How I love Muse. Let me count the ways. Great soul channeled tunes: check. Amazing lyrics: check. Rock ballads that blow me away: check. Instrumental virtuosity: double check (seriously, have you seen Matthew Bellamy bring down the house as he literally dominates the piano? It's pretty much like watching Lang Lang perform, but with like, about 1000x more bass. Example: "Butterflies & Hurricanes" which I'd will use as the title of my unwritten book about my dating life. Dramatic title aside, it's a non-stop masterful instrumental.You couldn't come up with a better concert formula in my book. Piano AND rock? #givemeallthetunes
Bellamy is a phenomenally talented musician, singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and composer. I actually borrowed that wordy sentence from Wikipedia without shame. Some of my favorite concerts I've ever been to are Muse performances, and the level of passion, skill, and showmanship is nothing short of amazing. I don't know about you people, but Muse has single-handedly handed me some of the best soundtracks for my life. Oh, I have wallowed on a sofa as I drank red wine and listened to "Undisclosed Desires." And yes, I did put "Super Massive Black Hole" on non-stop repeat when my now husband (and soul mate, you may throw up a little at that, sorry. I'm a Libra) and I broke up for a bit. And I definitely run faster whenever I listen to rock out songs like "Map of the Problimatique." It's so depressing but awesome and I burn so many calories. Thank you Muse. Lastly, you should probably know that I pride myself on my ability to play "Knights of Cydonia" on Guitar Hero like a rock star. I'm such a dork, it's kind of amazing I have so many non-dorkish friends. Anywaaaaaaaaaaaay. (But I'm really awesome at Guitar Hero.)
Muse is releasing Drones on June 8, and if it's anything like the single "Dead Inside," then I think we're all going love the whole album. "Dead Inside" is just the perfect mix of jamming guitars, depressing lyrics, crooning singing, and a little bit of a dark sound. BAM! You know I love that combo. I am happy. It's like Christmas came early. I still want more presents of course. Check out the single on Spotify here or watch the video below:
Well, I guess nobody knows how to bring all good things to an end like the Brits. First, Downton Abbey killed off a slew of my favorite characters (the Deaths That Must Not Be Named) and now M&S are abandoning their famous UK Folk style to reign in a more electronic sound. I mean, NO. Just stop the madness! It's like J.K. Rowling's horrible last battle against Voldemort, and I feel wildly betrayed. Never mind quality, you just can't go changing things up like this on a girl!
So here's the run down: we can apparently blame Texas. I blame Texas for most problems anyway, like my addiction to eating buckets of Guacamole and drinking on a patio if the weather is anything other than freezing. My list of vices links directly to the Lone Star state, I swear it. Apparently, Marcus Mumford was at a wedding in Texas when the song essentially just came to him and he got up and started singing it. The rest of the crew helped piece together the song which they titled "Believe." It seems like a weird wedding inspired song since it actually has a really depressing overlay that I usually enjoy oh-so-much. EXCEPT as a wedding song or when my mind is being blown to bits as I have to question everything I ever thought I knew about a band. "Believe" is the single for their upcoming album Wilder Mind. The track is pretty awesome, if it were, oh, say Coldplay putting out this tune, but who am I to tell musicians they can't shake things up?
The song is stripped bare for the first half and then breaks it down with drums and electronic guitars. And I'm like, banjos! Beards! Tambourines, oh my! What happened to M&S?!!! The group openly acknowledges that the new album is a huge departure from their previous albums. Well, that would be an understatement, I do believe. So here's the thing: the song is good. I would expect nothing less. It's just very different and pretty melancholy sounding (hope the wedding couple doesn't claim this as their personal love song). I also don't like the video, which basically makes me feel like I'm on a horrible Uber ride that won't end for 3 minutes and 47 seconds, which makes me question reality even more, because I love Uber.
But let's just cut to the chase and have you decide for yourself. There is not one ukulele in sight. Be strong, grasshopper. Love it or hate it? Are you a fan of the new M&S?
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