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| Solid rhythm though, and is that falsetto I hear? Oh - it's just one of the motors dying. |
So Muse released a new album. There's been a lot of hype for the past year or so, with information slowly leaking out in one form or another. Then came the singles and promo releases. And now it's here. Well...not physically, for me at least. I pre-ordered the deluxe edition, and thanks to Australia Post's notoriously good service, I still haven't received it yet. It should've arrived on the 5th. But I do have a digital copy of the album which was provided as part of the pre-order, so I was able to listen to the songs anyway (well...the other half of the album that hadn't already been uploaded to YouTube). Now I've heard it in full, I though I'd do a track-by-track rundown - note that I had prior general knowledge that the album should be "stripped down..." and "...heavier" than more recent albums, according to the band, as well as the fact that it's a concert album (tells some sort of narrative) Also some of the songs I'd already heard, so my opinion is from whenever I had the first hearing.
DEAD INSIDE
Expectation: Needs to have a big sound to draw you into the album. Reminds me of "Dead Star", so might be pretty heavy. Lyrics to do with losing hope?
Initial Reaction: Wow, kinda dancey. It is big, but not at all heavy. Comparable to "Madness" and "Follow Me", with a bit of 80's thrown in. Close with the meaning, sounds more like it's about losing love.
Final Verdict: Great opener and awesome song by itself. Really deep and meaningful. The word "drones" is mentioned...Hypothesis that I will make an appearance somehow in all the songs.
DRILL SERGEANT
Expectation: It's in brackets (or parenthesis...I don't know which is which), so it's some kinda of interlude or outro/intro to the previous/following song. Given the name, probably vocal, rather than instrumental.
Initial Reaction: Pretty much what I expected, the call/response theme is kinda cool. Definitely an intro to the next song.
Final Verdict: As a song by itself, not much too it. But obviously designed to be played with "Psycho", as they are in the lyric video. Will definitely be played live, and will be awesome.
PSYCHO
Expectation: Might start soft perhaps, but it'll build up to be pretty fast and heavy, maybe like "Agitated". About someone losing control and becoming a psychopathic killer?
Initial Reaction: Nice use of an old jam-riff. Definitely heavy. Kinda cool how the Drill Sergeant makes appearances throughout. Lyrics by themselves are a bit silly, but given the context, make perfect sense.
Final Verdict: Solid song, nice to get a bit of the old Muse sound back with a good long track. Helps build the narrative, so far about a guy losing love and emotion, so decides to join the military where he will become a "psycho". Another 'drones' mention.
MERCY
Expectation: For some reason I'm expecting "Hyper Chondriac Music" (not "Hyper Music"), sort of slow but deep and heavy at the same time. Perhaps from a victim's point of view, after being confronted by the character in "Psycho"
Initial Reaction: Hmm...sounds a bit commercial. The voice is obviously Muse, but the music could be any modern rock band. A bit like Starlight maybe, but not quite as good. Deep in meaning certainly, but musically a bit disappointing.
Final Verdict: Actually gets better the more you listen to it. Still not a smashing Muse song, but it is quite good though, especially in context of the narrative so far (the character realising what he became in "Psycho", and wanting to be free again). 'Drones' mentioned.
REAPERS
Expectation: Has another really heavy sounded name, not sure exactly what to expect though. Lyrically about the military wanting to reap the character for all he's worth before letting him go.
Initial Reaction: Nice intro, this is gonna be heavy. Like a cross between AC/DC and RATM. Interesting up-beat chorus, but loving Chris' heaving backing vocals. Cool use of some kind of vocorder in the background. Whoa shit, that's a heavy outro. Love it.
Final Response: I can see why they've been playing it live. This song is big and awesome. Bonus points for multiple 'drones' references.
THE HANDLER
Expectation: Deep and heavy, but very stripped back. Maybe about the drill sergeant (the "handler") trying to regain control of the main character.
Initial Reaction: "Stockholm Syndrome" reborn. Got a nice slow, heavy groove. Awesome solo, really kicking.
Final Verdict: Nothing to make it stand out, but it doesn't need to. Another solid track, and works the narrative well. Disappointed that 'drones' aren't mentioned at all. My Hypothesis - wrong!
JFK
Expectation: More brackets, so another outro/intro. Gonna go with intro to the next song. Probably excerpts from a speech or media report.
Initial Reaction: Yep, it's a speech. Now I have to pay attention. Some cool distorted slams, nice effect. A bit of strings too...makes it kinda sad.
Final Verdict: Again, you wouldn't listen to it as a song by itself, but it works well as an intro when you pair it with "Defector", as is done for the lyric video.
DEFECTOR
Expectation: Sounds kinda of Nazi/Communist. The character finally managed to escape and get away from it all. So might be a bit faster and triumphant.
Initial Reaction: Another heavy track, when suddenly Queen. That works pretty well actually. Yeah. It's not fast, but it does have a triumphant feel. Kinda like "Survival" a bit. Is Matt saying 'Pwoblem'?Cool how it comes back to JFK's speech at the end.
Final Verdict: Would be good for a musical or rock opera. Great song. Still no 'drones'.
REVOLT
Expectation: Shit gets real and messy. Riots everywhere. Sounds a bit communist again. So maybe like "Uprising" with extra overdrive.
Initial Response: The sirens sound like "Uprising" live. Some weird synth going on here. Very Queen again, with harmonised lyrics, and some nice Brain May-esque solos. Surprisingly upbeat in the chorus. It's actually about finding the power to fight back, not shit falling apart.
Final Verdict: This should be pair with "Defector", they go well together, like they're two parts of an act. The 'drones' return!
AFTERMATH
Expectation: Obviously about what happens after everything has happened. Although there's still two songs left, so seems weird to end it now. Maybe like "Exogenesis: Redemption".
Initial Reaction: Nice change of pace, literally. Much softer and slower. The character seems to be finding meaning and love in his life again. The sun is coming out, the darkness is fading. A bit like "Neutron Star Collision" with "Blackout".
Final Verdict: Yep, it's definitely the end. Where does the album go now? Good song though. The more I get through the album, the more the narrative works. Back to no 'drones'.
THE GLOBALIST
Expectation: Well apparently it's a sort-of sequel to "Citizen Erased". So it has to be long surely, with many different themes. The content of "Citizen Erased" actually fits in with the album in a way, so a sequel would tie things together nicely.
Initial Reaction: Very western/Spanish sounding...Ok, there's definitely a lot of different themes going on here. Nice heavy break in the middle. Now we seem to be visiting "United States of Eurasia". Interesting song.
Final Verdict: Not what I was expecting sound-wise, but this is a masterpiece. Every concept album needs that one song that's just massive and intricate. Instead of making a song in parts a-la "Exogenesis" and "The 2nd Law", it's one big song perfectly tied together. No 'drones' again.
DRONES
Expectation: Maybe separate from the overall narrative, but sums up the general concept. Something quick jumpy to close things off. Surely 'drones' have to mentioned in this song.
Initial Reaction: Oh, "The Globalist" has finished, this is "Drones". This is very different, are they trying to make a hymn? Weird as a song, but cool on the album. Some nice lyrical references to the other songs on the album.
Final Verdict: It does tie things together in a kind of summary without adding to the story being told. But not in the way I thought it would. In a similar way that "Drill Sergeant" and "JFK" should really be played before "Psycho" and "Defector" respectively, rather than on their own, "Drones" should really be played after "The Globalist" as an outro. Yay, 'drones' return again.
THE ALBUM (DRONES)
Expectation: It'll be nice to have a fully developed concept album from Muse. They seem to have been toying a bit with it over the last couple albums, specifically "The 2nd Law", so I'm interested to see how they pull it off. There should be a few heavier songs if quotes from the band are anything to go by. Also expecting less synth/strings/EFX and more raw instrumental sound.
Initial Reaction: I'm not sure if knowing what half the songs were like before the album came out was a good thing or a bad thing. On the one hand, it was a nice preview, but at the same time it'd be nice to hear it full first (maybe only one or two previously released songs, not six), especially since it's a concept album and the songs are meant to go together. Really well developed though.
Final Verdict: Muse seem to think it's the best album they've done in a while. I don't 100% agree, but I'm certainly not disagreeing. Maybe equal 1st. It's a really solid album, not a single song I don't like (despite initial reactions) and the narrative is really interesting too. Can't wait for the tour. There's been suggestions of a stage production as well. Whilst not likely, it would definitely work and I'd be buying tickets in an instant. Now all I need is for the actual album to arrive...
