Black Holes & Revelations
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| Black Holes & Revelations | |||||
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| Studio album by Muse | |||||
| Released | 3 July 2006 | ||||
| Genre | Alternative rock Progressive rock |
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| Length | 45:28 50:06 (with bonus track) |
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| Label | Helium 3, Warner Bros. | ||||
| Producer | Rich Costey, Muse | ||||
| Professional reviews | |||||
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| Muse chronology | |||||
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| Singles from Black Holes & Revelations | |||||
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Black Holes & Revelations is the fourth studio album by English rock band Muse, released on July 3, 2006. The album sold 115,144 copies in its first week in the UK,[1] which is more than the first week sales of Muse's previous album, Absolution. Black Holes and Revelations is a BPI double platinum album.[2]
The album has political and sci-fi undertones.[3][4] Matthew Bellamy, the band's frontman, cites influences including Queen, Millionaire, Sly and the Family Stone, Depeche Mode and classical music from southern Italy.[5]
Contents |
[edit] Musical style
Black Holes & 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 hard rock, and the first track, "Take a Bow", uses a similar intense, dramatic rock sound to the previous album Absolution and introduces elements of techno in Muse's music. Later tracks, especially "Starlight", described by one reviewer as "an ABBA gig on the moon,"[6] follow a more mainstream album-oriented rock sound[7] which contrasts strongly with the funk rock, post-disco style of first single "Supermassive Black Hole".[5] 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,"[8] combines elements of surf rock[6][9] and the progressive rock that are more reminiscent of earlier Muse albums, to create a song which Bellamy describes as "pushing the epic side of the band to almost comical levels".[10]
[edit] Lyrical content
Black Holes & Revelations has a strong political[11] theme that follows the earlier albums and marks a new direction for the band. It often describes the more controversial elements of this topic, including "The New World Order conspiracy, unjustifiable war, abusive power, conspiratorial manipulation and populist revolt,"[10] and is strongly influenced by the conspiracy theories that are popular amongst the band.[12] Matt Bellamy stated that he finds "the unknown in general a stimulating area for the imagination,"[10] and this interest is reflected throughout the album, which features alien invasion (in "Exo-Politics")[11] and rebellious paranoia (particularly during "Assassin").[13] The album also includes more emotional themes, including regret, ambition[13] and love,[9] again reflecting the romantic style of earlier albums.
The title "Black Holes & Revelations," taken from lyrics in "Starlight", 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."[14]
[edit] Album art
The album's artwork, designed by Storm Thorgerson[11] (The Men of Mystery on the album booklet), depicts a red landscape resembling the surface of Mars. Four men are seated around a table with three miniature horses on it.[15] 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 colors.[16]
[edit] Critical reaction
Black Holes & Revelations has been met with generally very positive reviews from the media, with Q describing it as "one of the year's best albums....brilliant but bonkers" and Planet Sound naming it their 'Album of the year 2006'.[17] Many critics also noted how the band have taken a more original, progressive style of rock music different from their Radiohead-esque debut Showbiz.[18] Pitchfork's Sam Ubl, however, gave the album a 4.2 rating, claiming that Muse, "always loveably lame...managed to take a turn for the lamer."[19] The album was placed third in the NME Albums of the Year list for 2006,[20] as well as being named Q's second best album of the year.[21] It also received a Mercury Prize nomination.
[edit] Track listing
All lyrics written by Matthew Bellamy and all music written by Matthew Bellamy, Dominic Howard and Chris Wolstenholme unless otherwise noted.
- "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 version and the iTunes Store pre-order version, the song was later added to a second release of the album on iTunes. It is listed as "Album Only" with a digital booklet, unique for the second release as well. The song was also released in the UK as the B-side to the 7" version of the Invincible single.
[edit] Tracks featured on limited edition DVDs
- "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)
[edit] Credits
- Matthew Bellamy - lead vocals, guitars, piano, synthesizers, production
- Chris Wolstenholme - backing vocals, bass guitar, some synthesizers on "Map of Problematique" and "Hoodoo", production
- Dominic Howard - drums, percussion, brief vocals on "Supermassive Black Hole", brief drum machine on "Map of Problematique", production
- Rich Costey - production
[edit] Single releases
[edit] Release details
| Title | Date released | Format(s) | Catalog | UK Singles Chart | U.S. Billboard Modern Rock Tracks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "Supermassive Black Hole" | June 19, 2006 (UK) April 23, 2007 (U.S.) |
7" CD DVD Digital Download |
HEL3001 HEL3001CD HEL3001DVD PR015888 |
#4 | #6 |
| "Starlight" | September 4, 2006 (UK) November 20, 2006 (U.S.) |
7" CD DVD Digital Download |
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 Digital Download |
PRO-101829 (U.S.) HEL3004 HEL3004CD HEL3004DVD |
#10 | #10 |
| "Invincible" | April 9, 2007 (UK) | 7" CD DVD Digital Download |
HEL3005 HEL3005CD HEL3005DVD |
#21 | |
| "Map of the Problematique" | June 18, 2007 (UK) | Digital Download | #18 | ||
| 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 |
[edit] Charts
| Chart (2006)[22] | Providers | Peak position |
Certification | Sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia Album Chart | ARIA | 1 | Gold | 40,000+ |
| Austria Album Chart | Media Control | 4 | ||
| Belgium Album Chart | Ultratop | 1 | ||
| Billboard 200 (U.S.) | Billboard | 9 | 360,000 | |
| Euro Top 200 | IFPI | 1 | Platinum | 1,200,000 |
| France Album Chart | IFPI | 2 | Platinum | 349,100 |
| Ireland Album Chart | IRMA | 1 | Platinum | 15,000 |
| Italian Album Chart | FIMI | 2 | Platinum | 150,000 |
| Finland Album Chart | GLF | 3 | ||
| Netherlands Album Chart | Megacharts | 2 | ||
| New Zealand Albums Chart | RIANZ | 5 | Platinum | 15,000+ |
| Norway Album Chart | IFPI | 6 | ||
| Sweden Album Chart | GLF | 15 | ||
| Switzerland Album Chart | Media Control | 1 | Platinum | 30,000+ |
| UK Album Chart | BPI | 1 | 2x Platinum | 645,000+ |
| United World Chart | Media Traffic | 1 | 2,413,000 | |
| Total | +7.5% Mediatraffic doesn't cover | Platinum | 3,075,975 |
| Preceded by Desert Lights by Something for Kate |
Australian ARIA Albums Chart number-one album July 17, 2006 |
Succeeded by Black Fingernails, Red Wine by Eskimo Joe |
[edit] References
- ^ The Official UK Charts Company: All the No. 1's - Black Holes and Revelations. The Official UK Charts Company. Retrieved on 2007-08-16.
- ^ The BPI - Certified Awards. BPI. Retrieved on 2007-08-16.
- ^ Dan Raper. Muse - Black Holes and Revelations. PopMatters. Retrieved on 2007-04-12.
- ^ Kate Moss? We briefly met once. Popworld. Retrieved on 2007-04-12.
- ^ a b Talia Soghomonian. Muse - Intergalacticists Stride Our World. musicomh. Retrieved on 2007-04-12.
- ^ a b HMV CD Editor. Black Holes and Revelations. HMV. Retrieved on 2007-04-13.
- ^ Michael Hubbard. Muse - Starlight (Warner). musicomh. Retrieved on 2007-04-13.
- ^ Ross Stewart. Black Holes and Revelations. HMV. Retrieved on 2007-04-13.
- ^ a b Mike Diver. Black Holes and Revelations. Drowned in Sound. Retrieved on 2007-04-13.
- ^ a b c Neil McCormick. Messages from Mars. Telegraph. Retrieved on 2007-04-13.
- ^ a b c d Jacqui Swift (June 23, 2006). Muse: Close encounters. The Sun. Retrieved on 2006-10-23.
- ^ James Hurley. Interview - Muse. MSN. Retrieved on 2007-04-16.
- ^ a b Michael Schmitt. Muse - Black Holes and Revelations. music emissions. Retrieved on 2007-04-16.
- ^ Mitchell, Ben (September 2006). "The Q Interview". Q (242): 56–60.
- ^ Mo. Muse - Black Holes and Revelations. Pixelsurgeon. Retrieved on 2006-07-28.
- ^ Anthony Thornton. Reviews: Albums - Muse: Black Holes & Revelations. NME. Retrieved on 2006-10-23.
- ^ "Black Holes and Revelations" (August 2006). Q (241): 106.
- ^ Andrew Perry. Muse, Black Holes and Revelations. Observer. Retrieved on 2007-04-18.
- ^ Sam Ubl. Black Holes and Revelations. Pitchfork. Retrieved on 2007-04-18.
- ^ NME Albums Of The Year 2006.. NME (2006). Retrieved on 2007-08-05.
- ^ "Q Magazine Albums Of The Year 2006" (2006) (January 2007 (246)). Q Magazine.
- ^ Muse: Black Holes and Revelations Muse - Black Holes and Revelations. aCharts. Retrieved on 2007-08-16.
[edit] External links
- Muse.mu - official website
- Black Holes and Revelations at Muse's official Myspace page.
- Black Holes and Revelations at Metacritic.
- Black Holes and Revelations at UKEvents.net
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