Muse - "Unnatural Selection"

counterbalance is commotion we're not droplets in the ocean

Rating: 7/10

In 2009, the English alternative band Muse came out with their fifth studio album, Resistance. Among these new-prog songs, is "Unnatural Selection". It, along with much of Muse's music, has a great bass line. The track goes between fast and slow paces that makes it fun and interesting. The instrumentals in the song are brilliant and mix well with Matthew Bellamy's smooth voice. I'll admit, the first times I heard Muse I was not a fan; but the more I listened, I realized how amazing this band is.

Radiohead - "Airbag"

In an interstellar burst I'm back to save the universe In a deep deep sleep of the innocent I am born again

Rating: 7/10

Beginning with a melodic, yet dissonant tune, this song highlights a shocking story of surviving a car crash. Waking up afterwards, its surreal melody transports the listener to the strange reality of seeming reincarnation. The major melody coupled with a slightly minor-sounding bassline is an eloquent way to articulate this strange experience. The lyrics were inspired by a magazine article titled "An Airbag Saved My Life" and the experiences described after death in The Tibetan Book of the Dead. All in all a strange, entrancing song, Airbag was hypnotically interesting from the beginning.

Rush - "BU2B"

I was brought up to believe The universe has a plan We are only human It's not ours to understand

Rating: 8/10

The Song: BU2B (standing for Brought up to Believe) is the second song on CLockwork Angels and was released as a single along with Caravan shortly before the album was released. It is a song about questioning whether peace and stability are really good for the world. Generally, the song seems to be a good summary pf the album, it is basically a parody of conformity, it's about conformity but it clearly makes fun of the it with the tone of the voice and the lyrics.
The Album: Clockwork Angels is the 19th album by Rush. It a concept album about a young man's quest to follow his dreams where he is caught between the grandiose forces of order and chaos. It was written into a novel by Kevin J. Anderson. To me, the album and the novel have two possible interpretations. First, it is a criticism of communism and conformity. The main character comes from world of conformity but goes on an adventure and goes against the conformity. The second interpretation is that they are a criticism of organized religion. Again, going against conformity.
The Band: Rush is a progressive/hard rock band from Canada lead by bassist/lead vocalist/keyboardist Geddy Lee. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of fame this year. Their musical style evolved from a hard rock and heavy metal focus on their first album to a more prog rock style with a heavy use of synthesizers.