I've been listening to Origin of Symmetry, an import album by Muse, and as usual, I think it's really good. The first half is more promising than the last half, and there are no "hit" songs on it, but it's a real album (something you don't find often these days). One of the things I like about Muse is that their music is accessible and hard-hitting while still remaining artistic and musical. Also, their songs are more heavy-handed than angry and they get some neat effects out of their instruments.

This album is definitely more "noisy" than my favourite album, Absolution, but it uses noise to the fullest effect. Songs are tied together thematically and sometimes through shared ostinatos or noisy segues.

Here are two extended samples from the CD (in easy-to-download mono MP3 format) to give you a taste. Feel free to share your thoughts in the Comments section or on the Forum. I particularly like the chromatically descending chorus in Space Dementia (all twelve tones!), and the reuse of similar bass rhythms between two songs in dissimilar styles.

I have to admit though, that I hate the CD itself. It's one of those fake-out multimedia CDs that pretends to give you bonus computer features so you can't play it on your computer. I had to record the entire thing to a MiniDisc, copy it onto my computer, and burn it to a CD just so I could listen to it somewhere away from my car or my living room.

For more Muse, see my entries from December 30, 2004, and October 25, 2004.