Muse The Resistance Review
Teignmouth, Devon Trio Hit All The Right Notes On Their New Album
Sep 20, 2009
It's been 10 years since Muse hit the scene with their first feature album, Showbiz. That album featured raw emotion, heavy piano and guitar riffs, and Matthew Bellamy's signature fallsetto voice. Each successive album, 2001's Origin of Symmetry, 2003's Absolution and 2006's Black Holes and Revolutions, all offered a different flavour, and a progression for the band.
It's been three years since Black Holes, and finally one of the most anticiapted albums of the year has arrived. The Resistance has everything that fans of Muse have come to expect over the years. Heart-wrenching piano, Bellamy's souring voice and of course the riffs that have made Muse famous.
But this album also has much more to offer. Each and every song is so different from the last and yet they all seem to fit. The album is more complete than any of their previous works thanks to the variety, the lyrics and the 13-minute rock symphony to close the album.
Track by track, this is how the Resistance breaks down:
1. Uprising
This was picked as the first single for the album and it is upbeat from the get-go. It is a catchy opener with lyrics that reflect the albums title: "They will not control us ... we will be victorious."
2. Resistance
Just when the listener might expect the album to continue its upbeat nature, the title track starts out very eerie. It eventually builds into one of the finest tracks on the album where Bellamy bellows, "love is our resistance."
3. Undisclosed Desires
The album takes another turn in this Rythm and Blues number that is very unlike anything Muse has ever done. This may be a song that splits Muse fans, but it is catchy and it oddly enough it seems to fit in the ablum as a whole.
4. United States of Eurasia (+Collateral Damage)
Epic is one word to describe the next song. In an obvious homage to Queen, USoE builds on itself until Bellamy and company yell out "Eura-SIA". It closes with Chopin and the sounds of children and the outdoors. A true masterpiece on the album.
5. Guiding Light
Guiding Light has a similar feel to Invincible from their last album and it is a well sung love song by Bellamy with a nice guitar solo.
6. Unnatural Selection
While the first half of The Resistance is nothing short of stellar, the second half only gets stronger. Unnatural Selection is the longest track on the album, clocking in at 6:54. Some may say it is New Born combined with Citizen Erased, and inspired by System of a Down. But for those who enjoy Muse's epic riffs and tempo changes, this song will not dissapoint.
7. MK Ultra
The intensity only continues on MK Ultra. "They're breaking through," is one line that will remain with the listener after listening to The Resistance. It is probably the fastest song on the album and the guitar riff rivals Knights of Cydonia or Bliss.
8. I Belong To You
At first this song may sound like Supertramp. The upbeat piano and clarinet solo definitely carry that vibe. It is Muse's most unique song to date and quite possibly the highlight of the ablum. Bellamy even tries his hand at French in the song which twists and turns and ultimately leaves the listener satisfied.
9. Exogenesis Symphony (Parts 1, 2 and 3)
The trio definitely saved the best for last with the 13-minute Exogenesis Symphony. Oveture starts it off with incomprehensible lyrics, but that doesn't seem to matter. Bellamy's fallsetto voice is majestic and the listener can't help but follow the song to its conclusion. The second part, Cross-Pollination, starts and ends with a beautiful piano solo and the breathtaking lyrics "it's up to you," and "you must rescue us all."
The third and final part, Redemption, may be the saddest Muse song to date. It is the definition of melancholy. But at the same time it is hopeful. "Let's just start over," and "it's our last chance to forgive ourselves," they sing. And then it ends the way it starts and fans can only stare ahead and wonder how a band could come up with something so brilliant.
The Resistance is yet another step forward for Muse. They were able to prove once again that they can change their style, and yet remain the same great band that produced Showbiz ten years ago.
Click here for information on the lyrics and interepretation of Exogenesis Symphony
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