THE RESISTANCE

Okay, so let's get this out of the way very quickly. Muse is a band that can write songs and albums for people who know little about music as well as the know-it-alls. They've proven that further with the release of their newest album, The Resistance. There's definitely a shift in sound and writing. It is "warmer" and more mature than what they've done in the past. Equally, I hear a varied array of influences ranging from The Beatles to U2 to Placebo. There's a good amount of structure (a key component to a good prog album) but the songs are also good on their own, for the most part. "Uprising" and "I Belong To You" reinforce the concept of the album yet make a nice and sharp statement separately. All in all I think that it was definitely a success although it takes a few listens to really get under your skin. The standout song, I think, is "Exogenesis - Symphony Part I (Overture)". I listened to this album for the first time at about 4am on a Wednesday night while I was unwinding... and when Exogenesis started, I actually lifted my head up and checked the CD player to make sure that it was the same album. It reminds me of something out of an epic sci-fi adventure flick. Gives me chills each time.