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'''''Black Holes and Revelations''''' is the fourth studio [[album]] by [[England|English]] [[alternative rock|alternative]] [[rock band]] [[Muse (band)|Muse]], released in July 2006. The album sold 115,144 in its first week in the UK, which is more than the first week sales of Muse's previous album, ''[[Absolution (album)|Absolution]]'' (71,597). ''Black Holes and Revelations'' has sold over 2 million copies worldwide, as of [[January 2007]].
'''''Black Holes and Revelations''''' is the fourth studio [[album]] by [[England|English]] [[alternative rock|alternative]] [[rock band]] [[Muse (band)|Muse]], released in July 2006. The album sold 115,144 in its first week in the UK, which is more than the first week sales of Muse's previous album, ''[[Absolution (album)|Absolution]]'' (71,597). ''Black Holes and Revelations'' has sold over 2 million copies worldwide, as of [[January 2007]].


The album has political and even [[sci-fi]] undertones<ref name="popmatters">{{cite web|title=Muse - Black Holes and Revelations|author=Dan Raper|publisher=PopMatters|url=http://www.popmatters.com/pm/music/reviews/muse-black-holes-revelations/|accessdate=2007-04-12}}</ref><ref name="popworld">{{cite web|title=Kate Moss? We briefly met once|publisher=Popworld|url=http://www.popworld.com/pages/muse_interview|accessdate=2007-04-12}}</ref>, and [[Matthew Bellamy]], the band's frontman, cites influences including [[Millionaire (band)|Millionaire]], [[Sly and the Family Stone]] and classical music from southern [[Italy]].<ref name="influences">{{cite web|title=Muse - Intergalacticists Stride Our World|author=Talia Soghomonian|publisher=musicomh|url=http://www.musicomh.com/interviews/muse_0706.htm|accessdate=2007-04-12}}</ref>
The album has political and even [[sci-fi]] undertones<ref name="popmatters">{{cite web|title=Muse - Black Holes and Revelations|author=Dan Raper|publisher=PopMatters|url=http://www.popmatters.com/pm/music/reviews/muse-black-holes-revelations/|accessdate=2007-04-12}}</ref><ref name="popworld">{{cite web|title=Kate Moss? We briefly met once|publisher="Popworld_interview"|url=http://www.popworld.com/pages/muse_interview|accessdate=2007-04-12}}</ref>, and [[Matthew Bellamy]], the band's frontman, cites influences including [[Millionaire (band)|Millionaire]], [[Sly and the Family Stone]] and classical music from southern [[Italy]].<ref name="musicomh_interview">{{cite web|title=Muse - Intergalacticists Stride Our World|author=Talia Soghomonian|publisher=musicomh|url=http://www.musicomh.com/interviews/muse_0706.htm|accessdate=2007-04-12}}</ref>

==Musical style==
''Black Holes and Revelations'' marks a significant departure from the styles of previous albums, and features a wide variety of alternative musical themes. The album is primarily [[alternative rock]], and the first track, Take a Bow, follows a similar intense, dramatic rock sound to the previous album, [[Absolution]]. Later tracks, especially , and [[Starlight (song)|Starlight]], described by one reviewer as "an Abba gig on the moon",<ref name="HMV_CD">{{cite web|title=Black Holes and Revelations|author=HMV CD Editor|publisher=HMV|url=http://www.hmv.co.uk/hmvweb/displayProductDetails.do?ctx=97;9;-1;-1&sku=519550|accessdate=2007-04-13}}</ref> follow a more mainstream [[adult-orientated rock]] sound<ref name="musicomh_Starlight">{{cite web|title=Muse - Starlight (Warner)|author=Michael Hubbard|publisher=musicomh|url=http://www.musicomh.com/singles/muse-6_0806.htm}}</ref> which contrasts strongly with the [[funk rock]], almost [[disco]] style of first single [[Supermassive Black Hole]].<ref name="musicomh_interview">{{cite web|title=Muse - Intergalacticists Stride Our World|author=Talia Soghomonian|publisher=musicomh|url=http://www.musicomh.com/interviews/muse_0706.htm|accessdate=2007-04-12}}</ref> Other tracks follow the intense style of earlier Muse albums, but the final track, [[Knights of Cydonia]], described by one reviewer as a "spaced-out intergalactic epic",<ref name="HMV_Kirkcaldy">{{cite web|title=Black Holes and Revelations|author=Ross Stewart|publisher=HMV|url=http://www.hmv.co.uk/hmvweb/displayProductDetails.do?ctx=97;9;-1;-1&sku=519550|accessdate=2007-04-13}}</ref> combines elements of [[surf rock]]<ref name="HMV_CD">{{cite web|title=Black Holes and Revelations|author=HMV CD Editor|publisher=HMV|url=http://www.hmv.co.uk/hmvweb/displayProductDetails.do?ctx=97;9;-1;-1&sku=519550|accessdate=2007-04-13}}</ref><ref name="Drowned_in_Sound">{{cite web|title=Black Holes and Revelations|author=Mike Diver|publisher=Drowned in Sound|url=http://www.drownedinsound.com/release/view/7634|accessdate=2007-04-13}}</ref> and the [[progressive rock]] that is more reminiscent of earlier Muse albums which Bellamy describes as "pushing the epic side of the band to almost comical levels".<ref name="Telegraph">{{cite web|title=Messages from Mars|author=Neil McCormick|publisher=Telegraph|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/main.jhtml?xml=/arts/2006/07/06/bmmuse06.xml|accessdate=2007-04-13}}</ref>


==Album information==
==Album information==

Revision as of 18:15, 13 April 2007

Untitled

Black Holes and Revelations is the fourth studio album by English alternative rock band Muse, released in July 2006. The album sold 115,144 in its first week in the UK, which is more than the first week sales of Muse's previous album, Absolution (71,597). Black Holes and Revelations has sold over 2 million copies worldwide, as of January 2007.

The album has political and even sci-fi undertones[1][2], and Matthew Bellamy, the band's frontman, cites influences including Millionaire, Sly and the Family Stone and classical music from southern Italy.[3]

Musical style

Black Holes and Revelations marks a significant departure from the styles of previous albums, and features a wide variety of alternative musical themes. The album is primarily alternative rock, and the first track, Take a Bow, follows a similar intense, dramatic rock sound to the previous album, Absolution. Later tracks, especially , and Starlight, described by one reviewer as "an Abba gig on the moon",[4] follow a more mainstream adult-orientated rock sound[5] which contrasts strongly with the funk rock, almost disco style of first single Supermassive Black Hole.[3] Other tracks follow the intense style of earlier Muse albums, but the final track, Knights of Cydonia, described by one reviewer as a "spaced-out intergalactic epic",[6] combines elements of surf rock[4][7] and the progressive rock that is more reminiscent of earlier Muse albums which Bellamy describes as "pushing the epic side of the band to almost comical levels".[8]

Album information

The name "Black Holes and Revelations" is explained by Matthew Bellamy in his September 2006 interview for Q Magazine: "Black holes and revelations -- they're the two areas of songwriting for me that make up the majority of this album. A revelation about yourself, something personal, something genuine of an everyday nature that maybe people can relate to. Then the black holes are these songs that are from the more... unknown regions of the imagination."[9] The album's title is also cited in the lyrics of the second track and single "Starlight."

The art work, designed by Storm Thorgerson, depicts a red landscape, like that of the surface of Mars, with four men seated around a table with three miniature horses on it.[10] Faintly in the sky behind the figures, one can see the planet Earth and its moon. The setting is thought to signify Cydonia, and the connection with horses a reference to knights, explaining the title of "Knights of Cydonia."[11] The knights are also believed to represent the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, from the Book of Revelation in the New Testament of the Bible, with their horses of four different colours.[12][13] The inner art features a photograph of declassified MKULTRA documents.

Critical reaction

Black Holes & Revelations has been met with extremely positive reviews from the media, with Q magazine stating it to be one of the years best albums, which resulted in the album being placed at #2 in their countdown of the top albums of 2006. Critics also noted how the band have taken a more original, progressive style of rock music different from their Radiohead-esque debut Showbiz. However, websites such as Pitchfork Media still insist that the band do nothing more than ape Radiohead's muscial stylings and thus rated it 4.2/10.

Track listing

All songs written by Matthew Bellamy, Dominic Howard and Chris Wolstenholme.

  1. "Take a Bow" – 4:35
  2. "Starlight" – 3:59
  3. "Supermassive Black Hole" – 3:29
  4. "Map of the Problematique" – 4:18
  5. "Soldier’s Poem" – 2:03
  6. "Invincible" – 5:00
  7. "Assassin" – 3:31
  8. "Exo-Politics" – 3:53
  9. "City of Delusion" – 4:48
  10. "Hoodoo" (Bellamy/Wolstenholme) – 3:43
  11. "Knights of Cydonia" – 6:06
  12. "Glorious" (bonus track) – 4:38
    • Originally released only on the Japanese and iTunes Store pre-order versions, the song has been added to a second release of the album on iTunes. It is listed as "Album Only" alongside a digital booklet, unique for the second release as well. The song will be released in the UK as the B-side to the 7" version of the Invincible single.

US limited edition DVD

Japanese limited DVD

  • Summer Sonic footage
  • Reading Festival 2006 footage
  • "Supermassive Black Hole" (video)
  • "Starlight" (video)
  • "Knights of Cydonia" (video)
  • The Making of Supermassive Black Hole

Asian Tour edition bonus DVD

  • "Supermassive Black Hole" (video)
  • "Starlight" (video)
  • "Knights of Cydonia" (video)
  • "Supermassive Black Hole" (Live from Paris)
  • "Starlight" (Live from Copenhagen @ MTV Awards)
  • "Knights of Cydonia" (Live from London)

Credits

Single releases

Title Date released Format(s) Catalog UK Singles Chart U.S. Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart
"Supermassive Black Hole" June 19 2006 (UK) 7"
CD
DVD		 HEL3001
HEL3001CD
HEL3001DVD
PR015888		 #4
"Starlight" September 4 2006 (UK)
November 20 2006 (U.S.)		 7"
CD
DVD		 HEL3003
HEL3003CD
HEL3003DVD		 #13 #2
"Knights of Cydonia" June 13 2006 (U.S.)
November 27 2006 (UK)		 Radio/CD-R (U.S.)
7"
CD
DVD		 PRO-101829 (U.S.)
HEL3004
HEL3004CD
HEL3004DVD		 #10 #10
"Invincible" April 9 2007 (UK) 7"
CD
DVD		 HEL3005
HEL3005CD
HEL3005DVD
"Map of the Problematique" June 18 2007 (Japan)

Release details

Country Date Label Format Catalog
Japan 28 June 2006 Warner Music Japan digipak (bonus track) WPCR-12306
CD WPCR-12307
21 February 2007 CD / DVD re-release WPZR-30194
United Kingdom 3 July 2006 Helium 3, Warner Bros. CD HEL3002CD / 2562635495
digipak HEL3002CDX / 2564635092
Australia 7 July 2006 Warner Music Australia CD 2564635095
10 February 2007 CD / DVD re-release 5101197352
United States 11 July 2006 Warner Bros. Records CD 0 9362-44284-2 8
CD / DVD 0 9362-44350-2 0
Taiwan 4 July 2006 Warner Bros. Records CD 2564635092
13 February 2007 CD / DVD re-release 5051011973529

Charts

Chart (2006) Providers Peak
position 		Certification Sales
Australia Album Chart ARIA 1 Gold 35,000+
Billboard 200 (U.S.) Billboard 9 300,000
Euro Top 200 IFPI 1 Platinum 1,000,000
UK Album Chart BPI 1 2x Platinum 545,000+
United World Chart Media Traffic 1 2.204.000+
Total +7.5% Mediatraffic doesn't cover Platinum 2.369.300+

References

  1. ^ Dan Raper. "Muse - Black Holes and Revelations". PopMatters. Retrieved 2007-04-12.
  2. ^ "Kate Moss? We briefly met once". "Popworld_interview". Retrieved 2007-04-12.
  3. ^ a b Talia Soghomonian. "Muse - Intergalacticists Stride Our World". musicomh. Retrieved 2007-04-12.
  4. ^ a b HMV CD Editor. "Black Holes and Revelations". HMV. Retrieved 2007-04-13. {{cite web}}: |author= has generic name (help)
  5. ^ Michael Hubbard. "Muse - Starlight (Warner)". musicomh.
  6. ^ Ross Stewart. "Black Holes and Revelations". HMV. Retrieved 2007-04-13.
  7. ^ Mike Diver. "Black Holes and Revelations". Drowned in Sound. Retrieved 2007-04-13.
  8. ^ Neil McCormick. "Messages from Mars". Telegraph. Retrieved 2007-04-13.
  9. ^ Mitchell, Ben (2006). "The Q Interview". Q (242): 56–60. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  10. ^ Mo. "Muse - Black Holes and Revelations". Pixelsurgeon. Retrieved 2006-07-28. {{cite web}}: |author= has generic name (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help); External link in |author= (help)CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  11. ^ Jacqui Swift (June 23 2006). "Muse: Close encounters". The Sun. Retrieved 2006-10-23. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  12. ^ Anthony Thornton. "Reviews: Albums - Muse: Black Holes & Revelations". NME. Retrieved 2006-10-23.
  13. ^ Roman Gokhman (September 29 2006). "There's no conspiracy theory behind Muse's success". Inside Bay Area. Retrieved 2006-10-23. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
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