Muse
Live Magazzini Generali Milano 15/09/2003

LA RECENSIONE

Mini-concert to present the new album Absolution. The show opens with Hysteria: introduction with the bass in the spotlight, the novelty of the new album. The effect strongly recalls Army of Me by Björk, and here we get straight to the heart of the matter: Muse are capable, but once again too derivative, and tend to cover up the absence of a truly personal style with the energy of their performances.

Live, the group essentially seems like a one-man act: Matthew Bellamy does everything, excessive vocalizations behind the overwhelming shadow of Thom Yorke, electric bursts, baroque arpeggios on the piano... he is excellent, but someone should contain this excessive style of his and give a clearer direction to his undeniable abilities. The grotesque effect is just around the corner, and even jokingly, seeing him at the piano, we are reminded of Corrado Guzzanti imitating Venditti...

There are some revivals of hits from previous albums like Bliss and Plug-in Baby, and one of the most beautiful moments is the performance of New Born: the sound is powerful and compact, and all the possible variations of the group's compositions are present. Among the new songs, Sing for Absolution is appreciated, with notable references to the '80s... Yet despite all the possible negative points, the concert is impactful, the sound wall doesn't crumble, some songs are truly engaging... but by the third album, it was reasonable to hope for something more, and it remains to be seen if between Placebo and Radiohead there is also room for Muse.