Muse's "The Resistance": A Review

Let's just get it out there: sci-fi rock operas are all kinds of awesome.

With that said, coming with something straight out of the pages of Orwell's 1984, the British sensation Muse releases The Resistance. Muse, whose popularity has grown rapidly in the states with being featured on the soundtrack for the movie Twilight, brings more of their science fiction-tinged rock. But this time around, the band adds even more layers to their sound; from straight up Queen-esque rock anthems to the classical stylings from Chopin, there's a lot to take in, which says a lot coming from Muse.

Despite the complexity of the album, the Teignmouth trio manage to pull off the genre bending. Who would have ever thought Freddie Mercury and Chopin would ever come together, let alone sound so good?

The album opens with the pulsing, clap-your-hands worthy anthem "Uprising". This track tends to set the mood for the rest of the album, and that mood is sticking it to the man! Guitarist and vocalist Matt Bellamy (and, let's face it, pretty much the sole writer and composer of the album) sets the bleak scenario filled with governmental totalitarianism and mind control. And you know what, he's just not going to take it anymore!

But let's be honest, it does speak to many as we all have a little rebel that wants to act out inside of us, right?

The next track, "The Resistance", follows closely in suit, painting a world filled with "thought police" and the need to go into constant hiding. Weirdly enough, the song at times tends to have a happy melody to it.

Yay! Despair!

Albeit the doom and gloom, the track is extremely catchy, and you'll probably find yourself singing along.

The track "Undisclosed Desires" is one of the redheaded step-children of the album. Upon hearing it for the first time, the listener may ask why Timbaland or Lady GaGa showed up randomly on their Muse CD. The rythm-heavy song seems to be way out of left field, and would actually be better suited as a b-side.

The epic gets cranked up a notch with the track "United States of Eurasia (+Collateral Damage)", which can be considered as Muse's magnum opus of The Resistance. The track is just so energetic that you'll probably pull a Wayne's World and thrash around the car. No joke. This track is definitely a strong point in the album having a good balance of energy and subtly.

Another track that tends to stick out like a sore thumb is "I Belong To You (+Mon Cœur S'ouvre À Ta Voix)". Try saying that three times fast. Anyway, the track has its high points, but the lyrics and odd bass line makes it a track to pass on. The cringe-fest only gets worse when Bellamy attempts to speak French. And by "attempts", I mean he totally butchers it. And it has a clarinet solo. Yes, a clarinet solo.

The album finishes with a trifecta of "symphonies", each having their own distinctive feel to them. These tracks sound like they could come straight out of a movie or Italian opera, which is pretty much what Muse was going for. The tracks are heavy on instrumentation and bring the album around full circle, which makes the journey quite enjoyable. If you want to find out the ending to Muse's space opera, you'll have to listen for yourself.

The Resistance may be foreign to many expecting to see more of the same from Muse and might be written off at first listen, but when given the chance, the album is definitely a grower. The concept of the album is interesting itself, and provides a fun musical ride for the listener. All in all, despite some bumps in the road, Muse succeeds in making an operatic and epic album.

The Resistance is in stores now.

http://muse.mu
http://www.myspace.com/muse