MUSE: Origin Of Symmetry (ALTERNATIVE ROCK): review / opinion to read on Music Waves

"Showbiz", although generally well received, was nevertheless a confidential success internationally. After the release of this first album, Muse went on a promotional tour during which they experimented with the material that would be used to record their second album, "Origin Of Symmetry".

It's amazing to see with which intelligence Matthew Bellamy, Christopher Wolstenholme and Dominic Howard knew how to make their music evolve by correcting the few imperfections of "Showbiz" without denying themselves. What doesn't change is the incredible energy that the musicians give off. The guitars remain often saturated as well as the bass to which Wolstenholme applies many effects. More maturity or better sound recording? Still, the presence of the bass is enormous and it is the guiding thread of many tracks. Moreover, the sounds, even saturated, are less boiled, the distortions are "clean", the energy is better channeled than on the previous album.

Matthew Bellamy is always as demonstrative as for his way of singing and does nothing to soften his detractors, quite the contrary. He even goes further in the excessiveness and go up in improbable high notes, not hesitating to add in the theatrical mannerism ('Feeling Good') or extravagance ('Micro Cuts'). But whether you like Muse or not, the vocal performance is there and Bellamy assumes his extravagance like Freddy Mercury, whom he will get closer and closer to.

The quality of the compositions did not decrease, on the contrary. If "Showbiz" already showed a beautiful diversity, "Origin Of Symmetry" explores many horizons, frenetic whirlpools which literally catch the listener in its furious swirls ('New Born', 'Bliss'), from the Hispanic 'Screenager' to the atmosphere of a 50's film noir ('Feeling Good') or a western a la Ennio Morricone ('Space Dementia'), or playing it techno/electro/rap ('Hyper Music'). The album also makes a wink to classical music with the introduction of 'Space Dementia' taken from Rachmaninov, the Bach-like riff of 'Plug in Baby' or via the use of big organs on 'Megalomania'. Bellamy, without abandoning the guitar, resorts more and more to keyboards, piano, organs or synthesizers. The band even tries a progressive approach on 'Citizen Erased' with a melody that never ends to evolve, rhythmic breaks and atmospheric changes.

Muse has evolved a lot between the saturated alternative rock of "Showbiz", original and powerful but dominated by guitars and "Origin Of Symmetry" much more open on the musical influences as well as on the instrumentation. If some tracks assure the transition with "Showbiz" ('Hypermusic', 'Plug in Baby', 'Screenager', 'Darkshines'), others such as 'New Born', 'Space Dementia', 'Citizen Erased' and 'Megalomania' open the way to the albums to come. - Official website

MUSE

ORIGIN OF SYMMETRY

MUSHROOM

ALTERNATIVE ROCK