That's showbiz, absolutely
E. A Solinas | MD USA | 11/15/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"One of the best bands -- and most underrated -- from the UK is Muse, a symphonic hard-rock band that seems to be equal parts Radiohead and Led Zeppelin, with a unique sound that is both melodic and raw. This two-pack includes their debut "Showbiz," and their third album "Absolution."
"Showbiz" is not their best work, since they hadn't quite perfected the epic-guitar thing. But they are still a compelling listen, and to be honest, Muse at their worst still exceeds most rock bands. This album showed Muse exploring different musical avenues: ominous guitar pop, acoustic ballads.
Then, about halfway through the album, things get loud again, exploding with angsty driving hard-rock, and walls of wall-of-sound guitar'n'bass melody that would not shame the Smashing Pumpkins. For a band that was still defining their sound, it's a remarkable piece of work.
"Absolution" took them forward several years, establishing them as not just another one-hit wonder. This album focuses on love -- dead loves, lost loves, crumbling love, love as a counterpart to hatred, and the idea of loves that can't or won't last out.
This album also has a more refined sound than "Showbiz," with a soaring, rich sound and orchestral melodies. It's clear that Matt Bellamy has studied not just rock, but classical as well. This music has the epic quality of classical music, but in a melody written for guitar, bass, piano and drums. At times the sound is so massive (not loud, but massive) that it sounds like the speakers are going to explode.
Too often, Muse is written off as a Radiohead clone, probably because Matt Bellamy sounds a bit like Thom Yorke, and because they have massive, sweeping, orchestral styles. But anyone who gives this a good listen will discover that they don't actually sound anything alike.
Chris Wolstenholme does an exceptional job with the driving bass, forming a strong backbone for the music, while Bellamy pulls double, triple and sometimes quadruple duty, playing everything from Hammond to delicate piano. His roiling guitar riffs are absolutely stunning. With all that going on, it takes a special drummer to have an impact, and fortunately Dominic Howard is up to the task.
While their maligned second album may be their most effective, "Absolution" and "Showbiz" are complex, raw, melodic slices of pure rock'n'roll. Absolutely must-haves."
