Considering the critical acclaim garnered by Muse’s “Black Hole and Revelations” and its predecessor, “Absolution,” the pressure that followed their latest release, “The Resistance,” was incredible. The problem with the album is not that it’s bad but inconsistent.
The first track and single, “Uprising,” is not a compelling way to start the album, the beginning would have been better suited by “Resistance.” “Resistance” is a slow builder but once it gets going has high energy. This track is the traditional, grandiose Muse with crashing choruses and soaring vocals. “Undisclosed Desires” sounds artificial, like a Timberland-produced track, but the bass is aggressive and the vocal delivery is dripping with sincerity.
This first fourth of the album is definitely its lowest point. The initial three songs sound like someone else trying to play a Muse song, or Muse paying tribute to other artists. Although the first three songs are disappointing, the rest of the album gets better.
“United States of Eurasia” is the first great song on the disc. It starts with a gentle piano/string arrangement and soft vocals, builds to excitement and shatters the monotony of the opening of the album. The lyrics are obviously political considering Muse jabs at American foreign policy. “Collateral Damage” is a beautiful piano/string piece, with children laughing and birds singing in the background. “Guiding Light” is drum-and-keyboard driven. It incorporates a traditional guitar solo on the disc, and a good one at that, making it one of the most entertaining songs. The lyrics are rather cliché, which cheapens the song but doesn’t destroy it.
“Unnatural Selection” is one of the longest and most solid songs on the disc. The inclusion of background gang-vocals is delightfully random. “MK Ultra” has some of the disc’s finest drumming, and a great lead-keyboard riff. “I Belong to You (+ Mon Cour S’ouvre