Posted in: Musicouching by Lacrimosaangel on November 22nd, 2010 | 2 Comments
An in depth review of Exogenesiss Symphoy by Muse. As written on my personal blog many weeks ago.
Today, I bring a different sort of post to my usual self-critical hypotheses of the workings of the human mind. I have been listening to the new Muse album – The Resistance, and have discovered a whole different side of their music.
Lately, I had come of the opinion that music itself was dwindling away into a never-ending mess of nudity and repetitive backbeats, accompanied by shrieking size 0 tarts who wouldn’t know the difference between a major and minor transposition if it hit them in their plastic faces!
However, upon listening to The Resistance, I was faced with something I had least expected from today’s music – a genuine example of musical genius so pure it tugs on the heartstrings and makes you feel emotion you didn’t know existed.
Although Muse are well known for their ever improving musical compositions, there was debate over whether the new album would live up to the reputation the reviews gave it. Some said that it would be bigger than Queen; others thought that it wouldn’t live up to the previous Black Holes And Revelations; however it indeed proved to do both of those things.
If you were to listen to The Resistance from start to finish, it would appear as if it were all one long story, cut into bite-size chapters. From the initial “Uprising” through to “I belong to you” in which Matt sings in French half way through *can anyone say “ah pure bliss”?* there is a definite central theme, surrounding the controversial topic of war and retribution. Just as each track can stand on its own, they flow neatly from song to song, merging together in perfect synchronicity and harmony.
Just as we get to the 3-part “Exogenesis Symphony” at the end of the album, we are of the opinion that this album cannot get any better, after all, what could be better than the heart-thumping beats of “Guiding Light”, and the soothing chromatic tones of “I Belong to You”? And then, all of a sudden, we hear haunting violins, accompanied by cello, timpani and brass, which evolves into a fully orchestrated explosion of sound, rising with a perfect crescendo to the entrance of the vocals, which, by themselves are massively moving, but when accompanied with the enigmatic sound of fully harmonized backing, turns into something magical.
Jacob Arensus November 30th, 2010 at 5:43 am
great!
RammingDK May 3rd, 2012 at 9:58 am
Have to say I got very emotional reading your “review”.
For me, this work, The Exogenesis, is perhaps the piece of music that has risen the most of feelings in me ever.
For the first many hearings of the album I didnt really notice the classical pieces in the end, but suddenly someday I found myself returning to the start of Part 1 and just listening to the Exogenesis as a whole over and over again.
Every time I get a lump in my throat and I cant even begin to describe why, because I really cant explain it.
I dont have any clear memories to hinge the text or music to. It just speaks to me in a way thats in some way frightening.
The meaning of it can be analyzed on every level of life.
As mankind, as an individual or as a family where, as you described, are a part of a bigger setting.
We are all a part of a bigger setting in some respect.
Its like I cant share this with someone close to me, because I dont know how to express why its so important to me.
As you mention, all people have regrets in life, or at least certain things that we would want to do differently.
The mere acknowledge that it cant be done over fills me with a sorrowfulness thats hurting in my deepest self.
I would really want to do a lot of things over again, knowing what my choices have caused looking back.
The album represents all the good and bad things that life is, and finishes with the depressing fact that we would do it over again and get it right. The depressing part is that we could have gotten it right the first time if it wasnt for all the bad things and selfishness that has corrupted this world.
How I wished I could live in a Utopian world where all things where set right.