Michael Jones: "Starlight" from Black Holes and Revelations by Muse
This past Wednesday I found myself seated in Nashville's Municipal Auditorium, suffering through a fierce head cold and the prospect of having to drive back home to Arkansas in the morning so that my sister could achieve Nirvana and see her favorite band My Chemical Romance in concert. While I'd heard of said "favorite band" (repeatedly!), it was the opening act that had me lifting up my aching head so that I could see who was responsible for the amazing music that was breaking through my allergies. The band's name? Muse.
For forty-five minutes or so, these guys pretty much blew me away. I'd expected another bombastic emo band kind of a sound, as that's what MCR sounds like... instead I got this wonderfully lush guitar driven band. It's... well, it's hard to describe how Muse sound. If you were to take a healthy dose of the experimentalism of Queen, add in the guitar wail of Steve Vai, and then mix it all up in a giant glass with a double-dose of Pink Floyd's sense of endless groove for a purpose, that might come close.
On the way home, somewhere around Memphis, we stopped at a Circuit City and purchased their newest album. Then we alternated listening to it, and to MCR's latest album, all the way home. Joy! Sigh. Anyways, while the MCR was what it was and made my sis happy, when the Muse CD's turn came, I kept wanting to hear this one particular song. "Starlight" was either the first or second song these guys played in concert, and it's just one hell of a song, filled with soaring vocals, dense back beats, and a healthy sense of self.
I've since discovered that Muse have been around for a few years. So, I'm itching to pick up their older albums, sooner than later. All in all... I suppose getting to discover new music was worth the crushing headache and stuffed-up nose. Check out Muse for yourself, if you don't believe me.
El Bicho: "Just Like Honey" live from Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival by Jesus and Mary Chain with Scarlett Johannson
Article comments
1 - Pico
Hey Mat: guilty pleasure confessions go on the Culture page. So sez Skeeter ;&)
2 - Mat Brewster
What can I say? Blame my parents. Blame my Oklahoma upbringing. Does it help if I say that alongside Garth in those days was Fugazi, Dinosaur Jr and the Replacements?
3 - Josh
Not really. Let me check again. No.
We've all got those guilty pleasures, and Brewster will always have me to mock him when he cops to one.
4 - Mark Saleski
Garth Brooks a guilty pleasure? bah! i can do better than that.
besides, real men wear their guilty pleasures with pride (plus some disdain for music snobs). hardy-frickin'har!
5 - Mat Brewster
Notice I'm not the one calling Garth a guilty pleasure. In fact I don't feel guilty about it at all. I won't be wearing a cowboy hat anytime soon (or one of those bright, obnoxious shirts for that matter) but I can still stand up and proclaim I dig his swagger and intensity without an ounce of guilt.
And no worries Sir Hathaway, I've got plenty to make fun of you over.
6 - Josh
You may not use the words "guilty pleasure," but you sure don't waste any time putting a disclaimer in there. Instead of a guilty pleasure, we'll call it a remorsefully joyous.
And... if you don't have anything you'll just make something up, so no worries here, Sir Brewster.
7 - Mat Brewster
Yeah, like I could mention the summer you constantly wore that Mariah Carey t-shirt that read "I'll be your dream lover." Pathetic that was.
But I'll be the better man and not mention it at all.