Muse – Under Review (Chrome Dreams/MVD Visual DVD)
Picture:
C+ Sound: C+ Extras: C
Documentary: B
Though
very successful in Europe, Australia
and other territories, Muse is an interesting British band that has been around
since 1994, recorded five studio albums and have barely made a dent in the U.S.
market. Sounding like Radiohead and
older Progressive Rock bands like Yes, Muse
– Under Review is a fine crash course on a band that has more talent than
expected and a few of their songs have even played here and there in the U.S.,
even if no smash hits have occurred yet.
Usually,
the Under Review series is excellent
at covering music history by focusing on an artist or even an album and going
from there to expand into a musical odyssey that makes it the richest such
series around, but the challenge of showing off a band 17 year-old bands that
should be more popular than it is makes for a change of pace that shows how
cutting edge the show can be. It never
shies away from historical context and those interviewed never hold back their
opinions.
The band
is a trio consisting of Matthew Bellamy, Christopher Wolstenholme and Dominic
Howard, who play extremely well and make the kind of music I would like to hear
more of. Though albums like Showbiz (1999), Origin Of Symmetry (2001), Absolution
(2003), Black Holes & Revelations
(2006) and The Resistance (2009)
have sold well overseas, it is odd they have not cracked the states. I do believe some of it is for political
reasons; certain conservative forces do not want them to become the next
Radiohead, Blur or Oasis. However, now
you can judge for yourself and if they do finally break out in the U.S., I would
not be surprised one bit.
The 1.33
X 1 image is of the usual high quality for this series with a mix of new video
footage, stills and usually great film footage throughout. The Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo is also decent
as always with original music by the band, influences and other greats
throughout. Extras include text on the
interviewees and designing for the band.
- Nicholas Sheffo
