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The Resistance (album)

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Untitled

The Resistance is the fifth studio album by English alternative rock band Muse, released in Europe on 14 September, 2009, and in North America on 15 September, 2009. On its release, it topped the album charts in 19 countries. It also debuted at number 3 on the Billboard 200 chart, selling 128,000 copies.[12] It also beat its predecessor, Black Holes and Revelations, in relative album sales in its debut week in the UK with approximately 148,000 copies sold. Critics were mostly positive about the album, with much of the praise directed towards its ambition, classical music influences and the thirteen-minute, three-part "Exogenesis: Symphony". The album was produced by the band and mixed by Mark Stent.[13][14] The album's first single, "Uprising", was released on 7 September 2009, with the album's second single, "Undisclosed Desires" released on 16 November 2009.

Background

The talk of a follow-up to Muse's 2006 album Black Holes and Revelations began in 2007, during touring and promotion for the said record. In October, music magazine NME reported that Muse were "planning [an] 'electronic' album" and that the band "[had] 'loads of ideas' for their fifth record already."[15] As touring came to a close, ideas and rumours began circulating more frequently – common themes were the inclusion of a "15-minute space-rock solo" song,[16] the rejection of the 'conventional' album format and a possible series of singles;[17] on 22 May 2008, NME reported that the band had begun writing songs for the new album, quoting frontman, vocalist, guitarist and pianist Matthew Bellamy as saying "What will come out of that is impossible to say."[18]

The move away from releasing a conventional album was further discussed, with drummer Dominic Howard quoted as saying "[it is] not that we're against the concept of releasing an album in the traditional format at all. It's just the way the world and technology is evolving, it's presenting a canvas to do whatever you want and just release music as and when it is ready to release. It can happen much more organically."[19] Rumours of a similar release to the free digital download of Radiohead's In Rainbows or Nine Inch Nails's Ghosts I-IV and The Slip, however, were silenced.[19] As of mid-2008, it was revealed that Muse had been writing a number of tracks, with more on the way in September.[20] Despite this, Muse "warned fans not to expect a new album too soon," with bassist Christopher Wolstenholme quoted as explaining "I don't think there's anything that we're ready to record yet. We just wanted to get started this year, to get the ball rolling a little bit rather than wait for a year doing nothing then get in the studio, and go, 'What do we do now?'."[21] The previously mentioned "15-minute space-rock solo" was discussed further late in the year, as Bellamy explained, "There is a new song in three parts, more of a symphony than a song, which I have been working on sporadically for many years."[22]

The news of the possibility of a three-part 15-minute song also came with the revelation that the band had begun recording and were loosely aiming for a late-2009 release.[22] In 2009, an "insider close to [...] Warners" revealed that Muse would release their new album in September and begin touring shortly afterwards.[23] In March it was reported that the record was "about halfway there," with Bellamy describing it as "A symphonic album" and joking that "We'll be knocking on Classic FM's door, you know?"[24] The band subsequently progressively released three videos of recording footage, including a session in a lavatory.[25] In March it was confirmed that Muse were to tour in the autumn, as well as with Irish band U2 in the United States in September, suggesting that the recording process was moving toward a conclusion.[26]

Recording and release

File:MuseTheResistanceBoxSet.jpg
The muse.mu limited edition box set of The Resistance, including a CD, DVD, double vinyl, USB flash drive and a poster.

The title of the album was revealed as The Resistance on the band's Twitter page on 22 May,[27] while the first song was officially announced as "United States of Eurasia" on the official band website,[28] deciphered by fans from a picture of a piece of sheet music held by Bellamy in a photo uploaded on the Twitter page.[28][29] Following this news, Howard posted a blog on his MySpace account detailing the progress made by the band by saying "Yes, The Resistance is on its way. Out in a few months hopefully. We've just started mixing some tracks and it sounds wicked. Still got a bit more work to do but it's coming along nicely."[30] On 1 June, news began to spread online, originally revealed on BBC Radio 1 of the band's upcoming promotional tour for The Resistance;[citation needed] the tour dates were later written on the band's official website.[31]

On 16 June 2009 it was confirmed on the band's official website that the album would be released on 14 September 2009.[32] In a Twitter update by Wolstenholme on 23 June, it was revealed that the band had completed the album, with only mastering left to complete in New York. On 3 July, the band began updating their Twitter profile with the track listing for The Resistance, which was completed by the end of the day. On 14 July, Muse confirmed via Twitter that the first single from the album would be "Uprising".

On August 17, 2009, iTunes gave 30-second previews for each of the songs on the album.[33]

On 7 September 2009, "Undisclosed Desires" was uploaded to Muse's official website for streaming by website members.[34] From 10 September, the album will be free to listen to on the official website of English newspaper The Guardian.[35]

On 9 September 2009, it was announced that The Resistance would be released on iTunes as one of the first iTunes LPs. It will contain the album, and added extras such as animated artwork and behind the scenes videos.[36]

An instrumental version of the album has been professionally mixed, and is available on the internet[37].

Reception

Muse performing Resistance at the Birmingham NIA.

Since its release, The Resistance has received generally favorable reviews. Currently it has an aggregate score of 72 on Metacritic based on 22 reviews.[38]

Allmusic praised the album highlighting "Guiding Light", "United States of Eurasia", and "Exogenesis" calling it "by and large a fantastic record".[39] In an interview with The Sunday Times, Dan Cairns mentions that "Muse have made an album of genius, brilliance and beauty".[40]

Much of the album's praise has been directed towards the three-part "Exogenesis," which used over 40 musicians in the recording process. The Fly awarded The Resistance two scores: 5 out of 5 for the three-part "Exogenesis," stating that "Exogenesis... is a streak of utter brilliance across The Resistance's beguiling, inconsistent sky," and 3.5 out of 5 for the rest of the album.[41]

Pitchfork gave the album a mixed review, stating that the songs were "an outgrowth of wanting to make the music as big, inclusive and as singalong as possible, rather than any inchoate political impulses," criticising Bellamy for "constantly tossing out mass-shout-along-ready lyrics". However, the review went on to conclude that "Judged on its own terms -- out of control scale, genre-smashing ambition, musical and vocal virtuosity-- The Resistance is a success."[42]

Multiple reviews criticized the album for lacking originality, in some instances commenting that it was a caricature of progressive rock.[43][44] Rolling Stone lauded "Uprising" as an "industrial-flavored" song that proved that Muse could still "whip up an almighty roar," but dismissed the album as a whole as cliché and borrowing shamelessly from rock bands Radiohead and Queen.[45] NME felt that the album was genius in parts, but criticised the album for producing something "conceptually impressive but musically all too familiar".[46]

Queen guitarist Brian May praised the Queen-influenced sound that Muse incorporated into the album. "I love it, I think it's great stuff," May told the BBC. "I think they're very good boys and extremely talented, and like us they have their tongue in cheek a lot of the time," May said. He described the track "United States of Eurasia" as "brilliantly done".[47]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Matthew Bellamy

No.TitleLength
1."Uprising"5:02
2."Resistance"5:46
3."Undisclosed Desires"3:56
4."United States of Eurasia (+Collateral Damage)"5:47
5."Guiding Light"4:13
6."Unnatural Selection"6:54
7."MK Ultra"4:06
8."I Belong to You (+Mon cœur s'ouvre à ta voix)"5:38
9."Exogenesis: Symphony: Part 1 (Overture)"4:18
10."Exogenesis: Symphony: Part 2 (Cross-Pollination)"3:56
11."Exogenesis: Symphony: Part 3 (Redemption)"4:37
Total length:54:18
Bonus DVD
No.TitleLength
1."The Making of The Resistance"43:53
Notes
1. ^ "Collateral Damage" contains elements of Nocturne in E flat major, Op. 9, No. 2, composed by Frédéric Chopin.
2. ^ "Mon cœur s'ouvre à ta voix" written by Camille Saint-Saëns.

Personnel

Release history

Region Date Label Format Catalog Ref.
Australia
Benelux
Germany
Italy
Switzerland
Ireland 		11 September 2009 Warner CD 2564687434 [48]
CD+DVD 2564686625 [49]
CD+DVD+2 LP+USB Unknown [50]
Europe
New Zealand 		14 September 2009 Helium 3 CD 825646874347 [51]
CD+DVD 825646866250 [52]
CD+DVD+2LP+USB Unknown [53]
United States
Canada 		15 September 2009 Warner Bros. CD Unknown [54]
CD+DVD Unknown [55]
CD+DVD+2LP+USB Unknown [53]
Japan 16 September 2009 Warner CD WPCR13629 [56]
Brazil 21 September 2009 Warner CD 825646874347 [57]

Chart performance

References

  1. ^ Andrew Leahey. "allmusic ((( The Resistance > Overview )))". Retrieved 2009-09-14.
  2. ^ http://drownedinsound.com/releases/14649/reviews/4137851
  3. ^ Ben Thompson. "Muse: The Resistance (Warners)". The Guardian. Retrieved 2009-09-06.
  4. ^ Patashnik, Ben. "There is of course no lack of stupidity and scale, but beneath all of that? Well..." NME. Retrieved 2009-09-19.
  5. ^ http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/13453-the-resistance/
  6. ^ "Muse the resistance, Q magazine".
  7. ^ "Muse: The Resistance Review".
  8. ^ Rosen, Jody. "Muse: The Resistance". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2009-09-19.
  9. ^ Pete Paphides. "Muse: The Resistance". Times Online. Retrieved 2009-09-12.
  10. ^ Alexis Petridis. "Muse: The Resistance". Uncut. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |ccessdate= ignored (help)
  11. ^ "Uprising Digital Release Dates". Muse. Retrieved August 9, 2009.
  12. ^ "Jay-Z Still Reigns On Billboard 200, Muse And Kid Cudi Bow High". Billboard. Sep 23, 2009. Retrieved Dec 13, 2009. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  13. ^ "Muse name new album". NME. May 22, 2009. Retrieved May 22, 2009. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  14. ^ http://www.nme.com/news/muse/46906
  15. ^ "Muse planning 'electronic' album". NME. October 12, 2007. Retrieved May 22, 2009. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  16. ^ "Muse: next album to have '15-minute space-rock solo'". NME. March 12, 2008. Retrieved May 22, 2009. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  17. ^ "Muse might ditch album format". NME. March 14, 2008. Retrieved May 22, 2009. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  18. ^ "Muse begin work on fifth album". NME. May 29, 2008. Retrieved May 22, 2009. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  19. ^ a b "Muse to release next album more 'organically'". NME. May 30, 2008. Retrieved May 22, 2009. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  20. ^ "Muse have tracks written for fifth album". NME. August 26, 2008. Retrieved May 22, 2009. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
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  42. ^ Jess Harvell. "Pitchfork: Album Reviews: Muse: The Resistance".
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  46. ^ Ben Patashnik. "Album Review - Muse - 'The Resistance'".
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