Origin of Symmetry

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Origin of Symmetry
Origin of Symmetry cover
Studio album by Muse
Released June 17, 2001 (UK, AU)
September 20, 2005 (USA)
Recorded 2001
Genre Alternative rock
Progressive rock
Length 51:42
Label Mushroom
Producer John Leckie, David Bottrill, Muse
Professional reviews
Muse chronology
Showbiz
(1999)		 Origin of Symmetry
(2001)		 Hullabaloo Soundtrack
(2002)
Singles from Origin of Symmetry
  1. "Plug In Baby"
    Released: 5 March 2001
  2. "New Born"
    Released: 5 June 2001
  3. "Bliss"
    Released: 20 August 2001
  4. "Hyper Music/Feeling Good"
    Released: 19 November 2001

Origin of Symmetry is English rock band Muse's second album, released in June 2001 on Mushroom Records in the UK and Australia, and in September 2005 in the United States. "Plug In Baby", "New Born", "Bliss", "Feeling Good" and "Hyper Music" were the singles from this album; the latter two were released together as a double-A-side.

The name for the album comes from a concept put forward by Michio Kaku in his book Hyperspace; frontman Matthew Bellamy is known to have an avid interest in Space and theoretical physics.

A further double-A-side ("Dead Star" / "In Your World") was released closely following this album, to promote the band's next 2CD/2DVD release Hullabaloo.

In 2006, Q readers voted it at #74 on their 100 Greatest Albums Ever.

The album has gone gold in the UK since its release, with sales over 100,000. It has also sold over 1.5 million worldwide but only 53,000 copies have been sold in the US.[1]

Contents

[edit] Sound

Origin of Symmetry is seen as a departure from the alternative rock sound of Showbiz, as the band experimented instrumentally throughout the album. Dominic Howard (drums) augmented the standard rock drum kit with various other items of his own, and Matthew Bellamy uses a pipe organ on "Megalomania". Due to the requirement of a pipe organ, this song is rarely played live by Muse, perhaps the most notable occasion being at Muse's charity gig at the Royal Albert Hall.

Throughout the album, the bass line is used as the driving force, often with the guitar providing only an extra layer to the song rather than carrying the melody. The bass has distortion and other effects applied to it to achieve a greater weight, allowing the guitar to digress from the main chord progression and play higher notes.

[edit] Controversy

Maverick Records, who previously released Showbiz in the US, asked Muse to remove the falsetto vocals for the Origin of Symmetry US release. They believed that the falsetto would discourage radio play. Muse's refusal saw them part ways with the label. For this reason, the CD was not released in the US until late in 2005. Muse's track New Born was taken and remixed by Paul Oakenfold, and appears on the Swordfish soundtrack.

Nestlé tried to use the song "Feeling Good" in a coffee commercial. Nestlé first sought the permission of Muse, who refused them the right to use the song, however Nestlé continued to use the song and therefore Muse took them to court. They were forced to remove the track and pay the band £500,000 in damages (which the band donated to Oxfam). Nestlé continued to run the ad but replaced the Muse version with a different rock cover of the song.[citation needed]

[edit] In popular culture

"Feeling Good" is a cover of a song originally from a 1965 musical (The Roar of the Greasepaint—the Smell of the Crowd). Nestlé temporarily used Muse's version in a coffee commercial without their permission.

Additionally, the start of the song "Space Dementia" has been used for the advertisement of the fragrance Midnight Poison by Christian Dior SA. The advertisement features Eva Green in a blue dress, directed by Wong Kar Wai.

Fragments of the song "New Born" have been used in a advertisement for Oxfam designed by Tim Burton. The advertisement uses part of the piano intro and the first driving guitar riff.

[edit] Track listing

All lyrics by Matthew Bellamy and music by Muse, except track 10, by Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley.

  1. "New Born" – 6:01
  2. "Bliss" – 4:12
  3. "Space Dementia" – 6:20
  4. "Hyper Music" – 3:20
  5. "Plug In Baby" – 3:40
  6. "Citizen Erased" – 7:19
  7. "Micro Cuts" – 3:38
  8. "Screenager" – 4:20
  9. "Darkshines" – 4:47
  10. "Feeling Good" – 3:19
  11. "Megalomania" – 4:38
  12. "Futurism" (Japan Bonus Track) – 3:27

[edit] Personnel

Extras
  • Clare Finnimore – viola
  • Sara Herbert – violin
  • Caroline Lavelle – cello, improvised cello (10)
  • Jacqueline Norrie – violin

[edit] References

  1. ^ [1] Cited in Filter Magazine blog, retrieved on 2007-12-29

[edit] External links

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Muse
Matthew Bellamy · Dominic Howard · Christopher Wolstenholme
Studio albums
Compilations / DVDs
Demos / EPs
Singles
Other songs
Production
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