To what extent are Muse considered 'prog'?

mrcozdude wrote: Blacksword wrote: Dean wrote: "new prog" and been kicking around for a while now Andy, and seems to be applied to any band who makes albums that sound complicated or symphonic. Aside from the bands we've already got here, like The Mars Volta, Coheed and Cambria, Oceansize, Pure Reason Revolution, Dillenger Escape Plan, Mercury Rev and The Secret Machines I've also seen it applied to Mew, Doves, Elbow, The Flaming Lips and even Coldplay - so it's a broad term with no central core and perhaps just a touch of journalistic laziness. Mmmm, where have I been?? I still thought the term prog was a dirty word in mainstream music media. Off topic..but Elbow come close to deserving that tag. Much of their stuff is quite proggy. There's one track on 'Leaders of the free world' called 'Picky Bugger' which has Peter Gabriel written all over it. Guy Garvey is, by all accounts a big Genesis fan. Yeah I agree with Elbow.But if they were to be mentioned for addition I would hide in a dark corner.

Indeed, they're not a prog rock band, but in reality they are no less or more proggy than numerous artists we have listed under 'prog related' but that's a discussion for another day...and probably not one I can be arsed to take part in to be honest...

I saw Muse open for U2 in Dallas last night and Muse really stole the show. U2 was good and they were great performers, but their setlist left much to be desired. They played way too much new material and at times it completely bored me.

Muse was fantastic though. My only complaint is that it was a short set (which can be expected for an opening band). My favorite of the night was probably when they played "Undisclosed Desires" because they played it a bit differently than the album version and I loved the way it was played live. It was more chill. 

I'd definitely not label Muse power-pop.

Still, they're albums are all different. You need to hear their other records to really judge them properly. Absolution for example is a completely different sounding record - much heavier and there's a lot of riffs - it'll probably rid your perception of powerpop.

Absolution is a fine good album with prog moments.

I'm pretty much a Muse fanatic, and I also love a reasonable amount of prog (hopefully more soon, please see my thread in recommendations?). So it's hard for me to judge how prog Muse are, when I've moved onto prog afterwards, but it's interesting to see what you all write.

Anyway, I tend to agree that they're alternative rock with progeressive elements. It's mostly the genre-changing and epic/bombasticness that does it. Anyway, here are tracks that I consider more progressive, if you don't know Muse that well listen on Youtube or something and say what you think.

Space Dementia (Origin of Symmetry) Uses not only a classical piano cadenza at the start, but a classical chord progression too (part of which is ripped off of Rach II). Also has a lighter, synthy chorus and chaotic end.

Citizen Erased (Origin of Symmetry): Has an unusual structure, between heavy and riffy sections to light ones. Often considered a classic.
Most Origin of Symmetry songs have complex lyrics.

Butterflies and Hurricanes (Absolution): Unusual structure- interesting verse chord progression, with strings, and a massive classical (Rachmaninoff-inspired) piano solo.
Absolution in general has a progressive feel, being a semi-concept album.

Hoodoo (Black Holes & Revelations): Soft flamenco guitar into heavy middle section with piano and strings.

Knights of Cydonia (Black Holes): Unusual structure, heavy use of synthesizer, etc.

United States of Eurasia (The Resistance): Big changes of feel, from soft to heavy, Queen vocal harmonies, classical piano solo.

Unnatural Selection (The Resistance): Very rocky but with a calm middle section (different time sig) with a jazzy electric organ. (Also look up the 5.1 version on youtube- it has an extended Queen-like intro)

Exogenesis (The Resistance): A 3-part symphony with use of orchestra, timpani, gong, unusual structure, change from light to heavy texture, tells an emotional futuristic/scifi story.

TheCaptain wrote: They've definitely got the prog attitude. They were invited to perform on an Italian show but they were told to mime the performance to a recording of the song. Of course, as any self-respecting musician would be, they were slightly peeved. As retaliation, all the members switched what instruments they "played."I think it turned out pretty well. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tn2qKraB1lQ

Oh, and, this is hilarious. 

As I had said earlier, I don't think they're prog, but prog-related. However, I also said that these are some of their more progressive, not that their other songs don't have progressive elements.

Did you actually go and listen to them?

DocJ wrote: Kazza3 wrote: Did you actually go and listen to them? Hey Kazza,   You posted a damn good review of a few Muse songs.   I am also a Muse fan, and I could care less what category some people seek to classify them. Please post any other opinions that you have.   It is well known to anyone that attended college that music sounds waves are translated into neurons that travel to the brain through some 35,000 auditory nerves from each ear.   It is obvious to me that some people just do not have the intellectual capacity to process this amount of auditory neurons into their brain.  They look something like this:

It's excellent to see more Muse fans on here. I don't think the reviews were that good- just a few points. I'm also flattered that you'd like to see more of my opinion, but about which part of Muse in particular? It's a bit vague. (I haven't done any proper reviews on PA yet, I should)

Yeah, those songs are more of the best examples.

I suppose much of your enjoyment of Muse depend on whether you like pop music. 

I like pop music. Not exclusively, otherwise I wouldn't be here. Muse are that happy medium where they have pop choruses and singalong riffs whilst still experimenting beyond the measures that pop allows. There are prog bands that I just can't get into because there's no melody/structure to the music at all - I like choruses every now and then.