Music Monday: This small band called Muse.

A long time ago I wanted to start posting regularly about music. I wrote one music related post and, for one reason or another, never returned to the topic. Music is probably a bigger part of my life than books are and to know me is to know that I am obsessed with music. So, I thought why not share this piece of me and just maybe you may have the same music interests as I do or I may introduce you to someone who you really never knew.

This week’s Music Monday spotlights this small band called Muse (that’s said with sarcasm by the way;) ).

I’ve been a fan of theirs for a long time but really didn’t become a “Muser” until I saw them in concert. I’ve been to a lot of shows, hundreds. I’ve seen a wide range of shows from Madonna to Miley Cyrus to Marilyn Manson. I had high expectations going to see Muse for the first time. Friends and family had told me they were one of the best shows they had ever seen. “Blown away,” “Nothing like them,” “The best I’ve ever seen,” were just some of the comments people had made about seeing Muse live.

I remember walking out of the first Muse show I had attended. I was speechless, literally. I walked to the car in silence not knowing how to put into words what I was feeling about the band I just saw. I’d never seen anything like them and they were absolutely brilliant. They are a band that must be experienced live and, if possible, up close and in the front.

They are a band can have a one song extremely political and then the next in queue is a love song. Matt Bellamy is not only a brilliant songwriter, he’s also a gifted musician. Many are have been introduced to them through the Twilight Saga as Muse was (and as far as I know still is) one of Stephenie Meyers favorite bands. There have been a few Muse songs making appearances on the Twilight soundtracks. She’s credited the band as being a “muse” for her. Plus, is it a coincidence when Edwards tells Bella she’ll be the death of him and one of the lyrics to Time Is Running Out is “you’ll be the death of me?”

My fascination with Muse isn’t Twilight related but I know it’s how a lot of their fans came to like them. They’re one of my favorites. I thought I would share a few of my favorite songs with you and not the typical ones you’d most likely be familiar with.

 

 

 

 

I hope you enjoy!

Happy Listening xoxo

*all photos taken by me during the Drone US Tour 2015/16

 

Music Monday

As much as I am a book addict, I am a complete music whore. My obsession with music goes well beyond my addiction to reading and books; often it is viewed as almost an unhealthy obsession. I thought I would start a weekly post about music. Sometimes these posts will go hand in hand with reading. But, other times, the posts will be about music in general: new releases, bands I love, etc…

This week I thought I would start with a post about the music I often have as a companion to my reading. I have a lot of trouble reading to music. It’s too much of a distraction because I pay such close attention to the lyrics. But, if I choose to have any music on in the background, I usually listen to one band in particular… Explosions In The Sky.

They were introduced to me indirectly through a friend who had renewed my excitement with Nine Inch Nails. It had been ages since I had seen NIN in concert. Regrettably, I missed out on what Trent Renzor had labeled as the “Goodbye Tour.” I was thankful I was there in the beginning; a small club in 1990 during Pretty Hate Machine, the first unofficial NINJA Tour where NIN opened for Jane’s Addiction. I saw him again but not until the “actual” NINJA Tour in 2009.

Fast forward to 2013 and the Tension Tour… opening act Explosions In The Sky. They are an American post rock band from Texas, completely underrated, brilliant and beautiful. NIN are the night. They are the day.

They’ve become very personal to me. I cherish them for the comfort they provide me when I cannot sleep and the emotional connection I’ve made with them. They are one of two bands I turn to when insomnia is knocking at my door and am in need of a soothing lullaby. They’re a warm blanket I love to wrap myself in. I listen to them when I’m writing because their music doesn’t intruded upon my writing process and muddy my thoughts.

One of my favorite movies is Friday Night Lights. I have this thing for American high school football movies. Unbeknownst to me, it wasn’t until I had fallen in love with EITS and was watching Friday Night Lights that I realized they had provided the soundtrack. WHAT!?! And, it is a perfect marriage of film and soundtrack.

Music such as theirs is most likely overlooked because of the absence of a singer and lyrics. But, there is so much depth to their songs, so much emotion. I’m thankful that I was lucky enough to be introduced to them. I had joked the other day that opening acts should be banned. But, had Trent not picked EITS for his opening act, I would have never discovered and fallen in love with them. I hope you will give them a chance and fall in love with them too.