What?: Muse's 6th album and soundtrack to the 2012 London Olympics and World War Z.
Why?: I do like Muse, but it's a complex relationship. I wasn't going to get this album but in a moment of weakness (probably armed with birthday cash or a 20% off sale) I gave in.
Tell me more!:
I first heard Muse via the radio, and ignored them. All that high voice guitar wankery put me off.
Much later I heard them live on Triple J during one of their Impossible Music Festival days. I was fairly impressed, which put them back on my radar.
Shortly after that, the double whammy of the excellent overblown "Knights Of Cydonia" video, and my friend lending me a copy of the album that song is from, "Black Holes And Revelations", put the band in front of my consciousness.
Given all of their previous albums are cheap, devouring their past was easy.
I heard this album (The 2nd Law) was causing controversy with fans due to some aledgidly large swings away from their traditional sound, with dub step being mentioned, along with comparisons to Queen albums. Such talk just couldn't be ignored.
I enjoyed the album on the first listen but wasn't as impressed as the fans and media. I might have unkindly said something like "if this is Muse's Queen album, they must have meant Hot Space", but spending more time with it I appreciate what they've done.
Unlike most bands, who sound identical on each album, Muse have managed to shift their sound over the last few albums, with 2nd Law the obvious extention.
In all fairness the dub step elements do feel a little like pandering to the times, but they've done a better job of it than Korn did. Further, we're talking a couple songs ("Follow Me" and "The 2nd Law: Unsustainable"), not the whole album.
Much of the album actually feels like a tribute to the pop produced rock of the early 80s. "Panic Stations" could be anyone from INXS to Talking Heads. "Madness" could with a bit of imagination come from of of the more adventurous bands of the late 80s.
Speaking of Queen, I'm sure there must be deliberate humour in how ridiculous "Survival" is. The first thing that came to my mind was Regurgitator's "Crush The Losers". I'm a big fan of a well played over-produced joke.
"Supremacy" is the Bond theme that never was. "Animals" is straighter Muse, but played a little differently it could be Coldplay, or even U2, except for the huge riffs ending. It's Muse's strongest point to fill their songs with enough variety to avoid comparisons to other bands.
"Big Freeze" is another great example that could be U2 if not for the big slab of bass that is the chorus. It couldn't be anyone else.
If I wanted to pick low points, both "Save Me" and "Explorers" drift too far into ballad territory.
I stand corrected with "Liquid State", with bass player Chris singing, it sounds like a whole different band. I love a band with multiple vocalists.
If putting an economics version of the second law of thermodynamics to dubstep and orchestra doesn't get the kids learnin' I give up, this generation is lost.
I like the drawn-out Tubular Bells attempt at the end of the album, it's better than a fade out.
I like my albums diverse. I like bands to take risks. I like Queen level production. I like a bit of humour. I like a band with a singer who can hit some decent notes, and who lets their fellow band members sing. I like the 80s, I like when rock crosses over with dance.
So I should love this album? No. A lot of likes are still just a like.
6/10
