Album Rating: 4.5 | Sound Off

Probably, this feels like a self-emancipation in more than one way lol. Matt is really aware of how bad some of their later records are

Album Rating: 3.0

I don't think Muse/Matt himself can be given any credit in having any form of self-awareness in 'Hexagons' when they have 'Cryogen' on the same album - there is no excuse for that song to be so lyrically abysmal, even ironically.



We Are Fucking Fucked has hilariously bad lyrics, Cryogen is just plain cringe

Album Rating: 3.0

Also 'Hexagons' fucks

Album Rating: 4.0

idk, one of the reasons why I liked WOTP more than seemingly the entire site is that the band seemed very much 'in on the joke' wrt how ridiculous they were. The lyrics on "Cryogen" are not good, but a) I don't sense them being unaware of this, and b) musically it is about 10x better than it has to be to compensate.



Could also just be they have blind spots for some things but not others

Album Rating: 4.0

On a tangentially related note, I'm starting to lock in on track ratings/rankings, though things are still subject to change:



1. "The Dark Forest" - 5.0 [incredible opener, from the ebb and flow of tension to that glorious clusterfuck of a climax]

2. "Hush" - 4.7 [love how off-kilter it feels while being, at its core, just a really damn good pop song; not to mention the shockingly strong chemistry between the band and Ellie]

3. "Unravelling" - 4.5 [verses are deliciously eerie, chorus is one of the band's very best]

4. "Cryogen" - 4.3 [poor lyricism, but most of the album's best guitarwork, with a killer bass solo and rousing outro jam to boot]

5-T. "Shimmering Scars" - 4.1 [reason for the above 'most of' qualifier being two utterly massive spacey guitar solos here; pity about the scratchy falsetto holding it back a smidge]

5-T. "Hexagons" - 4.1 [intro makes it feel like a 5 but the rest doesn't quite do enough to build on that potential; still one of the coolest and quirkiest things they've done in the last 20 years]

7. "Space Debris" - 4.0 [opposite to "Cryogen", this is a little nondescript (if rather pretty) musically, but the lyrics hit hard :,(]

8. "Nightshift Superstar" - 3.6 [phenomenal bass, groovy as hell, vocals are not good]

9. "Be with You" - 3.4 [just a really pleasant Muse arena tune, and I appreciate the relative heaviness of the musical delivery in the back half]

10. "The Sickness in You & I" - 2.7 [has some great ideas musically, and I love how it fits between "Hexagons" and "Unravelling" on the album, but the lyrics and vocals are mildly painful]

Album Rating: 3.5

Nightshift Superstar instantly one of their best songs of the last 20 years



HAAAATE it lol. Has not grown on me at all. After 3 listens, I think I’ll just be skipping from now on.



The rest of it was good on first listen, but has grown on me a lot as well. Especially softer-ish songs like Hush, Space Debris and Be With You. Shimmering Scars is still kinda meh to me, not bad though.

Album Rating: 3.7

nightshift superstar is awful modern muse but somehow done decently

Album Rating: 3.5

Matt is really aware of how bad some of their later records are





Yeah I read a pretty recent review where he acknowledged this. Ironically, I think it was an interview off the Will of the People release lol. I think they got right here what they failed to do on that album to a certain degree. A comeback of sorts. He really seemed to think they had a great return to form album in WOTP.

Album Rating: 4.0

Went back to 2nd Law and Drones and they’re somehow worse than I even remember.



I forgot about the god awful dub step and the drill Sargent shit on drones is so cringe worthy.



I remember work played simulation theory a lot when it came out and it didn’t impress me but it wasn’t downright awful. Not sure I even gave wotp a listen. It’s a genuine miracle that this album is as fun as it is.

Drone sucked the hardest in my opinion. Last two albums were a waste of my time. This one I have yet to hear anything. So far not that tempted to give it a listen.

Album Rating: 4.0

I've already listened to this more than the past 4 albums combined.

Some thoughts:

- The stretch through Sickness - Unravelling - Hush is really, really doing it for me

- As others have noted, the start of Hexagons far outshines the last few minutes (still a great song though)

- Be With You is way better than I thought it would be given it seems to be the least popular song on the album with most fans

- No skips; there really isn't a bad song on the album

- It's actually fun... just the right level of absurd

Album Rating: 4.0

"Drone sucked the hardest in my opinion."



NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Album Rating: 4.0

Really warming up to this one. Be with you and Shimmering Scars might actually be favorites. I still find some of the vocals on Nightshift superstar absolutely embarrassing, but overall, the song is so solid, though it could have been a massive hit for me.

Wow Shimmering Scars is indeed really nice. Great drum performance too. First time I'm not completely annoyed two tracks into a Muse record since the last two so that's nice. Production is a bit off in places too sadly.

Album Rating: 4.0

Love Matt's rougher vocals on this, especially on Shimmering Scars. Really bring the emotion imo.

Album Rating: 3.5

Drone sucked the hardest in my opinion."







NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

(2)



I stand with you. Their best album after the obligatory OoS-Absolution-Black holes stretch imo.”

Album Rating: 3.5

I still haven’t really gotten into Shimmering Scars but Be With You is great.

"Drone sucked the hardest in my opinion."







NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

(2)"

as a fangirl of some bands & genres I can relate, but I don't trust you two with Muse haha

have to agree on Drones, it was a pile of hot shit.
"I forgot about the god awful dub step and the drill Sargent shit on drones is so cringe worthy."
this and it also flows terribly.
It was a lame and dated attempt at making a heavy record

WOTP >>> Drones

Fun metal riffing in Sickness In You & I