ORIGIN OF SYMMETRY

"Origin of Symmetry" is the 2nd album by UK 3-piece rock outfit Muse. Muse didn't waste any time following on from their debut album, Showbiz, which was released in 1999. Meaning a sharp 2-year turnaround between albums. But would the album build on the success of Showbiz or did that come further down the line. Well, it's obvious now. This album for me is the best thing Muse have ever done. The band clearly think so too. Although it is clear the songs have always been mainstays in their setlists. However, they did release a remixed and remastered version of this album in 2021. Which shows that maybe they weren't happy with the production on the original.

It's one of those ones that people with a keen ear will notice the differences between the original and the latest remasters. But for me I prefer to appreciate the songs as they are and would never go into such a depth to analyse the differences in production. Unless it was so bad that it made the album unlistenable. This album definitely did not fall in that category by any stretch. Not in 2001 or 2022. This album to me is a classic album. The reason for this is that Muse pushed themselves even further in every way and created something which was so good and really set themselves apart from anything out there at the time.

My favourite track off the album is "Citizen erased". This track has been my favourite Muse track for the duration and although I haven't done a top 10 songs of all-time list recently. This song has been on that list or up there constantly. It's a song of ups and downs where the riff actually feels like the chorus. It is absolutely huge. It lasts 7 minutes and 21 seconds with a wonderfully spacey outro. It was tracks like this that nudged Muse more into prog land. Although they always managed to keep in the rock category itself. I was lucky to see this song performed live on the "Drones" tour and it is just as good live if not better.

But this isn't the only 5+ minute track on the album. Opening track "New born" and third track "Space Dementia" are both 6 minutes each. "New born" is such a great opening to an album. Like on "Showbiz" where the piano driven "Sunburn" opens the album. "New born" Similarly opens with a quirky piano part. But then the magic starts to happen and if you see this part live it's great. Bellamy will get up from the piano, swing round his guitar from behind his back. And launch into a mighty fine riff. The song takes off from there and is another classic Muse track. "Space Dementia" is another one which sees Bellamy dance his magical fingers on the piano. A great track but I feel it's gone into the background over time due to Muse's now extensive back catalogue.

Another single which was released at the time was "Plugin Baby". And what can you say, but another absolute banger. More big riffs and probably the best chorus delivery on the album. But when you start looking through this album with "Bliss", "Hypermusic", "Microcuts", "Screenager", "Darkshines" and "Meglomania". There is not a bad track on here. Special mention must go out to penultimate track "Feeling good" which is a cover. I love this track as it's so upbeat and positive. It's a real mood lifter.

I should point out that a year after this release Muse released a double A side single "Dead Star/In your World". 2 fantastic songs which clearly didn't make the album but I'm so glad the released this as they are great singles which I would recommend checking out.

Overall, this is an absolute corker of an album. I thought that at the time with the album cover poster up in my room during my uni days and CD which I still have. And I still think that now. Maybe as I listen to Muse albums going forward, I'll change my mind. But for now, I think this should be an entry point for people wanting to get into Muse. This album probably turned them into an arena band at the time and set the way for stadiums later. An iconic album.