Nature2 Posted May 30, 2017 Share Posted May 30, 2017 It's been 18 years since Showbiz and Muse's sound had changed a bit (or a lot) with each album. As Matt & co. grew older, their songwiriting and general idea of making music changed as well. What is the thing you miss most about them? For me it's definitely Rachmaninov influence. You could hear it a lot on OoS, Absolution and on Showbiz to some extent. For me, those albums reinvented the use of piano in rock music. The piano was menacing, grand and thrilling. Never befre have I heard something like that in popular music. Nowadays Matt uses piano for ballads or as a supportive melodic instrument like in Mercy or Starlight. Now, I know that Explorers melody was heavily inspired by Rachmaninov's Piano Concerto No.2 (Adagio sostenuto), which is my favourite Rachamaninov's piece by the way, but that is probably the only exception since Abso and it's a ballad. So.. how about you? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kueller Posted May 30, 2017 Share Posted May 30, 2017 Interesting drums. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nature2 Posted May 30, 2017 Author Share Posted May 30, 2017 Interesting drums. Drums aren't that bad on Drones are they? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hopix Posted May 30, 2017 Share Posted May 30, 2017 Just the general atmosphere, ethos, inspiration, subtlety and approach to song-writing and experimentation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FabriPav Posted May 30, 2017 Share Posted May 30, 2017 Good songwriting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
forevermusic Posted May 30, 2017 Share Posted May 30, 2017 I do kinda miss the nuance to their lyrics, which used to be more abstract or could be open to multiple interpretations, which hasn't really been the case on the last 3 albums. Drums aren't that bad on Drones are they? I wouldn't say they're that bad, but they're more simpler and also a bit softer than the old drums. Its particularly notable live as I've noticed Dom doesn't hit the drums as hard as he used to, or at least that's how it looks to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jobby Posted May 30, 2017 Share Posted May 30, 2017 Interesting question. As much as we all moan about post-BH&R material being a step down, it's hard for me to put my finger on exactly what's missing. Intensity in Matt's voice is definitely one thing - back when it sounded like his operatic soars would border on becoming a scream. It made every song feel like it really mattered, regardless of what the lyrics were. When you take away that edge and just leave the hero voice, it's harder to feel that impact imo. Plus, it just doesn't grip you as much. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kueller Posted May 30, 2017 Share Posted May 30, 2017 Drums aren't that bad on Drones are they? Dom was never a show off but mixed in interesting rhythms into the tracks. How many memorable drumming moments are there on Drones? Compare that to the other half of the rhythm section, Chris. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hat Posted May 30, 2017 Share Posted May 30, 2017 Some good examples here. I'd probably agree with Matt's vocal intensity and his use of piano for something more than ballads. One of those two. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
forevermusic Posted May 30, 2017 Share Posted May 30, 2017 That's true - there was a good use of piano in songs like Apocalypse Please or Space Dementia, and in recent albums, its been relegated either to ballads or to being a secondary instrument. I know Matt has said he needs to gets back into the piano, and it'd be nice if he did. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnnaFlores Posted June 1, 2017 Share Posted June 1, 2017 (edited) I'll try to describe my view this way: Incarnate Who used to swallow images, Moods, stories, multiple fates And to spit notes into our faces? There was music incarnate Whose fingers, tendons, chords Had grown into chords and keys? Who knelt down before music’s laws? Who was music on her knees? And music is there, she is And they touch her with their fingertips There was glory and the fury, Contradiction and the beauty, There was dementia and bliss Spitting notes into our fates, There was music incarnate And music’s still there, she is And now they touch her with their fingertips -- Columbiahalle Berlin 1999 Knaack Club Berlin 1999 Bizarre Festival 2000 Columbiahalle Berlin 2001 Rock am Ring 2002 Columbiahalle Berlin 2003 Pinkpop Festival 2004 Arena Berlin 2006 Rock am Ring 2007 Marlay Park Dublin 2008 O2 World Berlin 2009 Rock am Ring 2010 Reading Festival 2011 Lollapalooza Berlin 2015 Mercedes Benz Arena 2016 Edited June 10, 2017 by AnnaFlores Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DERINSAI Posted June 2, 2017 Share Posted June 2, 2017 I think a bit of energy has been lost over the years, presumably due to touring etc. The likes of New Born or Stockholm Syndrome which keep a breakneck pace for pretty much their entire run-times are nowhere to be seen nowadays. Along with as others have said, piano being relegated to either a background instrument or only used for ballads as opposed to say Space Dementia or B&H where it's a centre-piece for a larger track. Just want that intensity and power back really. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jobby Posted June 2, 2017 Share Posted June 2, 2017 'Nuvver one for me might be the genuinely progressive approach to creativity on each of the first 4 albums. Been reading a hell of a lot about the background behind each album lately and the contrast between how they used to talk about their creative decisions comapred to now struck me. They'd cite different influences with each album and always talk about how they'd used them to do new stuff that they didn't feel other people were doing. Made them feel like they really owned their own sound on each album, despite the big changes between them. Started to lose that with the impulsive genre-hopping and aping old material, for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlueEyedFloozy Posted June 2, 2017 Share Posted June 2, 2017 Definitely the lack of piano. I had Abso on in the car yesterday and Apocalypse, TIRO, Ruled By Secrecy, B&H...agh I love that piano so much, and the way Matt plays. Especially the big five-finger-chord thumpers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jobby Posted June 2, 2017 Share Posted June 2, 2017 TIRO...agh I love that piano so much I mean, I haven't listened to TIRO in a long time but Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlueEyedFloozy Posted June 2, 2017 Share Posted June 2, 2017 (edited) I generally meant the use of piano + hard rock guitars together, which IMO is perfection on Abso. But...that little tinkly bit in the background of "you will squeeze the life out of me" on TIRO? I adore it. Edited June 2, 2017 by BlueEyedFloozy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jobby Posted June 2, 2017 Share Posted June 2, 2017 Is that not guitar? Always assumed it was what with the live performances and the bridge part that has the same tone but maybe I was wrong. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlueEyedFloozy Posted June 2, 2017 Share Posted June 2, 2017 I always thought it was both. Whatever it is, it's bloody gorgeous. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bs Posted June 2, 2017 Share Posted June 2, 2017 (edited) I generally meant the use of piano + hard rock guitars together, which IMO is perfection on Abso. The background piano in the chorus of Stockholm Syndrome has always been one of my favourite bits too. Edited June 2, 2017 by Bs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gemsy Posted June 3, 2017 Share Posted June 3, 2017 Just interesting chords tbh Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reapers Posted June 4, 2017 Share Posted June 4, 2017 Crowd surfing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MAurelia Posted June 6, 2017 Share Posted June 6, 2017 Definitely, the piano as the main instrument or backgraund and not only in ballads. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amuskena Posted June 8, 2017 Share Posted June 8, 2017 Definitely, emotion in Matt's voice. That and the lack of political themed lyrics. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hat Posted June 8, 2017 Share Posted June 8, 2017 Where are the politics lacking? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FabriPav Posted June 8, 2017 Share Posted June 8, 2017 Definitely, emotion in Matt's voice. That and the lack of political themed lyrics. You mean not-embarassingly-childish-political-themed lyrics. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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