Check Out: Muse’s “Undisclosed Desires”
What the hell happened to Muse? You know, the group that used to be pegged as a Radiohead cover band? Or, how about the same act responsible for roller-rink anthems “Bliss”, “Map of the Problematique”, or “Hysteria”? (The latter of which is a total compliment, by the way.) Since when did they put out such lazy and sluggish material?
It all started with the glitter and bombast of the naturally awkward Queen throwback, “United States of Eurasia”, which is more or less the first real throwaway Muse track. Then came current single “Uprising”, a song so forgettable, you’d be hard pressed to remember it even hit the streets. Now arrives “Undisclosed Desires”, an admirable improvement yet still underwhelming release from what will inevitably make up the group’s fifth LP, the 30 Seconds to Mars-esque title, The Resistance.
Some comparisons suggest Depeche Mode, and they’d be right, but if you listen closely, there’s this odd Eurythmics thing going down (think: “Here Comes the Rain Again”). Only, let’s be real… Matt Bellamy is no Annie Lennox. Still, there’s enough here to enjoy on first listen, though nothing really tugging for a second go-around. We’ll remain optimistic — not really — but something tells me it’s safe to be somewhat skeptical of this upcoming release.
C’mon, folks. They’re better than this.
Muse 2009 Tour Dates:
09/24 - E. Rutherford, NJ @ Giants Stadium *
09/25 - E. Rutherford, NJ @ Giants Stadium *
09/29 - Washington, DC @ FedEx Field *
10/01 - Charlottesville, VA @ Scott Stadium *
10/03 - Raleigh, NC @ Carter-Finley Stadium *
10/06 - Atlanta, GA @ Georgia Dome *
10/09 - Tampa, FL @ Raymond James Stadium *
10/12 - Dallas, TX @ New Cowboys Stadium *
10/14 - Houston, TX @ Reliant Stadium *
10/22 - Helsinki, FI @ Hartwell Arena
10/24 - Stockholm, SE @ Hovet
10/25 - Oslo, NO @ Spektrum Arena
10/26 - Copenhagen, DK @ Parken
10/28 - Hamburg, DE @ Color Line Arena
10/29 - Berlin, DE @ O2 World
10/31 - Lievin, FR @ Stade Couvert Regional
11/01 - Amneville, FR @ Le Galaxie
11/02 - Antwerp, BE @ Sportspaleis
11/04 - Sheffield, UK @ Sheffield Arena
11/05 - Liverpool, UK @ Echo Arena
11/06 - Dublin, IE @ O2 Depot
11/09 - Glasgow, UK @ SECC
11/10 - Birmingham, UK @ NIA
11/12 - London, UK @ O2 Arena
11/13 - London, UK @ O2 Arena
11/14 - Rotterdam, NL @ Ahoy
11/16 - Cologne, DE @ Lanxess Arena
11/17 - Paris, FR @ Bercy
11/18 - Zurich, CH @ Hallenstadion
11/20 - Munich, DE @ Olympiahalle
11/21 - Bologna, IT @ Futurshow Station
11/22 - Lyon, FR @ Halle Tony Garnier
11/25 - Toulouse, FR @ Zenith
11/27 - Barcelona, ES @ Pavello Olimpic
11/28 - Madrid, ES @ Palacio de Deportes
11/29 - Lisbon, PT @ Atlantico Pavilhao
12/01 - Limoges, FR @ Zenith
12/02 - Dijon, FR @ Zenith
12/04 - Turin, IT @ Pala Olimpico
* = w/ U2
finally got the album. As i had hoped, the song posted here is the worst song on the album. after one listen, its a solid album. MK Ultra is one of my favs so far. they definatly have a bigger, stadium rock kind of sound with a lot of the songs. definatly can’t to see how some of them come off live.
Anyone saying anything bad about this song or this album is a giant tool and loser of the highest order. Eat it, douchebags.
first thing I notice is that this is not them playing the song live at all…. which stuck me as very odd lol.After a few listens to the track, it definitely falls with what they had said awhile back about wanting to make dancier tracks… its basically a less rocking supermassive blackhole, which I looooooved…. this good… but not great, definitely need a few more listens.
Zoe, it’s funny you bring up “By the Way”, as I was the same way and it now stands as my favorite RHCP album. I’m nearly done with the Muse record, and I have to say…my opinion stands. These last three tracks — the Exogenesis suites — nearly save the record, but there is too much dead weight on here (”Eurasia”, the still forgettable-no-matter-where-it-stands-on-the-fucking-Billboard-chart “Uprising”, “Guiding Light”, “Unnatural Selection”). They all fall flat. Don’t catch me in the slightest. I’d say this would have made a cool tour EP at best, with “Undisclosed Desires” acting as a single that introduces the three suite “Exoegenesis”. As it is, however, I’m very, very disappointed with this, and I don’t see myself spinning it much in the future.
Oh well.
I don’t know. Hearing these songs reminds me of when I bought RHCP’s By the Way album and was sadly shocked to hear mostly slow tracks and synthesized notes. Definitely not a Chili Peppers best in my eyes, but I still am a huge fan! Same with Muse. One mediocre album from a great band should not make people think the band is going down some dark road. Let Muse bask in this for a bit, and who knows - maybe they’ll resort to some “Bliss” and “Knights of Cydonia” in a year or two.
I feel this album is just way too cheesy and over-the-top. I know part of being a Muse fan is accepting that they do what they do and you have to accept them on their own terms. But I feel they kind of went off the deep end with this release and while they may pick up some young fans, I think their older fans may be very turned off by this.
I suggest you pull your head out your ass and get real here.>>>
What an image!
In case you haven’t noticed, the “forgettable” single Uprising is blowing American audiences away.
I listened to it the first time, I really didn’t think it was anything to special.
Undisclosed Desires was one of the weaker tracks in my opinion, the problem with the record is that it kind of seems like Muse is “selling em selves out” trying to make a more commercial record.
I loved their last record but it seems like their pulling a U2 on this one trying to reach a mass audience. Creating more a stadium rock vibe.
Kind of wish they would go the Radiohead route and make something more creative but hell they are a awesome band. Best live band on earth!
“Only let’s be real… Matt Bellamy is no Annie Lennox”. Love Annie, love the Eurythmics, but Matt & Co. already superseded the former long ago. And you call Bliss, MOP and Hysteria “roller-rink anthems”? Tsk, tsk, tsk, Michael. I suggest you pull your head out your ass and get real here. This may not go down as Muse’s best album, but at least they are proving themselves to be what they always have been: real, risk-taking, ass-kicking rockers. They leave their competition (and detractors) in the dust as usual, and will continue to do so.
“Only let’s be real… Matt Bellamy is no Annie Lennox”. Love Annie, love the Eurythmics, but Matt & Co. already superseded the former long ago. And you call Bliss, MOP and Hysteria “roller-rink anthems”? Tsk, tsk, tsk, Michael. I suggest you pull your head out your ass and get real here. This may not go down as Muse’s best album, but at least they are proving themselves to be what they always have been: real, risk-taking, ass-kicking rockers. They leave their competition (and detractors) in the dust as usual, and will continue to do so.
I think the new album is just incredible. Maybe it’s not Absolution or Origin of Symmetry, but it’s a damn good album. I don’t think anyone should judge the album by United States of Eurasia and this song, because once you hear the album as a whole everything just flows. And that’s the amazing thing, every song is totally different and yet they all tie in together so well.
I’m sort of disappointed by the lack of guitar solos. They’re there, but there’s just not as many. This album has a lot of great songs though. I can’t wait to hear them live.
Okay, so I finally got to listen to this track. I can understand the DM references but there is no mistaking Matthew’s voice. And who cares? Let them experiment with recycled sounds. What do you think music is based off anyways? I think it’s a decent track - nothing mind-blowing, but certainly nothing to condemn.
Muse on 09/29!
I’m gonna reserve judgment until I hear the full album, but Michael is completely right so far. USOA could have been a queen b-side and no one would have known. Uprising was ok, but nothing as good as I expected. This track I completely forgot I listened to this morning until I started playing it again. I figured that this would be their “throw away” album, but I’m still surprised by the lack of quality so far.
appreciate the link, but geez man, drop the pretentious attitude and enjoy the product they are putting out blog dude
No, I haven’t heard the album yet. What part of this didn’t you understand:
“We’ll remain optimistic — not really — but something tells me it’s safe to be somewhat skeptical of this upcoming release.”
Keyword: upcoming.
This album is fantastic and your “opinionated” commentary is way off. Muse has ALWAYS done what they wanted..how they wanted..and taken whatever direction they felt like. This album is more an expansion on OOS than it is Black Holes..Jesus..did you even hear the whole thing? Resistance will be the album to top. They took a leap and they made a gem.
Why can’t you just report the story instead of giving everything your opinion? Is this a music news website or Michael Roffman’s commentary page?
jeez….
Should also ask. You didn’t hear the Reckless record instead by accident (which only had the three real tracks you mentioned).
Another publication *cough* had to take down a review because it was of the wrong album. Seeing as you’ve not even mentioned Exogenesis (which is excellent) I hope not…
Excellent record imo and I completely disagree. Best thing they’ve done since OOS.
Most reviews have been positive though so this reviewer must be hearing something different. Uprising is forgettable? It’s got everyone humming it to the top of the alternative charts in America…
listened to it last night 2 times through. its an album, not a collection of random songs. i like it
i think the album has really good songs like resistance mk ultra and unatural selection and i think you are being a bit hard on uprising its not that bad of a song the lyrics are amazing
i listened to parts of the new album today and it reminded way too much of Queen. good call ..
Damn that I can’t hear this at work. Will have to listen when I get home. Seeing them in a few weeks though in DC - will deliberate then.
See carligula, I differ there. I think their last album is probably their best, only because it actually sounds like them. It’s Muse. I think it’s when they came into their own.
Now, I also love Origin…
I personally like the new album a lot better than Black Holes and Revelations. Exogenesis Symphony is the best thing they’ve ever done in my opinion.
The album is going to be disappointing if you are expecting another Absolution though. The piano and slap bass are much more prevalent than the guitar.
That doesn’t even sound like Muse. Pretty terrible.
It’s no “Time is Running Out”, but I think the song’s pretty good. I don’t think the song is any more lazy or unforgettable than a lot of the stuff on the last album.