New Release: Muse - The Resistance

Muse is just plain awesome. I loved 2006's Black Holes And Revelations, so I was a little psyched about the new album. The band refuses to disappoint.



Before I continue, permit me a brief rant. I dislike the idea of Muse (or any band) being categorized as "new prog" or "post-prog" or whatever the fuck. Progressive rock is progressive rock. We don't need a new label for it for each decade that passes (the same thing was done as "neo-prog" in the 80s). Prog rock is all about making rock music that incorporates elements of other styles of music (electronic, classical, jazz, whatever), and it has been like that since the 70s. Now, you can put the "progressive" qualifier on any genre if you like (prog trance, prog metal, etc.), but please don't put modifiers on prog itself. If you're trying to describe bands like Radiohead (and possibly Muse) who were previously just considered "post-rock," then "progressive post-rock" or "progressive alternative" might be better. It's the underlying flavor of rock that varies over time or from band to band, not the premise of "progressive." OK, enough of that, I've said my piece.

Another quality of prog-rock is that generally, if you're expecting a band to repeat themselves from one album to the next, you'll probably be surprised. The Resistance is a great accomplishment by Muse that retains important elements of the band's style without sounding like it came from the same mold as, say, Black Holes. Many critics have called it a masterpiece that is Muse's most ambitious work to date, and I tend to agree. The album is even more diverse than their last, beginning similarly with a few catchy and upbeat tracks, and concluding with a nearly 13-minute "symphony." In between are more examples of modern rock music blended brilliantly with both electronic and classical elements. This may well be the most ingenious and well-crafted album I've heard all year.

The first single, "The Uprising," is a great opener that is eerie yet manages to have a great hook and a swinging rhythm. This eeriness continues into the building of the title track, which begins reminiscent of Black Holes' "Knights Of Cydonia" without being derivative, but shifts to a somewhat pop-inspired chorus. "Undisclosed Desires" has a bass-heavy, pop-like rhythm blended with plucked violins and low-toned synth lines. "United States Of Eurasia" is a pretty obvious (but well-executed) nod to Queen; the track is shared with "Collateral Damage," an interpretation of one of Chopin's "Nocturnes" that I won't pretend to be familiar with. If the album has a weak point, it's "Guiding Light," which is a bit too 80s-rock-ballad for my taste, but not unlistenable; it does feature some nice guitar licks. "Unnatural Selection" is a nice recovery, an upbeat track with driving riffs and distorted vocals, and "MK Ultra" follows it nicely with a similar pace and piercing keyboards (and more violins). "I Belong To You" is a pop-infused piano tune that reminded me a bit of some of Ben Folds' work; about two minutes into the track we switch to "Mon cœur s'ouvre à ta voix," an interpretation of the aria from Samson And Delilah (again, I will admit I am not familiar with anything opera), and then back at the end.

As many critics are raving, "Exogenesis Symphony" is the real showpiece here. A piece that Matthew Bellamy (Muse's lead singer, guitarist, keyboardist, songwriter, etc.) has apparently been working on here and there for years, the symphony is performed by over 40 musicians, and is presented in three parts. We begin with the appropriately titled "Overture," which functions exactly as it should, presenting a dark atmosphere with an orchestral arrangement, eventually adding vocals and electronic drums, followed by some more great guitar work. Part 2, "Cross-Pollination," begins with some ambitious piano accompanied by the orchestra, which leads into the calm vocal section that shifts into another drum and guitar driven section before returning to the piano part. The tapering off of Part 2 leads into the again piano-initiated Part 3, "Redemption," which builds into a beautiful vocal-accompanied arrangement halfway through, which deescalates to a quiet string coda. "Exogenesis Symphony" is an extremely well-executed piece, and while I can't say I enjoy it as much as some other prog-rock epics I've heard, it's definitely among the most ambitious, and worthy of being dubbed Bellamy's masterpiece.

Overall, while the album has one or two weak moments, they don't detract much from the flow of the record; The Resistance is Muse's strongest album to date. According to current chart numbers, the album has hit #1 on a number of European charts and not placed in the US; "The Uprising" has seen similar performance as a single. This is largely due to us Americans generally having no fucking taste. I should move to England.