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paulwalker71
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Topic: To what extent are Muse considered 'prog'? Posted: September 24 2009 at 11:51 |
There's not much in the forums about Muse and the archives have them as 'prog related'
But I notice that 'Classic Rock presents Prog' thinks that they are prog and featured them on the cover of Issue 2 earlier this year.
Anyway, I recently started listening to their latest 'The Resistance'. And I have to say that I absolutely love it. It's got a bit of bombastic 1970's style Queen and Rush, mixed in with modern rock sensibilities, and a fair amount of experimentation and variation. In a very real sense, this is 'progressive' music. I've not heard any of their other stuff yet (frankly, I'd tended to just write them off as typical Britpop nobodies, which I realise now was a bit misjudgement)
What's the views of you guys about Muse?
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The T
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Posted: September 24 2009 at 12:04 |
In my view they were more original and interesting in the past. I don't think their style is more progressive now than it was in their previous albums, especially Absolution. The Resistance is the first MUSE album when I can't hear almost anything new. Or unique. They have become excellent craftsmen, but lesser artists.
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paulwalker71
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Posted: September 24 2009 at 12:08 |
The T wrote:
In my view they were more original and interesting in the past. I don't think their style is more progressive now than it was in their previous albums, especially Absolution. The Resistance is the first MUSE album when I can't hear almost anything new. Or unique. They have become excellent craftsmen, but lesser artists. |
Well, as I said, I've not heard any of their other stuff - it sounds like I have a treat in store
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The T
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Posted: September 24 2009 at 12:10 |
^Try it. One of the better bands of the last years, especially Absolution.
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stonebeard
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Posted: September 24 2009 at 12:10 |
paulwalker71 wrote:
But I notice that 'Classic Rock presents Prog' thinks that |
...prog only ever came from England and that England is cool for giving us prog and that gee golly where would prog be without England hay guise more England I've got a sh*tload more in my truck?
paulwalker71 wrote:
What's the views of you guys about Muse?
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OK, but their new album is so pretentious I can hardly stand it some times. More than Yes, Genesis, King Crimson...everyone.
edited out profanity, purely because the poster seems to think he's above the rules.
Edited by Tony R - September 24 2009 at 13:00
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The T
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Posted: September 24 2009 at 12:19 |
stonebeard wrote:
What's the views of you guys about Muse?
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OK, but their new album is so pretentious I can hardly stand it some times. More than Yes, Genesis, King Crimson...everyone. [/QUOTE]
Pretentious but underachieving... Absolution was pretentious with its music, this one with its arrangements and production.
Edited by Tony R - September 24 2009 at 13:01
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Raff
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Posted: September 24 2009 at 12:49 |
I own Absolution and Black Holes and Revelations, and hardly ever listen to them. I can safely say that their music does nothing for me - but not because they are pretentious or anything. After all, I love ELP, so 'pretentiousness' should not be a problem for me. I suppose it's just a question of personal taste, which, as you know, cannot be really explained.
As regards their being considered prog, I could not care less. As I have said over and over again, prog is not a hard science that can be defined in any exact way. I have recently seen a post in which the poster stated that he didn't consider Can prog. I am sure there have been people who have questioned the progginess of Yes, Genesis or King Crimson, as there have been prog bands or artists who have refused to be associated with the movement. So, I would not be surprised about the lack of a consensus about Muse.
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Tony R
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Posted: September 24 2009 at 12:57 |
I'm not really a fan of their music but they do seem to fit here. I reckon they fit Xover.
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Courtesy Flush
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Posted: September 24 2009 at 13:47 |
I don't consider them to be prog, but they are a fantastic band regardless.
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Pekka
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Posted: September 24 2009 at 13:56 |
Raff wrote:
I own Absolution and Black Holes and Revelations, and hardly ever listen to them. I can safely say that their music does nothing for me - but not because they are pretentious or anything. After all, I love ELP, so 'pretentiousness' should not be a problem for me. I suppose it's just a question of personal taste, which, as you know, cannot be really explained. |
A while ago every word of this was true on my part. Then I listened to The Resistance from Spotify, zero expectations, and it pretty much blew my mind. On further listens I've lost quite a lot of that something that so stunned me on that first time, but that one surprisingly good spin got me rid of some locks I had in my mind concerning Muse. I've been listening to Absolution and BH&R again afterwards, and they have grown to be very good albums. I guess I used to have problems with their shiny and synthetic sound, but now I think it works very well for them. Tastes change.
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inrainbows
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Posted: September 24 2009 at 14:57 |
I hardly could consider them as prog band. I like them a lot , but I was tired of them being played so much in radio stations back in 2006 (Black Holes etc). I think prog related fits good in their case. Resistance ? I don't think this is a prog album at any extension of the word.
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Tony R
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Posted: September 24 2009 at 15:05 |
One third of The Resistance is most certainly Prog, the rest is proggy-ish. It's a difficult call, I mean Wondrous Stories, Going For The One and Turn Of The Century are hardly Prog but they're on a Prog album with one of the greatest Prog Rock tracks ever...
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Epignosis
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Posted: September 24 2009 at 15:14 |
"Turn of the Century" is so prog.
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J-Man
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Posted: September 24 2009 at 15:15 |
They are very original, combining prog with pure "pop", and the overall result is somewhere in the middle. Kind of like STYX, they have some very prog songs, but still have pop elements. Their earlier stuff is their most proggish, but I don't have The Resistance yet.
-Jeff
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Raff
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Posted: September 24 2009 at 15:16 |
I know you will hate me for this, but... Is it really so important to know if they are prog or not  ? They're on the site anyway, so those who like them can review them to their heart's content.
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inrainbows
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Posted: September 24 2009 at 15:21 |
^^^ Then yes, that's a very strong point of view
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akamaisondufromage
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Posted: September 24 2009 at 15:24 |
Epignosis wrote:
"Turn of the Century" is so prog. |
'Going for the One' is SO prog!
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Help me I'm falling!
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WalterDigsTunes
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Posted: September 24 2009 at 15:32 |
Typical grungy nobides.
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inrainbows
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Posted: September 24 2009 at 15:32 |
YES is Sooooo prog!
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paulwalker71
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Posted: September 24 2009 at 15:49 |
Raff wrote:
I know you will hate me for this, but... Is it really so important to know if they are prog or not ? They're on the site anyway, so those who like them can review them to their heart's content.
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Speaking as the thread starter, no its not important. In fact I wish I'd called the thread 'What do people think about Muse?' It's a pity its getting focussed on whether they are or aren't prog. I'm more interested in peoples opinions of them as a band. I'm currently streaming 'Absolution' from Spotify - and its very good
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