Serendipity

Apparently it’s been three years since Resistance came out. It really doesn’t feel like it. Although it really has been that long as I couldn’t go to the Resistance tour as I was due to give birth the same week as the concert.

Anyhoo, new album. Already loads of people are hating on it. But I like the way that by streaming it you can try before you buy. (Let’s face it, there’s enough of us fans out there who have already pre-ordered it to get it into the top ten.)

Supremacy
I really like the start to this one. It reminds me a bit of a James Bond theme with all the sharp violins and then the quietness when Matt starts singing. I wonder if this actually is the song they wrote for the last Bond film (as it was rumoured they were doing). Close your eyes and you can imagine the silhouettes of nude ladies and slo-mo bullets and stuff.
Actually on first listen I really like this one. (But I do have big squishy love for the Classic Bond theme anyway and because that’s what it reminds me of that’s why I’m liking it I think)

Madness
I’ve been trying to get the small child to sing along to this on the radio. She doesn’t turn me to turn it off, like she does with 95% of all music on the radio (apart from Nicki Minaj – that’s how she’s going to rebel musically, I can just see it). It does lose points for a bit of an obligatory key change near the end of the song. Naughty Muse.

Panic Station
Like the base. It’s a bit Queeny. Love the guitar and the bass later on in the song. It was my hope that his album would have a lot more base because Chris is an awesome bassist and has been wasted on the last couple of albums.

Prelude
Reminds me a bit of Butterflies and Hurricanes, (God, I love that song). I’m glad they’re still doing all these little musical interludes.

Survival
Yay, the Olympics song! When we were watching the Olympics on the Red Button it always seemed to be on. (That, and David Bowie anyway).

Follow me
That’s definitely a baby’s heartbeat at the start of this one. I know. I spent a lot of time hooked up to a heart monitor. This is the first song on the album so far that is going down the more dubsteppy, electronic route. Like the middle section, don’t really like the lyrics (yeah, I know, shun the non-believer). This is the song that would be on the Twilight soundtrack. And I don’t mean that complimentary.

Animals
Like this one, a lot. Like the guitar and the instrumentally bits and the last section. Reminds me of Showbiz Muse.

Explorers
Really like this one too.It’s nice and gentle. I’m humming along to it at work. I’m getting some funny looks. And I don’t care. It’s really un-Muse-y, is this a good thing or a bad thing?

Big Squeeze
Another rather upbeat sounding song.

Save me
Really like this one too. Like the guitar and the harmonies.

Liquid State
Ooh rocky. I miss rocking out Muse ever such a lot.

The 2nd Law: Unsustainable
Dubstep-tastic and the start of it reminds me of the titles for Torchwood. Love the choral stuff, don’t like the dubstep bits.

The 2nd Law: Isolated System
Uses lots of samples and soundbites. Reminds me a bit of a Prodigy song, not much, just a tiny bit. Can’t think what it’s called though.

In conclusion
On first listen I like it a lot more than I did Resistance. It’s more cheery and positive I think that the last couple of albums have been. Maybe fatherhood is mellowing Matt, who knows? I was a bit concerned it was going to be massively dubstep, especially after hearing Unsustainable, I’m glad that Matt was just trolling.

(And no, it’s not as good as OoS, but none of their albums ever are and also blah blah Twihards get off my lawn)

In other news, a month until I go to see them in concert. Woot!

Who is now a qualified Business Admin NVQ Assessor?

I am!

Just had confirmation of my certification come though. Apparently the IV thought it was a very good portfolio.

Woot again!

Here be spoilers for that there new Doctor Who trailer. (Which is here if you've not already seen it)

( random ponderings )

So saying that it's back this Autumn means a September start then, yeah? I'm a bit excited now. Bring it on!

So the year is progressing and our veggies are growing. Not as good as they should be, but not surprising considering the vast amount of rain we're having at the moment. As a side effect of the rain the slug population in my back garden has exploded and they are eating everything they can get to.

( photos behind the cut )

Not pictured: two planters (similar to the courgette ones but three tier) full of my back up lettuce, again propped to prevent slug access and growing great. Every time we go into the back garden the small child helps herself to a handful.

And that is exactly why I wanted to grow veggies in the first place. I want her to know where her food comes from and I want everything in the back garden to be edible. She's not been too interested in the whole growing this this year, but as she gets a bit older she will and she's going to reap the benefits (and eat her body weight in plums again this year as the plum trees are full of fruit again).

Oh it pleases me that it's finally decided to stop raining and the sun's come out! I've been celebrating the fact by spending an hour every evening in the back garden painting the fences. I believe it is an English tradition or something.

The main reason that I'm glad that it's stopped raining is that it means it is going to be dry on Saturday night when I do the Midnight Walk. (You can still sponsor me by going here) There's nothing worse than a 10k walk in the pouring rain when you want to be in bed.

I've got to go out tomorrow and buy about half a ton of glow in the dark tat from the poundshop. At least you'll be able to see me coming :)

In other news Bilbo has decided that the to of the fridge is his new favourite place in the world. He likes to pat you on the head when you go into it, which is less fun (for me at least)