Advantages: Unique
Disadvantages: None

...I brought Muse's debut album after seeing them perform live at the London Astoria. They were an amazing band live and this album was no let down. Muse's music has been described as a more heavy guitarry upbeat radiohead. However, on hearing the album it becomes aparrent that Muse have a unique and distinctive sound of thier own. Matt Bellamy's voice is amazing with an extremely wide range. The songs on the album are also very distinctive and lack the boring unchanging sounds of much of the music which is being created today. With songs ranging from ballads such as unintended to more lively loud songs such as muscle museum. This album is one of the best music albums which I have heard from a long time, and I'm sure it is not the last that will be heard of Muse.... Read review

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...Albert Brooks is a down on his luck film writerwho enlists the help of Sharon Stone whom he believes is a Greek muse. She gives him inspiration but he has to provide for her expensive and strange tastes and requirements. As the film develops people whom she used to help come and ask for help from her. Broks isn't very happy about this as he believes this will weaken her musing ablities. The film is a ll about her effect on this family. It is a funny, comic filmfor a little light relief.... Read review

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Advantages: Beautiful lyrics accompanied by skillful drumming, fancy bass riffs and fantastic guitar solos.
Disadvantages: One disappointing song, not as good as the other song on the album.

...Muse deliver an excellent experimentation of sounds and lyrics with a focused theme of conspiracy theories, futurism and political issues. The political side of this is shown in "Ruled By Secrecy" where he expresses a view that the government's secrecy about "who's in control". This album has got to be the best Muse album released to date, including their more recent album (Black Holes & Revelations) as it includes their first Top 10 Hit; "Time is Running Out" and the oustanding song "Hysteria" with the stunning bass riff and not forgetting Matt's beautiful voice. The album also includes softer tracks like "Falling Away With You" and "Endlessly" which display Muse's versatile style and ability to accommodate people with a different taste to music. The album does have it's downsides, for example, "Fury" is one tracks on the album which... Read review

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Advantages: Grand, sublime, epic, varied...
Disadvantages: The tracklisting: Hysteria and Interlude are mixed up.

...As a big Muse fan; I loved this album. When it was released it was the biggest sound the band had ever made. Starting off with Apocalypse Please it is the sound of a band hungry to fill the big venues, earth shattering piano chords grounding spiralling synths. Everything about this album is grand and epic. You've probably already heard the singles; Time is Running Out, Hysteria, Stockholm Syndrome, Sing for Absolution and Butterflies and Hurricanes but there is so much more in this album to listen to. Falling Away From You is Muse on a more affectionate level, Blackout is Muse at their most sublime and then there is The Small Print a heavy three chord rock out. Arguably their latest album Black Holes and Revelations may top the scale of Absolution but I think personally that Absolution is more of a satisfying listen on the whole... Read review

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...Muse are one of the bravest new bands to emerge this year. Radiohead are one of the major obvious influences, but Muse also embrace both electronica and more traditional influences in equal measure. Vocals encompase a wide range in both pitch and emotion, with Matthew's falsetto being a particular highlight. Fans of U2, Radiohead, Placebo and other bands that straddle the rock/alternative border should definately take a listen to this album. Narrow minded individuals need not apply, this is an album that it may take a while to get into, but the experience is worthwhile. psychomonkey, 23/7/00... Read review

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...For anyone into rock music who hasnt bought Muse's first album, 'Showbiz', yet, i give it two thumbs up. Muse are one of the hottest emerging british bands around, and are set to follow in the steps-and success of Radiohead. Radiohead are clearly their main influence, so if you're a radiohead fan, i can garuntee you'll like this. Their sound is a mix of deep, meaningful lyrics, sung from the heart, soaring vocals, gorgeous melodies and catchy riffs, resulting in a fantastic alternative rock album. There's also a nice range of moods in the songs, some to sing along loudly to, while others, are quiet, and reflective, to chill out to. All in all, a great collection of songs worth listening to.... Read review

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Advantages: Muse doing what they do best... on your TV screen
Disadvantages: Recorded before Absolution....

...I'm sure we've all heard about Muse's spectacular live concerts either from wide eyed friends, or raving magazine reviews. To be honest, before Absolution was released, accompanied by the footage of the subsequent tour, I hadn't pictured anything special about Muse's live act, nothing groundbreaking, nothing too taxing. However, I eventually decided to buy the Hullabaloo video when I noticed it going cheap at a record fair. That was a good month or so back, and I just got round to watching it a few nights back, and I was amazed. The songs from Origin of Symmetry and Showbiz are given a new lease of life under Bellamy's amazing live improvisation, helped along the way by his amazing sustain-ridden guitar (which I plan to steal sometime soon...) and Bellamy's incredible voice. Every track is a standout, and what you see on this tape... Read review

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Advantages: original and bold
Disadvantages: may take a few listens to convert some people

...I have always liked muse, even a couple of years ago before i liked decent music. I dont know what draws me too them, they are like a giant magnet. Make that 3 giant magnets with guitars and drums. Its all so random i dont know where to start, the main things that stand out are the sheer craziness of the songs, bellamy's high voice and amazing bass lines. Muse's last album Showbiz was a little too 'safe' , a bit dodgy indie, not really personal enough. However, this album is like them coming out of their radiohead shells and embracing the craziness within. Very diverse throughout, no two songs sound the same, and while i have heard people critisizing muse about the fact that they do not have thrashing 5 minute guitar solos, it simply would not suit the music and it would ruin the mood which is set perfectly by each song. Theres no doubt... Read review

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Advantages: Strong tracks, shows commercial promise
Disadvantages: Could be too 'Radioheadesque' for some

...Or 'the new Radiohead,' as they'd rather you didn't call them. Matt Bellamy and the boys' debut album has been flogged mercilessly for singles, many people will already know half the record. 'Unintended' and 'Sunburn' definitely showed promise, and luckily 'Showbiz,' for the main part, lives up to these tracks. Yes, it's true, they do sound like Radiohead at times. However, Muse aren't quite that one-dimensional. Behind each track is a heavy metal beast straining to get out. This adds a sense of histrionics to what could have otherwise been a pretty dull record. A quality debut, let's see where they go from here.... Read review

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Advantages: amazing album
Disadvantages: someone has stollen my copy

...The 1st offering from the westcountry trio and mighty fine it is to. I think every one will ahve heard at least one of there singles as thay are getting played to death on the radio at the mo, not that that is a bad thing of cource. I've been deaply depressed for the past few weeks as one og my mates has "borrowed" my CD and had now gone on holiday for the whole summer taking it with him. Muse have often been compaired to radiohead, they don't take it as an insult and i don't think it should be used as one. There are musical similarities between tham but personly i think muse are better as they are less depressing and don't seem to take them selwed toooo seriously.... Read review

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