March 27, 20169 yr Author Graphic under construction 1 Muse - Black Holes and Revelations Black Holes and Revelations is the fourth studio album by English alternative rock band Muse, released on 3 July 2006 in the United Kingdom. It gets its title from a line in the song "Starlight", which is the second track on the album. Recording was split between New York and France, and it was the first time Muse had taken a more active role in the album's production. The album was a change in style from Muse's previous albums, and the band cited influences that included Depeche Mode, Millionaire, Lightning Bolt, Sly and the Family Stone, and music from southern Italy. Black Holes and Revelations was placed at number 34 in a public vote conducted by Q Magazine for "The Best British Albums of all time" in February 2008. Like their two previous albums, Black Holes and Revelations has political and science-fiction undertones, with the lyrics covering topics as varied as political corruption, alien invasion, revolution and New World Order conspiracies as well as more conventional love songs. Muse's previous album, Absolution, was released in 2003 to critical acclaim. Absolution had brought the band mainstream exposure in the United States for the first time. The band retired to an old château in France to write for a new album. Lead singer Matthew Bellamy said that this was because the band wanted to be free from distractions so that they could "concentrate, spend time and be surrounded by different musical influences".The album was partially recorded in the same studio in France as Pink Floyd's album The Wall, of which fact bassist Chris Wolstenholme said it was a "great feeling to know that something big had been done [there]".However, the band found recording there very slow and had difficulties deciding which songs to include on the album. They traveled to New York to finish the recording. Wolstenholme considered writing and recording for Black Holes and Revelations more relaxed than it had been for previous albums, as the band did not have a deadline to work to. It was the first time they had learned about the technology in the studio, having previously left the use of it to the sound engineers.Bellamy said that this was the first time Muse made an album without being concerned about how they would play it live. "Soldier's Poem", stood out as being "quite unlike anything [they'd] ever done before".Drummer Dominic Howard said they were originally going to record it with a "massive, epic" approach, but then decided to strip it down and record it in a small studio with vintage equipment and a few microphones. Muse were pleased with the result and Howard described it as a "real highlight", describing the vocals as "some of the most amazing vocals I've ever heard Matt do". As Rabbit Fur Coat predicted, we have a Lungs, High Violet, Black Holes top 3. In 2006 it seemed as if Muse had achieved as much as they could with their arpeggiated Bach-metal formula, after two astonishingly dramatic and impressively bombastic albums. What they did next is try out some new genres and blow the pants of everyone in the process. The Maralyn Manson/Britney mash-up of lead single Supermassive Blackhole announced that things weren't as they once were. Each track on this album tackles a different subgenre of rock. Exo-Politics takes a stab at a White Stripes-simple riff. City of Delusion tries out a System of a Down quiet/loud approach. Starlight is a Keane inspired love song with several more dimensions than it needs, and is all the better for it. Map of the Problematique is a Depeche Mode song given Transformers steroids and injection fuel for breakfast. And the Queen/Horslips mania of mammoth closing Knights of Cydonia is so gargantuan it can be seen from outside the Solar system. Some thought they had lost their darkness but they were just showing they had interests outside metal riff masturbatory posturing. A shockingly consistent follow up to two shockingly consistent 2nd and 3rd albums. We could have done without Soldier's Poem. ___________________________________________ Thanks to everyone who contributed and commented. It always makes things easier when people chip in with their opinions, remarks and predictions. Till the next time.... Over and out. Colm Edited March 27, 20169 yr by Colm
March 27, 20169 yr Thanks for an excellent rundown. I didn't actually vote for Muse so not sure what happened there with the graphic (:P ) but it was an album I enjoyed a lot at the time. Map Of The Problematique the obvious highlight, and a Top 20 hit in 2007!
March 27, 20169 yr Author Oops. I forgot to change the voters between High Violet and Black Holes. The voters for Blackholes were as follows Ultraviolence Dandy Severin Soy Adrian Iz Colm Chez Wombat Heezus Froot ♡
March 27, 20169 yr Map of the Problematique - would definitely put in my top 3 Muse songs Knignts of Cydonia - would definitely put in my worst 3 Muse songs Cheers for doing this Colm. Enjoyable!
March 27, 20169 yr Wonderful winner, so many many highlights from that album, Map, Knights, Supermassive Exo-Politics, City Of Delusion, all anthems, it's easily my favourite Muse album. Thank you for doing this Colm.
March 27, 20169 yr High Violet should have been first - not fussed on Muse at all. Thanks for doing this Colm.
March 27, 20169 yr I feel a bit cheeky for asking but I'd love to see you do a similar thing for Best Indie/Alternative SONGS of BuzzJack's lifetime. :D
March 27, 20169 yr Fantastic winner, excellent album and I found it to be the best of what they were capable of - everything great about Muse in a single record, and their strongest quality, singles wise as well. Thanks for running this Colm, and I agree that songs would be a great next idea! (and one I'd definitely be able to contribute more to).
March 28, 20169 yr Interesting, suppose not to be surprised as I've always seen BH&R highly enamoured here. It actually felt weird not voting for Muse as they are my most listened to artist by quite a margin but I've always been a bit critical of that album. I get the appeal though, and love most of the singles ("Supermassive Black Hole" has never done a lot for me unfortunately) though. Also love "Glorious" & the extended "Assassin" from that era but sadly not technically on the album. Love seeing The National up at #2 as well, constantly finding new things to love about that album. "Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks" only just hit me last week. Echoing the cheers & thanks too. Might have to listen to some of these that I'm less familiar with. ^_^
March 28, 20169 yr Author Strange chart - thanks though. It's Buzzjack. It's going to be mainstream when more than 10 people vote.
March 28, 20169 yr I'm a bit disappointed with the top 3 after the top 5 started so well! I think I'd probably like The National, just haven't really given them a chance. 'Lungs' is alright but I've never thought it was that great. Used to adore Muse but since 'The Resistance' I can't stand them and have hardly listened to them since! Pretty good to absolutely love 2 out of the top 5 though so can't really complain! Thanks for hosting, Colm!
March 29, 20169 yr It's Buzzjack. It's going to be mainstream when more than 10 people vote. That's what's strange - I don't really know what is mainstream any more!
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