Album Review: Muse The 2nd Law

 

Impressive is probably the best word I could use to describe the new Muse album entitled The 2^nd Law.  It is set to be release October 1^st in the UK and October 2^nd in the U.S.  October 2^nd. The 2^nd Law. October 2^nd.  The 2^nd Law.  See what I’m doing here.  Could’ve been a promotional thing because the album has been pushed back a couple of times.  Another probable reason is so they don’t clash with the release of the The Killers new album  Battle Born.  Both were supposed to come out September 17^th but Muse changed their date.

This is the bands 6^th studio album and there are definite signs of maturity and evolution from where they started.  The production is superb.  There are a lot of digital elements to the songs.  Then again, Muse has always had that sort of electronic twist and effects in their music so that’s not really a surprise to me.  Plus, they mentioned there were dubstep influences in the album before it was released free to stream on iTunes.  Oh what a happy night it has been finding out I’m able to listen to it tonight.  What homework?

The production and composition that was put into this album is what’s impressive about it.  The instruments are clear and have their place in the mix.  The bass tone is nice and fat with a touch of distortion to it where needed.  It really fills up the space and drives most of the songs.  It seems like they were very conscious of making a full sound and covering all frequencies.

Matt’s voice is as impressive as ever.  The upward bend in his voice for the chorus in “Supremacy” is classic Muse and is what hooks me on that song.  His control over his falsetto is on point.  It reminds me of “Supermassive Black Holes” in that aspect.  It also sounded like it should be in a James Bond movie.  Just a side note.  The tremolo and wobble in the bass on “Madness” is freaking awesome!  It’s incredibly thick and swells perfectly.  It’s a nice solid round sound that makes your head throb.

Songs like “Madness” and “Survival” open up so beautifully.  You can really feel the song take a breath and mature on its own.  They cover a full spectrum of lows and highs, and along with orchestral elements, it’s what makes these songs peak and sound so pristine.  The amount of emotion they captured in this album grips you by the gut and forces you to listen.  I’m sure there are some really cool hidden gems in the mix I haven’t picked out yet, but I always love running into those.  It’s like a mini Christmas for my ears.

It’s not as sappy and love influenced as I was preparing for.  There is still the classic world is ending the system screwed us feeling.  The love element that the band was talking about prior to the release is still in it but not as present as I was expecting.  I won’t lie, I’m happy about this.  They are good at writing those songs (despite Matt saying he hasn’t really wrote about relationships before because he has) but Muse has a world is ending brand and it gives them the style they have.  In my opinion at least.

Man are there some bangers in this album though.  Songs like “Follow Me”, “Animals”, and “The 2^nd Law: Unsustainable” stand out to me.  Holy crap “Follow Me” is cool.  The surging bass sound just like a surge of electricity.  It’s something you’d hear from some energy-photon-futuristic-whatever in a sci-fi movie.  The snare really pierces the mix.  In a good way.  The kit sounds distant in the mix and wet with some reverb and other effects.  Not to mention “The 2^nd Law: Unsustainable”.  Are you kidding me?  This is such a ridiculous song!  The news caster verse is great and something different.  When the break hits you really feel it.  I think they took the idea of the drop from dubstep and used it in this album.  Thing is, Muse has always had “drops” in their songs.  The bridges have really gotten heavy; “Stockholm Syndrome” comes to mind.  “Unsustainable” is really unique and definitely one of my top picks of the album.

I really like how they ended the album with a two-part composition again.  I think it could become something Muse continues to do with their albums.  They should at least.

Dom really gets into some good grooves too.  I like his beats in “Animals”.  Mixed with Matt’s beautiful guitar lick early in the song makes for a unique sound.  Dom used more effected kits and such this time around but it fits with what they were going for.  I like the variety.

I am a raving Muse fan, BUT there are some things I don’t personally like about the album.  I really wish Matt would have joined in with Chris on his two songs “Save Me” and “Liquid State”.  Chris has a good voice but I think blended with Matt’s voice could’ve sounded better.  I wonder if they tried that and decided against it or anything.  I know Muse likes to do lullaby type songs but “Explorers” really just about put me to sleep.  It’s a slow song and the melody the dreamy keys plays is a little cliché and sappy for me.  I think that slot of the album could’ve been used for something else.  The album is borderline too electronic for me too.  There is a touch of 80’s early 90’s in melodies and tones of the kit and keys.  They made it work for this album but it’s a fine line they walked.  Muse has some pretty raunchy natural guitar tones I would hate to see disappear completely into the digital realm.

Ok so obviously Chris is singing solo on a couple of songs.  This is new.  His voice is really pure and smooth.  I am curious how much it was fixed in the mix though and what was added to it.  Not to say it’s bad but it just sounds really pure.  The songs are solid though.  “Save Me” has a little Pink Floyd to it and plenty of spacey guitar echoes.  I’ll say it again.  I REALLY wish Matt would have backed up Chris in these songs.  Matt’s voice is signature to Muse; it’s just how it is.  I think it really would’ve filled up the mix.  I’ll be honest, I keep listening to them and I can’t quite tell if Matt is really low in the mix or blended in really well, but I don’t think he is.  My point is I think his voice should have been on the tracks for the sake of the albums cohesiveness.  Props to Chris though completely.  I’m glad they were put on the album.  Muse is not shy of trying things out.  The bass line in “Liquid State” is classic Chris.

Releasing the album free on iTunes was a smart idea and I personally thoroughly liked being surprised with the news that I could listen to it tonight.  It’s definitely a journey listening to it from start to finish and I like how they did that as well.  Not separating it into tracks enforces the idea that it’s put together like this for a reason.  I will be buying this CD.  Progression is growth and growth is how you survive in today’s music industry.  I love how they bring something different and unique to the table every album.  Especially the last two.  They really went out on a limb with a couple of aspects but because it’s from Muse its ok.  I think they did a damn good job of branding themselves if they have the flexibility to wander and touch other genres and still stay true to their image.  Very impressive album.  I’ll be curious to see how it grows on me.