Artcore: Unique Approach

It started, I imagine, quite innocently. Someone was probably simply trying to define the genre-defying Muse, and made up a name. Thus the concept of Artcore was born.

This term has, surprisingly, caught on among Muse fans who now often refer to the band as being Artcore. This approach is somewhat unique. Instead of grouping several similar bands together and then assigning them to a genre, they’ve simply created one for a single band that does, admittedly, not fit comfortably into any other category.

Now the name, as one might imagine, is likely derived from Matt Bellamy’s heavy classical influence. He does, after all, have extensive classical piano training. The effect of this is obvious on songs such as Sunburn, New Born, Butterflies And Hurricanes, Blackout and Apocalypse Please, with Butterflies And Hurricanes even incorporating a mesmerising piano solo midway through. The grand piano is not the only classical instrument extensively used in Muse’s music. Orchestral sounds are often audible, with a full orchestra having been recruited for Butterflies And Hurricanes.

The question is, of course, will this “genre” really become anything more than an in-house reference to Muse? That depends, I suppose, on how influential Muse will be on others. Will their success hail the arrival of other bands incorporating classical music to such a large degree? Perhaps we can already try and fit bands such as Coldplay into the same category. They too on occasion use classical instruments in their music. The problem with this however, lies with Muse’s unique nature. Although they both do use classical instruments on occasion, Muse harshly contrasts this gentle approach with a hard rock side. Butterflies And Hurricanes, for example, seems the exact opposite of a rocker such as Stockholm Syndrome. Even within some songs this contrast is visible. New Born starts off with a haunting piano intro and then gently plunges into a heavily distorted guitar riff.

So, at the end of the day, will Artcore ever be recognised as a genre? Well, it’s futile to try and predict the answer. Most people will definitely refute this possibility. Others will, understandably, loudly protest the idea of yet another genre. But perhaps we should remember that even Rock itself was, in its infancy, considered to be a passing fad, unworthy of being awarded status as genre…

Comments

[Unseen_hero]

i think this means i'm first... Wtf is a stockholm syndrome? Is he referring to the disorder? That has no relevance.

[Bass2daMAX]

since stockholm syndrome is in bold that means it is either a band, song, or cd name.

[logboy]

stockholm syndrome is a song by muse from the absolution album

[Crookedjon]

Stockholm syndrome is the condition by which somebody falls in love with their captor... twisted or what?

[backup and lead]

what ever happend to just plain old rock bands i think a new genre is poping up everyday

[guitar_god92]

He does, after all, have extensive classical piano training. The effect of this is obvious on songs such as Sunburn, New Born, Butterflies And Hurricanes, Blackout and Apocalypse Please,

dont forget Bliss, the piano intro to that is so bloody cool! Muse are great!

[Blackbullet]

artcore????????
muse are progrock

[Flowerpot]

Muse rock the world. They are the most talented band out there. Just listen to that classical guitar on Screenager, and the lilting beauty of Unintended! Matt Bellamy is a GOD!!!

[fatboy]

As an old Muse fan I can safely say that Muse are nothing but a poor mans Radiohead.

[busby_bass]

i dont think we really need to make another genre, but if you mustit makes no difference to me, i dont think muse are a poor mans radiohead there are similarities but both bands are great and muse really show there talent at the live shows which are awsome

[m2j]

kind of pointless, he couldnt answer his own question

[skatooter]

stolkholme syndrome is the name of a muse song you fools lol!

[smilifile]

I dont think a new genre matters, muse r what they r and if it became a genre with other bands catagorized in it then muse wudnt b unique anymore

[RatiugLink]

Artcore?

Prog???

I've heard this band. There is no such thing as "artcore", and they are not prog.

They are plain ***ing rock. No need to make a new genre.

[idontknow]

You never really told us what Artcore is? Just a band that uses some classical instruments in their songs? That doesnt really warrant a new genre. Muse kick ass tho.

[Nikki_Sixxxx]

17th!!!!! SCORE!!!

[psychodelia]

Why must "core" be used to create so many genres? Emocore, grindcore, noisecore, rapcore... I'd just like to see some more interesting names.

[Gurgle!Argh!]

meh meh meh.

Crap genre name. Muse are neither especially artistic nor do they have any hardcore elements. Its a totally nonsensical name.

I also detest the idea that seems to be growing in popularity that Muse are some incredibly original band. I don't, in all honesty, see how anyone who has listened in any depth to Tool and Radiohead can say that- the amount they rip off the two bands in temrs of strcture, style and general feel is phenomenal.

Don't get me wrong. I don't mind Muse. I'll listen to. But calling them massively original or groundbreaking is just plain wrong.

[bobisonthecob]

Why do we need to generalize music. It's only creating boxes for people to get stuck in. Good music is good music. Period.

[Donahue2]

here's a new Genre name: Sh*tcore. Lets throw the Ataris into that category.

[zsmith]

woah man...my girlfriend loves the ataris...ok, good, she's gone...i say proceed with the afformentioned plan

[chrisgyrl8]

1, i agree w/Donahue2, and 2, wouldn't evanescence be classified in that if Muse is? they've got the same stuff goin there

[Donahue2]

Thank God people agree with me. I should write an article about it and submit it. And I will. And I will welcome the criticisms.

[KevinHallX]

just because there aren't many big name bands within a genre doesn't mean that it's not a certified genre. untill just recently, only some small time bands ever did genre's like christian metal and screamo. for all we know there could be local bands across the world doing artcore music, you just need to look for them.

[Steph Bets]

muse arethe best band in the whole world. stop limiting them bny classification. they cannot be classified. artcore is a dumb name. except ibanez artcores are cool. ive neber heard a muse fan refer to them as artcore. pigeon holing sucks

[Steph Bets]

"Don't get me wrong. I don't mind Muse. I'll listen to. But calling them massively original or groundbreaking is just plain wrong."

WHAT? they are massively originaly. muse only sound simialr to radio head(and thats at a stretch) because of the voice. and tool? yeh right,

[redoverblack]

listen to TOOL ight. thats arty shit..with just a pinch of acid trip and anal sex

[ad_lib_oz]

ok, pretty stupid article. They are a cool band but what was the point of this article?

[lithium_project]

YES radiohead use pianos, but no where near to the degree Bellamy does. YES Thom Yorkes and Belamys voice do sound similer untill Matt goes all OTT like on muscle museum, and musically, muse are closer to hard rock, and radiohead prog.

Either way they both rule, but id thought id just point a few things out

Oh an Ataris suk

[Crookedjon]

I think Radiohead have been flagging of late. Sure, Muse sound similar (although to what extent is open to debate) but they have a lot more energy, and certainly have a more hardrock feel. I've heard them being refered to as 'Coldplay with testicles'

[chili man]

i think that its pretty stupid that just because a band starts something unique, there has to be a Genre named after it. so now mabee someday we can all make music like muse and be artcore rockers too. yay


not
o y and i aggree this article is pointless

[Lord_Xian]

artcore? what the hell? sounds like some kinda porn the french made up. I always had the muse down as emo, but I havent heard many of their songs, but they rock.
If muse can have their own genre, then afi can too, it should be called 'sorrow'
NB - this only applies for music made after art of drowing.

[Freepower]

muse - best band in the world. And really, there's no point trying to genre-ise them - i mean, theres obviously a lot of different genres in muse, not one NEW genre. See their B-sides. Spanish guitar, linkin-park like instrumentals, etc, etc

[Mighty Mongoose]

He does, after all, have extensive classical piano training.

Actually he doesn't. See the interview with him in the news section of this site, called "Muse's Matt Bellamy Speaks", if you don't believe me. Here he says:

"The first instrument I ever got into was the guitar. The piano was just something I played occasionally"

(This is only rough as I can't seem to get access to the article at the moment)

On another note, Artcore is an appallingly bad name, it just sounds rubbish, and as a huge Muse fan I have never used it nor heard anyone else use it. I agree with Freepower, they play music in many different genres.

[Bob Junior]

was just about to say that. he just started messing around with keyboards a few weeks before the recording of Showbiz. He has no classical training at all.

[lithium_project]

He made Sunburn a few weeks before recording showbiz??? Fuck me he learns quick

[dai the flu]

Artcore is a stupid name. The word "core" in it implies their music is of heavier nature and could somehow relate to hardcore or metalcore, which it obviously doesn't. Why can't you just call it artsy rock or artsy prog rock? There are plenty of bands who defy genres out there, you don't need to make up a new genre for each one, do you? Because at the end of the day, it's all just music. By the way, Muse does kick ass.

[CKS2N]

ok only a few Muse songs sound a little like Radiohead. Do you really imagine Radiohead to be firing out the likes of Plug In Baby , Hyper Music , Hysteria , New Born etc? Could you imagine Muse making some crazy music like The National Anthem , Idioteque or Stand Up Sit Down? They're a hell of a lot different if you actually listen to them. Anywayz , *** making another genre.

[RobbieMac2002]

i once described them as 'classically influenced riff-rock'

but thats just a describtion, feel free to go over the top when describing but dont make the mistake of creating a new genre

[metal fury]

Muse reminds me of Queen

[Wormboy]

Donahue2:
here's a new Genre name: Sh*tcore. Lets throw the Ataris into that category.

HAHAHAHAHAHA! It's funny because the Ataris suck...

[Necronomicon]

Oh shit. Now we have the muse "starting" a genre which means that all of us with bands that played with classical instruments once in a while or threw in classical piano tunes as guitar riffs will now be considered as having been influenced by the muse. I don't even like the muse but now I can look forward to having people think I was influenced by them rather than having a mind of my own.

[shockskin]

Wow, the commants seem alot more pointless than the article. First of all, "core" refers to an extreme of something. I don't mean jumping of a cliff, I mean like dedicated to a specific thing. And music is an artform. so aren't all musicians artcore? Second, why is that a dumb name, how many dumb f*cking sub-genres are there out there? Third of all, You guys keep saying their boxing MUSE in one genre, then you all say it's all f*cking rock... HIPOCRITES all of you! Rock is a genre. Damn, alot of people on this site are just so blind and overly defensive. Just making a point.

[BlackboxBassman]

okay if artcore applies to bands that mix in classical music with rock/metal or whatever, muse ain't the first artcore band. what about dimmu borgir? they got a hell of a lot of classical stuff in their songs, especially on the enw album.

[BlackboxBassman]

oops i meant the new album

[Steph Bets]

HOLY COW IT MUSE NOT THE MUSE.
another thing, i read an interview where he said he learnt music at his grandmas after his parents died. but that doesnt mean he has EXTENSIVE CLASSICAL TRAINING. he listens to classical and romantic period music tho so thats an obvious influence

[gent4tsu]

this is the most pointless 5 minutes of my life that i wasted reading all this trash.
Muse and radiohead are completely different bands, artcore is stupid and we sould not make up 'genres' or else things will be even more confusing than it already is.
all i say is enjoy the music and if you dont like muse then stop complaining about it and jusy move on. dont forget that everyone has a different taste in music.
Everyone should just shut up and just ROCK ON!!!
MUSE ROCKS!

... by the way, the ataris do suck

[rockpunkzer0]

yeah, this was gay.

[Blackball]

WHO CARES WHAT GENRE THEY ARE, THEY F***ING RULE
Even though Offspring are the highest priority on my bands list, Muse is near that top spot, they're so TALENTED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I saw them at the BDO and they were AMAZING, and im seeing them next week, cant wait. SPACE DEMENTIA ALL THE WAY
\m/

[Donahue2]

yup... sh*tcore.

[wrath_014]

Muse Are great band!

[Killer Guppy]

Yeah I reckon they're progrock, but artcare suits. Also Muse are wicked, need more articles on them i reckon btw Matt Bellamy CAN write wicked lyrics

[Zerostarr]

Well I suppose the same can be said for Radiohead...they just dont fit into one catagory...

[sadistic_monkey]

Now that people have started giving bands like muse and radiohead a genre, there are gonna be loads more....

[yeller56]

Blink 182 has a song called Stockholm Syndrome
...

[Evil Noodle]

heh, Muse rule, they're original to a certain extent, but don't need thier own Genre...

[dogsballs]

::also detest the idea that seems to be growing in popularity that Muse are some incredibly original band. I don't, in all honesty, see how anyone who has listened in any depth to Tool and Radiohead can say that- the amount they rip off the two bands in temrs of strcture, style and general feel is phenomenal:originally posted by someone else!!).
DUDE- I know every single radohead song bside and unreleezed track off by heart and muse have in no way ripped them off. to start with matt bellamy doesnt seem to give a flying shit what rubbizh lyrics he puts into some of his songs. oh thatll do, muse do rock.

[lithium_project]

Blink 182 has a song called Stockholm Syndrome

A) what is your point

B) Muses stockholm syndrome ***s all over blinks version

[Gurgle!Argh!]

Do you really imagine Radiohead to be firing out the likes of Plug In Baby , Hyper Music , Hysteria , New Born etc? Could you imagine Muse making some crazy music like The National Anthem , Idioteque or Stand Up Sit Down

No, I don't imagine Muse playing those. Think about it though. Muse have some of the similar aesthetics to Radiohead, but they put it in a harder setting. This harder setting comes from Tool, who do also share the same aesthetics, but are heavier than both Radiohead and Muse. Muse are somewhere between the two. Thats why I compared Muse to the two.

And no, I can't imagine Muse making anythings as cool and out-there as those Radiohead songs. Thats why they're a poor man's Radiohead. :p:

[Yespleasevicar]

Radiohead suk. Although i liked creep, thom yorke is praised for howling into a microphone and coz "NME" or "Q" rave about them they are one of the biggest bands in the world when they are just plain dull, Poormans radiohead my arse, Matt bellamy (altho not the best) is a great guiarist, and altho johnny greenwoods alrite, radiohead dont get the idea of music Entertainment and messages that can be apllied to life, Ie. Letting out massive orbs into the crowd, or the kickass bassline to hysteria. Not getting bongos in for the new albums! U suk radiohead! cept creep that were alrite.....but they hate that song apparently so i guess it dont count.

[Yespleasevicar]

"And no, I can't imagine Muse making anythings as cool and out-there as those Radiohead songs"

listen to "citezen erased" followed by "blackout."
then check out the new radiohead album....yer muse poormans radiohead..watever

[lithium_project]

lol, boy you are single minded, No your tho radiohead dont get the idea of music entertainment, and for tht matter couldnt really give a ***, yes Hysteria is an insane bass riff, but greenwood is more then an alrite guitarist, an Yorke can write lyrics Bellamy couldnt dream about, but they are both awsome bands

[cowboy85bebop]

ok you guys are all idiots... Radiohead PAVED the way for bands like Coldplay and Muse, First off Muse can rock out, but a lot of their songs sound the same AND their lyrics make no sense at alL! I like a lot of Muse's music but its more of a novelty, they dont have substance. More out there for a LOUD and exciting Live show which they perform. But Muse's songwriting and lyric writing skill will never EVER EVER = thom yorke, and if youre too dense to realize how immature Muse's sound is compared to radiohead... then go back to Linkin Park. People who say radiohead suck and they only like Creep are probably the same people who just like loud rock music with empty angst filled lyrics. I have a cure for that, Nu-metal. For those of us who have a higher understanding of music and life in general, stick with Radiohead. theres a reason theyre one of the most critically acclaimed bands of the past decade. For Muse's next album, id like to hear their sound go in a different direction. I grow tired of their epic and over the top sound. It wears on you after awhile. and btw stockholm syndrome is Muse's best song off Absolution. I guess the way I would describe muse is a mixture of Queen, Metallica, and Radiohead.

[roo6339]

i think some people take genres too far... who cares about categorising? all you need to do is ROCK!

[boxcarblink41]

stockholme syndrome is my favourite song on the blink album. and stockholme syndrome is my favourite on absolution. it makes my life simpler.

[Aetius]

@cowboy85bebop:

You are dumb! If you can't see any meaning in Muse's artistical lyrics, then you lack talent in music...

I'll tell you one thing, how Muse are at the moment in live shows, is how Radiohead WANTS to be, I've read this several times in alternative music sites etc. And I agree, in the beginning you could hear that Muse had the sound similar to Radiohead but has clearly evolved in a sound it's own.

OWNED

[lithium_project]

You are dumb! If you can't see any meaning in Muse's artistical lyrics, then you lack talent in music...

Er, hello lyrics an music are 2 different things

[Yespleasevicar]

Piss off i hate nu-metal, and another thing matt bellamy can sing unlike thom yorke. And this arguments pointless its like telling someone the smiths are overrated (which they are), if they are a fan they are gonna fight to the death, so lets stop arguing and keep the radiohead comparisons away from muse coz pretty much everyone thinks at least one is a million times better than the other.

[lithium_project]

No there both fantastic bands, each with strenghts(typo) an weaknesses but for the record Thom Yorke can sing

[Aka55]

Muse is just radiohead with a piano and like 5 less members.

spam deleted.

[dogsballs]

I think matt bellamy's formative years were spent inside a stuffy little room with a piano in the english countryside. Then he left mum and dad behind and the little genius boy stumbled upon a guitar. Blinking in the daylight he then saw girls and interaction all about him ,and, not being able to handle it, started mumbling incoherent, generally uninspiring, pubescent cliches into a microphone. and so artcore was born!

[muffin_man69]

Who actually gives a shit?

[deansouthpaw]

WHAT THE FUCK!? PIANO!? I thought this was a ***ing guitar website....oh wait maybe im wrong, its a website for artists that have no real talent or relation to a 6 stringed instrument..... lets start putting ***ing artists on here like avril lavigne.....HOLY SHIT! we already do! before somebody's dumb ass writes up another half-retarded article like this one make sure it has at least some relation to guitar.....otherwise post it up on mtv.com

[Donahue2]

these guys can go into the Sh*tcore pile

[ellecrumpets]

yay muse

[deapcyfer]

i don't want to name all the bands that are better than Muse because I would be here all day, but really I don't see how they are the best band out there...there are so many people who just listen to one genre, or in this case one genre and then 'artcore', and then say that they can name the best band out there, and how do you know there's not some band somewhere else that is better? Now these guys may not be the best band in the world, but they gotta be damn close, BALANCE OF POWER, check 'em out people, you want art, there you go, Shelter Me is in my opinion the best song ever written, with maybe, the exception of a few Led Zeppeling songs, and Knockin' On Heaven's Door.

[deapcyfer]

*Led Zeppelin, my band, typing in just makes me yearn to type a g at the end of it

[deapcyfer]

*my bad....haha i can't type for anything

[cold_heat16]

what the faggot-tron is artcore? whoever the hell made that name up should be shot!
btw, Muse rocks!

[Click You]

artcore = retardedcore
people be poppin genres like ejaculations

[whyvern]

Artcore is like Les Georges Lenningrad and the Plot to Blow Up the Eiffel Tower... it's more commonly called Jazzcore... the muse aren't that genre...

[metal-syrus]

and yes i am dislexic

[metal-syrus]

Let me point something out to you anoying bastards. Who cares who muse is similar to there stil pretty ***ngi original and talented. and dont give me this bull shit that jsut cos there not you pref genera doesent mean there shit, if you are a REAL musician you should accept and see the strong ponits of all genras, stop ***ing winging there is no ***nig point!!!

[strangled]

dislexics rule!!

[tragik]

Muse are not the only bands that you could throw into the artcore genre? Anyone heard of a band called Placebo maybe?

[RossDev]

i've read an interview and read it in other things where it says that he has had classical piano training i'm not sure, but i beleive it was what he was doing with his music degree or something
correct me if im wrong, lol

[RossDev]

*agrees with tragik*

[DaddyTwoFoot]

Believe it or not, Muse isn't the only band to *gasp* USE A PIANO! Jesus H. Christ, Nine Inch Nails uses pianos (better than Muse does I might add). I don't even think that Muse is all that "genre-defying," and there are more original bands out there. There's no way in Hell that Matt Bellamy couldcome up with the things Maynard James Keenan does with Tool and A Perfect Circle. And I'm NOT, repeat NOT, saying that Muse is a bad band. Quite the contrary actually. They do have more talent than most of the crap put there today, I just think they get too much credit.

[DaddyTwoFoot]

Oh, and metal_syrus, you display no symptoms of dyslexia. I have a dyslexic uncle, and that's not dyslexia.

[ctb]

muse are altrernative rock too me

[Blether]

woo! muse! screenager ***ing awesome song, cant get enough of it

[monkeyspks]

muse is pretty cool. but, they're not the first band to use a piano. whooo! SPOOKY! i think that's kind of stupid for muse to have it's own genre of music.

[TuckerOBaker]

FUCK YOU SENSITVE QUEERMOES, AFTER ALL YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSE TO GET EMOTIONAL RELATIONS AND FEELINGS FROM A SONG YOU QUEER ASS MOTHER FUCKING PIG FUCKING NIGGER ASS JEWS.

[tom_nik]

^shut the *** up you cocksucker.

To the author and everyone that thinks Matt had extensive classical training... you are wrong, he was entirely self taught at guitar and piano.
Muse's Stockholm shits all over Blinks Stockholm. (even blink fans tell me this)
just cos a band has piano in it dosent mean theyre art rock.. muse is truly artistic! dont try and classify bands like evanescence and LP in the art rock category because they have like 2 songs with piano in them. those bands blow compared to muse!

[linked_reality]

cowboy85bebop:

Immature? How can you not understand what Matt Bellamy tries to convey? The whole album, Absolution, is about the thoughts reoccurring in different people during the end of the world. Basically the same kind of plot you'd get at an art film. That was what Apocalypse Please was all about. "This is the end of the world"

cowboy85bebop: "...their lyrics make no sense at alL!"
Oh really?

Even the titles of each song give an insight about the underlying theme of mass destruction. "Hysteria", "Time is Running Out", "Sing for Absolution" "Blackout", "Stockholm Syndrome"

There?s "Thoughts of a Dying Atheist", a personal reflection of Matt's own feelings at such a time. "It scares the hell out of me..." (Atheists fear death, cowboy85bebop)

Then there?s Falling Away With You and Endlessly. Love songs. At a time of mass destruction?? Yes, just another dimension and perspective Matt brings into the album. Falling away with you is a nostalgic memory of love. If you die, wouldn't your final thoughts be of happy memories?

"Feel my soul crumbling away
And falling away
Falling away with you

All of the love we left behind
Watching the flash backs intertwine
Memories I will never find
MEMORIES I WILL NEVER FIND"
Similarly, in Endlessly:

"It's plain to see it's trying to speak
Cherished dreams forever asleep
Hopelessly I?ll love you endlessly..."

Butterflies and Hurricanes is an optimistic message at a time of chaos and anarchy. The title gives a very clever contrast. A butterfly; a weak, gentle and pretty organism (Representing humanity) and a hurricane; a destructive force (representing an apocalypse)

"Fights and battles have begun
Revenge will surely come
Your hard times are ahead

Best, you've got to be the best
You?ve got to change the world
And use this change to be heard
Your time is now."

It?s basically the fight for humanity against a corrupt nation. Could it possibly reflect modern day life?

[linked_reality]

Furthermore,

The Small Print may sound like your average "I don't love you and I never did" song, but if you're the kind of person who "...have a higher understanding of music and life in general..." You should know about the importance of symbolism. Lets take the person that the song is directed to as a form of government, instead of your ex-girlfriend.

"Take all you need
And I?ll compensate your GREED
With broken hearts"

The character then protests,
"But I?m going all the way
And be my slave to the grave
I?m a priest God never paid"



Ruled By Secrecy is another obvious song enforcing the theme of the album.

"Wash the blood off your hands
This time she won?t understand"

Don't get it? I'll explain it to you. A guy just came back from a very bad place, and has committed something very bad. The lyrics are just hyperbolas. Probably causing a huge epidemic, emphasising the overall theme. "She" is most likely his wife. We see our character confronting her.

"Change in the air
And they?ll hide everywhere
No one knows who?s in control

You?re working so hard
And you?re never in charge"

We find out that the people he's working for have some sort of enigma... much like the people in the Time is Running Out video. Our character feels frustrated, and gives an excuse to his deed. These verses are repeated to emphasise their anonymity.

"The death creates success
Rebuild and suppress"

This further strengthens our speculation that the deed he has committed was bad. (Bloody hands...)

Now, how is that immature?

[Linus the lion]

regardless the classifaction Artcore is stupid, u know theres a genere that is used to describe music that is mean't to convey strong emotion (emo, then again isn't that the point of all music), just cuz you use a damn piono does not make you a new genere or a revolutionaly. And I'd also like to state that alot of muses piano is quite basic. regardless muse is pretty cool and radiohead is awsome.

[Linus the lion]

ohh btw the intro to bliss however cool it sounds is just arpegeos, anyone with a basic understanding of music can figure them out.

[ebashnitzil]

Muse is an original art form - beautiful band with unbelievable musical talent and great flow

im one of the few people in the US that know of Muse, and Absolution is a must-have album for musicians - not to mention catchy for the ***stick mainstream 13 year old girls

[Tyler the Great]

Muse is not great, as far as I've heard of them (album showbiz), or incredibly original. They are a very good band, but some muse fans don't realize that they aren't as original as they appear. Here, I'll explain some things and hopefully clarify why artcore isn't needed.

First off, Mixing classical and rock has been done since the beatles, and done extensivly since a ggroundbreaking album called "In the court of the crimson king" by King Crimson (highly recommended). This created two genres, art rock and progressive rock. While these bands usually used keyboards instead of pianos, a piano is basically a keyboard, and a keyboard is actually better then a piano flexibility-wise. Probably the most famous progressive band is pink floyd. All of the magor progressive bands are superior to muse, and worked with the same concepts, with a less hard edge then muse, which is understandable considering the time period.

The catagory that muse falls into, however, is art rock (not artccore). Art rock is less technical and experimental, but still is artistic and using rarer concepts such as a piano with harder rock, or soft semi ambient electronic music (hope you know who those refer too....).

[smb]

Muse aren't artcore. The term was used to describe bands such as Tool who were using a lot of silence and different sounds on their music as well as the riffing of hardcore bands from Black Flag onwards. While I do like Muse, there's just no need for sucking Matt Bellamy's cock as hard as this guy is. Why didn't you just call this article "I want Matt Bellamy from Muse's cock", because that's all it says. This is the worst article on this site.

[undeaded]

smb...shut up, he has a point. I have always thought as brit poprock, some call it proggesive, but people have difficulty placing them in a genre.

But contrary to what some of you guys say Muse are original. I have a friend who listens to 70's, 80's stuff, and he said my stuff sounded like crashing china plates and cutlery. But he said that Muse was different, because they are.

[danceXcore]

andrew w.k uses a piano is he art core.....? hmmm..

[Tyler the Great]

undeaded, original is the whole point of art rock. Art and Progressive are unique genres because they encompass an infinite amount of styles. so, ironically, muse fits in better the more unique they are.

[teegman]

Muse are in no way revolutionary enough to justify a new category of music... thats it

[Benben]

You do realise that if "Artcore" does become a 'Genre' as such it will just become another subgenre of Prog Rock, or a subgenre of a subgenre of one of the dozens of types of Prog Rock.

[elcapitanloco]

I definitely agree with Tyler the Great: Using keyboards (whether piano or synthesizer) in rock music is nothing new. After all, Radiohead has mixed electronic ambient sounds with rock, and their fans (me included) have not thought of creating a new genre for them.

Until several other groups that sound a lot like Muse and claim Muse as an influence become famous, I don't think "artcore" will take off (as a subgenre of art/progressive rock).

[IamAwesomeness]

When i first heard people saying muse sounded like radiohead or even tool, i started listening to the bands. I already knew tool so i knew tht Muse was WAY, if not TOO different from them. And as for radiohead, i suppose but...honestly i couldnt make out too much of a similarity...if not at all. tho i do love radiohead. now lets see, who sings like matt bellamy? first of all most people cant because he has a mutation in his vocal cords tht allow him to sing unusually high. second, as for his guitar skills. well neither of the compared bands use fuzz effects do they? as well as just...wow..there's too much for me to talk about as for matts guitar style. I've never heard anything like it. the music as a whole is way too different. yes, classical music has been combined with rock for ages. muse hav done it way better than most bands, putting the music together very well.