Con101 Posted November 5, 2012 Posted November 5, 2012 For me, and this may be an opinion a few others share, the last two albums have been minor disappointments. I understand the need to keep things fresh and there are some great tracks on both The Resistance and The 2nd Law but most agree there are also some stinkers. I would be interested to see what song choices other fans would make in the purely hypothetical situation where the best tracks from the 2nd Law and The Resistance were combined and released as one album after BH+R and how successful or well-received it may have been. After much deliberation, here's my choices: Track 1: Supremacy Fantastic opener, one of the many highlights of the new album. Sounds stunning live. Track 2. Uprising Another good track which launched the band in the US further than any single before, yet it seemed unusual as an opening to an album, hence it is now track 2. Track 3. Resistance Never really liked the tune personally, but I appreciate the themes and the source of inspiration. Plus it smashes tracks 4 and 5 from the 2nd Law out of the water and the "we must ruuuuun" section is awesome! Track 4. Undisclosed Desires The first time I heard this was on BBC's coverage of the band's "A Seaside Rendezvous" concert in Teignmouth and it blew me away. Very Depeche Mode and whilst it has divided fans ever since, I happen to think it's one of the more genius forays into electronic music the group has made. Track 5. Panic Station After a three song run from the Resistance I thought it was time to mix things up a tad. This track should be the albums next single and one of the only songs on the 2nd Law I instantly loved. The funk-pop vibe is spot on and proof the band can do almost any genre and make it sound awesome. Track 6. Follow Me Whilst I think it sounds a bit too much like Nero ft. Matt Bellamy I do think it works and sounds appropriately serious after the funk of track 5. The track also sounds good in an arena (as long as Matt keeps his guitar round his neck!). Track 7. Unnatural Selection OK the riff sounds too much like New Born and not too many people like the breakdown but the relief that washed over me when I heard the entirety of the Resistence in 2009 and a strictly rock track had remained, without the cheese, without the choirs and without the operatic-ness, was intense and for that reason alone, I felt it deserved a place. Track 8. MK Ultra A fantastic highlight of a largely disappointing album. This threw me back to the old days of Muse, the paranoia and made-for-concert riffs. Often doesn't get the praise it deserves except from people on this forum. Track 9. Animals It's fitting that both my favourite tracks from the respective two albums are back to back at the end here before the final "set piece". Animals is a masterpiece. There, I said it. I love Animals. I can't stop playing Animals, that includes live versions. It takes the best elements of old classics like Screenager and Falling Away With You then adds a kick-ass outro, all within a 5/4 time signature, and with creepy undertones about the tools who have ruined our economy. It's hilarious and genius, I love it. Tracks 10-12. Exogenesis Symphony Ultimately it was always going to boil down to this or the final two "2nd law" tracks to close the album and personally, I think there's no competition. Whilst I can appreciate that Unsustainable's guitar-step backbone is inspired and sounds just as good in the flesh, I think that Exogenesis is wonderful, even for those who don't really come by classical music that often, such as myself. It's telling that the 15 minute track was written pre-2009, because it doesn't sound needlessly included or "too much", like most of the string and piano sections on the 2nd Law. A perfect closer for any Muse album. I understand this may seem pointless but I thought it would be fun and I am very much interested to see what others will have as their choices. It also looks like I enjoyed The Resistance more than the 2nd Law, but that's not the case. My reasons for the omitted tracks are below: Madness (Really can't stand the song) Prelude Survival (Some great guitar sections, but the lyrics are AWFUL, plus the choir sounds hugely unnecessary) United States of Eurasia (not bad but too much Freddie for my liking, plus it usurped Butterflies and Hurricanes on the live playlist for a while - inexcusable!) Explorers (Not sure what Matt was thinking with this one, it's like Soldier's poem got a shot of camp straight to the xylophone) Guiding Light (Poor poor song. It's not even the cheese or Brian May-lite riffs which disappoint me, it's just SO DAMN BORING) Big Freeze (Actually don't dislike this as much as others do. I certainly don't think it's the worst song on the new album. The chorus is good) I Belong to You (Not terrible, just don't think it would work in the "combo-album". Plus it was allowed to be in a Twilight movie. Next.) Save Me Liquid State (Both of Chris' tracks are admirable efforts, and I'm glad someone else had writing and vocal duties for a change, but still don't particularly listen to either song. Sorry Chris!) The 2nd Law: Unsustainable The 2nd Law: Isolated System (Like I mentioned, it was this or Exogenesis. Yeah, exactly)
Will_ Posted November 5, 2012 Posted November 5, 2012 How in the world did you manage to put Resistance over Survival?
MandaF Posted November 5, 2012 Posted November 5, 2012 How in the world did you manage to put Resistance over Survival? Yes. Or Madness, or USoE, or Explorers, or...nah it's just a silly idea sorry.
Con101 Posted November 5, 2012 Author Posted November 5, 2012 Don't get me wrong, Survival could have been good. But by the time it's done and after that ridiculous crescendo ending, I always have this bizarre look on my face. I'm also embarrassed when someone hears me listening to it, which I've never been able to say about a Muse song before. It's so camp and the lyrics are some of the poorest ever written, not just by Matt. (I'll light the fuse and I'll never lose).....really? It was supposed to be the OFFICIAL song of the Olympics. I maybe heard it twice throughout the whole thing. It's as though someone from a comedy sketch show was trying to impersonate how a lot of the industry see Muse, like a parody. Resistance doesn't even come close to Survival in terms of ridiculousness and it's not actually a bad song.
Will_ Posted November 5, 2012 Posted November 5, 2012 Don't get me wrong, Survival could have been good. But by the time it's done and after that ridiculous crescendo ending, I always have this bizarre look on my face. I'm also embarrassed when someone hears me listening to it, which I've never been able to say about a Muse song before. It's so camp and the lyrics are some of the poorest ever written, not just by Matt. (I'll light the fuse and I'll never lose).....really? It was supposed to be the OFFICIAL song of the Olympics. I maybe heard it twice throughout the whole thing. It's as though someone from a comedy sketch show was trying to impersonate how a lot of the industry see Muse, like a parody. Resistance doesn't even come close to Survival in terms of ridiculousness and it's not actually a bad song. The whole point of Survival is the over the top, camp nonsense. Opinions I guess but you're not gonna be too well recieved for that decision
Chagi Posted November 5, 2012 Posted November 5, 2012 1. Unsustainable 2. Liquid State 3. Animals 4. USoE (without Collateral Damage damn you) 5. Survival 6. Undisclosed Desires 7. Panic Station 8. Mk Ultra 9-11. Exogenesis 12. Isolated System Trying to make one with regards to flow. I'm not really good at this
FabriPav Posted November 5, 2012 Posted November 5, 2012 1. Unsustainable 2. Supremacy 3. Uprising 4. Panic Station 5. Undisclosed Desires 6. Follow Me 7. Animals 8. MK Ultra 9. Survival 10. Overture 11. Cross-Pollination 12. Redemption 13. Isolated System
Jobby Posted November 5, 2012 Posted November 5, 2012 Bored, might as well: 1 - Unsustainable (More developed though) 2 - Supremacy 3 - MK Ultra 4 - Follow Me 5 - Undisclosed Desires 6 - Panic Station 7 - Animals 8 - Uprising (Riff Outro) 9 - United States Of Eurasia (No Collateral Damage) 10 - Survival 11 - Exogenesis Part 1: Overture 12 - Exogenesis Part 2: Cross-Pollination 13 - Exogenesis Part 3: Redemption (Possible hidden track being Isolated System)
FabriPav Posted November 5, 2012 Posted November 5, 2012 Since I was bored, I also made Showbiz-OoS and Abso-BH&R combinations Sunburn New Born Bliss Muscle Museum Space Dementia Citizen Erased Micro Cuts Showbiz Darkshines Uno Hate This & I'll Love You Megalomania (58:47 minutes) Intro+Apocalypse Please Stockholm Syndrome Assassin Supermassive Black Hole Interlude+Hysteria Map of the Problematique Endlessly Take a Bow Ruled By Secrecy Butterflies & Hurricanes City of Delusion Hoodoo Knights of Cydonia (57:31 minutes) The TR-T2L combo is 54:55, I managed to stay under 1 hour for all three playlists
Serj Tankian Posted November 5, 2012 Posted November 5, 2012 1/ Prelude 2/ Survival 3/ Unnatural Selection 4/ United States of Eurasia 5-7/ Exogenesis 8/ Uprising 9/ Panic Station (rearranged for more coherence between the songs of the album) 10/ Animals 11/ Supremacy 12/ Unsustainable 13/ Isolated System
Strangeseas Posted November 5, 2012 Posted November 5, 2012 Version 1: Abso + T2L Intro Apocalypse Please Sing for Absolution Supremacy TIRO Panic Station Stockholm Syndrome Interlude Hysteria B&H Follow Me Liquid State RBS /51 minutes And TR + T2L: Supremacy USOE Prelude Survival Panic Station Animals Unatural Selection MK Ultra Liquid State Exogenesis 1 - 3 /Don't how it flows
Sir Arthur Erased Posted November 5, 2012 Posted November 5, 2012 Supremacy Panic Station Prelude +Survival Unsustainable Isolated System Follow Me Animals Unnatural Selection MK Ultra Overture Cross-Pollination Redemption It flows and everything.
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