I have been dedicated to Muse for almost four years now, since I first saw the amazing video for single Bliss from their second album, Origin Of Symmetry, which was probably the best album of 2001. I bought their 2003 release Absolution on release date, and wasn't dissapointed in any way - again, they'd pulled off what I think was the best rock album released that year. However, I had been somewhat hescitant to buy their debut album, because I had an impression that it wouldn't match their other albums in quality.

I was wrong.

Showbiz features a less matured Muse, certainly, but the quality of the songs is none the less impressive, and with more than 8 excellent tracks on a 12-track CD, this is one you can't go wrong with. Favorite tracks seem to vary a lot between reviewers - which is another proof of the all-around quality of this CD. None of the tracks on this CD is less than good. My personal oppinion on the tracks of this album is as follows:

1. Sunburn. 8/10. Sunburn is a great track, the piano intro is crisp and precise and an excellent opening to the CD. The weakness of this track for me is perhaps that the overall production and arrangement lacks a bit of focus - it's great, but it's not a masterpiece - but still a wonderful song. 4th single from album.

2. Muscle Museum. 9½/10. An instant classic, Muscle Museum has everything it takes - great lyrics, catchy melody and daring arrangement. I have actually heard live versions that surpass the album version (go buy the Hullaballoo CD) but this track was a well-deserved break through for the band. 3rd single from album.

3. Filip. 9/10. This is the first song that shows the more artsy side of Muse. The change in tempo and style is brilliant. Also, the song is more focused than the previous two tracks, though I find the intro and outro lacking - with a bit more finish there, the song would have hit a perfect 10.

4. Falling Down. 8/10. This song took me a lot of time. At first I found it quite horrible due to the nearly discordant harmonies of Matt Bellamies falsetto. However, it's grown on me to become a very dear track. And boy what a voice, he could break a heart of stone any time.

5. Cave. 9/10. This track is much less experimental than the previous album tracks, and more like a mainstream rock song. And it works perfectly. The production is immaculate, and for me this is a much better song than UNO - which other reviewers seem to hold in very high esteem. 2nd single from album.

6. Showbiz. 8½/10. A very complicated track, lots of layers, and almost frightingly scary. I find the track a bit overproduced - less would have been more, the heavy distortion on Matt's vocal actually is a pity I think. Still, it works, and it works excellently, and a certain proof of how tallented a song craftsman Matt Bellamy is.

7. Unintended. 10/10. Probably best song on the album. Lyrics are tear-wrenching in their beauty, Matt's vocal is so pure he could shatter ice, production is immaculate, and there is not a spot to be placed on this track. Listen and cry! 5th and last single from the album.

8. UNO. 7/10. Stands to many fans as a favorite, but to me the song is one of the weaker on the album. The lyrics are good, but the song in itself is way to repetitive, with the same structure being repeated two and four times - even the lyrics start over and a practically repeated. A blows a good punch, but it's not on level with songs like Cave and the other singles. 1st single from album.

9. Sober. 6/10. Weakest song in the bunch. It's not bad, but imo. it should have been left out for B-side release Recess (8½/10) which was much better, both concerning lyrics and music. Sober is a m.o.r. rocker, and has some interesting points, especially in the second half, so it's not a complete miss - but it's below standard.

10. Escape. 8/10. Starting as a quite song, not quite unlike Falling Away, and working into a more rocking track, I think this track is much overlooked. Not the best of the bunch, but works better for me than several of the songs released as single.

11. Overdue. 7½/10. Again a solid rocker, but this one works much better for me than UNO and Sober. A short track, but quite catchy and irresistable.

12. Hate This And I'll Love You. 9½/10. Last but not least, as the saying goes. This one is actually very close to perfect 10, and is my favorite track next to Unintended. The song is not easily accesible, it has a fairly complicated structure, and the shifts from quit to lout and back again are superb. This is really a show of what was to come with songs like Citizen Erased and Butterflies And Hurricanes from later albums. Matt's vocals and piano on the ending part gives me tears in the eyes, it's so beautiful. The album couldn't end on a better note.


On the bottom line, I'll just add that it's a wonderful experience to listen to this album. I'd exchange Sober with Recess for the perfect experience, but even as it is this album stands up to repetitive listenings from one end to another. As every Muse album - highly recommended. These guys are going to be huge!

OVERALL RATING: 9/10

What a great Cd. first of all those thom yorke and radiohead comparisons are so silly. yeah matt bellamy does sound like thom yorkes clone at time and yes they hired the same producer radiohead had on the bends with john leckie, but its mainly because muse ADMITS that radioheads albums did something for guitar music that one can't help but be influenced by. ok there thats enough of that argument thank you. unlike their next two albums, this one is just a less serious affair. this album is not so thematically inclined like absolution and origin. i dont like those as much as showbiz because this is just the perfect soundtrack to teenage agression from a teenager(matt bellamy) exiting teenagerdom. i find his songwriting needs a lot of helo here, but there are moments where he really outdoes himself. the music is extraodrinadry with songs like muscle museum and sunburn really kicking ass. what a great record from start to finish, with only one down point and that is falling down, which really sucks...but this album is fun and interesting. uno is such a fun salsa rocker and filip is utterly danceable. cave is a great song as well. showbiz has very simple guitar riffs and some soloing that would leaving you breathless and even the straight ahead songs like escape are really quite good. in short, if you're put off by the radiohead comparision, well you're an idiot. wouldn't we want more great music that sounds as amazing as radiohead anyway? well i have to say this album is a great one and full of big hooks and catchy melodies. its no suprise that this would be the album which launched the muse dynasty. long live matt bellamy and err ok...

This C.D. at first did not appeal to me past two songs, but it grew on me eventually until I loved almost every track. The songs on this album have obviously been very meticulously designed, for there are so many effects of sound, complex backing patterns, and the lyrics are articulated to often be eerie and make you want to ponder their meanings. Also, it is spectacular how high vocalist Matt Bellamy's Voice can go on the song Showbiz; he's like a banshee! The tune, anyway, that I would most recommend on this album is "Muscle Museum", which has a Greek-sounding instrument, piano, hard guitars, an eerie raindrop instrument effect, and a simple but catchy vocal pattern. Showbiz is the best I've heard from Muse yet, and I would recommend it to all of the band's fans, alternative rock fans, and plain old rock fans. It's great!
I recommend:
Sunburn
Muscle Museum
Fillip
Cave
Showbiz
Uno
Sober
Overdue
Escape