Sell Out Muse

Are they selling out? Or simply diversifying?

A Lot of buzz has been going around lately about the new Muse album, "Resistance". The previews are out on iTunes, and criticisms are mixed.

I have friends who say that Muse has become all "Pop", and others whom defend the Pop Genre that insist Muse may simply be broadening their musical style.

So lets take a deeper look at the situation.

This one takes some real research now. I think it would be very difficult to put a very strong definition to what a "Sell-Out" really is, but after countless minutes of searching, this is the best definition that I believe exists.

The Three Museketeers! Sorry that was terrible.

This separates Artists into 2 groups of people. There is:

• 1) The Group That was once awesome, but sacrificed their integrity for $$$.
• 2) The Group who never had any integrity to begin with.

The one thing we can accurately argue, is whether or not switching to Pop makes you a Sell-out. So lets take a look at the definition of Pop.

In my opinion (And many other peoples), "Pop" is short for Popular.

Pop Music has all the hooks and catchy riffs that are required to bring in a buying audience (Often a stupid one).

Pop doesn't often use unique instruments, or playing styles, because originality scares the everyday listener.

Right off the bat, I can tell you that 90% of Pop Artists are in it for the money.

That is your #1 sign that Pop is directly related to selling out.

Of course, it isn't these 90% that are sell-outs. I mean, how are they selling out if they never had any integrity to sacrifice in the first place?

Album Cover for the New Muse Album, "The Resistance"

But I can tell you, if they ever did have integrity, they would be sell-outs.

Which brings us to the other 10% (Muse, and bands who used to be original, but switched to Pop).

Go back and listen to the Albums "Origin Of Symmetry" and "Absolution". Now go and take a listen to the new Muse Single "Uprising".

Muse is a band whom once had a large amount of integrity. Many Pop Artists aren't sell-outs, because they never had a large amount of integrity to begin with.

So if Muse once had integrity, and are now going into the Pop Genre...

We can only really tell when the album is released, but in my opinion, Muse is going on the downward spiral of many successful bands before them.

Selling-out.

If you haven't done so already:

(That's A Clue!)

-Andrew Muller, Editor (Friday, August 21st, 2009.)

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