Mark

Got to listen to some of The 2nd Law today... ...it's good. It's huge. It's better than the Resistance (from what I've heard.)

I think it looks class. If not a little irrelevant. Or utterly irrelevant.

Some of my friends thought it was a bit lame, but the general reaction was good. One American pointed out that the part about our National Health Service certainly says a lot about our country. That's probably one of the bits I was most proud of. But on topic of Al and the gang, they were an odd choice given that they're not even that huge in Britain. Okay, they're huge, but whenever we have massive events here - celebrations for the Queen, charity events, etc - they're not an act you'd expect to feature, and Paul McCartney is. On the other hand, they are the band most representative of youth culture in our country this century. They're witty, cool, poetic, energetic, raw and exciting, and they say most about our music scene as a nation. A friend of my sister's claimed on Twitter "We could've got someone better". I erupted, foul-mouthed and furious. Unfollow.

I fear there will never be another band as big as Coldplay. Where's the money? Music's dying.

Got mine via e-tickets. Anyone know of a chance of swapping for physicals?

They were absolutely fantastic IMHO. For those of you non-UK residents, how did the Monkeys go down? What did the world think of our ceremony? We're quite a cynical nation, but we felt pretty proud of what we'd done Friday night.

On the flipside, I'm sick of everyone thinking all Radiohead fans are that pretentious. We're a good group of people that appreciate beautiful music, and we're some of the most open-minded music fans you could meet. I know indie kids that sneer at Radiohead for being too high-brow, claim it's all shit after OK Computer, and think that we place Yorke on a pedestal and that no one else can touch him. Which is ironic, as most of them only listen to music created by guitars. Not in the Radiohead thread, I know, but Muse fans need to know that we're not all like that. I love Radiohead, but Muse do things musically that Radiohead don't. That's not an opinion, that's a fact. The two bands are not musically exclusive.

What utter bullshit. Music's not black and white. Something Thom Yorke's clearly realised, even if this dick hasn't.

+1

What I love most about Trimm Trabb is how... close everything sounds. Damon sounds like he's in the room with you, I'm not sure if its the reverb, the lack of it, or what. Same with Caramel, No Distance Left to Run and Tender. Not many bands can sound that intimate on album 6.

It's their masterpiece. So much better than Parklife; Graham at his best, melancholic Damon, ambitious production, ambitious structures. I just finished Alex James's autobiography today. He said that for Tender, he thought he'd use his double bass. He brought it in, tuned it up, and William Orbit recorded the tuning. They messed around with the recording of him tuning the instrument, and used it in the song. He didn't play a note of it properly.

Shakespeare's Sister, Stay. There was literally not one good UK number one single in 1992 (that wasn't a re-release).

I was a Muse fan first. Loved them so much. Got into Radiohead almost accidentally - heard Nude on Radio 1 of all places, and was spellbound. In the last few years, my love for Radiohead has ascended to my quite serious belief that they're the greatest band ever, better than the Beatles. My mate summed Muse up for me though when he said they've never released their masterpiece and they never will. I love both bands, but whenever I hear someone compare them, I'm never particularly pissed off... Radiohead are one of those bands that it's acceptable to know nothing about, they almost prefer it that way. And the Muse/Radiohead comparisons? A helluva compliment to Matt Bellamy.

Had the best day of my life in Hyde Park. 3/7/09, Blur. Absolutely incredible. Been there for five gigs (Blur, Basement Jaxx, Jay-Z, KoL, Stevie Wonder), each one's been fantastic. I've heard sound complaints from others (KoL the year after I went, Arcade Fire), but it's personally my favourite venue in the world. Literally, cannot wait. So excited for the Olympics, but simultaneously, dying for the end of it :P

Just the piano stem? That's gonna be hard, probably impossible, to find. Just a head's up.

I think it'd be magic to end the first half on Essex Dogs.

Which is fair enough, I just wondered why the tour was going on quite so long; it's on par with a U2, Muse or Coldplay tour.

They're totally different for me. Shelter comes at a time on xx when you might be sick of the pretty pop production, and you need a ballad with a bit of substance. It's the antithesis to the haunting Fantasy. It's like coming up for air after a deep-sea dive. Angels sounds cut from the same cloth, but for me, it's more lulling you into what's to come. It's happier in its skin than Shelter, it sounds like more of a mood than a statement. That's just me though. I love both equally I think.

I'll always love that one most, but I've been really impressed with this and Shoot a Hole into the Sun. It'll make for a beautiful album, I hope.

Just the most amazing collaboration in music for a long time. This is exquisite.

...Why? He obviously doesn't need the money, as it says, he's been there three times since the album's been out, and he must want to take a break after this mental tour. Sounds like I'm putting a downer on it for everyone hoping to go, but I just want him to get home, and write another record. He's toured this one to death.

Angels is stunning. Hope there's more of the same.

So when are we gonna hear this What A Life remix? When's the AA album now due?

I heard Take A Walk, and loved it straight away. Bought it, listened a few times, it's disappointing, clunky, and over-thought. My favourite's still Sleepyhead. Remember hearing it New Year's Eve, a couple of years back. Special moment.

I hope that was an intentional reference, I really do.