SHREDnews

By: Jonny Drybanski

Released September 14^th, 2009 on Warner Bros. Records, Muse’s seventh studio effort since the trio’s formation in the early 90s, The Resistance features an astoundingly unique sound and style from a group reshaping the conventions of rock music, and delivering the most cutting edge album I have heard in years.

Self produced by the band, The Resistance melds together rock, pop, funk, metal, alternative, disco as well as classical, symphonically arranged elements into a surprisingly cohesive genre which Matthew Bellamy(vocals, guitar piano), Christopher Wolstenholme (bass, vocals), and Dominic Howard(drums) inhabit and personify from start to finish.

Album opener and first single Uprising sounds like a science fiction hybrid of  part underground club dance party and part fiery political protest. The disc kicks off with pulsing, textured electric bass, thunderous bass drum and haunting upper register synth lines. The lyrics hint at distrust of global corporations, banks and politicians. A very effective opener, this song has the energy I look for at the beginning of an album but is also reserved enough for the album to grow in intensity and depth from here on.

Track 2, and album namesake, Resistance is a frantically dramatic love song steeped in angst and uncertainty. Inspired by romance from George Orwell’s novel “1984”, according to notes from the band on the albums packaging, the song is also meant to represent the kind of love that can transcend barriers such as religion or political orientation, pointing to a message of world peace. I found this song to be solid though slightly repetitive. Cutting it down to a more concise 3:30 to 4:00 rather than the final cut of 5:46 may have been wise in my opinion.

Undisclosed Desires is where this album really started to take off for me on my first listen through. Plucking violins, lyrical string and synth parts really make the music stand out as unique from most modern rock bands. While the chorus seemed sluggish and rather boring to me, the rest of this track earns points for its tight arrangement of unconventional sounds for a rock band.

United States of Eurasia was inspired by an imaginary musical chronicling the quest for peace in a world where another super power has arisen to challenge American domination of world politics. Ferocious drumming and shrieking guitars backed by urgent tremors of a grand orchestra punctuate intervals of this piano/vocals ballad. The music itself, without lyrical accompaniment is appropriately epic and vividly paints a portrait of raging patriotism, military firestorm and war-torn regret. Also notable, and an interesting touch is the inclusion of a sample from Frédéric Chopin’s Nocturne, Op./9 No/2. This song is a daring step forward in modern rock music and one of my favorites off of this album.

Guiding Light is an arena rock anthem about a troubled relationship, reminiscent of the style of Queen. A solid song in which nothing particular sticks out to me. This song keeps the momentum of the album going while not particularly challenging the listener.

Unnatural Selection begins with unexpected church organ and segues into an equally unexpected relentlessly belly rumbling punk/metal guitar driven piece until decompressing to a laid back swing beat behind deliciously dirty bass guitar. After some whaling vocals from Bellamy a guitar solo fits in before ramping up the tempo and energy once again. This song is another highlight on the album.

MK Ultra is a heavy song laden with fat synth textures and once again the orchestral arrangements that rock music never knew it was missing. Muse takes care to remind us of how much they can enhance rock throughout this release. The result is exciting and enjoyable. It takes a cynical point of view towards modern media and the alleged mass brainwashing and deceit it proliferates.

I Belong to You/Mon cœur s’ouvre à ta voix, is a funky and wildly interesting piece which incorporates, to my delight, a bass clarinet solo towards the end. I can’t remember the last time I heard a clarinet solo outside of classic jazz performances, much less a bass clarinet solo. Muse takes risks, and they pay off time and time again in this album. The slower middle section is taken from and aria entitled. “Mon Coeur S’ouvre A Ta Voix” from French opera “Samson and Delilah”.

Overall, the thrilling risks taken by Muse on The Resistance contribute to it being one of the most challengingly unique collections of songs I have recently come across. Muse gives me great faith in the state of the music industry today and contradicts my long held opinion that most mainstream artists lack creativity and depth. The Resistance currently number 3 on this week’s Billboard 200.

Also worth mentioning is the albums’ ending, consisting of a 3 movement orchestral piece called Exogenesis. Opinion in music journalism may only go so far. ultimately the listeners will form their own views which may contradict or enforce my own. Consequently, I have deliberately censored my thoughts on this ambitious undertaking as I feel it will be infinitely more rewarding for listeners to experience this group of songs without any preconceived notions and because I feel it is important to retain at least some of that sense of wonder and exploration which new music ignites within us all.

For listeners craving something that will challenge their expectations while providing a simultaneously fun and intriguing album, I give Muse’s The Resistance my highest recommendation.

Final Score: 10/10

Sounds Like: Queen, Radiohead, Maroon 5

Top Tracks To Listen to:

United States of Eurasia

Unnatural Selection

Undisclosed Desires

I Belong to You / Mon cœur s’ouvre à ta voix