[03.02] The first time I heard Muse, I just couldn't help being put off a bit by their shameless ripping off of Radiohead. But the boys have spunk, and I have to say that their theatrics have grown on me. Muse is so over the top with their inflated, operatic arrangements (they even throw in a pipe organ for christ's sake!) and the Thom-Yorke-in-overdrive vocals and lyrics that it somehow all works. It's like listening to "Paranoid Android" on speed for an hour. Muse's need to indulge in occasional guitar wackiness and sonic noodling doesn't always work and occasionally sounds cheesy, but the album has so much energy and drive that those moments simply add to the naive charm of it of all.

I'm sure a lot of music snobs will be thoroughly disgusted with this album, but, damn it anyway, I can't get enough of it. And, since Radiohead doesn't want to sound like Radiohead, it's good to have Muse. —Bruce