Muse (USA): Matthew Bellamy (vocals, guitar, keyboards); Chris Wolstenholme (bass guitar); Dominic Howard (drums). Recording information: Ridge Farm Studios, Surry, England (2001); Real World, Wiltshire, England. The sophomore release by this English rock trio makes good on the promise of the band's debut, SHOWBIZ. Like that album, ORIGIN OF SYMMETRY is a lush, artfully arranged album of epic, heady rock (complete with electronics, swirling guitars, baroque keyboard embellishments, and dramatic vocals) that is sure to garner comparisons to Radiohead. In addition to their grand sonic canvases, though, Muse have a way with a melodic hook, and consequently balance out the progressive tendencies of the music with straightforward rock accessibility. All of these factors are more pronounced on ORIGIN than on the debut, and the result is a release that positions Muse as one of the more promising acts on the U.K.'s new rock scene.
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