The Resistance
Muse
With typical Muse subtlety, their fifth studio album explodes out of the speakers with songs of striving for freedom, land-mass control, and ends with a typically restrained 12-minute symphony (yes, you heard correct) based on a planet having to send astronauts off to find a new home to colonise. All spread across eleven songs, and, if you choose to, an elaborate boxed-set which you’ll be able to show off to your friends who don’t have one. Kicking off with the glam-sci-fi rock stomp of lead single Uprising, with it’s ‘can’t-keep-the-common-man-down’ chorus of “they will not control us”, the spirit of defiance refuses to die down, with Resistance focusing on the message that love will conquer all. So far, so very 1984.
Things take a marked departure with the form of the R ‘n’ B tinged Undisclosed Desires, a strong contender for another single from the LP. With twanging slap-bass and clinical drumbeats, it’s as different a sound as Supermassive Black Hole was on 2006’s Black Holes and Revelations. Without respite, the ‘epic’ dial is turned up another notch with the Eastern-influenced United States of Eurasia, a track that was previewed through the Muse website as the first taster of the album. With grand piano flourishes, a cheeky Eastern melody incorporated into the mix and of course, that Queen moment (not to mention the sure-to-be-favourite concert moment of shouting ‘Eur-asia! Sia! Sia!’ top note), it’s a definite highlight of the album. The ‘lighter in the air power ballad’ slot is filled by Guiding Light, which shares much of its musical heritage with songs like Invincible – albeit with a bonkers Brian May style solo in the middle, seemingly tossed in effortlessly by Matt Bellamy because he felt like it. At times, it’s hard not to be torn in two directions by the album – are we meant to be genuinely impressed by the deep subject matter, the grandiose production (for a direct comparison, listen to the band’s 1999 debut album, then stick this on – it’s hardly the same band anymore) or to be a little bit amused.
Are Muse really just taking the piss out of us with these over the top guitar passages, orchestral touches, and, on I Belong To You (perhaps, if there is such a thing, one of the weaker songs on the LP), a clarinet solo. Seriously. It’s there in the last minute or so of the track. It’s tongue-in-cheek certainly, but Muse have progressed so much as a band they’re almost entitled to take their music as far as they can. Even if it includes instruments nobody wanted to play, even in school music lessons. As mentioned previously, the big talking point on this album seems to be the closing three-part symphony Exogenesis. Spread-eagled over twelve minutes of music, it grows and swells, recedes, ebbs, flows and finally ends on such a plaintive note you’re not sure if the CD has finished. It’s a work of grand ideas, intellectual topics, and challenging influences, but delivered with the trademark panache Muse have displayed for a long time now. It’s hard to believe, but they really have pushed the envelope in terms of what they can do musically – and after their last album containing such gems as Knights of Cydonia, Take A Bow and Starlight, that’s certainly saying something.
For those wanting something to show the grandchildren, the £60 box-set version features a lavish double-LP of the album, an art print, the album on CD with a bonus making of documentary on DVD, and a USB stick with various music file versions of the album contained within, as well as a snazzy music player to play them on the PC with. If you order through the official Muse website, you also get a Surround Sound DVD of the album chucked in for free, which should sound wizard on the right set-up.
Reviewed by Steve Muscutt
The firsts three songs are amazing
Хейтеры, убейтесь или продолжайте слушать свои Showbiz и Absolution дальше. The Resistance - гениальный альбом.
The Resistance is far superior to their early teen pop rock material. [3] Yet I've seen people on here compare the album to "teenage girl music". Yeah, I forgot teenage girls like to listen to the fucking Exogenesis symphony. I really don't get the hate for this album.
Wish Exogenesis wasn't on The Resistance.
mk741 lolwhat? It's their best album to date
Awesome photo: http://www.last.fm/music/Muse/+images/71215290 vote up if you like it.
masterpiece !
Hi,Who can tell me where I can download the resistance -music box version? My email address is: vicky@crystalandcrystalgift.com pls tell me...Thanks in advance.
Well I think it's funny that people are playing the "This new stuff is commercial simplified shit, their old stuff was so much better" card when Showbiz is their most simple, one-dimensional album in every single regard. And I like that album. I do agree that Absolution is supreme though. Absolution > Origin > Resistance > Black Holes >>> Showbiz for me. And again, I like Showbiz. But this is a damn good album, definitely not their worst, and I've yet to see a strong argument for the contrary in these 2+ years.
1st 4 albums (ignoring Starlight, really have had enough of that song) >>> Resistance IMO I think it's funny how some people are slagging off Showbiz. Seriously Muscle Museum beats anything on here (even though I don't hate any of the songs). But then most people's favourite is OOS but Absolution is my favourite so go figure.
You know what? I love them all. From the wacky b-sides and early stuff to the The Resistance's Exogenesis Symphony. That said, OoS is my favourite album and the Resistance comes in last. There's tracks in the Resistance I didn't bother to listen more than 3 times. But there are also the Symphony, MK Ultra and Unnatural selection in there, so...
essential plebcore.
As much as I love this album, taking the piss out of the older, god tier album is just laughably poor taste.
The Resistance is far superior to their early teen pop rock material. [2] #FACT
The Resistance is far superior to their early teen pop rock material. They've reached a new era of musical maturity and can now be taken seriously as accomplished and talented musicians capable of diverse and engaging songs. Maybe their gigs will be free of the usual mass of Kerrang kids polluting the venue and will now attract some fans of Frédéric Chopin and Camille Saint-Saëns! ;)
I agree, that's a catastrophic commercial shit!
This album is turd.
Their worst, but still good.
incredible album
The Resistance >>>>>>>>>>>> Black Holes and Filler [2]
Hahahaha are you losers serious? There's new elements on this record, but it's not even close to a drastic departure of any sort. I'm nearly pissing myself laughing at some of these dramatic, overblown comments. This sounds like a Muse record. For people who like Muse. And were you all unconscious in 2006 when they put out a record that was 25% quality 75% mediocrity? This is certainly an improvement from that.
"People, embrace change, because it's in no way a bad one. " Yes, yes it is. What an abomination of a record.
Terrible. Muse died with this record. [2]
Exogenesis: parts 1, 2 & 3 are genious and for matured-grown up admirers not for kids.....
Good album, but it's by far the worst of them. [8]
The Resistance >>>>>>>>>>>> Black Holes and Filler
You can love/hate anything you want and all that freedom of speech blablabIaIDONTGIVEAFUCKbla attitude as well but If you really are a "Muser" and you don't like at least on of the parts of Exogenesis Symphony, you probably have some sort of brain damage. Ok, now I feel stupid.
Me lo compré original, valió la pena. 10/10
One of their best IMO
holy fuck, this is a turgid dirge of the highest quality, and Matt Bellamy should be slapped furiously until he remembers how to not make really shitty albums. I mean, he never was exactly a genius but what a downturn of quality.
For me, it's their best album.
Look at the tags: Progressive rock? WTF
Their weakest effort to date, but still pretty enjoyable. It's kind of a let down because we all know they can do better than this.
Better than Black Holes and Showbiz. Inferior to Origin and Abso.
Sure, this is Muse's weakest record, but Muse fans who claim it's so bad were expecting too much and now when they listen to it they tell themselves that it sucks and that they are going to hate it. Really, there are songs on here that would have easily made some of the other albums had they written them at that time.
I still lmao when I come to this shoutbox and see words like 'betrayal'. Yes, because impressing you is why they're making music.
Christ!! why does so many people hate this album!, I think it's amazing!!
Muse died with this record.
Everything sucks apart from Uprising.
Thoroughly mediocre except for the symphonies.
People, embrace change, because it's in no way a bad one.
@YoAsia92 Lady Gaga is more popular than Muse. That doesn't make her better.
Good album, but it's by far the worst of them. [7]
Love you Guys - Behave yourselves ( i know its not fun ) Thanks for all you Do matthew and Howard and all . Love the artists in you . Keep up the great Music .
So many hating comments, still this album is more popular than Origin of Symmetry. I don't get you people.
exogenesis makes for a nice little pop rock song, but compared to a REAL symphony it isn't very good. like, by symphonic standards it's kind of laughable. however, it's my favorite track on the album
it's not the best album, but it's NOT BAD, Exogenesis Symphony is a masterpiece <3
this album is garbage. if this record introduced you to muse, then i feel sorry for you. the problem with this album is that it totally blows. this LP made me lose almost all respect for this group.
This is where i stopped listening to muse.
problem with this album is that it's so hit and miss. the last 5 tracks were all steps in the right direction. the first few, well, hit and miss. uprising sounds like a last-minute "write us a boring single that we can stick at the front of the album" throwaway. the magical guitar work of the earlier albums is almost completely absent. they didn't take enough risks but, at the same time, didn't do enough to keep what makes the band interesting in the first place. still a good album, just too hit and miss.