Friday, August 11, 2006
Political Rock Music that is Political
Album: Black Holes And Revelations
Artist: Muse
There is rock music that is political and then there is political rock music. What Black Holes And Revelations is, is a genre of political rock that is political at the same time. Yes. Muse has written an album that captures both essences at the same time.
If they sound like they are heavily preaching on the evils of our time most of the time on Black Holes or even being political when they sing their love songs, it is only because they are acutely aware that politics play a vital role in every part of our lives. Which is quite unlike most of their peers, often more interested in crooning love ballads or trashed out stadium rockers. As such, if their agit-prop lyrics read like some kind of left wing propaganda, it is only because they know that the current perverse
Their music is classic rock varying from the prog-rockish opener, Take A Bow to stadium upbeat Starlight (potential hit single?) to hard rock Supermassive Black Hole (current single) to soft rock ballad Soldier’s Poem. There is even a nu-metal emo-driven Assassin where they belch on anarchism. In City of
As diverse as it musical style spans, this album has also drawn extreme responses. The reputed British Q magazine has called it an instant classic while pitchfork.com, another reputable indie online rock music website has given it a low rating. So where does Black Holes stand exactly amongst both reviews?
Perhaps time will tell when critics are given a second chance to reevaluate Black Holes And Revelations. My guess is (and I believe I will not be wrong) is that this album will stand the test of time with its theme of post modern bleak existentialism - terrorism poststructuralist strong single material tracks. Almost all the music in here deserves repeated plays. Sure, the mind-boggling lyrics ain’t that poetic at times. But I think it deserves at least a 7 out of 10.
