Because we are dedicated to honest customer opinions Showbiz (Muse) (Audio CD), we have also included Amazon's customer reviews for this item (of which 6 are displayed below). Amazon customers have given Showbiz (Muse) an average rating of 4.5/5.
Top Amazon Review
It's practically impossible to mention Muse without also bringing up Radiohead. Listening to Muse's debut, it's easy to see why. Showbiz was produced by John Leckie, the producer of The Bends, and features the frightfully Yorke-esque choiral falsetto of front-man Matthew Bellamy, running the whole emotional gamut of unhappiness from sincere upset to outright dysfunction. New ground, it's fair to say, remains distinctly unbroken. To Muse's credit, though, they do this angst thing pretty well. "Cave" is a wonderful, terrible epic, replete with rank after rank of bludgeoning guitars, "Muscle Museum" builds up swathes of complex baroque noise, and "Escape"--well, it's a surrogate "No Surprises" with a firework finale, and should keep us ticking over until the next Radiohead album, thank you very much. See? You can't escape the comparison. But at least Showbiz wears it well.
Customer Review 1
Some really overlooked classics on this overlooked cd.. Just check out the clean guzzling bass line on Muscle Museum. The song sets up the perfect suburbian distopia and turns into nothing short of the perfect pop rock single when Matt's voice melts into a suspended guitar solo.
Elsewhere theres the title track Showbiz, an epic of enclosing tension and Cave a similar epic flooding with teenage anxt.
The back end of this record reveals more wonderfully rounded heavy yet alternative rock songs. The lyrics are spot on all the way through especially in Escape and Overdue.
Theres a lush little acoustic ballad too in Unintended, so good they still sing it on tour.
This is where Muse started off, with a CD just as good as all the others, sure the songs might not be as well known as Stockholm Syndrome or Hysteria but then again not everyones debut can be as publicised as the Arctic Monkeys.
Customer Review 2
Greatest debut ever?!. Although I have loved Muse for a few years, I wasn't very interested in their debut. I could hear potential but the songs I knew a little bit about sounded like they were written by less accomplished musicians or inexperienced men who had less to say. However, I got into this album when I began to change my mind about the track, 'Muscle Museum'. I took a chance and bought 'Showbiz' as it was only £6 and I am SO glad I did.
This has to be one of the best debut albums ever composed. It is almost as musically impressive as Jeff Buckley's 'Grace' and, like Buckley's debut, the songs grow on you all the time which makes the album very addictive. The Muse sound is less original, of course, as it was less developed at the time, but the material is still very strong. By the way, although I do agree with some of the Radiohead comparisons, they are ridiculously overstated.
Almost every song has something to offer. After the singles, I love the depressing brilliance of the title track and the heavy-yet-melodic sound of 'Fillip'. Other listeners may find hidden gems elsewhere. That is why this album is so good. As long as you like Muse, you are almost guaranteed to enjoy something from this brilliant debut. It may not have set the world alight when it was released but the spark is certainly there.
Customer Review 3
Blown away. I purchased this album only a few months ago - can't believe how talented Matt is - at such a young age. Amazing lyrics and composition - i love this album. I love the track Showbiz - great if you're having a bad day - i just go berserk listening to it - fantastic!!!
Customer Review 4
Muse before their peak. Back when Muse were younger they belonged to Maddona's label Maverick. Which made this more poppy. But it's still very good. The only problem is the arrangement of the album.
1. Sunburn 10/10. Great piano ostinato (AKA riff) and evil vocals from Matt. The chorus is also very evil and never tires throughout the song.
2. Muscle Museum 10/10. Very intersting guitars (they sound Italian but I could be wrong) intersting vocals 'I have played in every toilet, but you just want to spoil it' and the mix of vocals and guitar at the end is pure genius. Sounds very epic.
3. Filip 7/10. I assume that this is Maverick's doing because it starts off very poppy. The chorus is okay and there is a point where it goes slow and Pink Floydy. Fortunately this is the worst song of the album.
4. Falling Down 8/10. The chorus is Pink Floydy and the rest of the song sounds Bluesey. A grower.
5. Cave 9/10. Distorted guitars, emotional vocals and an instumental part near the end showing that Muse has potential for great things.
6. Showbiz 9/10. Has a crescendo (gradually getting louder) of drums and then bursts in with screeching guitars and screeching Matt. A very good song.
7. Unintended 9/10. A quiet song that sounds all lovey. Depends what mood you are in really but Matt seems very in love with something.
8. Uno 10/10. Starts off in an explosion of distorted sound and then turns into a rocky tango getting louder in the chorus. They did say they liked Flamenco music.
9. Sober 9/10. This song makes me laugh so much when he does the keyboard solo. It sounds just like John Shuttleworth (if you know who he is you'll understand). Besides that it's a pretty cool song.
10. Escape 9/10. Matt says your unlovable, then says he doesn't care. Regardless though this song is very emotional with some decent guitaring in it.
11. Overdue 10/10. For some reason I like this song. It explodes in with loads of sound then goes quiet with Matt singing like an unhappy schoolgirl. A great song regardless of its simplicity.
12. Hate this song and I love you 8/10. A quiet and sound effect filled end. They may have overdone it a bit but Matt is singing well so that kind of balances it out.
Muse were not famous at all at this point. Therefore you know this album is trying to get your attention. Let it talk to you and you won't regret it (unless you listened to Origin of Symetry first then you may be disapointed)
Customer Review 5
The Muse rocket begins its launch with Showbiz.. "Showbiz" shows the first glimpse of the Muse we see today with it's explosive singles and amazing lyrics. It isn't Muse's greatest works, but does amazingly well for a debut album. "Sunburn", "Cave", and "Muscle Museum" are addicting to listen to. Matt Bellamy's voice stays flawless and beautiful throughout all of the songs. Although some of the non-singles sound slightly similar, like "Sober" and "Escape" the only song I can't listen to for hours on end is "Unintended", because of my own personal dislike of it. If you are just becoming a Muse fan and aren't sure whether or not to buy their old stuff, do it. You won't be disappointed in seeing how one of the greatest bands made their start in the world of music. As when it comes to Muse, prepare to be astounded.
