Drones Album Discussion Thread

[user0e507dded9]

It'll certainly be a decent selling album. It's been floating around the iTunes album chart for months now on pre-orders alone and this gives an indication of its popularity.

 

We an expect around 80K first week sales in the UK.

[colonizedmind]

I think you're a day late with this but yeah I agree with what you're saying

 

Well I was saying it last night too man, just reiterating for all the new posts on this nature...

[johnathon]

Mastered for iTunes just means they run it through an EQ. Same file.

 

Tell that to the waveform.

And this document: https://www.apple.com/itunes/mastered-for-itunes/docs/mastered_for_itunes.pdf

[Citizen Erased 01]

Well I was saying it last night too man, just reiterating for all the new posts on this nature...

 

aha fair enough

 

Tell that to the waveform.

And this document: https://www.apple.com/itunes/mastered-for-itunes/docs/mastered_for_itunes.pdf

 

waveform is still a great name for a song

[colonizedmind]

It'll certainly be a decent selling album. It's been floating around the iTunes album chart for months now on pre-orders alone and this gives an indication of its popularity.

 

We an expect around 80K first week sales in the UK.

 

I hope so, it deserves to be #1 and suspect it will be a week and half from now...

[Finn.]

And I'm not sure how well some of the songs are going to translate into fan favorites when played live.

 

I am the only one who doesn't care how Muse will play the songs live? I mean, i'm looking for their shows, but when i listen to an album i expect good songs, if is impossible to translate that live, as long as it sounds good, i don't care.

[user0e507dded9]

I hope so, it deserves to be #1 and suspect it will be a week and half from now...

 

 

Yeah number 1 in the UK without a question. That is all but assured really. So no issues with that.

[serpentsatellite]

I am the only one who doesn't care how Muse will play the songs live? I mean, i'm looking for their shows, but when i listen to an album i expect good songs, if is impossible to translate that live, as long as it sounds good, i don't care.

 

I'm usually lucky if I see them once an album cycle, and even that often doesn't happen. So yeah, I'd honestly rather have an album that I like rather than one full of songs that sound good on shitty cell phone videos.

[johnathon]

Mastered for iTunes just means they run it through an EQ. Same file.

 

And this is an interesting read: http://arstechnica.com/apple/2012/04/does-mastered-for-itunes-matter-to-music-ars-puts-it-to-the-test/2/

 

Especially:

 

 

"Running this mastered file through Apple's compression chain resulted in an AAC file with significant clipping and distortion. However, backing off the compression and leaving about 0.3dB of headroom between the loudest sound in a song and the absolute maximum sample value resulted in an AAC file that had both no clipping and no noticeable difference in playback volume. The changes were subtle, but they did result in perceptibly better iTunes Plus tracks."

 

 

[Con101]

I missed that discussion early about the tonal shift from The Handler to Defector, but really it's in The Handler the protagonist starts to rebel, so I'm not sure what that one guy found so jarring about it.

[Unidentifiable]

Don't get the "tuneless" complaint at all.

 

The verses especially are dull melodically IMO. There are quite a few things I like about the song, but right now I prefer every other song apart from Drones.

[ninsp]

Tell that to the waveform.

And this document: https://www.apple.com/itunes/mastered-for-itunes/docs/mastered_for_itunes.pdf

 

That proves nothing, other than that it is equalized for iTunes.

 

http://www.cepro.com/article/apples_mastered_for_itunes_is_it_legit

[michael8888]

So the special releasing method of new albums, that Matt talked about years ago, is releasing a lyric video once a few days.

[Picko]

Defector is great, the only thing annoying me is the Queen harmonies (I like Queen, but I've had enough of Muse doing it).

 

The Handler is fucking tight. Up there with Reapers with the best of what I've heard from Drones so far.

 

Haven't heard the last four tracks yet but getting a little nervous with all the negativity...

[ManiaMuse]

I do think they might benefit from writing a bit more but having said that most of this album is superb imo so haven't got too many complaints

 

What was the last 'traditional' original B-side that Muse wrote? Was it Easily?

 

Crying Shame and Glorious were meant to be album tracks which they ruined in the studio.

 

Neutron Star Collision was written for Twilight.

 

Popcorn was (an awesome) instrumental cover.

 

Soaked was unreleased and picked up in the end by Adam Lambert.

 

Prague was a shit cover of a shit song for no apparent reason.

 

Who Knows Who was a collaboration and might as well be Mike Skinner/The Streets.

 

I guess Hidden Track counts but that doesn't exactly represent the peak of their songwriting abilities...

 

Crazy to think that their last real B-side was BH&R era,

[ninsp]

What was the last 'traditional' original B-side that Muse wrote? Was it Easily?

 

Crying Shame and Glorious were meant to be album tracks which they ruined in the studio.

 

Neutron Star Collision was written for Twilight.

 

Popcorn was (an awesome) instrumental cover.

 

Soaked was unreleased and picked up in the end by Adam Lambert.

 

Prague was a shit cover of a shit song for no apparent reason.

 

Who Knows Who was a collaboration and might as well be Mike Skinner/The Streets.

 

I guess Hidden Track counts but that doesn't exactly represent the peak of their songwriting abilities...

 

Crazy to think that their last real B-side was BH&R era,

 

Notice when the quality goes downhill, the B-sides disappear. For all bands. As they get better, they think everything they write is gold.

[johnathon]

That proves nothing, other than that it is equalized for iTunes.

 

http://www.cepro.com/article/apples_mastered_for_itunes_is_it_legit

 

Look at the link a posted a few posts up. It describes how the mastered for iTunes process resulted in a file with significantly less clipping (which is what I was pointing out in the first place)

[Citizen Erased 01]

It's a huge shame, because Eternally Missed, Shrinking Universe, Futurism, Crying Shame etc. are up there with the best

[ninsp]

Look at the link a posted a few posts up. It describes how the mastered for iTunes process resulted in a file with significantly less clipping (which is what I was pointing out in the first place)

 

Clipping because it just is quieter due to Sound Check, which just masks a clipped track.

[Citizen Erased 01]

is this what is known as a sound war? Boom boom fooking tish.

[sonst]

Ok guys, here's my (in-depth) review just in case someone might give a damn

 

Dead Inside 8.5/10

This song is pretty damn good if you ask me. I love the thick and dark bass, but what makes this song stand out for me is Matt's vocal delivery. It's been almost 2 years since the last time I saw them live, but IMHO he's showing real growth as a vocalist on this album and on this track especially. Some minor points of critique could be that Matt has somehow grown into the habit of putting the song into overdrive after the bridge/solo. While I appreciate this very much as a useful stylistic tool in song composition, I do think he is overusing this technique and it's just not necessary if you ask me. But bear in mind that Matt was probably in quite the emotional turmoil when he wrote these songs.

 

Psycho 7.5/10

Ok to start with the positive I really like how it's a return to straight up rock, with all the different layers that were so prevalent on the last two albums in mind stripped away here. I love the guitar, both the 'original' psycho riff from the chorus/intro and the riff he plays during the verses are really good. So what don't I like? Most of all the drill sergeant bits. It is also quite repetitive and you could question their originality considering they've been playing this riff for over a decade already in their live shows.

 

Mercy 8/10

This one has grown on me a LOT. On my first couple of listens I mostly liked it in the context of the album. It really invokes visions of being exposed to powers from an elitist structure and of the feeling of helplessness that accompanies the realisation of it (hence the cry for mercy) perfectly. At first the song felt a little too soft, but that's most likely due to my anticipation of them going in the direction of heavy, stripped down rock after Psycho, which was sort of crushed by Dead Inside and Mercy. But since then I've grown to appreciate the chorus most of all and I suspect it might be really good live.

 

Reapers 9.5/10

This song already blew everyone away when the first live-versions appeared on YouTube. What's not to love, right? Great riffing and who doesn't love it when Matt starts a track van Halen-style with a finger tapping solo? However, I do think that the solo is slightly too long, I don't quite like the transition into the outro riff and lastly I think the chorus backing vocals aren't clear enough.

 

The Handler 9.5/10

This one gave me goosebumps only 10 seconds into my first listen. It's dark, heavy and it pretty much symbolises everything I've been craving to hear from them for most of the last decade. To me this is muse at its absolute best. I can't help but feel like turning the volume up to 11 whenever I listen to it. The falsetto also really hits the spot if you ask me, it still gives me goosebumps after what must be 50 listens already and makes me want to sing/scream along to it. The only thing that is keeping it from becoming my ALL-TIME favourite muse song is the bridge section which is about a minute in length and pretty much the only variation lies in the drums. In the context of the album as a whole I respect it's function as the major turning point, but I really hope Matt comes up with something brilliant to make this song hit the 10/10 mark live.

 

Defector 9/10

Loving it already after about 10 listens now. Somehow this struck me as a 'poppy' song at first by the way in which the intro riff transitions into the chorus and by the Queen-esque falsettos. But it might just be up there with some of their heavier work and I quite like the solo.

 

Revolt 7/10

Ok it's pop, but also this just screams muse. It's over the top and ambitious and I have high hopes for the live version. I'm not sure what to think about the speed difference between the verse and chorus parts. It just feels a little awkward. My review is based upon only a handful of listens though.

 

Aftermath 8/10

The intro and first verse are by far my favourite parts of the song. The first 1 minute, 50 seconds sound equal parts Pink Floyd and Dire Straits' Brothers in Arms, which I love btw, but then Matt starts in the 'from this moment' part of the chorus and it completely ruins the earlier vibe as it sounds similar to Explorers. I hate the chorus sing-a-long. I would've rather seen them leave that part out and just shorten the song by 1:40 instead.

 

The Globalist 8/10

I love the instrumental intro of 2:50 length, with the first part highly 'inspired' by Ennio Morricone and the latter part featuring slide guitar reminiscent of Invincible. The first verses are. At 4:34 it's unmistakably Helsinki Jam that kicks in and after a countdown to what can only be interpreted as a nuclear apocalypse the heavy rock/metal section continues. At 6:30 it turns into a post-apocalyptic piano ballad.

 

It's growing on me still, but I already prefer it to the other multi-sectioned tracks from the last two albums. It just tells the story brilliantly.

 

Drones 7/10

Imo this should've been incorporated into the globalist as an outro. The first time I heard it I actually thought I was still listening to The Globalist, because it just fits perfectly. It sounds like a medieval church choir.

[colonizedmind]

Yeah number 1 in the UK without a question. That is all but assured really. So no issues with that.

 

Yea, should be fine, not much competition either! However, Madonna who had the record 9 #1 albums in a row and was all set to make it 10 until Sam Smith out of nowhere claimed back to number one! Sure that won't happen in this case though....lol

[colonizedmind]

Ok guys, here's my (in-depth) review just in case someone might give a damn

 

Dead Inside 8.5/10

This song is pretty damn good if you ask me. I love the thick and dark bass, but what makes this song stand out for me is Matt's vocal delivery. It's been almost 2 years since the last time I saw them live, but IMHO he's showing real growth as a vocalist on this album and on this track especially. Some minor points of critique could be that Matt has somehow grown into the habit of putting the song into overdrive after the bridge/solo. While I appreciate this very much as a useful stylistic tool in song composition, I do think he is overusing this technique and it's just not necessary if you ask me. But bear in mind that Matt was probably in quite the emotional turmoil when he wrote these songs.

 

Psycho 7.5/10

Ok to start with the positive I really like how it's a return to straight up rock, with all the different layers that were so prevalent on the last two albums in mind stripped away here. I love the guitar, both the 'original' psycho riff from the chorus/intro and the riff he plays during the verses are really good. So what don't I like? Most of all the drill sergeant bits. It is also quite repetitive and you could question their originality considering they've been playing this riff for over a decade already in their live shows.

 

Mercy 8/10

This one has grown on me a LOT. On my first couple of listens I mostly liked it in the context of the album. It really invokes visions of being exposed to powers from an elitist structure and of the feeling of helplessness that accompanies the realisation of it (hence the cry for mercy) perfectly. At first the song felt a little too soft, but that's most likely due to my anticipation of them going in the direction of heavy, stripped down rock after Psycho, which was sort of crushed by Dead Inside and Mercy. But since then I've grown to appreciate the chorus most of all and I suspect it might be really good live.

 

Reapers 9.5/10

This song already blew everyone away when the first live-versions appeared on YouTube. What's not to love, right? Great riffing and who doesn't love it when Matt starts a track van Halen-style with a finger tapping solo? However, I do think that the solo is slightly too long, I don't quite like the transition into the outro riff and lastly I think the chorus backing vocals aren't clear enough.

 

The Handler 9.5/10

This one gave me goosebumps only 10 seconds into my first listen. It's dark, heavy and it pretty much symbolises everything I've been craving to hear from them for most of the last decade. To me this is muse at its absolute best. I can't help but feel like turning the volume up to 11 whenever I listen to it. The falsetto also really hits the spot if you ask me, it still gives me goosebumps after what must be 50 listens already and makes me want to sing/scream along to it. The only thing that is keeping it from becoming my ALL-TIME favourite muse song is the bridge section which is about a minute in length and pretty much the only variation lies in the drums. In the context of the album as a whole I respect it's function as the major turning point, but I really hope Matt comes up with something brilliant to make this song hit the 10/10 mark live.

 

Defector 9/10

Loving it already after about 10 listens now. Somehow this struck me as a 'poppy' song at first by the way in which the intro riff transitions into the chorus and by the Queen-esque falsettos. But it might just be up there with some of their heavier work and I quite like the solo.

 

Revolt 7/10

Ok it's pop, but also this just screams muse. It's over the top and ambitious and I have high hopes for the live version. I'm not sure what to think about the speed difference between the verse and chorus parts. It just feels a little awkward. My review is based upon only a handful of listens though.

 

Aftermath 8/10

The intro and first verse are by far my favourite parts of the song. The first 1 minute, 50 seconds sound equal parts Pink Floyd and Dire Straits' Brothers in Arms, which I love btw, but then Matt starts in the 'from this moment' part of the chorus and it completely ruins the earlier vibe as it sounds similar to Explorers. I hate the chorus sing-a-long. I would've rather seen them leave that part out and just shorten the song by 1:40 instead.

 

The Globalist 8/10

I love the instrumental intro of 2:50 length, with the first part highly 'inspired' by Ennio Morricone and the latter part featuring slide guitar reminiscent of Invincible. The first verses are. At 4:34 it's unmistakably Helsinki Jam that kicks in and after a countdown to what can only be interpreted as a nuclear apocalypse the heavy rock/metal section continues. At 6:30 it turns into a post-apocalyptic piano ballad.

 

It's growing on me still, but I already prefer it to the other multi-sectioned tracks from the last two albums. It just tells the story brilliantly.

 

Drones 7/10

Imo this should've been incorporated into the globalist as an outro. The first time I heard it I actually thought I was still listening to The Globalist, because it just fits perfectly. It sounds like a medieval church choir.

 

RE: DRONES

 

It basically is part of the Globalist, only separate as a track...It continues as a coda end to the song and also the album...

[Citizen Erased 01]

nice review

[user0e507dded9]

Yea, should be fine, not much competition either! However, Madonna who had the record 9 #1 albums in a row and was all set to make it 10 until Sam Smith out of nowhere claimed back to number one! Sure that won't happen in this case though....lol

 

lol yeah - the only challenger for it is Florence & The Machine - which is on its first week of release this week. But that - from what I've been reading isn't expected to sell as much as Muse in it's first week.