The Resistance
by Muse
User Score
8.1

Universal acclaim- based on 500 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 412 out of 500
  2. Mixed: 50 out of 500
  3. Negative: 38 out of 500

Review this album

  1. Your Score
    0 out of 10
    Rate this:
    • 10
    • 9
    • 8
    • 7
    • 6
    • 5
    • 4
    • 3
    • 2
    • 1
    • 0
    • 0
  1. Submit
  2. Check Spelling
view
per page
  1. MikeC
    Sep 18, 2009
    10
    Some of the best music they've done to date.
  2. TomS
    Sep 18, 2009
    2
    Pure songwriting masked behind pompousness. And blatant rip off of their back catalogue.
  3. JesseS
    Sep 18, 2009
    10
    Genius, genius, genius.
  4. WimL
    Sep 19, 2009
    9
    Very good again, can imagine that they will be even more impressive in a live performance.
  5. JordanA
    Sep 19, 2009
    10
    Best album by Muse so far. Dare i say it best rock album of 2009!!!
  6. JoshH
    Sep 20, 2009
    9
    A stunning album from Muse. Its one of those rare albums where you don't dislike any of the songs on the CD. Amazing lyrics are used, and the whole album is just full of great tunes, that give you that 'shiver down your spin' feel everytime you listen. My candidate for the album of the year.
  7. Mljac
    Sep 21, 2009
    10
    Fabulous fusion of music; from debussy to punk all-in-one
  8. MaxJ
    Sep 23, 2009
    10
    Spectacularly silly, yet in making it so Muse have created what I personally think is one of the best albums of the year.
  9. AlexL
    Sep 23, 2009
    4
    Even the high points on this album would feel like filler on their previous records. It's a shame because I went into this really wanting to love it. I was much more comfortable with their rockier roots; this is just overproduced, pop fluff unfortunately.
  10. ZacaríasY.
    Sep 25, 2009
    0
    Probably, Matt Bellamy thinks it: They're the new kings of progressive rock of the 2000s but this is so crap, they hurt a great Chopin's musician composition and in this ¿Symphonies? are a big fake (its a mediocre copy of some Mono's song), and a terrible copy of Queen, mixed with marylin manson, queens of the stone age (check Uprising) and call us ART ROCK, come on Probably, Matt Bellamy thinks it: They're the new kings of progressive rock of the 2000s but this is so crap, they hurt a great Chopin's musician composition and in this ¿Symphonies? are a big fake (its a mediocre copy of some Mono's song), and a terrible copy of Queen, mixed with marylin manson, queens of the stone age (check Uprising) and call us ART ROCK, come on people! Dungen, Sigur Rós is truly art rock, this is crap, this album sucks.… Expand
  11. AbeH.
    Sep 25, 2009
    9
    A near perfect album. For myself it does everything so wonderfully that the disappointing moments pass by without hardly being noticed.
  12. TobyK
    Sep 27, 2009
    10
    Astoundingly creative, intelligent, subtle and in-your-face where needed. taking inspiration from the early muse albums such as Origin of Symmetry, Queen and Bach, this albums created for me a unique and extremely entertaining listening experience.
  13. JhoraZ.
    Nov 1, 2009
    10
    Its magical music. Can't stop listening. United States of Eurasia and Exogenesys Symphony RULEZZZZ.
  14. JesseS.
    Nov 26, 2009
    10
    Remarkable. Resistance is...futile. It's iIn the Lap of the Gods! Oh; am I alluding to Queen? How dare they pay homage to Queen, you say? Blast you! Amazing that they're the only band on earth capable of sounding remotely like Queen, you say? Bless you! But they're not of THIS earth.
  15. MattK
    Nov 26, 2009
    10
    The new album my Muse is an instant classic in my book. I find myself wondering if The Resistance is my favorite album of all time, which is not an easy task. I suggest all to listen to it and keep an open mind. The Exogenesis Symphony at the end of the album is one of the best pieces of music I have ever heard as well.
  16. WillB.
    Nov 3, 2009
    3
    I was really disappointed by this album, because I wanted to hear Muse. All I got was a compilation of some very obvious influences; namely, Queen.
  17. ALee
    Dec 18, 2009
    8
    Excellent Album. The Resistance is a very different album compared to prior albums, it taps into different genres in general and a little less the simple Rock style from the previous. Muse fans that loved the prior sound may not embrace this as favorably. This album is has a bit of orchestra / broadway / musical style tracks which include; Resistance, United States of Eurasia, Guiding Excellent Album. The Resistance is a very different album compared to prior albums, it taps into different genres in general and a little less the simple Rock style from the previous. Muse fans that loved the prior sound may not embrace this as favorably. This album is has a bit of orchestra / broadway / musical style tracks which include; Resistance, United States of Eurasia, Guiding Light, and the Exogenesis tracks are filled with beautiful vocals from Matthew Bellamy which I found entracing. Worth a good listen, but don't expect this to be a ROCK album.… Expand
  18. [Anonymous]
    Dec 31, 2009
    10
    I think that most of the reason people who rate this album low do so is because they expected something different. To be fair, I wouldn't say that The Resistance is a rock album, although Muse is a rock band. While songs like Uprising, MK Ultra, and Unnatural Selection are rock songs, the other songs are blends of genres with rock, sometimes with only a hint of rock. That being said, I think that most of the reason people who rate this album low do so is because they expected something different. To be fair, I wouldn't say that The Resistance is a rock album, although Muse is a rock band. While songs like Uprising, MK Ultra, and Unnatural Selection are rock songs, the other songs are blends of genres with rock, sometimes with only a hint of rock. That being said, this album is amazing and is proof of Muse's versatility, musicality, and creativity. It's also a very well sequenced album with a story: while each song has its own story to tell, they also are pieces that form a meta-story. While it might not be my favorite Muse album, I think it is probably the best made album. I think the biggest weakness of the album is that it feels incomplete without every element, i.e. it almost needs to be listened to exclusively in entirety. It's not really a single heavy album. This is especially evident in the last three songs, the Exogensis Symphony. Listening to any of those songs without the other parts isn't really enjoyable. The Resistance is an awesome album, just as Muse is an awesome band. Listen to the entire album without expectations and you'll leave it satisfied.… Expand
  19. MrM
    Sep 15, 2009
    10
    The exogenesis symphony is the most ambitious thing Bellamy has ever attempted and it turned out very well. Clearly a solid collection of songs from the get go. Time will only tell how they stack up to Muse's back catalogue.
  20. TonyT
    Sep 15, 2009
    9
    While there are some weakpoints on the album, mainly guiding light, this album is very solid with favorites being resistance, I belong to you, and exogenesis. It is a small movement away from the guitar with more focus on vocals (which are outstanding). Exogenesis is powerful.
  21. MikeD
    Sep 15, 2009
    10
    I love this album. Even though it may not be quite as good as Muse's magnum opus "Origin of Symmetry," it is definitely up there if not for Exogenesis alone.
  22. SteveT
    Sep 15, 2009
    10
    A really really solid album. Focused work, good all the way through, and exogenesis is really fantastic.
  23. FletchO
    Sep 15, 2009
    10
    Album of the year by far! Muse take everything great about them (guitars, piano, harmony vocals,) and up it all by a factor of a million, whilst dumping all their muse-isms that made some of their tracks sound samey. This is the album where Muse find their voice. and boy is it a voice!
  24. TannerC
    Sep 15, 2009
    4
    Muses worst album to date. Exogenesis is amazing though.
  25. GeriW
    Sep 15, 2009
    10
    It's epic. Especially the Exogenesis Symphony.
  26. SeanN
    Sep 15, 2009
    10
    A masterpiece.
  27. NickB
    Sep 15, 2009
    10
    Arguably the best alternative album of the past 5 years, maybe longer.
  28. MattC.
    Sep 15, 2009
    10
    Muse's fifth studio album is without doubt thier most ambitious one yet, as it borrows from themes and styles ranging from early romantic symphonies, to Queen, and even R&B. All the while, Muse maintains thier distinctive flavor in order to create nothing short of a masterpiece. Praiseworthy songs include: Mk Ultra, Resistance,Unnatural Selection, and Exogenesis.
  29. DanH
    Sep 15, 2009
    9
    They seem to be having fun with the R&B/Pop songs. The rest is brilliant.
  30. TristanB
    Sep 15, 2009
    10
    Simply amazing. Muse shows that they can grow and retain their old form at the same time. The Symphony and Unnatural Selection are the standouts from the album.
Page:

Awards & Rankings

4
#4 Most Discussed Album of 2009
34
#34 Most Shared Album of 2009

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
72

Generally favorable reviews - based on 23 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 15 out of 23
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 23
  3. Negative: 1 out of 23
  1. AllMusic
    80
    "Black Holes and Revelations" may be a more commercial record, but The Resistance is Muse's most realized effort to date.
    Read full review
  2. Drowned In Sound
    70
    As it stands it’s an indulgent and, at times, gorgeous listen that merely helps restate your concrete opinions about Muse.
    Read full review
  3. New Musical Express (NME)
    60
    While not their best, it’s decent enough to ensure there’ll be more-- even though the truly off-the-wall moments are either rare or misguided, meaning the record feels slightly anonymous.
    Read full review
See all critic reviews »