THE RESISTANCE

What i think happens is people listen to an album once, and if they dislike it then that's it, it's crap, keep away from it, chuck it in the bin, banished! Sometimes it takes a while for an album to grow on you, maybe a few listens. After that little sorta cooling off period, if you're addicted, you obviouly like it. If it annoys you, then you dislike it, and you gave it it's chance. But this poor album doesn't seem to be getting any chance from some people, which is very unfortunate. It's almost as though people listen to it and say "this isn't normal muse, they're going r&b and they're like Queen and they aren't what they used to be anymore" and because of this it's bye bye The Resistance.

I've listened to this album twice a night since Thursday, and admittedly on the first listen i wondered what the hell was going on and genuinely was slightly unsure, i took another listen and it felt better, and it continue getting better, and now it's Monday night and i love it! What a terrific piece of alternative rock music this album is, there's so much in here, it has that slight little oomph that BHAR was missing in some of its songs. The addition of synths was a risky move, but i think it paid off alright!

Speaking of synths, plenty present in the opener, Uprising. With previous album openers such as Take A Bow, New Born and Intro/Apocalypse Please, it had plenty to keep up with. It's a pretty good opener, the synth adding a very futuristic feel to it, and good lyrics to back up the theme of the song. Resistance is a very nice song, and one of those songs you won't be sure of on first listen. It is slightly reminiscent of Starlight, it's a very memorable song. It is slightly different to their usual stuff, but if you think this is different just wait til you hear... Undisclosed Desires, the aforementioned r&b styled song. You really won't expect this, but honestly with this song (i believe the weakest of the album) you'll either love it or hate it. Next is the epic United States Of Eurasia (+Collateral Damage), begins with a soft piano and progresses with an almost frightening multi layered vocals, with the orchestra entering and everything, it's startling. Different indeed, and though i'll admit very Queen like, it's the only real part of the album you're reminded of Queen (as opposed to it being filled with Queen styled parts as has been mentioned elsewhere, which is utter rubbish in my opinion). Collateral Damage is Matt playing a version of some piece of music, can't remember the name of it off the top of my head, with the slightly disturbing sounds of children playing and a jet fighter flying overhead, seguing into... Guiding Light, slightly different again, but a nice song, very different guitar solo compared to the solos of old. Not a groundbreaking song but it brings you gently onto the brilliant Unnatural Selection, which contains parts very reminiscent of some older Muse songs, nothing wrong with that at all i don't think, all bands do it. But this is certainly the first full on rock song on the album, very Origin of Symmetry. MK Ultra is also a terrific song, this time not only bringing back some Muse of old, but mixing it with this albums sorta style. I expect if they make another album, we'll possiby be hearing more of this sorta thing. I Belong To You is the final song you're gonna think "what the hell?" when you listen to it. Different indeed, but i think it works well. Matt, as you'll have heard, sings in French in the middle of the song. It's grown on me a lot, brave move indeed and good on him, and this sets us up just nicely for the Exogenesis Symphony (Part 1 Overture, Part 2 Cross Pollination, Part 3 Redemption). I was slightly gutted to find it really is 3 seperate songs, i thought maybe you could listen to it all together as a song without noticing the change between each part. However it's brilliantly done, Starting off with the Orchestra, the band soon enter as Matt sings words you can barely make out, he uses his voice more as an instrument here i think, and then we enter the next part, mostly piano, with an interlude of singing and the band, and finally the touching final part, which begins with the piano again, and Matts plea to start over, the song ends with the orchestra and the piano, a beautiful piece of music indeed. Again, if you don't quite get the feeling the first time, do listen again.

One thing i'll say, the lyrics...they're not even as bad as people say. They're perfectly entitled to write songs about whatever they wish. It seems as though if you go onto a topic such as conspiracy theories, apocalypse, politics, your lyrics suck. Come on people, what about Pink Floyds Piper at the Gates of Dawn? Yes' Close to the Edge (most works by Yes in fact), or Rush's Sci-Fi epic 20 minute pieces. Some of the best albums made there, nobodies slagging the hell out of Jon Anderson for his utterly ridiculous meaningless lyrics. The lyrics on this album are fine. Nuff said!

Is it worth 5 stars? I think so, listen to it in it's entirety and it becomes something else, much like i said with BHAR. It's got some very solid songs, and a few masterpieces, and i really respect Muse for taking the plunge with a work like this in the present day, very alternative indeed. Here's hoping they expand on things like the Exogenesis Symphony for future works! The further into the album, the more epic!

Once again i'll say, don't judge it on a first listen, or indeed a second. Some of my very favourite albums and songs took me a while to actually get into or have the patience to give a proper listening. Obviously it varies in someway to the older albums, but every album has changed in some way from one to another. If you loved BHAR though, you'll certainly enjoy this.

Uprising - 4/5 Resistance - 5/5 Undisclosed Desires - 3/5 United States of Eurasia - 4/5 Guiding Light - 4/5 Unnatural Selection - 5/5 MK Ultra - 5/5 I Belong To You - 4/5 Exogenesis Symphony (Pts 1-3) - 5/5