Muse

If this is what one calls prog?
I want to listen to Death Metal-country,Hip-Hop music all fused into one.

Listen to all you degenerates who want to claim to be prog rockers.This is in no shape or form,progressive.This is Duran Duran at best.It reminds me of the New Wave crap that polluted the rock world back in the early 80's, pure jelly dougnut music glazed with duck butter."Soldier Poem" is a real rocker huh ???????
What does that sound like,Air Supply fused with Bono or Bonner?

What is worse is that they are alluded to sounding like Queen.C'mon have some respect. This is Kajagoo-goo with Boww Wow Wow Duck Butter glazed fecal matter.How can a true rocker like this.

Thanks for the jewel case though.

Another garbage delight !!!!!!!!!

Map of the Problematique was the single that introduced me to Muse last Fall, and from the intensity and brilliance of that one song I wondered if it was the band's only great song.
My fears were groundless.

Black Holes and Revelations is one brilliant album from start to finish. The eccentric Take a Bow kicks off the music and the album finishes with the equally eccentric, epic, and wonderful Knights of Cydonia.

Starlight is the anthem song of the album, and it fights to take first place as the best song on it.

The CD is fantastic through and through.

I originally heard the song "Take a Bow" from the Watchmen (movie) trailer and immediately loved it. Upon buying the CD I was amazed how almost every song had a different sound to it. From the agressive electronic sounds of "Take a Bow" to the melodic tones of "Starlight" to the upbeat rocking sounds of "Supermassive Black Hole", each song draws you in. It's a CD you don't get bored of because there is no repetitive sounds beween the songs and it almost plays like a compilation of various yet similar artists. Overall, I would recommend this CD for it's new and different yet refreshing sounds.

I must say that this album is mind blowing, and it only gets better with time. Every single song is part of the masterpiece- there are no fillers. No album has received more play time in my CD player than this. Muse is a master at making songs that grow better with time- no other band does this to me. When I first listened it it, I liked it, but didn't think it was quite as good as Absolution. After listening to it for almost two years now, it has greatly surpassed Absolution. Their genius and mastery of their style has become apparent. If at first you don't love it, keep listening- it gets better with every listen. The first four songs (Take a Bow, Starlight, Black Holes and Revelations, and Map of the Problematic) are without flaw.

Sometimes leans a little too much toward the "dancy" (synth-rock) stuff, but overall a solid effort. The rock songs really do ROCK, and it's a fairly good listen all the way through.

I am a little late coming onto Muse. This is my loss completely. Listening to this album changes the way I feel about music. It is raw, powerful, emotional and hauntingly beautiful. It makes listening to other music hard, as most everything else I hear sounds comparitively like uninspired drivel, a waste of sonic space. Everyone of these songs is indeed over the top, and as bombastic as people say (save maybe Blackout) but they are so thrilling to listen to that you are happily carried over with them. I would recommend this album to anyone ...the vocals, guitars, piano, arrangements are a lovely example of musical creativity at it's best.

I'm really shocked right now- Muse is a GREAT band! You probably don't think much of what I just said, but considering most bands nowadays can't write enjoyable vocal melodies, this is really incredible to me. This is a mighty fine album. Okay, so these guys are sort of ripping off Radiohead and U2 a little bit as far as similar-sounding lead singers go, but we can't ALL be perfect.

Besides that, I have nothing but good things to say about it. I highly recommend a purchase. Absolution is a masterpiece!

I'm not too often impressed by what I overhear on the radio/tv these days, but after hearing clips of this on the sound system of a local restaurant I searched endlessly to hunt down the artist and album. After recieving the CD, I was not dissappointed! It's highly addictive, and now I have fellow friends and relatives asking me where THEY can find it for themselves!

Absolutly one of my favorite albums. I'm not going to be long-winded and in depth, music is personal and means something differant to everyone. As far as all the comparisons, almost everything is going to sound a bit like something else, but this record ( & muse in general ) has a sense of urgency that i've never really heard before. I listen to ALOT of music & nothing makes me want to start digging a bunker like muse ( a good thing ). Any way BUY IT & TAKE IT ON IT'S OWN MERIT, YOU WILL NOT BE DISSAPOINTED!!!!

It's like Jeff Buckley and Radiohead had a melodic tryst and created MUSE! The love child of two of my favorite groups!
The words are smooth and hypnotic and the music is pulsing, swirling slowly from under the vocals up into a fast, hard, beat that ends up dominating the forefront of the song. It's fabulous and sexy!

I think It's a Nice product, You don't waste your time listening this kind of music.

If you've never seen muse live, this DVD is a fair representation. It is one of their landmark shows and they do not disappoint. Wembley stadium is massive and epic and I think that the DVD captures that quite well with sweeping shots over the crowd, etc. Muse is in my opinion one of the best live bands out there and from this DVD you can easily see why. Oh, and the companion CD is nice too.

This is a great album. The music of Muse is going to be great no matter how you listen to it. I tend to prefer studio albums to live ones, which is the only reason I gave this a 4 instead of a 5. So I think the degree to which one would enjoy this album has to do mostly with whether you like live or studio. In the end, it is still a great collection of songs from one of the greatest bands around. Definitely worth buying.

I ordered this thinking that I would enjoy watching one of the best live bands preforming live. I was astounded. Muse is my favorite band and they are ten times better live on this DVD. If you like Muse at all then you will absolutly love this. There is a lot of varity in the song choices so you will never feel bored.

I was very excited while I waited for the package, because I had already seen this product at FNAC store, at Strasbourg with to much publicity. However, when I started to listen the video, the experience was very sad. I think this product is an important and necessary article for Muse fans, bad for casual costumers, there are another options if you are looking for live music in this genre.

For sure Muse's best album and might be one of the best albums ever made.
Album starts off very strong with New Born.. great guitar work especially if you see it live.
Next comes Bliss, very good song, even though its very simple.
Then comes the very epic song of Space Dementia, amazing!
Other highlights include Plug In Baby, Citizen Erased, Microcuts, Darkshines.
Yes every song in this album is amazing. Buy it! Listen to it! You won't be disappointed. Amazing album, my favorite!

A very excellent album. This Muse cd is probably my second favorite Muse album behind Absolution, although in my opinion, you really can't go wrong in buying any of their cds.

in my opinion muse is one of the best band today, anything i said would fail miserably in describe them, you have to listen their muisc and this album in particular its great, an instant classic, their best in my opinion

Warning: every single one of the songs on this CD are so epically genius you won't be able to tolerate any of that crap on the radio for even a minute after one listen.

Never before have I been stunned by one album. It's not just that the music is good; it's so insightful and connected it's almost scary. It kicks off with Newborn, which starts out great with fast-paced piano and only gets better when the guitar comes in.

Undoubtedly two of my favorite Muse songs ever (which is saying something) follow: Bliss and Space Dementia. Both consist of background arpeggios but hold very other qualities. Bliss's strong suit is its lyrics. In a way, it's a strange love song, describing a brilliant conundrum; being jealous of someone who is in the perfect state of mine (aka "bliss"). Of course, you can not reach that state if you are busy being jealous of it. "Everything about you pains my envying/Your soul can't hate anything/Give me...all the peace and joy in your mind. I want the peace and joy in your mind." The lyrics tear me up more than that of the soapiest, more passionate love ballads of any other band.

Space Dementia is a masterpiece of its own. Starting out with delicate piano which turns hammering and then into a floaty synth keyboard in the chorus. The first line of this song will forever intrigue me. ("H8 is the one for me".) Whatever the case, this is a track you will not be soon forgetting

Things move away from the piano and lean heavily along Matt's trusty guitar further into the album. Hyper Music is a fast, loaded song with a loud, powerful chorus with potentially heart wrenching lyrics. ("I don't want you; and I never did. I don't want you and I never will.") Things really begin to shine with the epic Plug in Baby, my favorite Muse song. With it's legendary riff, undeniably catchy chorus, and Matt's screaming falsetto outro, this is Muse at their peak at the time. You could listen to this song hundreds of time and never get tired of the sheer awesomeness of it.

Citizen Erased is amazing in the sense that it is 7 minutes long, progresses through so many levels and yet never gets boring or drawn-out. If you listen to the first part then skip to the last part, it sounds like a completely different song. Speaking of the last part, the last two minutes are incredibly moving and wonderful. They also flow right into the next track, Microcuts. Famous for Matt's soaring falsetto, this is definitely a standout.

Screenager consists of Dom (Howard, the drummer) playing a rhythm on animal nails/bones and piano from Matt. It's probably the only track on the whole CD that never really kicks into a fast pace and gives the listener a smooth break. Dark Shines is another song I argue is very underrated. It has catchy guitar riffs and an arguably sexy bass on the verses, and explodes into piano pounding, guitar shreading chorus. Plus, the lyrics rock ("So be mine/and you innocence I will consume.")

Named one of the best five covers of all time and for good reason, Feeling Good comes next. Matt's keyboard skills are ace and the middle verse with the megaphone is brilliant.

And wrapping up this musical experience is none other than Megalomania. Played on a church organ, the chorus of this song is so climatic and powerful, I get chills every time. The lyrics surpass great and approach mind bending. ("Take off your disguise/I know that underneath it's me/ Who are you?") The best part could very well be the second chorus, which is recorded with Matt singing low and with a falsetto. The entire thing ends with one last climaxing note, then drops.

Matt Bellamy outdoes himself on this album; the lyrics he writes are so expressive and poignant and yet other times vague and brooding that they could capture anyone's attention. And the complexity and volume of each son is staggering. And of course, his piano and guitar skills are divine.
Combined with the talent of Dom and Chris Wolstenholme, the extremely impressive bassist, it's impossible for any Muse album not to be fantastic. Origin of Symmetry is an album that defies good effort and having several catchy tracks; it is a masterpiece.

This is the Best MUSE's album to me. I started to like MUSE when I first listened to "Space Dementia". I recomend this album to everybody who likes good music.

I don't have much to say of this CD. It rocks, but it's not their best one. They have great songs in there, like "Muscle Museum" and "Sunburn".

But there's one thing: no matter what people say, I just can't see anything in Muse that sounds like Radiohead. I do think that they have totally different styles.

Anyway... It's an awesome first album for an awesome band.

Muse has done a lot of improving since their Showbiz days yet this CD still remains one of my favorite in my music library. Why? Simple: Because Muse has always been awesome.

Sunburn starts out the album was a dramatic and captivating mixture of piano arpeggios and guitar. I get chills every time I hear Matt sing "And I feel...a guilty conscience grow."

Well, while were on the subject of Matt Bellamy, let me say this. This guy deserves so much credit. He plays the guitar/piano on all the tracks, sings, and wrote the music? And he was only 19/20ish at the time? Ridiculous. He refuses to back down from any melody or line, forgetting things such as "vocal limitations", and belts it out as is. From his falsetto chorus in "Unintended" to his practical screaming in "Uno", his quickly emerging (though not quite perfected) talent is impossible to ignore.

Moving on, the album produces other highlights like "Muscle Museum", with lyrics so refreshingly honest and mind tugging ("I don't want you to adore me/Don't want you to ignore me when it pleases you"), you may have to listen to this song multiple times before you can grasp it entirely.
"Cave" holds a similar suit, with easily relatable lyrics for anyone who has ever just wanted to be left alone or take responsibility for their own self. "Uno" is an almost James Bond-esque type track, bouncing back between slow and hyper, but always mysterious. Matt almost screams the chorus and lets his guitar do a lot of the work, making this an excellent track.

"Uno" is not the only track that captures verbal angst; the Album-titled song "Showbiz" is not only one of best on this CD, but a standout among all Muse songs. It's dark, building mood climaxes into Matt's screams on anguish. Never before had I ever been able to feel someone's pain so vibrantly through music, but Muse captures a haunting feeling of deception and confusion. Amazing song.

On the slower side, "Unintended" undoubtedly takes the cake. A tender, slow, and unoffensive love song that could very well make you cry. The lyrics are truly beautiful ("I'll be there as soon as I can/but I'm busy mending broken/pieces of the life I had before/before you")and they manage to capture an uncertainness and hesitation of love ("You COULD be my unintended") that's very real, but few artists manage to capture.
"Falling Down", with its blusely riffs definitely deserves a mention. Matt's voice seems to verge on breaking from mixture of high notes, yelling, and more anguish. It pulls together for an unexpected-ly lovely song.

The album concludes with the song "Hate This and I'll Love You." Once you hear this song completely though you'll understand why they put it as the finale. Starting out with chirping crickets, progressing into another catchy passionate chorus with stunning yet vague lyrics ("Cause I was born to destroy you; and I am growing by the hour), Matt's voice growing so tender and poignant you SWEAR it's going to crack ("You led me on...") and jamming back to crickets again. I consider it to be one of Muse's most underrated tracks. A true gem

In conclusion, despite what the critics may say, this album is definitely worth a listen for anyone who likes Muse or meaningful music. Muse has gone on to expand and improve but they started out innovative and talented to begin with, and the proof lies clearly here. It's not exactly an easy listen; it's a CD that challenges you and might even make you think. Multiple songs portray anguish and pain and some border on dark, but it's overall amazing music.

Back when Muse were younger they belonged to Maddona's label Maverick. Which made this more poppy. But it's still very good. The only problem is the arrangement of the album.

1. Sunburn 10/10. Great piano ostinato (AKA riff) and evil vocals from Matt. The chorus is also very evil and never tires throughout the song.

2. Muscle Museum 10/10. Very intersting guitars (they sound Italian but I could be wrong) intersting vocals 'I have played in every toilet, but you just want to spoil it' and the mix of vocals and guitar at the end is pure genius. Sounds very epic.

3. Filip 7/10. I assume that this is Maverick's doing because it starts off very poppy. The chorus is okay and there is a point where it goes slow and Pink Floydy. Fortunately this is the worst song of the album.

4. Falling Down 8/10. The chorus is Pink Floydy and the rest of the song sounds Bluesey. A grower.

5. Cave 9/10. Distorted guitars, emotional vocals and an instumental part near the end showing that Muse has potential for great things.

6. Showbiz 9/10. Has a crescendo (gradually getting louder) of drums and then bursts in with screeching guitars and screeching Matt. A very good song.

7. Unintended 9/10. A quiet song that sounds all lovey. Depends what mood you are in really but Matt seems very in love with something.

8. Uno 10/10. Starts off in an explosion of distorted sound and then turns into a rocky tango getting louder in the chorus. They did say they liked Flamenco music.

9. Sober 9/10. This song makes me laugh so much when he does the keyboard solo. It sounds just like John Shuttleworth (if you know who he is you'll understand). Besides that it's a pretty cool song.

10. Escape 9/10. Matt says your unlovable, then says he doesn't care. Regardless though this song is very emotional with some decent guitaring in it.

11. Overdue 10/10. For some reason I like this song. It explodes in with loads of sound then goes quiet with Matt singing like an unhappy schoolgirl. A great song regardless of its simplicity.

12. Hate this song and I love you 8/10. A quiet and sound effect filled end. They may have overdone it a bit but Matt is singing well so that kind of balances it out.

Muse were not famous at all at this point. Therefore you know this album is trying to get your attention. Let it talk to you and you won't regret it (unless you listened to Origin of Symetry first then you may be disapointed)

I've been listening to Muse for a few months, and I'm amazed by how good they are. "Showbiz," their first album, doesn't quite show how amazing they are, but it's still a great album. First off, I would have given this 4 1/2 stars if I could. The album starts off with two really good songs, "sunburn and "muscle museum." What I love about Muse is that every album has a different feel to it. In this album the songs aren't quite polished as much as they are in their other albums. However, the songs have a cool, epic and raw feel to them. The best songs in the album are "sunburn", "muscle museum", "falling down", "showbiz", "unintended", and "uno".

Britpop is always swarming over the pond, in different incarnations -- retro rock, mellifluous pop, whatever.

But Muse has something special -- this magnificent young band is perhaps the most powerful Britpop band to emerge in years. If you want comparisons, they're equal parts Radiohead and Led Zeppelin, with a unique sound that is both melodic and raw. Few debuts are as intense as Muse's "Showbiz."

A steady piano melody ripples by, followed by some steady drumming. That, in turn, segues into the expansive bombastic rock'n'roll of "Sunburn." Matt Bellamy sits in the middle of the song, singing in a trembly voice, "I'll feel/A guilty conscience grow/And I'll feel/A guilty conscience grow." Then he bursts into an anguished howl: "And I'll hide from the world/Behind a broken frame/And I'll run forever/I can't face the shame..." The music crests with it, a panoramic blend of guitar, bass and piano.

And that's only the first song.

The songs that follow are just as powerful, if a bit lower-key. Muse dabbles first in some truly ominous guitar pop, followed by acoustic ballads, and an angsty lament or two. Then, about halfway through the album, things get loud again -- songs like the title track have a wall-of-sound guitar'n'bass melody. In these songs, Muse sounds eerily like a British version of the Smashing Pumpkins.

Good as their debut was, Muse wasn't at their peak with "Showbiz" -- they hadn't quite perfected the epic-guitar thing, and the production isn't at its best. But they are still a compelling listen -- the climax of "Uno" is the sonic equivalent of being hit with a tsunami. For a band that was still defining their sound, it's remarkable.

Chris Wolstenholme does an exceptional job with the driving bass, while Bellamy pulls double, triple and sometimes quadruple duty, playing everything from Hammond to piano. His roiling guitar riffs are absolutely stunning. It takes a special drummer to have an impact with all of that going on, and fortunately Dominic Howard is up to the task.

Bellamy also is the vocalist, and here he shines. Too often comparisons are made to Radiohead's frontman Thom Yorke. However, Bellamy's vocals are more versatile -- he starts off in a sort of trembly voice, sounding sad and vulnerable. Then he lets rip with anguished howls, purrs, murmurs and much more. And he does it in perfect harmony to the music.

With their epic sound and excellent musicianship, Muse have the makings of a rock'n'roll legend. "Showbiz" was their first album and it shows, but even with its flaws, it's a stunning piece of work.

This is an amazing DVD, covering Muse's hits off their debut and sophomore albums. Be warned, that this particular item is a PAL 2 Disc DVD set.

The camera work is pretty good. It's not HAARP quality, but It's still very nice. The audio choices are AC3 and DTS 5.1, both are a bit lossy. It's a bit disappointing they didn't use an uncompressed PCM source.

This album is a must !!!! for any fan of muse! the live cd is awesome

The "Hullabaloo Soundtrack" is a mixed bag. Aside "Absolution," "Black Holes and Revelations" and "Origin of Symmetry," the studio Hullabaloo disc offers little comparison. This disc is what it is . . . a collection of leftovers that weren't good enough to be released on a regular LP. I suppose that we should be grateful that the material has been released since there are some highlights. The instrumentals stand out as both compelling and especially unusual in the Muse pantheon. If you're a Muse fanatic like me, you'll find these tunes interesting, but the material will never resonate like the songs on their more contemporary releases. The selling point for "Hullabaloo Soundtrack" is the live disc. It's a great snap shot at what can now be regarded as an earlier time period for Muse. The recording and performance quality is fantastic. I'd describe it as having a harder edge than other Muse shows that I've experienced. 'Citizen Erased' and 'Space Dementia' are highlights. While interesting, the show falls short of Haarp, the ultimate live Muse release. While the first CD is only for the faithful, the second disc can be appreciated by the casual listener with an interest in the band's live show. After acquiring all of the band's 'A' list albums, "Hullabaloo Soundtrack" will nicely fill out any Muse collection.

The "Hullabaloo Soundtrack" is a mixed bag. Aside "Absolution," "Black Holes and Revelations" and "Origin of Symmetry," the studio Hullabaloo disc offers little comparison. This disc is what it is . . . a collection of leftovers that weren't good enough to be released on a regular LP. I suppose that we should be grateful that the material has been released since there are some highlights. The instrumentals stand out as both compelling and especially unusual in the Muse pantheon. If you're a Muse fanatic like me, you'll find these tunes interesting, but the material will never resonate like the songs on their more contemporary releases. The selling point for "Hullabaloo Soundtrack" is the live disc. It's a great snap shot at what can now be regarded as an earlier time period for Muse. The recording and performance quality is fantastic. I'd describe it as having a harder edge than other Muse shows that I've experienced. 'Citizen Erased' and 'Space Dementia' are highlights. While interesting, the show falls short of Haarp, the ultimate live Muse release. While the first CD is only for the faithful, the second disc can be appreciated by the casual listener with an interest in the band's live show. After acquiring all of the band's 'A' list albums, "Hullabaloo Soundtrack" will nicely fill out any Muse collection.

I'm a sucker for live performances, and Muse puts out one of the best. Their concerts are something else, you MUST go see one if you're a fan. Hullabaloo is like a little taste of that in your own home.

The "Hullabaloo Soundtrack" is a mixed bag. Aside "Absolution," "Black Holes and Revelations" and "Origin of Symmetry," the studio Hullabaloo disc offers little comparison. This disc is what it is . . . a collection of leftovers that weren't good enough to be released on a regular LP. I suppose that we should be grateful that the material has been released since there are some highlights. The instrumentals stand out as both compelling and especially unusual in the Muse pantheon. If you're a Muse fanatic like me, you'll find these tunes interesting, but the material will never resonate like the songs on their more contemporary releases. The selling point for "Hullabaloo Soundtrack" is the live disc. It's a great snap shot at what can now be regarded as an earlier time period for Muse. The recording and performance quality is fantastic. I'd describe it as having a harder edge than other Muse shows that I've experienced. 'Citizen Erased' and 'Space Dementia' are highlights. While interesting, the show falls short of Haarp, the ultimate live Muse release. While the first CD is only for the faithful, the second disc can be appreciated by the casual listener with an interest in the band's live show. After acquiring all of the band's 'A' list albums, "Hullabaloo Soundtrack" will nicely fill out any Muse collection.

British band Muse broke out in the US with their third album "Absolution," and establishing them as a remarkable new rock band. They're epic, intensedark, and majestic in a proggy-Pink-Floyd-meets-Led-Zeppelin kind of way, and so it's hardly a surprise that "Hullabaloo" is a remarkably strong collection.

No, it's not a new album. Rather, it's a collection of B-sides, rarities, and a 2001 live concert. Most bands don't sound too great in either case, but Muse does. The first disc is made up of their B-sides and rarities, which tend to be quite good actually.

It doesn't start off promising, with the schizophrenic prog-rocker "Forced In," which would be fine if it weren't for the endlessly cycling synth that obscures everything else. But things get stronger after that, with the explosive downward spiral that is "Shrinking Universe" ("There's nothing left to die for!"), the softer poppy "Recess," and the surprisingly gentle acoustic ballad "Map Of your Head."

Most of the other songs follow those examples, either being epic and bombastic or quieter and more intimate. With, of course, some eerier songs thrown in, like the rippling sweetness of "Shine Acoustic." Are they as good as Muse's proper albums, especially since a few B-sides sound like the lost soundtrack of the X-Files? Not really, but they are remarkably good, and still better than average.

Which brings us to the live performance, which took place in October of 2001, in Paris's "Le Zenith." Well, to put it simply, these guys rock. It opens with a cheering crowd, right before they kick off into a tornado of bass, drums and guitar. Unlike many rock bands, these guys lose none of their power or musical richness in live performances.

The inevitable flaw? Well, that would probably be Matt Bellamy -- he doesn't sound too different from in the albums, but it's sometimes hard to hear him above the drums, explosive synth and spiralling bass. However, the guys lose none of their intensity musically, and it's hard to find a single flaw in their playing. If Muse are known for their prowess in live performances, then it's easy to see why.

The B-sides are a minor treasure trove, while the live album is a gem in itself, bringing their concert to life as nothing -- except a DVD -- could. A must-have for Muse fans.

This single is a must !!!! for any fan of muse! it was expensive though

...the small transition between the perfection of "Origin of Symetry" and the very gradual downhill slope of "Absolution" showed Muse with a live CD known as "Hullabaloo" which showed some of the B-Sides and rarities of the band...although they were nothing special the live versions were impressive and they craved me getting more...

...then I heard the song "Dead Star"...and it wowed me...by far one of the best Muse songs to date...the only problem was it was incredibly rare to find as it was only released as an EP in France and Japan (thank you so much)...

...but I'll review the tracks now:

Dead Star 10/10: Amazing from the first heavy riff to the epic chorus...this song doesn't need explaining...it can all be heard...

In your World 10/10: Starts off with a quiet piano ostinato that very snappily turns into a guitar riff as the rest of the band kicks in...it then all calms down...Chris grooving to himself in the background as Matt lets out an absolute swoon of a voice...it then turns into a falsetto yell and the chorus is dropped in...it goes from quiet to loud throughout the song...but like everything Muse has done before the downhill slope...it is phenomenal...

Can't take my eyes off you 8/10: When I heard this on an anti-Smoking advertisement I honestly thought this was the original of the song...but in contrast to the original...the bridge to the chorus involes a tremolo picked guitar instead of brass instruments and the bass is significantly heavier in the chorus...

...if you are a Muse fan of any kind...it should be your basic instinct to buy this...and this is not an exageration as when it comes to critcising Muse I am equally as critical (anyone who read my review for Black Holes and Revelations will understand)...

At first, this double-A side from Radiohead-except-not-so-happy turned space-grunge trio seems a bit indistinguishable from their second album, but after a few listens its charms begin to unfold. In Your World is a tortured, Bach-inspired rock number, whilst the undeniably superior Dead Star, is pure sonic assault: the heaviest they've ever done, raging in its own fury with choppy chords verging on metal in the verse, and a vicious, screaming hookline of 'it's coming your way!' sung over madly distorted guitars and thrashing, pounding drums, leading into the angriest chorus conceivable and a recurring Korn-like riff. Origin of Symmetry might have laid to rest the Radiohead ghosts, but this batters them round the room with a fury so visceral it threatens to turn its rage on anyone who would ever dare to disagree.

This is the best Throwing Muses cd. Hersh and Donelly are both in top form. This is the one that made me a fan of the Muses. It's creepy and exciting.

Dear World,
Energy, swooning guitars, lyrical passion, and great musicmanship between the players. Easily their best and indefinitely their "Swan Song" so to speak. With the departure of T, the muses have never been the same formation of sonic strikers. This indicative issue has always been "bagage" and yet confirmation for the young Miss Donelly. Anyway, if it wasn't for decision, this interconnected world would cease problems, peace, self gratification and entropy. Yes?
Best Wishes and Kishes Mad World. FJE

The Kristin/Tanya version of the Muses reaches it's focal apex. Nothing better,,,,,,,,a cornerstone album.

First, that "The Real Ramona" is the most poppy, easy-to-like Muses album (in my opinion) doesn't make it any less praiseworthy than other TM albums. The string of songs on this album go from the perfectly-hooked pop of "Counting Backwards" to the sublime, dreamy "Two-Step," (the only TM song "equally" produced by each band member). And Tanya Donnelly's brilliance in Belly was portended by her contributions to the album (Honeychain and Not Too Soon). The percussion that bombards its way through the album imparts each already-compelling song with even more infectiousness.

This album was the perfect blend of Kristin's brooding introspection and Tanya's fun pop sensibilities. The record constantly rewards and surprises upon repeated listening. The Golden Fleece of the Misunderstood.

This is a solid album. I stumbled upon it a bit late last year after re-discovering Kristin Hersh's music through her last solo album Learn to Sing Like a Star and after seeing a spectacular live show supporting that album (my very first Kristin show - pathetic of me I know). That inspired me to catch up on some of the backcatalog I'd missed. I think I'd left off at Limbo before converting tapes to CDs, and things getting lost in the shuffle. But a flurry of new material from this artist hit me like a tornado, thankfully. This album has (among the many great discoveries I found catching up with this band, 50 Foot Wave, and Kristin's solo work) some very cool songs like "Mercury", "Flying", "Los Flamingos", and "Pandora's Box". Shame Tanya Donelly wasn't able to contribute a little more vocally, she really only appears on some backing vocals on a few tracks so it's no sequel to The Real Ramona. Anyways, if you like this album there is plenty more quality material from these artists before this album and well beyond.

I don't have much to add to all the reviews that other people have written except to say that this is one of my all-time favorite CDs, one that gets better on repeated listenings. I have probably listened to this CD more than any other over the past couple of years. Kristin Hersh is an absolutely amazing singer, song writer, and guitar player. This album really does deserve five stars; I'd give it more if I could.

It's pretty usual for a band to get and better, particularly one that has been around for so long, but that is exactly the case with Throwing Muses. It's sad that this may be the last studio album from the Muses (although the band still plays live and Kristin has of course formed 50 Foot Wave with Muses bassist Bernard Georges, and Muses drummer David Narcizo plays on Kristin's new solo album, Learn to Sing Like a Star).

I should note, as other reviewers have, that this album has a very different sound--louder and noisier--from previous releases, although if like the harder rocking songs from Red Heaven, Limbo, and University, you won't be disappointed.

Loaded with stinging punk aggression, I wasn't too sure about this album at first. But with repeated listens, Kristen Hersh's usual brilliant songwriting shone through. So much for mellowing with age! Sadly, it looks like this may be the Muses swan song, but it's also an indication of the new, hard-edged things to come with Hersh's new band 50 Foot Wave! Catch the new wave!

As a bonus, this CD package is one of the wildest I've ever seen with colorful paintings on panels that unfold to create larger images - way cool!

Kristin does it her way,,,,,,,,no debate. This is classic post-punk, straight-up, and real music. Kristin believes in the power of the artist over the power of the dollar. She makes no compromises.

A great return for the Muses.

I first heard Throwing Muses back in 1991 when I was working at a totally cool record shop (Circle CDs & Records in Cincinnati). The album The Real Ramona had come out that year and was quite popular. I really liked the album (unfortunately I never managed to buy a copy). They had a raw, energetic sound that resonated with me.

In the mid-1990s, I bought their album University, which was their latest at the time. I was disappointed in that one. It was quite uneven. It didn't have the energy of The Real Ramona, the sound lost its raw edge, and I only really liked some of the songs, compared to The Real Ramona, where I liked all of the songs.

Awhile back I found a new album by Throwing Muses! This came out in spring of 2003, and boasted being "the first new recording in 7 years, and the first to feature backing vocals by ex-Muse Tanya Donelly in over 10 years. A return to their ground-breaking roots." Wow! I thought that was worth a try. It was! YES! This is great stuff like found on The Real Ramona! THROWING MUSES IS BACK!!!

What is it that makes this group so special? I like the raspy female vocals, their raw guitar sound and their endless energy, that's for sure. But there's more than just that. They use interesting chords as well as interesting chord progressions. Many lead vocals use a different melodic scale than the typical major/minor scale. Even the rhythms at times are special, with a kind of syncopation or perhaps time-signature changes that throw you off a bit. So while they have great guitar playing and singing, it's the actual construction of the songs--chords, scales, and rhythms--that give them a distinct character.

There is not a slow song on the album...the energy starts from track #1 and goes all the way through track #12. There are some slow parts to some of the songs, but no song is slow in its entirety. My favorite song on the album is "Halfblast." In a rather quiet section of the verse, one line is "...to see what God has done," then soon it bursts into a grand, warm chorus inviting you to "Come outside, come outside, everyone's outside." I generally don't pay too much attention to song lyrics, so I don't know what the song is about. Actually, on this one I even tried to catch more lyrics, but I can't catch enough to tell what it's about. No matter. I make my own meaning out of songs anyway, and this one to me is like the times when you see a beautiful sunset or there was an especially beautiful snow or frost overnight, and you tell your family members, "Come outside! Look how beautiful it is!" That's what the song means to me, which probably has nothing to do with what they meant it to mean.

I'm so glad I got this album! Like The Real Ramona, I like EVERY song on this album! It's great to once again experience the raw sound, the energy, and creative musical elements of Throwing Muses!