Black Holes and Revelations: Difference between revisions
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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]]. |
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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= |
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> |
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==Musical style== |
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''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> |
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==Album information== |
==Album information== |
Revision as of 18:15, 13 April 2007
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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.
- "Take a Bow" – 4:35
- "Starlight" – 3:59
- "Supermassive Black Hole" – 3:29
- "Map of the Problematique" – 4:18
- "Soldier’s Poem" – 2:03
- "Invincible" – 5:00
- "Assassin" – 3:31
- "Exo-Politics" – 3:53
- "City of Delusion" – 4:48
- "Hoodoo" (Bellamy/Wolstenholme) – 3:43
- "Knights of Cydonia" – 6:06
- "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
- Absolution Tour Live 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
- Matthew Bellamy - lead vocals, guitars, piano, synthesizers, production
- Chris Wolstenholme - backing vocals, bass guitar, brief vocals on "Supermassive Black Hole", some synthesizers on "Map of Problematique" and "Hoodoo", production
- Dominic Howard - drums, percussion, brief drum machine on "Map of Problematique", production
- Rich Costey - production
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 |
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"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
- ^ Dan Raper. "Muse - Black Holes and Revelations". PopMatters. Retrieved 2007-04-12.
- ^ "Kate Moss? We briefly met once". "Popworld_interview". Retrieved 2007-04-12.
- ^ a b Talia Soghomonian. "Muse - Intergalacticists Stride Our World". musicomh. Retrieved 2007-04-12.
- ^ a b HMV CD Editor. "Black Holes and Revelations". HMV. Retrieved 2007-04-13.
{{cite web}}
:|author=
has generic name (help) - ^ Michael Hubbard. "Muse - Starlight (Warner)". musicomh.
- ^ Ross Stewart. "Black Holes and Revelations". HMV. Retrieved 2007-04-13.
- ^ Mike Diver. "Black Holes and Revelations". Drowned in Sound. Retrieved 2007-04-13.
- ^ Neil McCormick. "Messages from Mars". Telegraph. Retrieved 2007-04-13.
- ^ Mitchell, Ben (2006). "The Q Interview". Q (242): 56–60.
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ignored (help) - ^ Mo. "Muse - Black Holes and Revelations". Pixelsurgeon. Retrieved 2006-07-28.
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- ^ Jacqui Swift (June 23 2006). "Muse: Close encounters". The Sun. Retrieved 2006-10-23.
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(help) - ^ Anthony Thornton. "Reviews: Albums - Muse: Black Holes & Revelations". NME. Retrieved 2006-10-23.
- ^ Roman Gokhman (September 29 2006). "There's no conspiracy theory behind Muse's success". Inside Bay Area. Retrieved 2006-10-23.
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