Starting in 1994, the resistance started when British alternative rock band Muse kicked off from Devin, England and rocked their way to the top of the charts. Muse has played a significant role in recent rock and roll, having won many music awards and established an incredibly wide international fan-base.
The group – which is comprised of front-man Matthew Bellany and his impressive guitar-playing and incredible vocals (whose falsettos are reminiscent of the late Freddie Mercury), bassist/back-up singer Christopher Wolstenhome (whose bass playing has always been quite spectacular) and drummer Dominic Howard – strikes again with their fifth studio album, The Resistance, which made its launch on September 15.
Leading into the album was last week’s release of the hit single, “Uprising,” which made its debut on the charts on September 7. The single, which reached #1 on the Billboard Alternative Charts immediately upon its release (within only two days), is an interesting, energetic song that reminds us of older Muse hit classics like “As Time Goes By.”
The whole band unites to make another excellent entry in its body of music, and “Uprising” ultimately succeeds because it has the feelings of both an exciting rock song and of an emotional piece. This combination of emotions makes the song easy to resonate with listeners.
Bellany’s vocals are so passionate and interesting. His great range as a vocalist shines once again here and throughout the rest of this album. Meanwhile, Wolstenhome is very distinct as a bassist. His extraordinary talents as a musician are really manifested here.
While “Uprising” is an excellent achievement for Muse, the album as a whole is not perfect. Some of the songs are somewhat obscure, such as “The United States of Eurasia,” where the message they try to convey about the European Union and its relation to America is rather unclear. Despite the song having, once again, strong vocals from Bellany and being reminiscent of the Golden Era of Queen music (it rings heavily on “Bohemian Rhapsody”), it is sadly doomed for obscurity and is an unfortunate misfire.
On a brighter note, an astonishing set of songs on this album is “Exogenesis,” which is a symphony in three parts and is different from what most of Muse has done. The three songs clock out to thirteen minutes total and are broken down as follows: “Overture,” “Cross-Pollination” and “Redemption.” It works more as a symphony than a song, and its composition is orchestral and classical. It is truly a departure from Muse’s others works.
While interesting to listen to from a music connoisseur’s point of view, the three songs may not be as transparent to the usual Muse listener. They may find themselves bored or impatient with the new direction they have taken.
It is important to understand that Muse, over the years, has seemed to polarize audiences: people are either rocking out on the grass at their concerts or covering up their ears on the far end.
That being said, their new album is an interesting entry in their body of work, although it is certainly not their best. With some interesting songs and daring directions, The Resistance may have trouble finding a broad audience. However, it will certainly be something unique, interesting and satiating for all of those who appreciate alternative rock music
On a Connecticut College Camel Rating Scale, out of a possible 4, I’m going to give the new Muse album The Resistance 3 Camels.
