1001 Albums Summary

Black Holes, A Few Revelations Kicking off my “One Album A Day” project with Black Holes and Revelations by Muse. I have always liked Muse in small doses, but have never fully committed to. Listening front to back, I realised there are some real highs and then quite a few moments where I drifted. Nothing bad, just a bit forgettable. It gets pretty synth heavy at times, and that glossy space sound is not completely my thing. Starlight is great. Knights of Cydonia is the kind of song I will always have a soft spot for. It is dramatic, ridiculous, and completely committed to the bit. Overall: 3/5. Some genuine bangers, some background music, and perhaps one synthesiser too many. ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Free Birds and Phonetics This album is surprisingly accomplished for a first effort. The guitar work and solos are fantastic, and I don’t really dislike any of the tracks. Free Bird and Simple Man are proper standouts, they’re worth the listen on their own. The other songs are solid too. Nothing feels lazy or thrown together. There’s a bravado and energy here that makes it easy to appreciate, even if it’s not quite the style I usually go for. Some riffs make you nod along, some solos are pure fun, and the vocals have a roughness that stops it from floating away. Not my usual genre but it’s easy to sit back and enjoy what’s going on. Overall, I’d give it about 3.2 out of 5, could creep up after a few more listen. It’s not going to replace my favourite playlists, but it’s the kind of album you can put on, relax, and appreciate how much these guys pulled off on their first try. ⭐️⭐️⭐️.25