Best MUSE Album?

[The Dice Man]

I find this a true impossible.

I discovered em through Absoultion and thought for ages that that was the best, but I explored their back catolouge and by jimmy,by Chirst! Ive never ever heard a more consistent band in my life.

I wont include Hullabaloo in this voting poll for the simple fact it just makes it all the more harder, and that its more an earlier collection of songs. Although I do admit it deserves it's own 'space'.

So what's it to be? (multiple voting has been activated simply because I cant choose)

 

[TigerFan]

Absolution is the best, by so very very far . in fact, I'd put it in my top ten albums.


as for the rest, I find them to be pretty soft in comparison - pace works well for Muse.

 

[The Dice Man]

Oh man, how can you say that? Showbiz especially has such more an edge to it.


Out of interst, are you a new convert? I only ask because when I first heard Absolution the earlier albums sounded 'rough' to my Newborn ears. Now Showbiz I play almost every morning, and especially when I have to go to my ********kicking job....


Sorry, didnt mean to question your choice in that way, I bought my own prejudices into it.. they being that I cant find a weak spot in any of their albums (except for the song, 'Sing for Absolution').

 

[TigerFan]

Oh man, how can you say that? Showbiz especially has such more an edge to it.

I find the earlier stuff to be pretty dull and (mostly) soft.

Out of interst, are you a new convert? I only ask because when I first heard Absolution the earlier albums sounded 'rough' to my Newborn ears. Now Showbiz I play almost every morning, and especially when I have to go to my ********kicking job....

that depends how you define 'new'. I was introduced to Muse during 2003 (just after the release of Absolution I guess) and have gradually collected the whole back catalogue over time. I like pretty much all of their work, but Absolution is probably the only album I would listen to often.

Sorry, didnt mean to question your choice in that way, I bought my own prejudices into it.. they being that I cant find a weak spot in any of their albums (except for the song, 'Sing for Absolution').

yeah, the piano doesn't really add to the experience, does it?

 

[harry_hawka]

I used to really really like all of them, however the only one I've stuck with (and only very occasionally nowadays) is Origin of Symmetry. In particular the first half of it. New Born, Bliss, Citizen Erased, Stockholm Syndrome, etc. Best of the three, followed by Showbiz, then a long gap to Absolution (IMO).

 

[TigerFan]

I used to really really like all of them, however the only one I've stuck with (and only very occasionally nowadays) is Origin of Symmetry. In particular the first half of it. New Born, Bliss, Citizen Erased, Stockholm Syndrome, etc. Best of the three, followed by Showbiz, then a long gap to Absolution (IMO).

isn't Stockholm Syndrome on Absolution?

 

[The Dice Man]

Yeah you're right about Stockholm there Tigerfan.. Its the song that made me go 'Hellloooooo'.

I guess I got into round the same time as you, but I dont find their earlier albums soft at all. I find they have a real edge to em, while Absolution is very 'Polished'.

I cant seperate any of them and cant really argue about whats the better, as I thoroughly enjoy them truly equally.

I can only hope they can continue producing kick ass music.

 

[harry_hawka]

isn't Stockholm Syndrome on Absolution?

It is indeed. There's proof of how long it's been since I listened! In all honesty though, I was thinking Plug In Baby (which is the best Muse song, IMO, and still one of the most ripping openings I've ever heard).

 

[The Dice Man]

It is indeed. There's proof of how long it's been since I listened! In all honesty though, I was thinking Plug In Baby (which is the best Muse song, IMO, and still one of the most ripping openings I've ever heard).

They probably have the best 5 ripping songs Ive heard in the last 8 years.

 

[Deestroy]

1. OOS
2. Showbiz
3. Absolution

 

[The Dice Man]

1. OOS
2. Showbiz
3. Absolution

Do you rate the latter as being worse? Or have you not just liked the subtle shift through the albums?

To me after going back, the only killer riff of Absolution is Stockholm Syndrome, where as both previous albums are packed with amazing riffs.

 

[DaveW]

Absolution just ahead of Origin.

When's their next one coming out?

 

[The Dice Man]

Absolution just ahead of Origin.

When's their next one coming out?

No idea, but frankly (cause Frank's a friend of mine) Im a little scared of expectation.. My own. So Im not even searching for their next album date.

 

[Pantsless]

Origin of Symmetry for me.

As Harry said, there are some standout tracks and the best song on OoS is better than the best song on Absolution.

 

[Ray Nolan]

Bloody hell that's a hard one, I'll go with Showbiz though, I got it the day it was released and it's still sounds as good to me now as it did then.

 

[Carlos]

OOS for mine too. The production on it is terrible, but the quality of the songs still shine through.

Showbiz has some absolute stand outs, but also a few that dont quite sit right with me and again it suffers from some rather questionable production IMO.

Absolution on the other hand is incredibly polished, almost too so. It is a super-consistent album IMO, but i dunno. Maybe i just listened to it too much when it came out or something but i just cant come at it anymore.

Must admit that i only really listen to the live disc on Hullabaloo though these days. I think over-did all their studio albums and cant find much else to get out of them.

I am panicking at the thought of what the next effort will sound like though. It seems Matt is obsessed with The Strokes and i read an interview with Chris who said that his songwriting for the next album very much reflects this... (i should mention that The Strokes are one of my most detested bands so this IMO is a bad bad thing)

 

[Deestroy]

Do you rate the latter as being worse? Or have you not just liked the subtle shift through the albums?

To me after going back, the only killer riff of Absolution is Stockholm Syndrome, where as both previous albums are packed with amazing riffs.

I would have OOS a fair way ahead of the other 2, with Showbiz and Absolution close together. Nothing against Absolution, the production is miles ahead of the previous 2 which IMO takes away from it a bit.

Like Carlos I overdid the albums and haven't really been into them for awhile.

 

[bass_drum]

I am panicking at the thought of what the next effort will sound like though. It seems Matt is obsessed with The Strokes and i read an interview with Chris who said that his songwriting for the next album very much reflects this... (i should mention that The Strokes are one of my most detested bands so this IMO is a bad bad thing)

I wouldn't worry about that, the new stuff sounds nothing like the Strokes. They've played 4-5 songs on tour and they can be found in various quality floating around the interweb. New album possibly be Christmas, but probably around Feb next year. About when the Crows start their premiership defence.

I've voted Absolution because it's just so big - a great album. Interviewed Matt a few years ago, and was interested that he said the problem with Showbiz was that the producer (Nigel Godrich) produced them as an 'indie' band, which wasn't what they actually wanted. OOS was the reaction to this - meaner, groovier and heavier. With Absolution they've simply flexed their muscle as far as crafting songs.

Best band on the planet bar none.

 

[Darealrath]

Very, very hard.

Absolution may be the best album but the best songs on OOS and Showbiz are definately just as good if not better.

I think i'll sit on the fence.

 

[harry_hawka]

Must admit that i only really listen to the live disc on Hullabaloo though these days. I think over-did all their studio albums and cant find much else to get out of them.

Yeah, I'm exactly the same, except I feel I "got over" them a lot faster than most others, which kinda sucks. I don't get a whole lot of feeling out of the piano at all (possibly Citizen Erased exception) and the whole thing seems to be too over-produced (whatever that means). But I do think it seems to try too hard, if that makes sense. It's almost like they throw in this nice spot of ambience just to capture a mood, but none of those ones have ever hit me at all.

In my opinion, Muse are and have always been good when they just go for ripping openings and play fast rock music. The other stuff annoys me.

 

[Braddock]

I too go in and out of phases with Muse. I'm either totally in lvoe with them or just have absolutely no motivation to listen to them. It's not that I ever don't like them, there's just something about them.

For what it's worth I'd have OOS miles ahead of the other two, with Absolution and Showbiz close together. Showbiz probably has the better songs (Sunburn, Muscle Museum, Uno, Showbiz) while Absolution is more consistent.

 

[ablettjnr]

Sensational group, and I too can't pick a fave album.
Would have to say Plug in Baby is one of their best, if not the best.
Just gets me goin everytime.

 

[TigerFan]

we'll go through 'best Muse song' while we're at it then...

personally, New Born, Hysteria, Stockholm Syndrome and Time Is Running Out are the standout tracks.

of those, the current favourite would be the latter.

 

[Rival_V]

OOS.


New Born & Citizen Erased.

Nuff' Said''

 

[froars]

Seeing as i've only heard Showbiz, that'll be it.

This group sounds like a group called Starsailor if anyone's ever heard of them.