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

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  1. JohnnyZeckel
    Sep 24, 2011
    0
    This is incredibly bad, even for Muse. In this album, there is nothing that sounds like the band, everything sounds as if the songs had been taken from another band's record, and in particular from Queen's.
  2. Jai11elas
    Jun 29, 2012
    4
    Making one stuff over and over again may get you to mainstream but may not rise your music advances the least thing to be cared about was the concept of this album far more complex but still better than Nickelback
  3. JuanL
    Sep 24, 2009
    7
    It will be utterly enjoyed by fans, although it could be a bit offputting for those who have never tasted MUSE before.
  4. MarkB.
    Sep 30, 2009
    8
    Very different - some of it I like, a couple of songs I am yet to get, but Exogenesis has blown me away - truly beautiful.
  5. MattA.
    Sep 15, 2009
    7
    The Resistance is not going to be Muse's masterpiece. Is it a bad album? No. Their best? No. A drastic change of pace and tone? ...No. Well... sort of. 'The Resistance' sounds a lot like their previous stuff... mainly from Absolution and BH&R. However, this album makes me realize why i still like Muse. And i'll give you a hint... It's not for their originality. The Resistance is not going to be Muse's masterpiece. Is it a bad album? No. Their best? No. A drastic change of pace and tone? ...No. Well... sort of. 'The Resistance' sounds a lot like their previous stuff... mainly from Absolution and BH&R. However, this album makes me realize why i still like Muse. And i'll give you a hint... It's not for their originality. They seem to take the best parts of Radiohead, Queen, and Depeche Mode Respectively and mix them together. This one further takes the step into the Depeche Mode 'Violator'/Ultra phase. Fans of BH&R and mainly the people who came into them for their catchy pop lyrics may be a tad disappointed with the accessablitly of the album. It has a few golden tracks of metal guitar and beautiful Bellamy wailing... however if you're used to Starlight/Supermassive black hole...look else where. If you're like me and enjoyed songs like "Sing For Absolution", "Invincible" "Falling Away With You" and "Citizen Erased" each song on this CD has hints of those in it. Some tracks lose their edge do to Muse's weakness...The song writing. Lyrics are often the typical Muse-Fare of establishment/tyranny cannot prevail... and it often begins to lull the listener until a cool guitar riff awakens one. "The Resistance" will sit nicely in Muse's catalog, but will not make them remembered. 7.5/10 Key Tracks: Uprising, The Resistance, Unnatural Selection.… Expand
  6. KanW.
    Sep 15, 2009
    6
    Not Muse's best. Glimmers of Doctor Who and Queen, but why? Muse are talented enough not to rip off others. Maybe it will sound better in a live situation?
  7. TerryA.
    Sep 16, 2009
    6
    I am a huge MUSE fan and loved all of the last three albums...sure there were a few hits and misses on those..but this album is almost entirely full of misses. I have been waiting for this album to come out for some time and maybe expectations were too high. The lead single " Uprising" is a nice track and I like the feel of " Undisclosed Desires " , the rest of the album just flat out I am a huge MUSE fan and loved all of the last three albums...sure there were a few hits and misses on those..but this album is almost entirely full of misses. I have been waiting for this album to come out for some time and maybe expectations were too high. The lead single " Uprising" is a nice track and I like the feel of " Undisclosed Desires " , the rest of the album just flat out rips off Queen and I have absolutely no idea why?… Expand
  8. JonW
    Sep 18, 2009
    6
    So far dissapointed. On my third listen. There is some droll rubbish on here. Hope they'd cut back on the Keane tip (invincible on BHAR) but there are 3 songs like that. Only when the power chords and weird prog bars come out does it shine. The Concerto suite at the end is hugely ambitous and just about pulled off. I must say I miss the Citizens, Stockholms and TSP stuff that does So far dissapointed. On my third listen. There is some droll rubbish on here. Hope they'd cut back on the Keane tip (invincible on BHAR) but there are 3 songs like that. Only when the power chords and weird prog bars come out does it shine. The Concerto suite at the end is hugely ambitous and just about pulled off. I must say I miss the Citizens, Stockholms and TSP stuff that does not really feature. Still will keep plugging away and maybe like many great albums it will be a grower.… Expand
  9. Jason
    Sep 16, 2009
    8
    Mostly great (Uprising, The Resistance), occasionally brilliant (Exogenisis) but sometimes a bit shit (Guiding Light).
  10. MickUsher
    Sep 16, 2009
    8
    Steals from so many sources without much of an apology, yet works pretty well overall. Highlight for me was the middle of the album which sounded like a queen/floyd mashup a lot of the time. Still, in 2009, "Dark Side at the Races" is quite a welcome experience.
  11. BarryJ.
    Sep 16, 2009
    6
    A disappointment compared to previous efforts, Muse seem not to know what they want to be. Their attempts at new stylings don't really suceed, nor do their efforts at recapturing the sound and style of their early works. Really only 'Uprising' is worth a mention. Even the Exogenesis Symphony doesn;t really work: too pretentious and meandering for its own good. For every A disappointment compared to previous efforts, Muse seem not to know what they want to be. Their attempts at new stylings don't really suceed, nor do their efforts at recapturing the sound and style of their early works. Really only 'Uprising' is worth a mention. Even the Exogenesis Symphony doesn;t really work: too pretentious and meandering for its own good. For every song here (perhaps except Uprising), there's a better version of something similar on previous albums. I think Matt Bellamy has got a little lost as to where he wants to go and has made a pretentious, un-subtle, concept album that really doesn't say anything more than previous efforts - and says it less effectively.… Expand
  12. MichelleW.
    Sep 16, 2009
    9
    I'm giving it a solid 9.5 as I have listened to it all the way through non stop (yes, even while at work at my desk) since Monday night. You really cannot listen to a Muse CD once and make a decision. This album is amazing. The only reason it doesn't get a 10 is because of Guiding Light. That song rates an 8.
  13. TelmoH.
    Sep 17, 2009
    9
    Great Album, that seems clearly inspired in the 80's kind of music, and goes to show that Muse doesn't really have a Style, they do what they feel, and thats actually what life is all about... We live trough feelings... Thank you Muse for this great work.
  14. TomD.
    Sep 17, 2009
    8
    Muse continues to amuse and bewilder on their path toward being this generation's Queen.
  15. LiamS
    Sep 18, 2009
    7
    It's a shame Muse toned down their epic sound. i was looking for an album that would blow my mind, not bore me to shit. USOE and Uprising were good singles, and Guiding Light, Unnatural Selection and MK Ultra were decent songs, but they lacked that over-the-top sound i loved about Take a Bow, Blackout, Citizen erased etc. Most fans are going to be disappointed, and i fear that Muse It's a shame Muse toned down their epic sound. i was looking for an album that would blow my mind, not bore me to shit. USOE and Uprising were good singles, and Guiding Light, Unnatural Selection and MK Ultra were decent songs, but they lacked that over-the-top sound i loved about Take a Bow, Blackout, Citizen erased etc. Most fans are going to be disappointed, and i fear that Muse will start becoming a household name to twelve-year-old "anarchists".… Expand
  16. BobB
    Sep 21, 2009
    10
    This album is absolutely epic. Their best one yet.
  17. JuliaA.
    Sep 29, 2009
    8
    They stepped out of the usual blueprints a bit, and seemed to be a bit baffled to the new reach...but it looks like they do have some fun in this record.a bit cheesy and grandeur at the same time, I see no reason to dislike it...I LOVE IT! ...though I think if the Mon Coeur part wasn't included,it would do better for the song.
  18. EliseE.
    Nov 21, 2009
    10
    This album (The Resistance) is the best I have ever heard. Beating out the best of the best albums done so far. I just hope Muse (namely Matt Bellamy) creates more and more and more because it has helped me through some trying times in my life.
  19. txrangersfan72
    Dec 29, 2010
    10
    The best album of 2009. The best concert I attended in 2010. I've been listening to Muse since 2003 when Absolution came out and they were a featured artist on Yahoo Music. I was blown away by them with songs like "Stockholm Syndrome" and "Time is Running Out." I am a sucker for magnificent, multi-layered, orchestral and ambient production. Muse has perfected it. And while they wroteThe best album of 2009. The best concert I attended in 2010. I've been listening to Muse since 2003 when Absolution came out and they were a featured artist on Yahoo Music. I was blown away by them with songs like "Stockholm Syndrome" and "Time is Running Out." I am a sucker for magnificent, multi-layered, orchestral and ambient production. Muse has perfected it. And while they wrote great songs a decade ago, they are one of the rarest breeds who continue to grow and improve their near perfection every time they record something new. The Resistance opens with a relatively weak song for Muse with a repetitive, mundane beat in "Uprising," which made me concerned about this CD. Until I heard it...Within the construct of the entire album, every song melts into the next with perfect segueing. By the time I'm listening to "Undisclosed Desires," I am completely hooked. Their heavy Queen influence on "United States of Eurasia" is undeniable. From there, their symphonic brilliance carries throughout the rest of the album. Musical perfection.… Expand
  20. Vampire25
    Dec 4, 2010
    8
    The Resistance is different sounding from Muse's predecessor's Black Holes And Revelations and Absolution. They somewhat slowed down on the rock and went for more the singing. Matt Bellamy's voice has definitely matured form their previous album. A few great tracks are Mk Ultra, Uprising, Unnatural Selection, and the beautiful 3-part symphony Exogenesis. All In All, The Resistance showsThe Resistance is different sounding from Muse's predecessor's Black Holes And Revelations and Absolution. They somewhat slowed down on the rock and went for more the singing. Matt Bellamy's voice has definitely matured form their previous album. A few great tracks are Mk Ultra, Uprising, Unnatural Selection, and the beautiful 3-part symphony Exogenesis. All In All, The Resistance shows another side of Muse that sounds really good. B… Expand
  21. coldplaz
    Feb 13, 2011
    8
    worst muse album, but still good
    1st half is amazing uprising, resistance, undisclosed desires, but second half is not so good the only really good song is unnatural selection and exogenesis symphony was big disappointment
  22. holden
    Feb 19, 2011
    10
    Some of the critics who reviewed this album seem to fit into the group of people who think that Muse is trying to be like Radiohead and instantly dislike them for it even though they aren't trying to be like Radiohead because neither band sounds anything alike and both are amazing for their own reasons. This album is incredible; the three part symphony at the end completely blew me away.Some of the critics who reviewed this album seem to fit into the group of people who think that Muse is trying to be like Radiohead and instantly dislike them for it even though they aren't trying to be like Radiohead because neither band sounds anything alike and both are amazing for their own reasons. This album is incredible; the three part symphony at the end completely blew me away. Keep doing what you're doing Muse, obviously you must be doing something right since you just won the Grammy for best rock album, despite Rolling Stone asking "what is the point of Muse?" Yea, you can **** off Rolling Stone.… Expand
  23. owenrw89
    Dec 7, 2016
    6
    The first time we saw Muse stumble. The main issue I have is the length. Exogenesis - as gorgeous as it may be, takes up too much space. It leaves you with just 8 tracks - two of which are a bit bland ('I Belong to You', 'United States of Eurasia'). The remaining tracks - such as 'Uprising' and 'MK Ultra' are very good yes, but do they match the likes of 'Starlight', 'Plug In Baby', 'MicroThe first time we saw Muse stumble. The main issue I have is the length. Exogenesis - as gorgeous as it may be, takes up too much space. It leaves you with just 8 tracks - two of which are a bit bland ('I Belong to You', 'United States of Eurasia'). The remaining tracks - such as 'Uprising' and 'MK Ultra' are very good yes, but do they match the likes of 'Starlight', 'Plug In Baby', 'Micro Cuts' or 'Map of the Problematique'? The answer sadly, is no.… Expand
  24. ZPedro
    Jul 27, 2011
    8
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Great work. Muse delivers an album full of great songs. The main theme throughout the album is love (maybe Uprising as the exception) but it's not soapy. The music is beautiful and proves the excellent technical level that Muse members reached. Now on, they can do almost anything!… Expand
  25. arov59
    May 6, 2011
    5
    No, just no. This is not as good as the sounds of Origin of Symmetry, SHowbiz and Absolution... for me this is the second album in a musical depression.
  26. Adalonus
    May 31, 2011
    9
    The more I listen, the more I love it. Uprising, Resistance, and Undisclosed Desires are what get you hooked, but I enjoy the whole CD rather than just the 3 singles.
  27. alexwrands
    May 31, 2011
    8
    Questions have been raised over whether Muse had become too predictable. This album proved them wrong. There was the traditional rock sound, with graceful, piano fueled scores and a three piece symphony to finish. A very good album
  28. j30
    Jan 30, 2012
    6
    Muse, being one of the best bands on the planet, have a let down with their new LP The Resistance. With Black Holes & Revelations there was some sort of progression and variety in those catalog of songs. Where The Resistance fails is it's power in creating something new and different; it is more "been there, done that."
  29. CRL
    Aug 27, 2011
    9
    With every subsequent listen this album just amazes me more and more. It starts out with two songs that, while not quite 'mainstream rock', have the usual rock and roll style. Undisclosed Desires is my surprise favorite, with a really jolting guitar rhythm that becomes almost addictive after a while. After that is strays almost into neo-classical territory with United States of EurasiaWith every subsequent listen this album just amazes me more and more. It starts out with two songs that, while not quite 'mainstream rock', have the usual rock and roll style. Undisclosed Desires is my surprise favorite, with a really jolting guitar rhythm that becomes almost addictive after a while. After that is strays almost into neo-classical territory with United States of Eurasia / Collateral Damage and I Belong to You, while also continuing with the progressive rock in Guiding Light and Unnatural Selection. Then it finishes with a literal bang with the massively ambitious Exogenesis Symphony, that could have, in the wrong hands, been unmeasurably awful. However Muse does it just right, and makes The Resistance an album that cannot be missed.… Expand
  30. Spielberg00
    Sep 10, 2011
    8
    This is very hard work Muse has done for their audience. What a great band, but listening to stuff like this, we start to wonder why rock is so underrated and why everyone goes and listens to stuff like pop and hip-hop.
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Awards & Rankings

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

Critic Reviews

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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.
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  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.
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  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.
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