From the very first inkling that the Tardis might appear on Muse's The Resistanceyou know you are in for one heck of a ride. One of today's most progressive and adventuresome bands, Muse don't disappoint as they embrace their inner prog rock gods and utilize them for all their worth on this their sixth studio album. Over the course of their career there really is no band that has come into their own more than this group of Brits. Starting out way back during the second or third wave of Britpop wannabees, Muse survived long enough to slowly start to piece together an ever increasingly impressive discography and a deeper more refined sound. By their last album, Black Holes and Revelations they had officially arrived and now with The Resistance they've conquered everything in their path.
Sounding something like Queen II meets Night at the Opera in a Doctor Who episode, The Resistanceis probably the best crossover prog rock record in the last quarter century. Muse have done an excellent job at taking everything they've learned over the last twelve years and ramping it up about tenfold. The result is a complex, dramatic record that's as technically brilliant as it is loaded with pop hooks. They might be able to go in thirteen different directions at once but they do it with such finesse and grace and without sacrificing an ounce of quality that it's truly amazing. These guys are truly masters of the universe and just about every song on The Resistance proves that.
Intricate, intelligent, and melodic, a lot of The Resistance almost plays out like a series of one act plays stacked back to back. It's striking stuff that keeps you guessing throughout each song. By the time The Resistancewinds down the band is doing piano ballads, jazzy runs, and all sorts of other things you would not expect a Britpop band to be doing. The Resistance is the sort of record that will wear you out, not because it's difficult to listen to but simply because you can't help pay attention so you won't miss a single note. Call it note-taking tunes where a series of Cliff's Notes come in handy, but The Resistance offers so much music that it truly is impressive.
The Resistance is an awesome album and while I'm not prepared to say it's my favorite (that would be Black Holes and Revelations) , it's easily the top of the mountain for Muse. They've climbed a long and difficult path to get to where they are at, but they did it and their perseverance, talent, and overwhelming desire to be musically different are all over this album. The Resistance is beyond impressive, it's essential and if you've ever considered yourself a budding musician or liked the very idea of complex tunes this is like a heaven sent sort of record.
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