Stream Muse Album 'The 2nd Law'

The new Muse album "The 2nd Law" is available to stream in full.

We've been listening to the album this morning, and it's better than we expected after the band revealed in July that it featured - gulp - a couple of dubstep tracks.

Judge for yourself with the player below, though listeners outside the United Kingdom will need to hop over to Soundcloud to hear the stream.

Meanwhile, drummer Dom Howard has said the opening track "Supremacy" could be the theme for the next James Bond film "Skyfall".

"It's got a little whisper to the Bond vibe - it all goes a bit crazy 'Live And Let Die' in the middle," he told NME. "My view is they should use it for the next James Bond film, but I don't know what's going on with that. I heard Adele was doing it". Correct Dom, Adele has been confirmed for the Bond soundtrack, but we wish they'd picked Muse instead.

Hear "The 2nd Law" in full here if you live in the UK - otherwise, click through to the Muse Soundcloud to hear it elsewhere.

Share your opinion on the album in the comments. Sure, the dubstep is a poor choice, but the recording elsewhere sounds pretty damn sharp. What do you think?

Comments

[tim1997]

Everyone hatin on the album. I must admit I like their older stuff too but supremacy and panic station sound pretty damn epic. Overall it's still a good album, so please don't hate on these great musicians.

[Nkolstad]

Good call. I enjoy the old stuff too but it's a quality album and the composition is incredible. I do wish there were some heavier natural sounding guitars in it but props to them for doing what they felt they should.

[joestrong]

Haha Supremacy sounds exactly like a James Bond track!

[Johnny_Ibanez]

They even put a "Bond chord" at the end just in case you'd missed it!

[SwoobGuitar]

Muse thought the same thing: http://www.nme.com/news/muse/66299

[TimTheWizard]

Sounds more like a 50's film tune interrupted by a western space attack

[Akaforty]

Am I the only one that thinks the verse ruins the otherwise epic song?

[moxell1]

Anybody get the Soundcloud to work? It says that it is not available in my country (USA)

[tim1997]

go to muse's site and you'll find a list with a site streaming the album per country

[moxell1]

Thanks for heads-up. You CANNOT listen to it on SoundCloud from US, UG needs to edit their story. You can listen to it through the iTunes store from US.

[Superperfex]

It was working yesterday, but now it's unavailable to the US. The itunes stream works though! Can't wait for Tuesday!

[jamie_hough]

Its just a bit of a mess I think. The tracks themselves are to be expected but theyre trying so hard to be revolutionary musicians that theyve kind of forgotten how to make a solid album.

I think the whole thing is too busy yet a large part of the album still comes across as quite stale. Theres a few decent tracks, and there are some excellent moments within certain songs (that last 30 second bit from madness for example is great - Id go as far to say its some of muses finest work) but they are more often than not sandwiched in with some of the most boring, tedious and irritating pieces theyve ever written too.

Im afraid I'm one of the old school who wants another OOS and its frustrating to still be hanging in as a longtime fan (by a thread at this point I might add!) - the recent audience Muse has picked up along the way is a fickle bunch and they wont be there to support them in the long run.

Here come the other end of the Muse fanboy spectrum saying "they always change things up, let them breathe as musicians" - fine by me I agree entirely, but what I say to that is "Citizen Erased > Unsustainable".

[spiff-corgi]

This pretty much sums it up for me too. There are some solid tracks on there, and the addition of Chris as lead vocalist brings a nice change to the dynamic of the group, but it just seems a bit too contrived. It's hard to get excited anymore when Matt seems determined to write an Invincible for each album (Explorers this time round).

[TimTheWizard]

I'm listening to it right now and I can finally unbiased stay with you on this opinion. They used to be great, they would be legendary! But now... djeez, this album only contains 2 great songs (Supremacy and Animals) and some tracks that have a decent intro or ending (Madness and Panic Station).
Explorers even has the same melody as Invincible! All the rest is just okay, sounds like U2, Skrillex or songs that I would call "utter garbage" but I don't wanna get another band bashing ban so I won't. There's absolutely no cohesion between the songs, no line or general theme. Chris singing is fine, their choice, but why do ALL THIS on an album, which in turn makes it feel too rushed and very... poppy/plasticy? :/

I too am still waiting for the day another Muse album will come out and the earth will shatter when I hear the first notes dripping into my ears and infecting my brain into a state of total bliss, making humankind forget about its existence and float away into space.

Yeah, those days are over.

[minieme007]

Yes but what I say that is "Supremacy > Darkshines"
Works both ways.

[FlyingPirahna]

Your post sums up how I felt about the Resistance, to the letter.

"The tracks themselves are to be expected but theyre trying so hard to be revolutionary musicians that theyve kind of forgotten how to make a solid album. "

It's a damn shame, really. They used to e such excellent songwriters, but it's gone down the tube in favor of trite histrionics. I hate to be the guy complaining for a band's old sound, but this is one case where I'll allow myself to say,

I miss the old Muse.

[LaughingWater2]

I think with the way their trying to mix in Dubstep Influences they just didn't pay enough attention to the rest of the album. Supremacy and Animals are wicked tracks but the rest is just too much like their other albums. There was about 5 tracks from resistance that i liked but this one there only was 2. I think really they should at least in future albums pay more attention to the songs themselves rather than what new ideas they bring. Muse are one of my favourite bands but if they want to go more electronic they should go more diverse than just dubstep and at least take more time to make the songs better. i really wish they'd realise that they're music is essentially a form of prog and take some influence from Pink Floyd and Mike Oldfield.

[yoman297]

One track to skip - Big Freeze. It is god-awful.

[spiff-corgi]

It starts out cheesy but overall I think it's one of the best songs on the album.

[bassisfun]

It was on iTunes for stream Monday, that's when I listened to it. Every song is pretty solid, Survival is still not my thing but the album in a whole is pretty great.

[moxell1]

Yeah, album is pretty good. Without judging it in context of their other work, the songs had many good moments. The production is very good too IMO. At times, I get a U2 or Queen vibe from some tracks, not a bad thing at all. Feel free to disagree with any of this, of course. Liquid State is a total curve ball for the record, nice shake up, love the distorted bass.

[cptcomet]

New albums great. Animals is one of the best songs they've done in years.

[spiff-corgi]

5/8 timing too. Nice.

[bassisfun]

5/4

[bassisfun]

So because I corrected someone I get thumbs down? If you listen to the song you can tell its 5/4...

[BjarnedeGraaf]

quit caring about thums up or down, this aint youtube.

[spiff-corgi]

What's the difference between 5/8 and 5/4? I was going to put down 5/4 but it sounded like a shortened bar rather than an extended one. I'm not saying you're wrong, I'm just asking from someone who clearly knows what they're on about.

[bassisfun]

5/4 (1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 5 +) is 10 eighth notes, 5/8 (1 2 3 4 5) is only 5, the song would be much faster if it were in 5/8. Also in 5/4 downbeats happen at both the 1 and 3, 5/8 only happens at the 1.

[adamshakermaker]

Survival is probably the greatest song ever written!

[TominatorT1]

Are you high off your tits? seriously?

[7revor]

Good god this song gets hated sometimes... I personally love the hell out of, because of the pure energy it has at the end. The finale is so awesome, and I love the entire thing as a huge build up to it. I liken it to a train rolling through building up speed. It gets a lot a hate but I think you just have to blast it in the car once or twice, and sing along to those cheesy lyrics!

[jsync]

Its pissing me off that people are claiming Matt Bellamy as some sort of guitar god.

[Elderer]

Yeah. He`s a good player but nowhere virtuoso. He is one hell of a musician you got admit that. He`s classicaly trained musician.

[BjarnedeGraaf]

Hes not a guitar god, but he's one of the better guitarists around these days.

[bend1310]

dude is a genius pianist in my opinion... the interlude in Butterflies & Hurricanes is shiver inducing.

[Elderer]

Supremacy saves this album.
Otherwise it feels everywhere over the place. Theres no sorta cohesion between the songs.

[Kueller917]

A big mess in consistency, but very good songs here. Much better than their last release.

[rocklee1431]

Big fan of supremacy, panic station and animals. Not so much save me, i thought that was too bland. I really like the album overall though

[withoutanyname]

I thought Save Me was missing something, it seems a bit empty.

[TheMansonMan]

I think the problem with Save Me is that it was at least a minute too long, and Liquid State should have been a minute longer.

[tim1997]

Exactly the songs i like best too, the chorus in supremacy sounds epic, i love funk rock so panic station is great, and animals is just so perfect and mellow. normally odd measures bother me, but this blends so well with the song.

[meatwad91]

This is an amazing blend of commercialism and self indulgence. How they were able to combine those to elements is an astonishing feat.. I really used to like Muse.. I don't know if I just outgrew them, or if they digressed this far as a band.

[Elderer]

Anyone else hears Thriller and overall MJ on Panic Station?

[mitchy86]

more like another one bites the dust

[geo1450]

If supremacy gets to be the bond theme it will be the WORST bond theme ever, I'm sorry but it's just crap, and they ripped of the bond riff in it, the held notes, B, C, C#. this is is just awful, it fact it's painful to listen two, I think someone put a g-clamp on his balls and tightened and loosened it in the chorus.

[spiff-corgi]

God forbid a Bond theme is written that has the bond riff in it. Oh, hang on...

[Colohue]

I've put up a review. http://mental-streaming.blogspot.co.uk/2...

It's been streaming over on The Guardian website, the same player too, for days.

[Ubergrue]

There were some things I could not agree with, but overall, great review, dude. I'm a hardcore Muser, I own just about everything they're ever recorded, and I really like the albums, even songs like Follow me and Madness.

[withoutanyname]

First half is pretty solid, but the rest is just okay. There's a lack of consistency in this album in my opinion. I think they wanted to try new things, but it seems a bit unfocused.

[rmzeppelin1919]

i swear if the isnt a muse topic everyday on UG its courtney love or some gay list. this album is alright. the first was probably the best. still waiting for them to top that one. this was nothing to write home about though. i wish i understood the appeal of them. lots of folks claim them to be like the next U2 or queen or someone and I just dont see it. im frankly getting pretty sick of hearing and reading about them. muse is a good band but there are great bands to talk about that dont get enough or any press. its a shame great music doesnt sell as well as catchy music. i suppose this is the world we live in.

[iommi600]

Aw ****, did my earphones really needed to stop working today?

I'll give it a listen asap

[Pactorn]

Panic Station!!! **** yeah!

[Abacus11]

Is Muse really that popular? I liked them until "Absolution" but after that album they seemed to go downhill.

Are they good now/again? I'm asking a serious question. Every day on this site there's a Muse headline... I must be missing something.

[Kueller917]

Well UG is one of those sites that seems to give a lot of attention to Muse (I think there one a single interview that UG decided to make into like 3 different articles). But I do believe this is a much stronger album than The Resistance, maybe even Black Holes & Revelations, but reactions have been pretty varied with very little opinions in between.

I'd check it out at least. There's a mess of different styles so you might find at least something to take out of it. Supremacy, Animals, and Isolated System to me are right up there with the quality of their first 3 albums.

[mashizz]

They're always on point with their album art

[dewitt]

I take it you're into feather dusters.

[cdeeksart]

generally pretty poor, quite a strong start, nothing in it that endears itself to me. an album of small moments.

[Joey Radical]

I really enjoyed it, I think it's a step in the right direction. And I actually enjoy the dubstep elements, as they've kind of made their own thing out of it. Really cool to hear Chris sing as well. And I agree with you that OOS was ****ing fantastic, but what's the point of doing all that again, when they've already made that into perfection?

[jrodgers]

That Panic Station song sounds straight off of Purple Rain

[TominatorT1]

If the rest of the songs were somewhat like Supremacy, We could have Origin Of Symmetry II on our hands. Sure it wouldn't be as good as the original and might be a bit similar all the way throughout, but we would have a damn decent album in our hands. Most of the songs are very forgettable.

[aig91]

Checked

[Gibson_SG_uzr55]

I'm in America and it isn't letting me listen on the Soundcloud either

[bearmod]

I just wanted to say that the picture above the headline on the homepage is ****ing hilarious.

[chhang]

sounds voltaish at times. i like it

[xplosive59]

Panic Station is Good, Animals is good and Liquid State is good, everything else is poor apart from Isolated System which is by far the best track, has a nice Post-Rock vibe, like something you would hear on a Mono or GSY!BE album.

[Holoogamooga]

Frankly, not even this is worth downloading iTunes for.

[icronic]

So much hate.

I've got to say, while it's no OOTs, this album is WAY better than I was expecting.

Supremacy, Panic Station, Animals, Big Freeze, and Liquid State are all exceptionally good songs and most of the others aside from Survival are growing on me with each listen.

I think the biggest problem is that musically it's all over the place, combined with that fact with each passing album I'm hearing less Muse and more Queen/Radiohead/U2 hell I think I even heard some INXS thrown in for good measure.

Either way, I'm happy... Maybe my expectations were low after hating the Resistance and after being subjected to Survival, but it's still a reasonably solid CD.

[vppark2]

agreed. i think this is some of their best work tho. nice guitar riffs goin'

[withoutanyname]

There's definitely more guitar than in The Resistance, or should I say less piano or classical music influence?

[withoutanyname]

When you say OOT, are you referring to the Legend of Zelda: Ocarina Of Time?

[bevski208]

It's a good album. But that's it, it certainly doesn't make me feel the same way any of the other albums did.

[KingOfLimbs94]

Just got to Explorers. Loving it so far!

[Da.Squid]

Follow Me is surprisingly cool. And Panic Station is awesome (y)

[chemie1986]

There are two distinct groups here. There are those who fully admit that this is an awful album and as such receive negative votes from the other group of people; those who (either through blind ignorance or naivety) simply cannot understand how poor the album is.

For those who want their old style of writing to come back...forget it. Regardless of how piss poor an attempt they make at writing an album, it will still be bought.

Don't get me wrong, I love that band. They meant a lot to me. It just saddens me that their craft at writing excellent songs seems to have faded completely. Liking music is of course a purely subjective affair, but anyone with a shred of musical knowledge must be able to understand that production value aside, this album has absolutely no substance.

Go on then trolls...dislike my comment. See if I give the slightest f**k.

[Kueller917]

"There are those who agree with my opinion and therefore are right, and then those who disagree with me and therefore are fooling themselves or are wrong".

I have absolutely no problem if you don't like, but jeez man that's some logic you got there.

[Sampy]

"Music snobbery is the worst kind of snobbery. 'Oh, you like those noises? Those sounds in your ear? Do you like them? They're the wrong sounds. You should like these sounds in your ear.'"
- Dara O'Briain

[mickallica]

Apparently, i'm not in the good country to listen to some music.

[Mowgoli]

I listen to a bit of dubstep and I couldn't stop laughing when unsustainable dropped.

[ramorite]

liking it so far!

[JoshTriviumBass]

A couple of dubstep tracks you say? pretty sure it was only one..

[chrisa94]

Follow Me and Unsustainable

[tancrackers]

Yay Muse! I'm gonna give this a listen later tonight.

[Vicious_Turtle]

how did he get kate hudson?

[Banandrew]

Is it bad that i actually really like unsustainable?

[Zero-Divide]

Hell no lol. your entitled to your opinion
i myself find it a lil' catchy

[Blood.Sugar.Sex]

Panic Station is like Red Hot Chili Peppers playing the music and Freddie Mercury singing. Quite funky.

[J.R. Legrasse]

Earlier I heard "Madness" on the radio, and I really liked it.

My favorite Muse song is "Crying Shame", but I have a feeling "Madness" may take its spot upon repeated listenings.

[rapprocka1017]

Can you spell 'overrated'?

[psychokiller99]

It appears that you just did.

[gkex]

M-U-S-E


Did I do it right?

[psychokiller99]

I really like Muse, but I didn't like the Resistance and I don't really like this album. Maybe it will grow on me, but after my first listen...meh.

[MrCheezus]

Maybe Muse and Adele can jam together sometime.

[Holoogamooga]

Listened through it twice on youtube and it sounds pretty good. Pleasantly surprised at Chris's songs; he reminds me of Steven Wilson (not that I'd compare Muse to Porcupine Tree any day).

[thejay2]

There is no doubt that this album is very different compared to previous releases (including the resistance) but still very Muse and the more i listen the more i like this one. This is definitely one of those albums you listen to a couple of times though. I implore you to give it a couple more goes before you pass judgement on this album!

[eljono123]

NO

[gkex]

Dang. You beat me to it by one comment, sir.

[motorizer]

muse, You suck ... Remember that ..

[L.A.P.D.]

You have to listen to this cd with an open mind because every track is so different. I don't see where all the hate is coming from, it's just Muse experimenting with new sounds.

[MagicGuitarist]

Explorers sounds a little bit like Don't Stop Me Now

[Cindykt]

Anybody else dancing uncontrollably to Panic Station?

[bullet7945]

Great album! I realy find it interesting and I think it has a little bit of a retro sound mixed with MUSE style which make it very modern. Fine job comparing with the face of music today.

[cha33 armstrong]

i havent heard it yet but i have heard survival, madness and panic station

survival = SHITE
madness = VERY GOOD
panic station = FUCKING EPIC

2/3 not bad hope the rest of the album is like that

[Amito]

Origin of Symmetry was their best album, they are not even the same band anymore. Such a shame as they have the potential to be amazing.

[ed_the_head]

great album, can't wait to listen it again

[cptcomet]

Bedroom Acoustics...

[the_who]

How about I'll just go to youtube and hear it???

[jagiero]

Embarassing over-produced pompous copypasta by the UKs best musical prospect.

Each member of Muse is incredibly talented in their own field, but boy oh boy have they failed to show it. I'd love to hear what they'd sound like if you took away their laptops and only let them have a guitar, drums, a bass, a mic and some amps.

[LiamPodmore]

VERY different, due to the main core of Muse's tone being down to Chris' use of effects and how they all interact with eachother.

Muse have always been about 3 things to me, Technology (THe use of effects, Matts use of MIDI, etc...), Experimentation, especially concerning the use of the previously mentioned technology, and the sheer brilliance of Matt Bellamy as a composer. To me, this album's got all 3 of those, especially the second. Why shouldn't they be allowed to try something new?

Liam

[GenerationKILL]

Haters gonna hate.

The new Muse album doesn't disappoint and fits perfectly with the rest of their back cataloge. Supremacy is a great tune and theres one that sounds "mildly" like dubstep, (its got a dubstep beat as the backing) but its also a killer track.

To all the haters, go see Muse live. That'll shut your mouth.

[chemie1986]

Haters gonna hate...what a ****ing moronic sentiment. Likers gonna like...does that make any more sense? No. So shut the **** up. The new album is pish. Once you come to your senses, then we'll talk, m'kay?!

[JoachimR]

I think the new album is great! But somehow the first half is what I keep listening to, Supremacy, Madness, Panic Station, Survival are all excellent songs. And I really love Follow Me, a song that people don't really seem to care for but I just love the heavy and epic chorus, it hits you right in the chest with the volume pumped up.

And awesome album artwork! I thank Muse for another great album (the resistance was their worst album by far) and I really look forward to seeing them live this fall!

[mookieb]

Generally this is better then The Resistance but the second half does tail off. Since they started to self produce I feel they've lost something; they need someone to focus what they're doing and say when ideas just aren't working

[loz4]

Am I the only one who loves the whole album and the best track is Liquid State?