Musings on Muse: Spot's Mix

As some of you may know, the Spot spent this past weekend on the beautiful beaches of Negril, Jamaica. With little else to do but soak up the sun on the white-sand beaches, I was able to spend some quality time with my iPod. As such, my next few posts may, for better or worse, be more music-centric. We'll see.

Either way, one band I spent a particular amount of time listening to (as I normally do) was Muse. Ever since I downloaded Origin of Symmetry and Absolution, I have been a big fan of this English alt-rock band and their truly eclectic collection of tunes. However, most people may know Muse best through their ties to the Twilight movie franchise. In fact, the band has even been quoted saying that they attribute most--if not all--of their success breaking through to US listeners to these movies (the band has had large European and Australian success for a long time now). Unfortunately, this association, while financially beneficial, may not cast Muse in the best light for attracting more discerning, seasoned music fans. The band has much more to offer than uber-poppy songs like "Supermassive Black Hole," the first track on the Twilight soundtrack. And thus I got the inspiration to help you, the faithful readers, get a real taste of what Muse has to offer by providing you with selection of tracks that I beleive function as a proper introduction to their unique and enjoyable sound.

But before we move forward, let me make a few things clear. What I have done is selected four songs from each of Muse's most recent four albums, for a total of 16 tracks that can be downloaded off iTunes as you see fit. This is NOT a "Greatest Hits" CD. I do NOT think these are necessarily Muse's 16 best tracks, and in some instances may not even represent the four best songs on each of these four albums. I have merely used my powers of musical evaluation to select 16 great songs that give a nice sampling of the many different styles of Muse and serve as a good introduction to the band for any newcomer. In other words, if you have wanted to get into Muse but didn't know where to start, this is the mix for you.

Origin of Symmetry (2001):
1. "Plug in Baby"- A fantastic, hard-rocking, no nonsense track. Strong bass line that compliments the fun ascending-descending guitar line, and hold on for lead singer Matt Bellamy's crazy falsetto lines towards the end. One of my favorite Muse tracks, and also one of my favorite songs to play on Guitar Hero 5.
2. "New Born"- A soft start with some nice piano/synth, but the song really picks about a minute and a half in. Love this song's chorus, and how the band manages to seamlessly transition between soft and hard and back to soft by the end.
3. "Darkshines"- I can't get enough of the bass line in this song, and how it changes ever-so-slightly throughout. This song has a strange Old West feeling at the beginning, andthe band does a good job contrasting it with the dissonant piano crashes that lead into the emotionally charged chorus.
4. "Space Dementia"- This song goes along way in demonstrating how "epic" Muse can be. Like a few of the later tracks, "Space Dementia" really seems to tell a tale, and takes the listener on a storied journey. Really bizarre, powerful stuff.

Absolution (2003):
1. "Time is Running Out"- This is the song that first got me hooked on Muse. From the snap-claps at the beginning to the crazy drum line during the lead in to the second chorus (1:47) and the consistent build-up of momentum, this song is near-perfect in my mind.
2. "Hysteria"- Another gem. You will be singing this chorus for days to come, but don't let that steal focus from the crazy synth/bass line the underlies the whole thing, as well as the guitar solo at 2:26.
3. "Butterflies & Hurricanes"- Such emotion! This song is truly powerful, and much like "New Born," gravitates between moments of hardness and softness to great effect. Particularly good piano solo at 3:22, and listen closely for the orchestra accompaniment throughout.
4. "Stockholm Syndrome"- Another hard rocking track. I'd keep this one on repeat for the pounding bass drum and the guitar break at 2:03-2:07 alone. But let's not forget the almost xylophone-sounding synth during the chorus.

Black Holes and Revelations (2006):
1. "Starlight"- Probably the poppiest song on the list, there isn't much to be said other than this track is just damn catchy. A great pick for more causal listeners. But don't let the airy piano fool you; this song rocks pretty hard once it hits the chorus.
2. "Knights of Cydonia"- I don't know what I like more about this song: the use of vocals as an instrument to echo the guitar during the intro, the staggeringly powerful bridge section, or the fact that it kicked my ass over and over in Guitar Hero 3. Fantastic from top to bottom. "No one's gonna take me alive," indeed.
3. "City of Delusion"- One of the only songs by Muse you will ever hear with any acoustic guitar. Great bass line, and you gotta love the use of the violins. A really enjoyable, unique track, that really picks up steam during the second verse.
4. "Exo-Politics"- I had a hard time choosing between this track and "Maps of the Problematique" to fill this fourth slot. I think "Exo-Politics" wins for me because of the memorable chorus and the guitar work between the first chorus and the second verse (1:50).

The Resistance (2009):
1. "Unnatural Selection"- The organ during the intro. The driving guitar and bass. The powerful lyrics. The shouts of "hey" during the chorus. The slowdown in the middle. The choral finale. It's all ridiculously fun to listen to, and the true definition of "epic."
2. "MK Ultra"- Another tack with a very "epic" feel, this song has a lot going for it, such as the spooky string-work during the first "their breaking through" section (1:20), and the pounding drum line.
3. "Undisclosed Desires"- Another poppy number, I tried to avoid putting this one on the list due to its over-produced nature. However, I am a sucker for this song's catchy electronica beat.
4. "I Belong to You"- This may be the most unique song on the list. It's genre is hard to peg down, but regardless, the great vocal work and interesting piano line really steal the show, giving this track a decidedly burlesque, dark "Moulin Rouge"y feel that sticks with you long after hitting the stop button.

So there you have it. You are now a card carrying Muse-o-phile. Just a note: if you do plan on downloading these 16 tracks, realize that the order that they appear here is not the order that I would put them in on an actual CD. Perhaps just download them, throw them into a playlist, flip your iPod on shuffle, and see what happens. Spot out.