The Bottom Line An impressive debut from British alt-pop-rockers Muse. Forget those comparisons to Radiohead...they are individuals, damn it!
Full Review
If I had to compare singer-guitarist-songwriter Matthew Bellamy’s voice to anybody it would be Grant-Lee Phillips. Like Phillips, Bellamy balances the ability the sing with the sense to do so without overextending. Bellamy is certainly talented, but without the rest of the members of Muse there to back him up I probably wouldn’t have the same respect for their debut Showbiz.
Late as usual to the party, I only recently picked up the album. Time and time again, people had recommended to me to pick up Muse’s disc. Unfortunately, they are expensive due to the fact that most are imports. Without a clear sense of my appreciation for the band, I just couldn’t bring myself to make the investment. Showbiz (1999), on the other hand, is readily available in the US for a usual price. I bought it; and have since been forced to question my hesitation of months and years past.
Bellamy as anchored by bassist Chris Wolstenholme and drummer Dominic Howard may on the surface create a sound that can easily be compared to Radiohead. Considering the modest age of the members, this is quite a compliment. Fortunately for Muse, they alternate the majestic shifts in sound with electric guitars and more “rock” elements. The end result is a more mainstream twist on what is already an incredibly appealing and absolutely stirring variety of pop/rock.
Showbiz, produced by John Leckie (Posies, Kula Shaker, Radiohead), is an incredible effort from a fledgling band. As promised by Muse fans, the debut is mostly amazing. Really—from the piano-driven opening of Sunburn through Hate This & I’ll Love You the album whisks me away to a special place. There are many notable high points and the lows are few and far between (if at all). Showbiz is the best kind of album—just put it in your stereo and it will do the rest; no skipping is never necessary.
I am particularly impressed by the album’s opening. The aforementioned Sunburn proves to be the perfect start to a great album. Melodically, musically, and performance wise Muse shines brilliantly on Sunburn. The song builds softly and slowly to the eventual chorus. But what I really love about it is two-fold. First, I adore Bellamy’s wistful performance. Second, I can’t help but appreciate the varied instrumentation and creative assemblage of the song.
As Showbiz progresses, I am continually impressed. Muscle Museum is unpredictable and aurally pleasurable. It is strange and uneasy and crisp; perfectly complimentary to the album on the whole. Bellamy sounds uneasy about the whole thing, and I think this vulnerability is what really draws me to the rich sound of Muse. Songs throughout are further indicative of the talent of the band and the quality of the album.
Cave, Unintended, Uno, Sober, and Escape qualify as a few of my favorites (aside from the first two songs). And though I do like all the songs on Showbiz, I think the strongest parts are probably the beginning and middle parts of the album. I can’t say I hate anything…I just think that much of the latter part has a “been there, done that” sort of feel. Muse shows that at the same time they can be sensitive young blokes, they also can pick up an electric guitar and rock. This dichotomy fascinates me and certainly could make their music more appealing to an even wider variety of listeners. Cave showcases Bellamy particularly well. At the same time he still sounds boyish and fey, he also yelps with urgent enthusiasm.
Aside from the sameness of some of the tracks, I can’t find fault in the songs. The production values are impressive, the writing is good, and the performances above all other things are excellent. Muse is impressive, and I can only imagine how much I will enjoy the studio albums that have followed—Origin of Symmetry (2001) and Absolution (2003). Consider me impressed. I love the band’s use of keyboards/piano in conjunction with guitar-driven pop-rock. It all works for me.
Rating: 4/5 stars
Track Listing:
01. Sunburn
02. Muscle Museum
03. Fillip
04. Falling Down
05. Cave
06. Showbiz
07. Unintended
08. Uno
09. Sober
10. Escape
11. Overdue
12. Hate This & I’ll Love You
Muze: Copyright 1995 - 2008 Muze Inc. For personal non-commercial use only. All rights reserved.
Epinions.com periodically updates pricing and product information from third-party sources, so some information may be slightly out-of-date. You should confirm all information before relying on it.
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2008 Shopping.com, Inc.