Origin of Symmetry

I had not heard this one until now. I liked this more than Black Holes and Revelations. Very similar to the heavier songs of Radiohead. Vocals can get a little tiring at times but they are mostly pretty good. Favorites were New Born, Plug In Baby, Citizen Erased, and Futurism.

I had "Showbiz" and didn't like it that much: I always thought Muse, like Coldplay, were riding on the coattails of Radiohead while being shittier songwriters. But "Origin of Symmetry" is kind of bonkers, it's like Queen on amphetamines, unhinged and remorseless, like Muse just stopped giving a shit. I still don't think they're that good, but they get points for just doing whatever the hell this is.

Not only the best album Muse ever release, but still perhaps the best high alternative rock ever reached. The beginning is full of powerful piano sweeps, the most futuristic of guitar tones ever to reach the masses, and amazing bass and drums that will rev the listener up no matter the occasion. Meanwhile, the back half's more somber approach leads to songs that feel like B-sides, but considering Muse has some of the best B sides in the business, it is hard to view that as a negative, with Screenager's more jungle-esque atmosphere and Darkshines' hints at what is to come with Absolution, it is hard not to fall in love with the variety at play. Even the album's weakest track, Feeling Good, would Rank among some of the best covers in rock history, and never for a moment does Matt make it feel phoned in. Every note has been contemplated again and again, ensuring that the listener always feels as though they are floating in space, in fear of crashing down to Earth at every moment. Micro Cuts, an especially underrated track on the album, shows off his sheer ability to perform among the best falsettos of all time. Its anxiety-induced paranoia makes you scramble to find the lyrics as soon as possible, like the best shoegaze acts, because one has to wonder what could fill one with such much raw fear. It's an album full of angst, and its production is still mixed somewhat strangely, but it balances its out of this world aesthetic and dense instrumentation in such a way that it finally surpasses any comparisons to its contemporaries, and quite frankly the comparisons that can still be made it goes above any way. I, for a long time, found myself sticking to the rainbow-coated nightmare that is Space Dementia, or the prog masterpiece, Citizen Erased, for the longest time, but I urge you to re-examine the final stretch as something remarkable in its own right, and I cannot see this album as anything short of a masterpiece. No matter what, you will come away with a new favorite rock song of all time, I guarantee it.*

*No money will be returned to you in the event that no song grabbed you. Listen again. AGAIN. AHHH!!! Just kidding, like what you want to like, I appreciate your opinion, and have a good day! :)

I remember this album hitting the US like a nuclear bomb. totally fit the moment. A high watermark and prophets call to a new band to hold the standard of grand prog and arena rock. Citizen Erased is so fucking good and Bellamy's voice is HAUNTING!

Not an unknown album. One of the biggest records of its era. This is Muse’s second album, and the one where they properly find their own voice after a debut still wearing its Radiohead influences on its sleeve. It’s bombastic, over-the-top, and built for stadiums, which is usually not my thing at all.

But this album rocks. Hard.

The first six tracks are relentless: “New Born,” “Bliss,” “Space Dementia,” “Hyper Music,” “Plug In Baby,” “Citizen Erased.” One after another, no let-up. The sheer energy is what makes it work. Chris Wolstenholme’s bass is the backbone of the entire record, massive and melodic, holding everything together while the riffs and drama explode around it. There’s real power here, not just volume.

It does lose momentum after those opening six songs, but they’re strong enough to carry the album regardless.

Later Muse would lose me. The bombast got bigger, but the energy drained away: more strings, more synths, more stadium ambition, less raw rock power. Origins of Symmetry still has that fire.

4.5 stars. Not quite top-tier all-time, but absolutely a banger.

I do love early muse, and one of those bands you need to see live. I actually prefer this album over black holes even though I do like both. So might have to give this full marks.

Yes! One of my favourite albums, by the band who mean the most to me. For a second album, it sounds so polished and mature, but still with the madness and energy of their early years. Not the Muse album I would have picked (I'll always love Showbiz a wee bit more, and probably listen to Drones most at the moment) but a solid choice which I would fully support for a place in the list.