Showbiz review (199910 Melody Maker article)
This transcription may be inaccurate as we have not seen an original copy.
Muse
1: a] poet's inspiring goddess b]a poet's genius
2: a] ponder, reflect b]to gaze meditatively
There is plenty of musing (both sorts) on the debut album from the Teignmouth trio. Head Muse Matt Bellamy's earnest lyrics are choked up with the reflective kind; the musclebound music, meanwhile, betrays a number of inspirations and the occasional glimpse of genius.
The title, yawn, is ironic. Transparently, Muse, who openly boast to having played every toilet, know bugger all about showbusiness - a more honest title might be, "Painful Alienation In A Seaside Town Where No One Recognises The Genius Of Kurt Cobain But Me". Luckily, though, they know a little something about showmanship.
Not a band of half measures, "Showbiz" is at the very least a theatrical event. At their most dramatic, Muse scale Jeff Buckley peaks ("Falling Down"), but equally, at their most histrionic, they can scrape Strangelove-sized troughs (new single "Cave").
The kick is that Muse, in the grand tradition of all classic power-pop trios, are at their very best, when they strip it right down. All you want is for the rhythm Luddites (Dominic and Chris) to bang away like Duracell bunnies, scorching open ground for Matt to perform his guitar heroics and/or vocal dramatics. Simple really (see "Fillip" or any live gig for details).
Drafting in John Leckie as producer won't exactly kill the Radiohead comparisons, but the only important reference to make here is that if Bellamy's boys can mimic the leaps forward the 'Head have made since "Pablo Honey", then the hype surrounding Muse might not be displaced. On the other hand, history might prove that this debut album was Muse's finest moment. But hey, that's showbiz.
Colin Kennedy
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