So, this is a little story about a little band. I've been into Muse for about the past 7 or so years. Their first 2 albums I had to specially order and import to a Virgin Records store over 50 miles from where I lived (this was before Amazon.uk allowed shipping to the states). Anyway, 'nuff said, I was a fan, and did what it took to get their albums.

So, recently here in the US, they've kind of hit a bit of a winning streak with their last album, Absolution. So, when the new one came out, I figured I'd just casually walk into Best Buy the day after, and pick it up (had Back to School Night on released date...). To my surprise, I didn't see any copies of the new album on the shelf.

Even more intriguing, when I went to the Best Buy CD employee (aka, the 16 year old girl smacking gum while helping a mom choose the latest "Taking Back Sunday" or "Yellowcard" for her son) and asked for the new "Mu...," she cut me off and said, "We're all out." Repeat this for about 3 record stores, and I finally got a copy.

So far? MUCH, MUCH better than Absolution and Showbiz, though not sure if it's better than Origins of Symmetry, yet. I must spend more time with it. They seem to no longer be a pedestrian Radiohead, and actually their own band. That, alone, is good news.