Black Holes and Revelations
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| Black Holes and Revelations | ||
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| Studio album by Muse | ||
| Released | 3 July 2006 | |
| Genre | Alternative rock Progressive rock |
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| Length | 45:28 50:06 (with bonus track) |
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| Label | Helium 3, Warner Bros. | |
| Producer(s) | Rich Costey | |
| Professional reviews | ||
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| Muse chronology | ||
| Absolution (2003) |
Black Holes and Revelations (2006) |
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Black Holes and Revelations is the fourth studio album by English rock band Muse, released in July 2006. The album sold 115,144 in its first week in the UK, which is more than the first week sales of Muse's previous album, Absolution (71,597). Black Holes and Revelations has sold over 2 million copies worldwide, as of January 2007. It was rated #2 in Q Magazine's top albums of the year.
Contents |
[edit] Album information
The name "Black Holes and Revelations" is explained by frontman Matthew Bellamy in his September 2006 interview for Q Magazine: "Black holes and revelations -- they're the two areas of songwriting for me that make up the majority of this album. A revelation about yourself, something personal, something genuine of an everyday nature that maybe people can relate to. Then the black holes are these songs that are from the more... unknown regions of the imagination."[1] The album's title is also cited in the lyrics of the second track and single "Starlight."
The art work, designed by Storm Thorgerson, depicts a red landscape, like that of the surface of Mars, with four men seated around a table with three miniature horses on it.[2] Faintly in the sky behind the figures, one can see the planet Earth and its moon. The setting is thought to signify Cydonia, and the connection with horses a reference to knights, explaining the title of "Knights of Cydonia."[3] The knights are also believed to represent the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, from the Book of Revelation in the New Testament of the Bible, with their horses of four different colours.[4][5] The inner art features a photograph of declassified MKULTRA documents.
[edit] Track listing
All songs written by Matthew Bellamy, Dominic Howard and Chris Wolstenholme.
- "Take a Bow" – 4:35
- "Starlight" – 3:59
- "Supermassive Black Hole" – 3:29
- "Map of the Problematiqué" – 4:18
- "Soldier’s Poem" – 2:03
- "Invincible" – 5:00
- "Assassin" – 3:31
- "Exo-Politics" – 3:53
- "City of Delusion" – 4:48
- "Hoodoo" – 3:43
- "Knights of Cydonia" – 6:06
- "Glorious" (bonus track) – 4:38
- Originally released only on the Japanese and iTunes Store pre-order versions, the song has been added to a second release of the album on iTunes. It is listed as "Album Only" alongside a digital booklet, unique for the second release as well. The song will be released in the UK as the B-side to the 7" version of the Invincible single.
[edit] US limited edition DVD
- Absolution Tour Live DVD
[edit] Japanese limited DVD
- Summer Sonic footage
- Reading Festival 2006 footage
- "Supermassive Black Hole" (video)
- "Starlight" (video)
- "Knights of Cydonia" (video)
- The Making of Supermassive Black Hole
[edit] Asian Tour edition bonus DVD
- "Supermassive Black Hole" (video)
- "Starlight" (video)
- "Knights of Cydonia" (video)
- "Supermassive Black Hole" (Live from Paris)
- "Starlight" (Live from Copenhagen @ MTV Awards)
- "Knights of Cydonia" (Live from London)
[edit] Single releases
| Title | Date released | Format(s) | Catalog | UK Singles Chart | U.S. Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "Supermassive Black Hole" | June 19, 2006 (UK) | 7" CD DVD |
HEL3001 HEL3001CD HEL3001DVD PR015888 |
#4 | |
| "Starlight" | September 4, 2006 (UK) November 20, 2006 (U.S.) |
7" CD DVD |
HEL3003 HEL3003CD HEL3003DVD |
#13 | #2 |
| "Knights of Cydonia" | June 13, 2006 (U.S.) November 27, 2006 (UK) |
Radio/CD-R (U.S.) 7" CD DVD |
PRO-101829 (U.S.) HEL3004 HEL3004CD HEL3004DVD |
#10 | #10 |
| "Invincible" | April 9, 2007 (UK) | 7" CD DVD |
HEL3005 HEL3005CD HEL3005DVD |
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| "Map of the Problematique" | June 18, 2007 (Unknown) |
[edit] Release details
| Country | Date | Label | Format | Catalog |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Japan | 28 June 2006 | Warner Music Japan | digipak (bonus track) | WPCR-12306 |
| CD | WPCR-12307 | |||
| 21 February 2007 | CD / DVD re-release | WPZR-30194 | ||
| United Kingdom | 3 July 2006 | Helium 3, Warner Bros. | CD | HEL3002CD / 2562635495 |
| digipak | HEL3002CDX / 2564635092 | |||
| Australia | 7 July 2006 | Warner Music Australia | CD | 2564635095 |
| 10 February 2007 | CD / DVD re-release | 5101197352 | ||
| United States | 11 July 2006 | Warner Bros. Records | CD | 0 9362-44284-2 8 |
| CD / DVD | 0 9362-44350-2 0 | |||
| Taiwan | 4 July 2006 | Warner Bros. Records | CD | 2564635092 |
| 13 February 2007 | CD / DVD re-release | 5051011973529 |
[edit] Charts
| Chart (2006) | Providers | Peak position |
Certification | Sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia Album Chart | ARIA | 1 | Gold | 35,000+ |
| Billboard 200 (U.S.) | Billboard | 9 | 287,593 | |
| Euro Top 200 | IFPI | 1 | Platinum | 1,000,000 |
| UK Album Chart | BPI | 1 | 2x Platinum | 545,000+ |
| United World Chart | Media Traffic | 1 | 1.862.000+ | |
| Total | +7.5% Mediatraffic doesn't cover | Platinum | 2.001.650+ |
[edit] References
- ^ Mitchell, Ben (September 2006). "The Q Interview". Q (242): 56-60.
- ^ Mo. Muse - Black Holes and Revelations. Pixelsurgeon. Retrieved on 2006-07-28.
- ^ Jacqui Swift (June 23, 2006). Muse: Close encounters. The Sun. Retrieved on 2006-10-23.
- ^ Anthony Thornton. Reviews: Albums - Muse: Black Holes & Revelations. NME. Retrieved on 2006-10-23.
- ^ Roman Gokhman (September 29, 2006). There's no conspiracy theory behind Muse's success. Inside Bay Area. Retrieved on 2006-10-23.
[edit] External links
- Muse.mu - official website
- Black Holes and Revelations at Metacritic.
- July 2006 Interview for the release of Black Holes and Revelations
| Muse |
|---|
| Dominic Howard | Matthew Bellamy | Chris Wolstenholme |
| Discography |
| Studio albums: Showbiz | Origin of Symmetry | Absolution | Black Holes and Revelations |
| Compilations: Hullabaloo Soundtrack |
| Live DVDs: Hullabaloo Soundtrack | Absolution Tour |
| Extended plays: This Is A Muse Demo | Muse | Muscle Museum EP | Random 1-8 (Japan only) | Dead Star/In Your World (Japan & France only) |
| Singles: Uno | Cave | Muscle Museum | Sunburn | Unintended | Plug In Baby | New Born | Bliss | Hyper Music/Feeling Good | Dead Star/In Your World | Stockholm Syndrome | Time Is Running Out | Hysteria | Sing for Absolution | Apocalypse Please | Butterflies and Hurricanes | Supermassive Black Hole | Starlight | Knights of Cydonia | Invincible |
| Production |
| John Leckie | Rich Costey | Paul Reeve |
