Next question?

they're top notch - arrangements, the fact that they're in an "indie" band from before our current era of post punk wankery who actually put bass to good effect, Bellemy's ace guitar playing etc etc.

but i don't think they have the frontman with the vocal / lyrical ability to pull off such a lofty title.

"From the endless Radiohead comparisons associated with the first LP, Showbiz, (was I only the person who couldn't see them?"

The closest thing I could see was a similarity between Matt and Thom's vocals, and even then, that's tenuous.

is incredible.
i have it on special promo youcan'tleakthis headphones just now. it's a complete adventure through space-scapes and dancefloors and moshpits throughout the decades.
s eanfact: without seeing MUSE go from band pushing me their demo on instant messenger to seeing them play Exeter Cavern numerous times to seeing them take on the world, there would be no DiS...

Radiohead have been around for ~15 years. I'd say there's room for both, it is ver nearly a seperate generational issue, I'd say.
You could quite easily say Radiohead were the most important band of the '90s, and Muse will be of the 00's.

What makes a band more important than another one?

Muse aren't orignal, and I doubt they'll be that influential.

I think they're crap too.

i agree totally with the above...
they do seem to definately lack any depth in my opinon and yes, it all sounds far too overblown and theatrical.

talented band all the same though - just not my kinda thing

They try to go for the HUMONGOUS, earth shattering sound with everything they do, but actually achieve it about 1% of the time. It just all seems a bit empty and hollow, like it would all fall apart if you poked it or something.

That new song is the most nauseating thing i've heard in ages. I don't even understand what they're trying to do with it.

I'm struggling to think why they would be so important, what actual impact have they had on music apart from selling records and tickets to shows? they haven't really influenced other artists and music around them in the way that radiohead have.

But I can understand why a lot of people like muse, I guess they've just never really convinced me at all.
Obviously i've not heard the new album though.

about muse.

I've heard now three times. It makes me cringe at how boring it is.

They have their moments, but they aren't important at all, never mind the most important band of a generation. That's clearly Radiohead you're thinking of.

...but I'll go so far as to say I think they're one of the most ambitious bands around.

I wish it were impossible.

Only to a deaf man with no sense of what a prolific band makes.

... I recently found out that they ain't all that bad. Loads of fun, in fact.

But my one gripe is with Bellamy's truly terrible lyrics. This is what prevents them from ever attaining the level of importance and significance they crave.

Sound and fury, signifying nothing ...

How muse can possibly called completely souless is beyond me. Lyrics of certain songs ring true of some aspects of life for me anyway and have moved me to near tears at some points. Whilst there may appear to be no content in some songs, because muse are all about fun and not caring about anyone else's preconceptions, the ones that have content mean a lot to people....hence them having such a devout fanbase. As for the question....they are a bit of anomaly...I agree with 'murder' there...but I think they are very important and will be judged in the future for not having donned trilbeys, converse and leather jackets as soon as the strokes and libs came about. But the short answer is....no....they aren't.

theatrical rock thing they do, it's really good the way they make every song so big and full of life.

However I can't listen to a whole album of Muse, it just gets boring and repetitive after a while.

Radiohead > Muse - In terms of substance and consistency

Muse > Radiohead - The singles, and great 3 minute rock songs.

Showbiz is a suprememly fantastic album, but Origin of Symmetry really put me off for some reason. I would have Showbiz in my 10 CD changer if I was never allowed to changed the CD's again, though

Well, perhaps not Muse, but Matt Bellamy. I took up piano after watching his live piano performances from the Showbiz era. I never once looked at Yorke or Martin and thought, "I want to play like that". As for consistency, album's two and three were fantastic, and it sounds like number four is too. Can't get much more consistent than that.

For me, the defining band of a generation needs to achieve two things:

1. They need to produce at least one GREAT album;

2. They need to inspire a lot of other bands, in a kind of "I saw X and formed a band that night" kind of way.

The Smiths? Yes. Radiohead? Yes. Muse? No no no no no ...

I woke up one morning listening to Newborn on the radio. I was completely amazed by it. It brought me out of the pop wilderness that I had been wandering in for the previous 5 years and I realised that I liked this and didn't care whether or not my "friends" approved. And since then I've always thought of Muse as nothing short of extraordinary.
Until I heard their new song the other day and felt like crying.
So make of that what you will... :S

I like how DiS write "it would be short-sighted to claim Muse have had anything but a huge impact on music in the last five years."

Maybe DiS mean impact on whiteboy guitar rock. Perhaps we should be more inclusive when we refer to "music."

You all make me laugh, honestly, you do. Firstly, you'll all have to take this onboard: Muse of course, do take some chord changes from Rachmaninof and Tchaikovsky, but certainly not Bach. Second of all, atleast they're wildly creative in that way, blending together classical theory with rock music, which is a lot more than many other bands at the moment, who seem to like to stick to the C,F,G, Am ternary style songs. What else can I say?

Oh yes, Matt Bellamy has overwhelming vocal range and has a vocal gift which outshines most musicians currently on the scene. His guitar work, IS the best British music has seen over the last 10 years, face it. His piano work is one of the best in the rock music industry, and his lyrics are very poetic and profound.

They lack emotional depth? Excuse me? These guys take emotion almost take emotion too far. Their music is bold, realistic and truly personal to them, which is a lot more than most bands have to offer. Sorry, perhaps it's nothing compared to the usual emo lyrics which seem to be in fashion at the moment, or on the other hand, maybe you just like a band that sing about they're summer, aye?

Honestly, shame on you all. Listen to songs other than Plug in Baby, Time is Running Out, Hysteria and Supermassive Black Hole, then get back to me.

Theyre good. New song is a bit dull, but i like absolution. Its good. Come on, stockholm syndrome !

I seriously can't see the point of view of everyone who says Muse are soulless - I've tried. People criticise the theatricals and the classical influences, then say they're not original...how is that? In my opinion they are quite simply one of the most interesting, original and at the same time intensely listenable bands around, and their live shows are nothing short of mindblowing. Yes, so Muse really is the Matt Bellamy Show, but what the hell. He is amazingly talented and is just desperate to get all his ideas into reality which I guess is where all the chaos comes from.
Anyway, back to the original question - most important? I'd like to think so (they're not, by a long way, my favourite band, but nonetheless I think they've worked for the title and deserve it) and I don't know who else I could put forward, but in the end I still don't think they've reached the masses enough yet to be the sound of this generation.

I dunno how this comment is gonan be accepted, but i have always seen muse as a band who have tried to push their own music forward, in the same way that Pink Ffloyd did. And i honestly think that Muse are the next step in the Prog Rock scene, as there have been very few bands over last 10 years who have even ventured into Prog. As muse realease more and more (you can tell they are the type of band that are gonna be around for a while) you will not onl hear their sound mature, but also change direction with an intrest in progression. I would definately say, as much as you may not like them, they are one of a short list of most important bands of our gerneration.

Housie

Origin was very good song writing wise but absolution was the biggest pile of made-for-radio rock music for a good few years, they are money hungry whores now and the vision they once had has dissipated because they realised they could make a bomb playing shit music

they put token 'weird effects' and silly piano bits to get musos involved its all so transparent

bellamy has admittedly, got the whole 'guitar god' look going on whilst on stage which is kinda cool!

Muse are a really important band. My very first gig was with Muse supporting Ash at the Astoria at an NME gig and they fucking blew Ash off stage (obviously!) From then I've seen them about 5 times I think and I can't wait for the new album. I find myself going through stages of intense Muse listening then periods where I don't listen to them for months. I've enjoyed everything they've ever put out although I don't have a favourite album, just enjoy their output as a whole.

It's weird to think how their prog often quite heavy sound has become this popular. I mean I saw them at the above Astoria date when I was 16 and just started college and when I was finishing Uni at 21 they were playing two sold out nights at Earls Court and headlining Glastonbury? It's fucking madness!