HULLABALOO SOUNDTRACK

Muse have come a long way since they met in Teignmouth (as most people try to), and this double CD is released in conjunction with the DVD/VHS of the same name that is reviewed later. Matthew Bellamy is one of the true characters of the age, and writes songs that are both compelling and hard to listen to. He combines dissonance and commerciality, going his own way and refusing to conform. This double album contains one disc of B sides and rarities from 1999 ? 2001 while the second disc is taken from two concerts in Paris towards the end of last year.

How can Muse's music be described to those who have not heard it before? Imagine Radiohead being led by someone with a penchant for hard rock guitar and a liberal use of vocal and guitar effects backed by an extremely tight rhythm section. They may be a trio but they certainly don't sound like it. They have still to make the premier league but moment certainly can't be far away.

There are just so many powerful songs on the first disc that it is hard to think that they were only deemed strong enough to be backing numbers. I would have liked to have had some information in the booklet about what was recorded/released when. But the first disc is just a taster, as the riffing guitar fades in and out of the speakers and the band blast into "Dead Star" at the beginning of the concert. This song epitomises the band, in that it goes from full-on hard rock to atmospheric with strange Bowie-esque vocals, and the band throwing their all into the music.

Muse may be an acquired taste but more and more people are finding out the joys.

Originally appeared in Feedback #69, Aug 02