Once in awhile there comes along a CD that you just connect with completely. Something about the lyrics, the type of music, and the aesthetics just make you want to listen to it over and over again. This is exactly how I feel about Strict Joy by The Swell Season. If you haven't listened to this CD yet, then seriously, you need to make this a priority.

The Swell Season consists of Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova. If these names sound familiar to you, it is because they are the stars of the hit indie movie of 2007, Once. I absolutely loved this movie (a review of which can be found here) and fell in love with the soundtrack. So imagine my excitement when I discovered that the two would be releasing an album together. This little indie heart leapt for joy, strict joy in fact.

If you have listened to the soundtrack for Once at all ("Falling Slowly"), then you already know the type of music you are getting. There are some tracks that are more tame and ethereal ("Fantasy Man," "Paper Cup," "I Have Loved You Wrong"), songs that require you to pour yourself a glass of wine and relax with some friends ("Low Rising," "In These Arms"), and other songs that are just downright fun and catchy ("The Rain," "Feeling the Pull"). They really do cover the whole gamut here.

But all of the songs have that distinct feel that Hansard and Irglova bring to their music. The music is so passionate and so well done that it just compels you to listen. Their two individual styles compliment each other well, and Strict Joy results in something so wonderful that you won't be able to help play the CD over again when it's all said and done. If you're into this type of music at all, there is no doubt in my mind that you will love it. So seriously, go listen. Now.

I don't think I've ever done a review of a musical album before, but if this blog discusses movies and literature, I don't see why music can't be involved as well.

Last Tuesday, Muse released The Resistance to U.S. audiences. Muse is a band with a huge following across the world but has never managed to get the same type of stardom in the United States. This is a shame because their music is so fantastic. Needless to say, with that kind of attitude you would see how I was very excited for the released of this album. Was it worth all of my excitement?

To say that my only feelings for this album were excitement would be inaccurate. While I was excited because it was a new Muse album, I was also feeling a bit discouraged because of the tracks released ahead of the album's official release. "United States of Eurasia" was the first song pre-released and it sounded like a rip-off of every Queen song ever. I don't have anything against Queen, but I listen to Muse because of their capacity to create brash, epic, and grandiose sounds, not because they are the best Queen cover band. "Uprising," the first single off the album which was also pre-relased sounded bland and boring compared to most of the Muse I've listened to. With all of those things combined, I didn't know quite how to feel about the new album.

Last Monday night, I logged into my iTunes and downloaded the new album hoping to find an album that I would love and be true to the name of Muse. While it is not my favorite album ever, The Resistance does have some fantastic tracks on it. "The Resistance," has much of the huge glam rock feel that I love. "Undisclosed Desires," is funky in the vein of "Supermassive Black Hole," which is not a bad thing at all.

But the greatest part of the album is the three part "symphony" at the end, entitled "Exogenesis." This three part "symphony" encapsulates everything I love about Muse. Brass and in your face melodies, subtle and quiet lows with epic soaring peaks, quirky sounds, and influences from classical music, "Exogenesis" is some of Muse's best work yet. This three part song alone makes the album a must have.

In short, I still love Muse. I appreciate anyone that can have a list of influences including Tchakovsky, Saint-Saens, Ravel, Chopin, Richard Strauss, Pink Floyd, the Beatles, and Queen. Who else can do that and make it work? Only Muse my friends, only Muse.