Has Muse Gone Too Mainstream?

[Vanguard_Ex]

Well, they sure as hell can't reverse it can they?

Becoming mainstream is a side effect of big popularity, if anything you should be happy that they're so successful.

 

[JanatUrlich]

Yeeeeah! I miss the Showbiz days! Back when I used to sit in my room and listen to them non-stop thinking I was awesome coz no-one else had heard of them haha

OK, so maybe I don't really miss those days, but I definitely miss the music I haven't even bought teh Resistance because I don't give a shit

Totally going to see them for the third time soon though ;D

 

[tikkimann]

First off, mainstream bad. Remember, Radiohead is still more popular than Muse have ever been, and though a lot of garbage is played on radio, the fact that it's played on radio is not the reason it's garbage; there are plenty of great mainstream acts, like Lily Allen or (dare I say it? On the internet?) Kanye West.

Second, every indie band and their dog was on the Twilight soundtrack. I bet almost everyone on this message board has an artist on that soundtrack they'd say they like, from Thom Yorke to Bon Iver to The Killers to Grizzly Bear.

As for Muse's new album itself, the Resistance I'll admit that I didn't like it as much as Black Holes and Revelations or Absolution; however, it didn't suck because they wanted to appeal to more people. (their sound appeals to surprisingly diverse tastes anyway.) It wasn't as great because they tried to follow up on their progression in sound that was on Black Holes, but the album just didn't have the same drive. There are a lot of new directions in the record, some interesting grooves, and it's overall pretty good, but it doesn't have the same energy their last records had.

 

[Vimbert]

Pardon my ignorance but who or what is Muse?

I echo this. I'm not very in touch with mainstream things, so if they are mainstream, they aren't huge enough for someone like me to have heard of them before.

 

[floppylobster]

No, they have always tried to be mainstream. The only difference is that they have achieved it.

 

[Aerodynamic]

I think they always made terrible music, everything from back then to now still makes me cringe.

 

[Aerodynamic]

Muse has always been mainstream.

They have also always been really terrible.

Damn, beat me to it.

 

[Flames66]

Undisclosed Desires is one of my fav songs at the moment. Along with Knights of Cydonia which is probably my favourite song EVAAAR. I really don't care if something is mainstream or not, as long as I like the sound, It's fine for me.

 

[Carbonel]

I am not a fan of Muse but their music is decent in my opinion but why should if a band is mainstream or not effect the quality of the music?

 

[Flames66]

First off, mainstream bad. Remember, Radiohead is still more popular than Muse have ever been, and though a lot of garbage is played on radio, the fact that it's played on radio is not the reason it's garbage; there are plenty of great mainstream acts, like Lily Allen or (dare I say it? On the internet?) Kanye West.

Oh dear. I agree with most of your sentiment. I personally like Muse, although I only listen to about 2 of their songs, but thats more than most bands for me. But I must disagree with kanye west. Sorry to insult anyone with this condition but I think he sounds like he has downs syndrome. He is also far too full of himself.

Back to the point, not every song a band makes has to be a devine master piece. Also, any artist is free to make their own desicions about how to progress, if thats what they want to play, then thats just tough if you don't like it.

 

[MiracleOfSound]

Muse have always been mainstream.

Undergound acts don't headline Wembley.

I was very dissappointed with the latest album, the track you mentioned was the only one I liked.

It felt like Bellamy had just completely dissappeared up his own ass and no-one had the balls to tell him he might need some quality control.

 

[Bucket0Bones]

Muse have pretty much always been mainstream, ever since Origin of Symmetry

 

[Small Waves]

Muse has been mainstream longer than it hasn't. There is no hipster cred one can harvest from listening to them.

 

[LornMind]

Any band that becomes popular becomes mainstream. That doesn't mean it's bad now.

Some bands stay good even when they get bigger. Some don't, but I don't think you need to worry about Muse too much. Yeah, they came out on a Twilight soundtrack, but hey, no band is perfect.

 

[Deadlydorito]

Popularity does not, EVER equal quality.

Kiefer, it matters because there are elitist indie music retard fans that consider THEIR musical tastes superior to everyone elses. I know this sounds harsh but i had so many friends like that at school... its very dissapointing. I like Muse by the way, they are great if a bit on the gay side.

Conversely, popularity does not ever equal low quality. Beethoven, Mozart, and Bach are all extremely popular, but most people would agree that they made some high quality music. Likewise, Metallica, regardless of your opinion of St. Anger and whatnot, made some damn good music in their day, and they've sold a gajillion records.

wow mate, i ummm SAID THE EXACT GODDAMNED THING. If popularity does NOT mean something is good then it doesnt necessarily mean its BAD.

 

[[Kira Must Die]]

Does it matter? They're still Muse, and they're still awesome.

 

[Yesiamaduck]

No no no you gone the wrong way, Muse have become far tooo pretentious

Muse have always been a mainstream anthem stadium band at heart, they have never put out a true 'alternative album' they are different by mainstream standards, but yes Muse haven't put out an album I STILL like since Origin Of Symmetry. I liked absoloution at the time when I was 16 but now it's clearly overblown and I haven't really liked anything they have done since HOWEVER they are one the of best live bands around and deffinatly the best stadium band our generation has.

I think the title of this thread needs re-wording because Muse have been a mainstream band for at least 8 years now

If you're truly starting to dislike Muse because they are TOO mainstream then thats just flat out music snobbery.

 

[mooncalf]

Mainstream=You've heard of it from something/somewhere/someone other than that one friend of yours who saw them play the local pub last week.

To say that something is mainstream with a negative connotation is like saying someone is a bad swimmer because they're in water.

Like Maynard sung, "I sold out long before you ever even heard my name."

It's not a question of widespread awareness and acceptance that determines an act's merit. Just like you can't credibly say backstreet boys and spice girls are good because they are insanely popular, neither can you say *insert band name here* are bad because they aren't.

Start looking for some new language to describe your feelings, because there are certain labels (mainstream being one) that have become such cliches that they convey no meaning at all.

...IMO anyhow.

 

[Nigh Invulnerable]

Popularity does not, EVER equal quality.

Kiefer, it matters because there are elitist indie music retard fans that consider THEIR musical tastes superior to everyone elses. I know this sounds harsh but i had so many friends like that at school... its very dissapointing. I like Muse by the way, they are great if a bit on the gay side.

Conversely, popularity does not ever equal low quality. Beethoven, Mozart, and Bach are all extremely popular, but most people would agree that they made some high quality music. Likewise, Metallica, regardless of your opinion of St. Anger and whatnot, made some damn good music in their day, and they've sold a gajillion records.

wow mate, i ummm SAID THE EXACT GODDAMNED THING. If popularity does NOT mean something is good then it doesnt necessarily mean its BAD.

I gathered that. However, the way you phrased things made it seem like you were being one of those "elitist indie music retards" and were basically saying "My musical taste is so much better because I like unpopular stuff". No need to fly off the handle there, buddy. I was merely reinforcing the point you'd made and trying to figure out where exactly you stood.

 

[Crimsane]

Mainstream is just another way of saying "successful." If you dislike a band for trying to make more money, you've got a silly outlook on things.