“The Resistance”, Muse’s new album, provides Muse’s usual innovative, artistic, and progressive music with a newly universal theme- love. It is an album that everyone in the world can connect to, and is an interesting change from the rock and roll beats of Muse’s previous album, “Black Holes and Revelations”. Its inter-song contrasting melodies create interest and the lyrics themselves are some of the most progressive and symbolic lyrics of late. This album could easily bring Muse into the spotlight in the US, same as they are known in the UK.
“Uprising”, the albums first single is one of the most exciting songs on the album. The song adamantly bashes the governments apparent attempts by the government to keep all the people in control through “PR transmissions” and pushing “drugs that keep us all dumbed down.” With strong, powerfully repetitive melodies, lead guitarist Matthew Bellamy and drummer Dominic Howard keep the listener excited and alert to the unique tune of the song.
Although the very beginning of the song “Resistance” mildly resembles the tunes of both “Under the Stars” by Hans Zimmerman from the Lion King and that of a funeral procession, a quick piano tune picks up the song and gives it an interesting sound. Long, drawn out lyrics also bring out not only the theme of the song, but also the theme of whole album- love. As part of the chorus Bellamy proclaims that “Love is our resistance,” and drives home the idea of “love, not war”. Oddly however, much of the song seems to be like the words of a lover being separated from their mistress, asking if “This will be our last embrace”. Some of the lyrics seem slightly out of place since who they are resisting is never mentioned throughout the song.
“United States of Eurasia/ Collateral Damage”, probably one of the best songs on the album, has intense contrast through the very slow, almost melancholy beat, that suddenly changes into a faster paced, Middle-Eastern sounding tune. To go along with this fantastic song’s instrumentals the lyrics are claiming that the wars can never end while who is in power remains in power. Bellamy’s most stunning line in the song brings out the corruption in the hearts of everyone, not only the government. He proclaims “But we know that whoever holds the reigns/Nothing will change”. The lyrics reflect the hopelessness of man’s future while war continues throughout the world.
The always intensely artistic album works to use progressive lyrics and fascinating music to send the message of love to listeners. The lyrics are as powerful as the music, with musically ingenious melodies and moods woven through to make this their most fantastic album yet. Each song on the album has its own innovative melody as well as lyrics and keeps the listeners in suspense. Muse’s popularity in the US could easily escalate to that of the UK with this new innovative sound. Their trend of sold-out arenas in the UK may soon become the norm in their US tours.
