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32 of 35 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
No biz like "Showbiz", April 9, 2005
Despite the recent explosion of dancerock from the UK, Muse is perhaps the most powerful Britpop band to emerge in years. If you want comparisons, they're equal parts Radiohead and Led Zeppelin, with a unique sound that is both melodic and raw. Few debuts are as intense as Muse's "Showbiz."
A steady piano melody ripples by, followed by some steady drumming. That, in turn, segues into the expansive bombastic rock'n'roll of "Sunburn." Matt Bellamy sits in the middle of the song, singing in a trembly voice, "I'll feel/A guilty conscience grow/And I'll feel/A guilty conscience grow." Then he bursts into an anguished howl: "And I'll hide from the world/Behind a broken frame/And I'll run forever/I can't face the shame..." The music crests with it, a panoramic blend of guitar, bass and piano.
And that's only the first song.
The songs that follow are just as powerful, if a bit lower-key. Muse dabbles first in some truly ominous guitar pop, followed by acoustic ballads, and an angsty lament or two. Then, about halfway through the album, things get loud again -- songs like the title track have a wall-of-sound guitar'n'bass melody. In these songs, Muse sounds eerily like a British version of the Smashing Pumpkins.
Good as their debut was, Muse wasn't at their peak with "Showbiz" -- they hadn't quite perfected the epic-guitar thing, and the production isn't at its best. But they are still a compelling listen -- the climax of "Uno" is the sonic equivalent of being hit with a tsunami. For a band that was still defining their sound, it's remarkable.
Chris Wolstenholme does an exceptional job with the driving bass, while Bellamy pulls double, triple and sometimes quadruple duty, playing everything from Hammond to piano. His roiling guitar riffs are absolutely stunning. It takes a special drummer to have an impact with all of that going on, and fortunately Dominic Howard is up to the task.
Bellamy also is the vocalist, and here he shines. Too often comparisons are made to Radiohead's frontman Thom Yorke. However, Bellamy's vocals are more versatile -- he starts off in a sort of trembly voice, sounding sad and vulnerable. Then he lets rip with anguished howls, purrs, murmurs and much more. And he does it in perfect harmony to the music.
With their epic sound and excellent musicianship, Muse have the makings of a rock'n'roll legend. "Showbiz" was their first album and it shows, but even with its flaws, it's a stunning piece of work.
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11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Best Album of 1999!, November 16, 1999
By A Customer
"Showbiz" by Muse has moved me like no other album in recent memory. "Showbiz" contains an amazing collection of tracks that play like a fine rock opera. Listen to these audio samples! Absolutely stunning.Muse is an absolutely unique band. Although many reviewers are simply comparing their style to other bands (e.g., Radiohead, the Smashing Pumpkins), this is an injustice. Listening to this album reminds me of the great rock musicals of our time: Pink Floyd's "The Wall," the Who's "Tommy," and even a little bit of "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." Yep, it's that good. Standout tracks for me include the first single, "Muscle Museum," "Sunburn," "Philip," "Falling Down," and "Unintended." However, this is a rare album in which I listen from start to finish without any track advancing. I encourage you to buy "Showbiz." You are in for an amazing journey. The best album of 1999.
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17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Wonderful, March 17, 2000
By A Customer
It's fantastic!! I am a huge Radiohead fan (I love Nirvana too), but that definitely doesn't mean that only Radiohead fans will like this CD, as it has a unique sound, and although Matthew's vocals sound scarily like Thom Yorke at times, (which is, admittedly, one of my favourite Muse details) their music differs from Radiohead's music in many ways. As for my favourite songs... "Sunburn" is obviously wonderful, I bought the album after hearing that song on the radio, "Falling Down" (such beautiful vocals), "Cave", "Showbiz" (one of my most favourite ever songs of all time ever, together with "Sunburn"), "Uno" (that song rocks!!! It's so much fun to listen to) and "Overdue". But however much I listen to the final track, "Hate This & I'll Love You", I just can't decide whether I like it or not. It's just one of those songs.Another thing, I'm not a huge fan of "Muscle Museum". Yes, I do know I'm possibly the only person in the world. It seems to be everyone's favourite. And I just don't understand. I always seem to be different. But anyway, if you've heard "Muscle Museum" and you're not keen on it, PLEASE don't be put off by it, because I'm not keen on it either but I still found the album AMAZING. Don't let this album pass you by. It's a fantastic piece of work.
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