Hey all, first post so be nice. I'm from the UK so i guess we've had alot more exposure to Muse than the americans on this board and i've been to see them once in concert a few years back and once at a festival. Used to be a big fan, i had the first two albums for a while then misplaced them and never got back into them which i suppose is a vote against matt 'n' co. They can be a bit angsty, and Matt Bellamy definitely has one of those love it or hate it voices, at times i think he shows genuine lyrical and vocal talent but at the same time they can be quite a bloated proposition. Their live shows are impressive and the intense loyalty of their core fanbase means theres usually a good atmosphere, not many bands can drive a crowd that wild with a piano and bass like they do when 'sunburn' gets played. Generally i like them but fail to get enthusiastic about any new releases or tours these days, although i certainly understand their appeal. For me they exist as an entry point to alternative rock that i think is a good thing, perhaps not a band you'll be listening to in 20 years but they definitely entertain their audience, provide an alternative to the generic pop/commercial house/commercial rap that i put up with all day on the office radio, and display technical and artistic abilities far in excess of the rest of mainstream british rock. Rating these guys out of 10, which i realise is pretty lame, but i'd give em somewhere around a 7, dipping to 6 on days when i'm not in the mood for falsetto vocals, rising to an 8 when i'm in the mood for some pompous stadium RAWK. There's nothing to dislike or resent about Muse, and anyone who does feel that much bile towards this band should calm down and redirect their attention to the infinitely less entertaining plethora of mediocre indie that haunts the airwaves.
