Black Holes and Revelations

I have the same conflict with this album I do with hotel California by the eagles. This is one of my favorite albums but I hate everyone and everything that is associated with this. I must say I know a lot less about this band outside of this album but the fans and the pretentious non political political lyrics of their more recent albums leave me a little annoyed. But that last song is as close to a perfect song I've ever heard on my life. Just for that song I'm giving this a 5. They also tried to stretch into different genres on here that they really don't in any of their other albums as well as most bands of this genre don't either. Its a solid album for a terrible arena rock band.

I should like Muse. I am pretty much their target audience, but outside of a couple of singles they just dont click for me.

It's like someone made a supergroup of all the bits I don't like from bands I love.

I really don't like this band. Really annoy me. 1/5

can't stand the band, but wasn't as bad as I thought it would be

I liked this album, but it gave me a lot of "this sounds like something else" vibes. I heard echoes of Radiohead (singing in Take a Bow and Soldier's Poem) and Elbow (at 3:15 of Take a Bow). Starlight absolutely sounds like The Killers. Hoodoo gave off Queen vibes, even if it didn't exactly sound like Queen. The opening arpeggios in Soldier's Poem made me think of Everybody Hurts by R.E.M. Sure, it changed away from that quickly, but there were a lot of points where I said "they sound like X."

But the vibe that hit me a lot was Imagine Dragons. Sure, I know Imagine Dragons came later (and say they were influenced by Muse), but I was having a hard time putting my finger on why they made me think of them. My teenage daughter helped me figure it out - she agreed that they have an Imagine Dragons vibe and then said, "they're both rock music for people who don't like rock." I don't know if that's entirely fair, but I laughed. She went on to firmly state that Muse is much better than Imagine Dragons, but I still got a kick out of that explanation.

Anyway, I enjoyed the music despite the nagging feeling that they often sounded like someone else. Lots of really cool moments. I'd listen again, and I do like rock, thank you very much. Favorite tracks: Starlight, Supermassive Black Hole, Invincible, Assassin, Exo-Politics.

Give credit to these guys. They found a formula that works for them and they stick to it. Over and over again. Starts out fairly strong, with Supermassive Black Hole being the highlight for me, and soon thereafter becomes tedious.

I think this is an illustration of why less is more. There's just too much going on here, and as a result it leaves me a bit cold. It's so emotive, but the emotion seems forced and unnatural.

Side note; that album cover's very Pink Floyd, isn't it? [Edit: oh, it's a Hipgnosis/Storm Thorgerson cover, that explains it]

No.

Love this album. Honestly I think it’s Muse’s best. Lots of variety but almost all bangers. Knights of Cydonia in particular is an all-timer. Also the best music video ever in my opinion.

The guitar solo on invincible was wild. The rest of this album was just ok. Not bad but I wouldn’t listen to it again.

I got high in a house that was under construction once while listening to Muse, but that was probably 2004 or 2005 so more than likely we were listening to Absolution. I had Absolution on CD and I can clearly remember listening to it while my dad took me to a car show in Dayton. Absolution got me through that day. Then this album came out in 2006 and by then I don't think I cared much for Muse anymore. By 2006 we were all downloading single songs (viruses?) from limewire and cds were quickly phasing out as MP3 players became the new fad. Anyway, I will happily experience this album 18 years after its release.

So Muse somehow seems to make the same song/album over and over. I don't know how to explain it but I could have sworn some of these songs were on Absolution because they sound like they should be. It's not necessarily a bad thing but it doesn't say a lot for their creativity. They do have a set style and they stick to it and that's what most artists do. And it works mostly. They tried some things on this album and while they sound good, it also sounds like Muse just trying to emulate different styles of music to break away from their own. I actually enjoyed most of these songs so why do i still feel compelled to give this album only 3 stars? I think this is more just me feeling like they made the same album twice in a row.

Jaa-a, onhan tuo mahtipontista. Knights of Cydonia on aika bläst biisi, mutta muuten levy on tylsä. kakkosen ja kolmosen välissä arvon, mut varmaan kakkoseen jää.

It’s a 5, with a few flaws here and there.

The weakest part of this album is the 3-track stretch of Invincible through Exo-Politics, which to me, tries way too hard to fit into the politically progressive rock niche that Green Day had carved into the mainstream when they dropped American Idiot. There’s something that either doesn’t click right for me, or just outright has not aged well under the lens of 2024 as compared to 2006.

The rest of this album is fucking spectacular. Take A Bow is the most electric opening track to an album I’ve heard in years, and an insanely cool tonesetter for the first 4 tracks. Soldier’s Song is fine, and it works with the backdrop of the Blair / Bush years without feeling too preachy. The last 3 (or 4, if you count Glorious) tracks are a great bit of variety, from super cool energetic bombastic pieces like Knights of Cydonia, or more atmospheric stuff like City of Delusion & Hoodoo.

I do think this album does lose its luster a little quickly, but it managed to grab it back at the end for me – realistically, that stretch of tracks 6-8 probably do round it down to a 4.5 for me, but I’d be a moron to not round it up. Fabulous stuff here.

I like the music a lot but the droning singing gets to me. If this were instrumental it would be a 4 for sure. 2.9 average per track.

Oh man, I really liked this album. Knights of Cydonia has always been a favorite. It perhaps dips a bit for a few of the middle songs, but it starts and ends so strong. I am feeling generous so that is going to be a five for me.

Meh

DON'T WASTE YOUR TIME OR TIME WILL WASTE YOU
Muse?! I'm incredibly biased, but this is an instant 5/5. Not my personal favorite Muse album (that goes to Origin of Symmetry), but this one is top to bottom full of bangers. This band will always have a special place in my heart. Muse may not have the best lyrics, but musically they are outstanding.
Top to bottom highlights. Map of the problematique, a top 3 Muse song for me, is here. Whenever I get to hear it live, my heart explodes in happiness.
No lowlights.
Starting with Take a bow? Such amazing buildup.
Starlight is a little overplayed by now, unfortunately. Cheesy Muse.
SMBH guitars just go hard, and Matt's vocals really shine on the high end.
Soldier's poem, although slow, melts my heart.
Invincible is another space-y, cheesy song, but great in its grandiosity. Matt's vocals are so passionate.
Assassin is so powerful, and hearing it live, the Grand Omega Bosses version, is epic.
Hoodoo: piano! And I've had recurring nightmares that I was loved for who I am and missed the opportunity to be a better man
Knights of cydonia is an epic album closer and the signature end to Muse's shows these days with Man with a harmonica.
I'm trying to figure out where the "southern Italy" influence is?

Knew I’d hate it, was not disappointed. Starlight was okay.

The begining of muses precipitous decline into too much prog nodduling and conspiracy weirdness.

There's some great songs on here (particularly #1-4 and Knights of Cydonia). But there are a couple of duds too (Soldier's Poem, Invincible, Glorious). I enjoy it overall, and the good songs are brilliant, but the lyrics can be a bit too juvenile or basic in places. 7/10.