Muse came to Bangkok a few weeks back and almost everyone I know went. Me with a kid at home, well, concerts don’t really happen anymore. But everyone was raving about it the day after, so I decided to check them out and loved what I heard. I know one of the conditions for album picks in the Sonic Collective is that they should have had some kind of meaning for us, but despite only recently learning of Muse, I know that if I had known about Black Holes and Revelations in 2006, I would most definitely have had it on repeat for weeks.
Muse came out of Teignmouth, UK in 1994, and in the 21 years since have released 7 studio albums and 4 live albums, with 17 million sales worldwide and a boatload of awards, mostly from the UK. Their sound has remained dynamic through the years, alternately being described as “heavy alt-rock” or “proggy hard rock”, with many critics commenting on the diverse styles some songs incorporate – everything from opera to ethnic music to electronica to classical to metal to ‘space rock’, whatever that is. 
Black Holes and Revelations was named the 34th best British album of all time by Q Magazine, and deals with some heavy, even fringe ideas, as evidenced by some of the song titles. Wikipedia says the album
often touches on controversial subject matters, such as “The New World Order conspiracy, unjustifiable war, abusive power, conspiratorial manipulation and populist revolt,” and is influenced by the conspiracy theories that the band are interested in.
After this album’s release the band has had continued success. Their most recent album Drones, came out in 2014, but I’m interested in Black Holes and Revelations, particularly to see what my musical peers think of it now, and what they thought if it when it came out in 2006. Unless you were in an apparent musical cocoon like I was.
Black Holes and Revelations on iTunes
Muse on Wikipedia
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