Has Muse Gone Too Mainstream?

[Yesiamaduck]

No no no you gone the wrong way, Muse have become far tooo pretentious

Muse have always been a mainstream anthem stadium band at heart, they have never put out a true 'alternative album' they are different by mainstream standards, but yes Muse haven't put out an album I STILL like since Origin Of Symmetry. I liked absoloution at the time when I was 16 but now it's clearly overblown and I haven't really liked anything they have done since HOWEVER they are one the of best live bands around and deffinatly the best stadium band our generation has.

I think the title of this thread needs re-wording because Muse have been a mainstream band for at least 8 years now

If you're truly starting to dislike Muse because they are TOO mainstream then thats just flat out music snobbery.

 

[mooncalf]

Mainstream=You've heard of it from something/somewhere/someone other than that one friend of yours who saw them play the local pub last week.

To say that something is mainstream with a negative connotation is like saying someone is a bad swimmer because they're in water.

Like Maynard sung, "I sold out long before you ever even heard my name."

It's not a question of widespread awareness and acceptance that determines an act's merit. Just like you can't credibly say backstreet boys and spice girls are good because they are insanely popular, neither can you say *insert band name here* are bad because they aren't.

Start looking for some new language to describe your feelings, because there are certain labels (mainstream being one) that have become such cliches that they convey no meaning at all.

...IMO anyhow.

 

[Nigh Invulnerable]

Popularity does not, EVER equal quality.

Kiefer, it matters because there are elitist indie music retard fans that consider THEIR musical tastes superior to everyone elses. I know this sounds harsh but i had so many friends like that at school... its very dissapointing. I like Muse by the way, they are great if a bit on the gay side.

Conversely, popularity does not ever equal low quality. Beethoven, Mozart, and Bach are all extremely popular, but most people would agree that they made some high quality music. Likewise, Metallica, regardless of your opinion of St. Anger and whatnot, made some damn good music in their day, and they've sold a gajillion records.

wow mate, i ummm SAID THE EXACT GODDAMNED THING. If popularity does NOT mean something is good then it doesnt necessarily mean its BAD.

I gathered that. However, the way you phrased things made it seem like you were being one of those "elitist indie music retards" and were basically saying "My musical taste is so much better because I like unpopular stuff". No need to fly off the handle there, buddy. I was merely reinforcing the point you'd made and trying to figure out where exactly you stood.

 

[Crimsane]

Mainstream is just another way of saying "successful." If you dislike a band for trying to make more money, you've got a silly outlook on things.

 

[Skoldpadda]

Muse has always been pretty mainstream.

I used to really like them. However, their latest offering is shit, and I'm not surprised to see them on the Twilight album. Same goes for Editors. Always the same fucking pathetic nagging. God, I can't stand them.

 

[lame_excuse]

I'm waaayyy too late to post in this thread, but I'm as pretentious about music and anti-mainstream as it is. Anywho, I've come to the conclusion that the reason people don't like a certain band or artist after they become mainstream is because of the new fans or "poseurs" (in the case of Muse all thanks to Twilight -- really, it was Meyer). It was cool to like Metallica back in the mid eighties, but after most of the world knew them, it just takes away from that "magic" they had when they weren't mainstream. Metallica is a bad example because their later music ended up as either mediocre to pure garbage.

 

[AWDMANOUT]

I (as another huge Muse fan) have recently been to one of their concerts, in Fort Worth. If you have any doubts as to their lasting awesomeness, go see them while they're still on tour.

 

[Klarinette]

Hm... I wasn't as impressed with their last album as I was with the previous four. They've changed their sound a little. Mind you, I think they're trying to appeal to a wider audience; their older stuff requires a certain type of listener, as it gets pretty eccentric sometimes.

I don't know how I feel. I want Muse to do well and everything, but I wish they could do it without changing their sound.