Muse and playing that album

Were Muse right

To take the risk?

It was a risk to take, but were Bellamy and co right in taking it. Their headline slot at Leeds and Reading festivals was theirs for the taking it, but half the time was playing Origins of Symmetry in its entirety. Was this a good move or not?  Some people feel that this was a waste of a slot, that some of the people who attend the festival may not be sure on Muse to start with, so playing the album there in full was a way of alienating people from a show that could have turned their opinions of the band. But, on the other hand they were celebrating 10 years since the release of the album, so why shouldn’t they have done it in style.

It is a widely known fact that Muse are marmite you love them or hate them. There is no in between for this band. So obviously when it was heard what they had planned for their own set, people were very quick to shout out there opinions. I can understand fully with people who only wanted a mixed set, and not something that not everyone is going to no. But on the opposing side you can understand the people who wanted this album to be played. Origins of Symmetry is one of the timeless albums you should have in you CD collection. So to the fans it was only right that it should be played.

Whatever your opinion was on the matter the real question is, did they manage to pull it off? As I was at Leeds festival, I thought the set was pretty good. But you could sense that the atmosphere was not at its best whilst the album was played in full. This album is what their first album should have been and where best to do it, than at Reading and Leeds. The atmosphere was definitely dull, and could tell that the fans were mainly ones that have jumped onto the bandwagon, from the previous two albums. Yes they may have known the hits such as “Plug in baby” and “Feeling Good”, yes these songs were amazing. Bellamy powering though the riffs like a jack-hammer to concrete, but the rest of the album will have gone unappreciated by them. The little atmosphere that was there was indeed from the fans that realised and appreciated one of the best albums of all time being played.

This being said the set was still out standing. They still managed to make the show one to remember, even if you were one of the entry-level fans who didn’t know many songs, they can still play to a crowd and wow them. So the playing “Origins of Symmetry” was not a crowd pleaser and was not an entire success, it was a risk why shouldn’t they take them. The greatest hits part of the show allowed them to win the new fans back. “Uprising” was first to be heard and met with cheers, bouncing and singing along. This part of the set was a safety net knowing they would get all the adulation that they knew and deserved.

Overall the set was everything that Muse is and that is Marmite. I loved it and thought it was a risk worth taking. I enjoyed hearing the album played live, just as much as I heard all the hits being played live too. Muse will always be up there for me in the live stakes.