The 2nd Law

My album rating: 7/10

The 2nd Law is the sixth studio album by the bombastic three piece Muse which is due for release in the UK on October 1st.  Bellamy tweeted what we could expect from the new album a few months ago: "Christian gangsta rap jazz odyssey, with some ambient rebellious dubstep and face melting metal flamenco cowboy psychedelia." We were wrong to think he was joking.

The album opens with the prog-rock odyssey 'Supremacy', a fantastic opener to the album, ones that almost takes you back to 2001 with the screeching guitar and falsetto. Aside from the opener, many of the songs on the album are radically different from anything they have done before, mainly 'Madness', and 'Panic Station' which is a highlight on the album for me. It's a funky, Queen-esque filled jam, and one that you've got to at least tap your feet to. 'Follow Me' is obviously inspired by Bellamy's new found fatherhood, but it also sounds like something you dance to at a club. 'Explorers' is a tender little lullaby that tells a sweet narrative. Bassist Chris Wolstenholme has written two songs for the album that tell of his battle with alcoholism, 'Save Me' and 'Liquid State', the latter is the heaviest song on the album. The album concludes with an apocalyptic dubstep jam,  'The 2nd Law: Unsustainable'  and the haunting instrumental finale, 'The 2nd Law: Isolated System.'

After the luke-warm reception Survival received,  as well as the odd choice for a lead single, a lot of people weren't sure what to expect from The 2nd Law, and although it's by no means their best album, it's the same crazy, over-the-top Muse we all know and love.

Come Of Age

My album rating: 7/10

The four piece quartet from London have become well known for their punchy pop tunes in just two years after posting two songs on the internet. Their quick rise to fame has meant that their second album has been much anticipated, and I feel it lives up to the high expectations that were set by the band's debut album. Having said that though, it doesn't have hit after hit like the first album did.

They've been compared to The Ramones and 50s rock n roll and I think Come Of Age further backs this up. The lyricism is awfully self-deprecating and urgent, which isn't always a bad thing, Justin himself said that he loves primitive song writing that's all about the melody. The highlights for me include Bad Mood and I Always Knew, both laced with catchy choruses and solid riffs. 

Although not the most intelligent of records (it doesn't pretend to be) it's a great album to slap on in the background.

Madness

My single rating: 5.5/10

It's hard for me to be honest about the new Muse single since they've been my favourite band for almost four years now. When I first heard it I was very disappointed and couldn't even listen to the whole song. After a week or so though it grew on me and I don't know why that is. Maybe just because it's Muse and I feel I have to love all their music no matter how terrible it is, or maybe because it really is a catchy, fun song. 
There's some wub wub beats to enjoy (?) and Bellamy's voice sounds different somehow, sort of forced in the first couple of verses. The song picks up in my opinion after the little guitar solo, the way the "I NEED TO LOOOOVE" lyric is sung sends goose pimples down my spine (especially after hearing it live.) 
All in all, Madness is a nice little song overall, all be it a strange choice for the lead single of The 2nd Law.

p.s Sorry I haven't posted anything here for over a year, that's probably why this review isn't really a review, more a rushed opinion and even more biased than usual. Hope to write more since I've got nothing but time on my hands at the moment. :)