we could have had it this Monday coming! :LOL: Oh well less than 20 days now...

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