It's been a while

It's hard to believe how time flies when you stop doing something that is part of your routine. The last year and a half were spent making important decisions, completing many of my life goals and learning so much more about myself. It's hard to ignore just how much music plays a role in my life; which is why I discovered some of the most incredible music during times like these.

I never thought I could possibly love music more than I had, but after transferring to a school with fewer people who share my interests, it is always comforting to come back to something familiar, something consistent.

It is difficult to figure out where to begin, considering how much great music has been released in the time I've been away. So I've decided to post the song I've listened to the most in the past year.

Hans Zimmer - Projections (Bonus Track)



Hans Zimmer: Facebook | Last.fm | Official Site

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Muse perform "Uprising" on an Italian TV show

Courtesy of Muse

Well, not really. The band was scheduled to perform on the Italian TV show, "Quelli Che Il Calcio," and was asked to perform using the pre-recorded version of the track. So Muse decided to joke around by "performing" the song with singer Matt Bellamy on drums, drummer Dominic Howard playing bass and singing and bassist Chris Wolstenholme on guitar and keyboards.

I don't even know what's funnier - Matt's enthusiasm while playing the drums or the fact that the host had no idea they were joking around. Muse has even done this before. Enjoy the video below.


The band's new album, "The Resistance," was released this past week, so make sure to grab a copy from your local record shop or by clicking below.

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Muse's "United States of Eurasia" now unlocked

Muse after arriving in Oslo.

Courtesy of MuseWire

All six parts of the song have now been unlocked and the song does take a few surprising twists, just like Dominic Howard said in his blog a few days ago. However, Muse have announced that there is a seventh part to the hunt, which will make the song's MP3 available to download. Some people think that there may be more to the song than just these six parts, so it's a matter of time before their plans are revealed.

After starting off with just a piano, followed by strings and Matthew Bellamy singing in a way reminiscent to the band's 1999 track "Unintended," the song takes an epic turn to sound like a song only Muse can create. The song explodes when Bellamy begins singing "Why split these states/When there can be only one?" in Queen-like fashion.

The instrumental parts throughout the song have a Middle-Eastern influence to them, and along with Bellamy's incredible piano skills, Howard's impressive drumming and bassist Chris Wolstenholme's known talent of giving the bass a role in a lot of their music make for a great comeback single since their last album was released in 2006.

A lot of people are beginning to talk about how Muse is ripping off Queen in the song, due to the parts that sound similar to Queen. One thing that needs to be realized is that the song, which is about 3:44 long, has so many elements to it and people are focusing too much on just one aspect of it, rather than taking in the whole song and before making a decision about it. Not only does most of the song sound nothing like Queen, but no one even seems to be paying attention to the message Muse is trying to say in the song.

Stereogum seems to think that Muse using a band as inspiration is the same thing as becoming a cover band. Other bands like Wolfmother have also been compared to sounding like other great bands, and yet most of them haven't had to deal with serious criticism for it.

Only one track has been made available to the public, so we still don't really know for sure what the album is going to sound like.

Listen to "United States of Eurasia" below:


Musewiki.org has put together the lyrics for song:

You and me are the same
We don't know or care who's to blame
But we know that whoever holds the reins
Nothing will change
Our cause has gone insane

And these wars, they can't be won
And these wars, they can't be won
And do you want them to go on
And on and on
Why split these states
When there can be only one?

And must we do as we're told?
Must we do as we're told?

You and me fall in line
To be punished for unproven crimes
And we know that there is no one we can trust
Our ancient heroes, they are turning to dust

And these wars, they can't be won
Does anyone know or care how they begun?
They just promise to go on
And on and on
But soon we will see
There can be only one

United States
United States
Of...

Eurasia!
...sia!
...sia!
...sia!

Eurasia!
...sia!
...sia!
...sia!

Eurasia!
...sia!
...sia!
...sia!

"The Resistance" will be released on September 14 (in the U.K.). Click here for the album's tracklisting.

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Muse unveil parts one and two of "United States of Eurasia"

Drummer Dominic Howard in Milan.

Courtesy of MuseWire

So far, two parts of the six-part treasure hunt have been unlocked. One minute and 19 seconds of the song "United States of Eurasia" is up and can be streamed on the Ununited States of Eurasia microsite here. Knowing how great Muse fans are with decoding and figuring out clues, it won't take long before the next clue is figured out.

Willy Tarno found the first USB key in Paris earlier today, and two others found the one in Berlin. Visit Tarno's flickr page here to see pictures of what the key looks like, along with the envelope that it came in, which may also have another clue on it.

Drummer Dominic Howard blogged a few hours ago about the treasure hunt and mentioned that the song "Takes a few surprising twists from what you can hear at the moment..."

Here's his full blog post.

Hey,

So we've literally just finished traveling around europe doing about 100 interviews and feeling pretty talked out right now! My voice seems to have dropped a few octaves as a result.. But keep an eye out as I imagine some will start surfacing soon.
If you guys have been following our twittering over the last week you can check out some pictures of what we've been up to.
But its now time to crack on with some rehearsals to try and figure out how we will play the album live and remember how the old ones go as well..

Well done to the guys who found the usb sticks and unlocked the first two parts of United States of Eurasia. Four more to go to hear the rest of the track! That song takes a few surprising twists from what you can hear at the moment..

Anyway, take it easy..

Dom.

I know I've mainly been posting about Muse lately, but I'm finishing up summer school this week, so I'll hopefully be able to start posting on a regular basis in a few days.

Muse: Official Site | Myspace | Last.fm | Hype Machine

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Muse to unveil new single through treasure hunt

Muse with media manager and longtime friend (considered to be the fourth member of the band) Tom Kirk in Spain.

Courtesy of MuseWire

A few days ago, I noticed that the Muse website had shut down and instead had a map of Africa, Europe and Asia without borders with a counter counting down "until launch." This morning, at 3 a.m. Pacific Time, the band's new website launched.

Not only was it just a new website, but Muse also launched PROJECT EURASIA. Earlier this month, singer Matthew Bellamy tweeted something about a treasure hunt. On the Ununited States of Eurasia microsite, fans were given a briefing and asked to register to get the clues as they are unveiled.

Here's what it said:

PROJECT EURASIA

FLASH BRIEFING DECLASSIFIED AND APPROVED FOR GENERAL RELEASE
PREVIOUS CLASSIFICATION: INDIGO ALPHA SHARD

GEOPOLITICAL EVENTS NOW NECESSITATE ACTIVATION OF THE STANDBY PLAN BRAVO NINER PREVIOUSLY KNOWN AS GRAN AJEDREZ.

MARKERS INCLUDE REALTIME ASSESSMENT OF POLITICAL AND PUBLIC SENTIMENT AT -2.57 (KNIGHT INDEX), SOCIO-ECONOMIC INDICATORS AT [REDACTED], ENERGY STABILITY INDICATORS AT [REDACTED], GLOBAL MARKET VOLATILITY MARKERS AT [REDACTED] AND SOVEREIGN STATE MILITARY EFFECTIVENESS AT [REDACTED].

FOR GRAN AJEDREZ TO BE FULLY ACTIVATED, APPROVAL HAS BEEN GRANTED FOR WIDESPREAD MOBILISATION OF INITIATED NON-CONVENTIONAL HUMINT RESOURCES.

GRAN AJEDREZ WILL BE ACTIVATED IN A PHASED PROCESS. SUCCESSFUL ACTIVATION OF EACH PHASE WILL RESULT IN THE UNLOCKING AND DECRYPTION OF AN AUDIO BRIEFING. THE FULL PROJECT EURASIA / GRAN AJEDREZ AUDIO BRIEFING WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOAD UPON SUCCESSFUL ACTIVATION OF ALL PHASES.

PLEASE STAND BY AND COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING FOR PRE-APPROVED HUMINT RESOURCE MOBILISATION.

It's only a matter of time before the first clue is released for fans to figure out, which will unlock either a portion or the entire song. But its name seems to confirm everyone's guess that "United States of Eurasia" would to be the first single to be taken off of "The Resistance."

Muse: Official Site | Myspace | Last.fm | Hype Machine

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Studio verison of Arctic Monkeys latest single, "Crying Lightning"

Courtesy of ArcticMonkeys.com

After hearing it several times, it's safe to say that the Arctic Monkeys have grown with this new, dark sound. Will over at We All Want Someone To Shout For already found a studio version of the Arctic Monkeys' first single off of "Humbug," so head on over to download it.

Arctic Monkeys: Official Site | Myspace | Last.fm | Hype Machine

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Muse announce "The Resistance" tracklisting on twitter

Muse with BBC Radio 1's Zane Lowe yesterday in Lake Como, Italy

Photo: Courtesy of Zane Lowe's Twitter

About 15 hours ago, Muse began tweeting a different track title every hour from their soon-to-be-released album, "The Resistance." It was hard to understand what it was at the beginning, but about three or four tracks in, it became evident that they were posting track titles.

Here are all the tracks that have been listed so far:

1) Uprising
2) Resistance
3) Undisclosed Desires
4) United States Of Eurasia (+Collateral Damage)
5) Guiding Light
6) Unnatural Selection
7) MK Ultra
8) I Belong To You (+Mon Coeur S'Ouvre A Ta Voix)
9) Exogenesis : Symphony Part I (Overture)
10) Exogenesis : Symphony Part II (Cross Pollination)
11) Exogenesis : Symphony Part III (Redemption)

It is still possible that the album will have more tracks that haven't been posted yet, but no one really knows for sure. The band is currently in Italy doing interviews to promote the album, which is set for a September 14 release (in the U.K.).

To stay up to speed on all things-Muse, follow them on twitter, or check back here to see the latest news from the band.

UPDATE: Their website listed the official tracklisting today and it stands at 11 songs.

Muse: Official Site | Myspace | Last.fm | Hype Machine

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Franz Ferdinand unveil "Can't Stop Feeling" video

This is probably one of their best videos. It's funny, well put together and they dance in it.



I know I've been away a while but the second finals ended, I started summer school and math just isn't my thing. Hopefully, I'll be able to start posting again next week.

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Franz Ferdinand unveils new version of "No You Girls" video

The band will open for Green Day during their U.S. shows from August 8 to 22. Click here to check out the first version of "No You Girls."



Franz Ferdinand: Official Site | Myspace | Last.fm | Hype Machine

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Muse announces release date for fifth album

Photo

Muse will release the "The Resistance" on September 14 in the UK. Recording and mixing for the band's fifth album is practically done and Muse will begin to tour starting in late October.

It makes me incredibly excited to know that in the next three months, both Muse and the Arctic Monkeys will release two of this year's most anticipated albums (sorry Grizzly Bear).

The band's website also said that more information and tracklisting will be announced soon. To stay updated, visit Muse on its website, or keep reading this blog, as I will update it with all the latest news and updates from the band.

To download Muse demos, rare songs, acoustic songs and full, live concerts from as early as 1999, visit Microcuts.net . It also has a large collection of Muse photos from throughout the band's career. Head on over to it's download section to get some great tracks. You might want to start off with one of the best unofficial live concerts ever - their performance at Reading Festival in 2006. The acoustic songs are equally as brilliant.

Muse: Official Site | Myspace | Last.fm | Hype Machine

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PLEASE ALWAYS SUPPORT THE BAND BY PURCHASING THEIR MUSIC, GOING TO THEIR SHOWS AND BUYING THEIR MERCHANDISE.