Muse - The Resistance

If you are a Muse fan, hats off to you. If not, you are missing out on some of the most powerful music of our time.

I came across Muse in 2001, a friend of mine let me listen to a song called "Micro-cuts". As I heard Mathew Bellamy's signature falsetto voice rip apart everything in its path, I was left in awe (and maybe even nearly in tears) by the sheer raw power and feeling of their music. Being a musician-by-hobby myself, I heard more than just a unique voice, I heard highly complex and technical music structures. I heard intricate timelines and progressions. I heard music literally being redefined as just three guys from England managed to find a way to blend progressive rock with space rock with alternative rock with glam rock with hard rock with electronica with indie with classical music. The result of this amalgamation is some of the greatest music to have ever graced our speakers. At least, that's the way it sounds to my ears.

In light of the above, recently I finally found time to listen to Muse's latest album (2009) called "The Resistance". Critics generally regard Muse's previous album "Black Holes and Revelations" (2006) as their greatest work to date, and was even considered a flawless masterpiece by some. IMHO, the new album has blown the previous one out of the universe.


As much as I consider myself someone who is well spoken and is able to express himself quite effectively, what I experienced is incredibly diffcult to put in words. The infusion of different musical elements all at once is sometimes so overwhelmingly brilliant that, if you have what I call "music OCD" like I do, it forces you to rewind and listen to a certain section or part again. And again. And again. Just so your mind can comprehend what you heard.

I won't bother going into an analysis, because no matter what I say, it won't do justice to the brilliance of this album. The songs that stand out are, well, all of them, each for their own reasons. But I will point out that "United States of Erusia" and "Guiding Light" are exceptionally powerful songs. Also, the last 3 songs in the album ("Exogenesis" Parts 1, 2, and 3) represent some of the most tremendously mind blowing music I've ever heard. They are an absolute perfect ending for a sublime album. I already want more.