Drones
by Muse
Metascore
63

Generally favorable reviews - based on 25 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 25
  2. Mixed: 13 out of 25
  3. Negative: 3 out of 25
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  1. Billboard.com
    Jun 12, 2015
    60
    Muse is one of the world's biggest rock bands, but for all its missionary zeal, Drones preaches to the converted.
  2. Clash Music
    Jun 12, 2015
    60
    The album is littered with so many clunky lines and cliched conspiracy talk it almost becomes laughable, but the main problem is with the narrative itself which makes next to no sense at all.... Luckily, a good sizeable chunk of this album is good enough to stand alone, stripped of the high-minded concepts.
  3. The Observer (UK)
    Jun 8, 2015
    60
    Bellamy’s lyrics can be trite (“Yeah I’m free/From society,” declares The Defector) and the longer the album goes on, the more confusing the plotline becomes.
  5. Classic Rock Magazine
    Jun 4, 2015
    60
    Great in parts, but flat and clumsy in others, Bellamy’s bid to become more serious appears to have stunted what he does best, which is operatic excess fuelled by volcanic emotion.
  6. The Guardian
    Jun 4, 2015
    60
    It’s the heaviest the band has sounded in some time, and exuberant enough for you to ignore Bellamy’s clunky lyrics. But Drones veers badly off target in its final third.
  7. Paste Magazine
    Jun 9, 2015
    58
    In spite of its melodic clarity, Drones ultimately succumbs under the weight of its narrative, which strains for political and social commentary but winds up closer to parody.
  8. PopMatters
    Jun 9, 2015
    50
    For now, Drones can be chalked up as one step forward, one step back for this British trio.
  9. Spin
    Jun 9, 2015
    50
    It’s a record full of fits and starts, baffling successes and giggly failures.
  10. Consequence
    Jun 8, 2015
    50
    Drones stumbles when it strays from Muse’s self-created universe and tries to be topical; it’s like watching Superman stuck in the guise of a floundering (albeit well-intentioned) Clark Kent.
  11. Entertainment Weekly
    Jun 8, 2015
    50
    There are snatches of salvation, but every time Drones aims for dystopian profundity, it hits Styx-level goofiness. [12 Jun 2015, p.74]
  12. Pitchfork
    Jun 9, 2015
    45
    Whatever pleasure can be generated from Bellamy’s admirable melodic sense and overblown hooks is negated by Muse’s insistence that they’re profound rather than fun.
  13. Mojo
    Jul 6, 2015
    40
    This feels like production line Muse: big riffs, bass squelches, conspiratorial dialogue, but few new ideas. [Aug 2015, p.88]
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  14. Drowned In Sound
    Jun 9, 2015
    40
    Accomplished yet instantly forgettable--a most fitting curtain call for such a confused endeavour.

Awards & Rankings

20
#20 Most Discussed Album of 2015
44
#44 Most Shared Album of 2015

User Reviews

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User Score
7.3

Generally favorable reviews- based on 373 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 261 out of 373
  2. Mixed: 72 out of 373
  3. Negative: 40 out of 373
  1. bgrass13
    Jun 9, 2015
    10
    The more I listen to it (10+ times), the more I find this to be a very satisfying record. Very heavy alt-rock-prog effort with a compellingThe more I listen to it (10+ times), the more I find this to be a very satisfying record. Very heavy alt-rock-prog effort with a compelling storyline that flows from song to song. Bellamy's guitar sounds crisp, crunchy and prominent where it should be; the rhythm section is thunderous and spot on. Vocally, Bellamy is untouchable - rock's best falsetto. The band are one of the top rock bands out there these days and this record is a welcome addition to their canon. Highly recommended by these old ears. (60+)
    These are MY opinions and should be treated as such.    … Full Review »
  2. Intonarumori
    Jun 9, 2015
    9
    Muse's seventh offering sounds like they are revisiting their past and offering a bit of everything for everyone. Usually this results inMuse's seventh offering sounds like they are revisiting their past and offering a bit of everything for everyone. Usually this results in discombobulated albums that never really reach their goal, but this is not one of those. Most songs are very much to the point and they sound good in unison. This is achieved by a very deliberate focus on the guitar sound and the producer really did a good job there. Drones sounds vibrant, fresh and the songwriting is about as good as Muse has ever been (except for the lyrics).

    Not everything is great though. The album starts of with a series of great songs, but it kind of fizzles towards the end with a couple of somewhat uninteresting songs that also feel seriously underpowered compared to the rest of the album (not counting the de facto outro song). Second point: the lyrics. While these childish lyrics seem to kind of work, it tends to give every song a rather silly undertone, which I think is unfortunate.

    Muse has done a great job here, giving us a good set of new songs that work well as an album.

    Highlights for me: The Handler, Reapers, Mercy    … Full Review »
  3. frodob18
    Jun 10, 2015
    9
    A brilliant album! You may have to listen to it a few times to start liking it more. I like almost every song on the album. The Globalist isA brilliant album! You may have to listen to it a few times to start liking it more. I like almost every song on the album. The Globalist is probably my favorite song on it(funny that I hated it at first listen, but after listening to it a few times, I started liking it and understanding it better). I like the way Matt handles the story and warns us that power can be destructive in wrong hands and what it can do in The Globalist. Well, at least that's what my interpretation is. Anyway, I truly like this album and am very satisfied with it.… Full Review »
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