Perchance to Muse
Last week, Rachael was telling me how much she liked the band Muse. I had heard a bit of them and had thought they sounded a fair bit like Radiohead. Granted I had only heard two or three Muse songs but I thought it was enough. There's no doubt their lead singer is trying for a Thom Yorke vibe.
Rachael told me she thought Radiohead sucked. ::gasp:: Yeah I was shocked too blogience. It turns out she had only heard Creep. Not exactly a song representative of Radiohead's greatness. So I told her I'll burn her some Radiohead if she burns me some Muse. This deal works out great for yours truly because I just wanted some Muse. I had already decided I would probably like them. Rachael on the other hand could be getting two CDs she doesn't even like. Honestly though, what are the chances that would happen?
I've listened to most of one album and I've moved to the newer one. My thoughts so far:
They are very Radioheadesque. I think they need a better producer sometimes though. The snare is too loud and intrusive and they don't take advantage of volume and tone contrast enough. Their singer sounds great but on the first album I was listening to there was some annoying use of distorted voice. His voice is so clear and cutting, why ruin it with distortion? Especially since it would provide a great contrast to the thrashing guitars, at least on the song I'm thinking of here
They do have their own identity. They're not just a cheap Radiohead clone. Muse has a strain of metal band in them on some tunes. Sometimes to great effect, other times not as much. At times they've got an almost hiphop/triphop? kick underneath. It's like only 10% of the songs but it's noticeable and kind of cool.
I also got a bonus Interpol CD I need to listen to as well. Sweet. Ok.... that's all I have for now.
4 comments:
I swear, I could not be laughing any harder. Muse is so much better than Radiohead. And, they sound nothing alike.
I listened to both, and I don't think either is bad, it's just too slow/sad for my taste. I think I liked the second CD ...OK Computer? Better. But I could listen to the first one when I need to... chill.
But, all in all, it sounds nothing like Muse. So there.
What's funny is you can't hear it. Google search Radiohead Muse. Just that. And you'll find tons of people hearing the same thing I am hearing.
I like Muse. I liked them before I heard most of their stuff. I like them now. That being said, Muse sounds....unsure of themselves. Like a kid flailing around trying to get attention. They have a crapload of talent. They don't even need to change their style persae. They just need to learn to take advantage of what they have.
If they had a top notch producer, they would sound incendiary artists. Right now they just sound like arsonists torching everything in their way.
And that just may be why you like them better and I like Radiohead better.
They obviously started more as a clone though. Evidence: A quote from a 1999 magazine article:
"Bellamy, in a Melody Maker article in June, confronted with the R. Band Question: "Well, we obviously can't deny it totally. There is a similarity there, but we're much more than just a fill-in until their next album comes out." Note that his tone says more than his response."
Either way they are definitely their own band now.
Hmmmm.
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