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Rating: THE REVIEW
Still shocked by the mess of the last album, I decided to revisit the early Muse: those of their first LP, 'Showbiz'. And what a debut!
Although the influence of Radiohead strongly characterizes the entire album (because Muse were not, I repeat were, nothing but RH with a pinch of hard rock, baroque, and, if you will, britpop) Showbiz remains unequivocally an "excellent copy". Even in one instance, the opening track, it willingly surpasses some songs by their main inspirers. When Bellamy wrote "Sunburn," the first track, he must not have been more than 21 years old, and I am surprised by the maturity of this song which remains my favorite in their repertoire today. It opens with a fantastic piano arpeggio... then when the bass kicks in goosebumps arise (and I’ll feel guilty conscience grown), the chorus also has a powerful and superb sound... the song ends with another arpeggio, this time much more vertiginous, closing an extremely ambitious song.
Originality does not worsen at all with the famous "Muscle Museum" where we find everything: memorable bass introduction, guitar motif with a Latin sound, apocalyptic chorus, and a finale with an incredible high note from Bellamy that echoes an electric guitar. Muscle and museum are the words that in the English dictionary (I don't remember where I read it) respectively precede and succeed Muse, hence the title. "Fillip" opens with a kind of energetic, sick, and restless rock only to burst into an interlude with a whimpering falsetto like "Paranoid Android". After this excellent opening trio, the quality of the music begins to degrade.
Noteworthy: "Falling Down", very Buckley; the title track, obsessive, starts quietly and culminates in an impressive high note from the singer, exaggerating, I don't know if a mezzo-soprano could have managed it; "Unintended", a sad, gloomy, sweet, heartfelt and very touching ballad; "Uno" in which we witness the now recurring guitar explosion in the chorus, and the closing track, a noteworthy love song.
Muse were, I repeat were, a talented band, because despite the numerous inspirations (when talking about early Muse it is impossible not to bring up Radiohead and Buckley) they received, they managed to blend different influences into sophisticated music and, all in all, not devoid of creativity and originality. It's clear, anyway, that they are trying to surprise us with new career turns, as Radiohead have always done, but I don't think they will ever match the beauty of their first two works.
Showbiz doesn't deserve 5 stars, this is due to the presence of too many filler songs, in any case, a return to origins for the next album certainly wouldn't hurt them.
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Summary by Bot
This review revisits Muse's debut album, Showbiz, highlighting its strong Radiohead influence blended with original hard rock and baroque elements. The reviewer praises key tracks like 'Sunburn' and 'Muscle Museum' for their maturity and emotional power. Although noting a decline in quality after the initial songs and the presence of filler material, the album is celebrated as a creative and ambitious start for the band. The reviewer doubts Muse will surpass the beauty of their first two albums but encourages a return to their roots.Tracklist Lyrics Videos
Muse
Muse are an English rock trio formed in Teignmouth, Devon. The band members are Matthew Bellamy (vocals, guitar, keyboards), Chris Wolstenholme (bass, backing vocals) and Dominic Howard (drums).81 Reviews
Other reviews
By Mr_Iko
Showbiz is fresh and lively music, the album flows well between instinctive rock and traditional ballads.
Muse makes undemanding music, which is easy to listen to without issues, perhaps a bit too catchy, but in the end, it is a good work.
By B.L.A.C.K.
If you dedicate a minimum of attention... the first notes of 'Sunburn' will immediately start making you realize that... the album isn’t so bad.
Track number 8 is without a doubt my favorite. It starts with a 'uauuaauuuaaauu' that sounds like a motorcycle, the guitars kick in and then... Interestingly, the chorus is always done twice, one undistorted and the other not.
By Starblazer
‘Showbiz’ is undoubtedly an album I would recommend to everyone, magnificent lyrics and atmospheres.
Muse presents a poetic and introspective grunge album with stunning voice and melodies, unparalleled in the current mainstream rock landscape.
By mauromuse
The Muse was born, an English trio that achieved what many producers would dream of putting on the market: an almost perfect debut album.
"Showbiz" is probably among the best songs of the band’s entire career,... leading to an explosive chorus that concludes with an utterly powerful solo.
