Muse - The 2nd Law

I've just finished listening to The 2nd Law (it's streaming from The Guardian's website) and I must say: I like it. I actually think it's a better album than The Resistance. It's beautiful, rocky, funky, bass-y slap-y, emotional, heartfelt, awe inspiring - truly truly awesome.

Its particular gems are Madness, Supremacy, Panic Station, and Big Freeze. To be honest though, the only song I actually don't like is Unsustainable. But I suspect that one might grow on me given time. There are already some parts that I really like.

I'm not sure if this is their best album so far; it's got fierce competition from "Origin of Symmetry" and "Black Holes and Revelations". But it's definitely a wonderful album. It's so diverse, yet it works so well as a whole. Muse really knocked it out of the park with this one.

Madness

"Madness" is the new single from Muse's new album "The 2nd Law" (out on October 1st). This is definitely not the Muse we're used to. It's a lot slower than most Muse songs, for a start.

According to NME, Madness was influenced by Queen's "I Want to Break Free", and this is actually quite clear when you listen to it. Madness offers up a little display of Muse's electronic leanings that will apparently feature heavily on The 2nd Law.

Smooth and synthy, Madness is a pleasure to listen to. In fact, despite its lack of "Museness", I think Madness is a lot better than the band's Olympic anthem "Survival".