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{{short description|1999 album by Muse}}
{{short description|1999 studio album by Muse}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2021}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2013}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2013}}
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| genre = {{hlist|[[Alternative rock]]<ref name="gw">{{cite web|last=Trendell|first=Andrew|date=20 May 2014|title=The 50 best second albums of all time|url=https://www.gigwise.com/photos/91152/|access-date=12 July 2021|website=[[Gigwise]]}}</ref>|[[indie rock]]<ref name="gw"/>|[[hard rock]]<ref>{{cite web|last=Raper|first=Dan|date=19 July 2006|title=Muse: Black Holes & Revelations|url=https://www.popmatters.com/muse-black-holes-revelations-2495683520.html|access-date=12 July 2021|website=[[PopMatters]]}}</ref>}}
| genre = {{hlist|[[Alternative rock]]<ref name="gw">{{cite web|last=Trendell|first=Andrew|date=20 May 2014|title=The 50 best second albums of all time|url=https://www.gigwise.com/photos/91152/|access-date=12 July 2021|website=[[Gigwise]]}}</ref>|[[indie rock]]<ref name="gw"/>|[[hard rock]]<ref>{{cite web|last=Raper|first=Dan|date=19 July 2006|title=Muse: Black Holes & Revelations|url=https://www.popmatters.com/muse-black-holes-revelations-2495683520.html|access-date=12 July 2021|website=[[PopMatters]]}}</ref>}}
| length = {{Duration|m=49|s=36}}
| length = {{Duration|m=49|s=36}}
| label = [[Taste Media|Taste]]{{efn|Also released through [[Mushroom Records]] in the United Kingdom and Oceania, [[Maverick Records]] in the United States, [[PIAS Recordings]] in Benelux, [[Motor Music]] in Germany, [[Naïve Records]] in France, and [[Avex Inc.|maximum10]] in Japan.}}
| label =
* [[Mushroom Records|Mushroom]]
* [[Taste Media|Taste]]
| producer =
| producer =
* [[John Leckie]]
* [[John Leckie]]
Line 27: Line 25:
| next_title = [[Random 1–8]]
| next_title = [[Random 1–8]]
| next_year = 2000
| next_year = 2000
| misc = {{Singles
| misc = {{Extra chronology
| artist = [[Muse (band)|Muse]] studio album
| type = studio
| title = Showbiz
| year = 1999
| next_title = [[Origin of Symmetry]]
| next_year = 2001
}}
{{Singles
| name = Showbiz
| name = Showbiz
| type = studio
| type = studio
| single1 = [[Uno (Muse song)|Uno]]
| single1 = [[Uno (Muse song)|Uno]]
| single1date = 14 June 1999
| single1date = 1999
| single2 = [[Cave (song)|Cave]]
| single2 = [[Cave (song)|Cave]]
| single2date = 6 September 1999
| single2date = 1999
| single3 = [[Muscle Museum]]
| single3 = [[Muscle Museum]]
| single3date = 22 November 1999
| single3date = 1999
| single4 = [[Sunburn (Muse song)|Sunburn]]
| single4 = [[Sunburn (Muse song)|Sunburn]]
| single4date = 21 February 2000
| single4date = 2000
| single5 = [[Unintended (song)|Unintended]]
| single5 = [[Unintended (song)|Unintended]]
| single5date = 5 June 2000
| single5date = 2000
}}
}}
}}
}}
'''''Showbiz''''' is the debut [[studio album]] by English [[Rock music|rock]] band [[Muse (band)|Muse]]. It was first released on 7 September 1999 in France, on 28 September 1999 in the United States by [[Maverick Records]],<ref name="ootw81"/> and on 4 October 1999 in the United Kingdom by [[Mushroom Records]] and [[Taste Media]].<ref name="ootw81">{{Harvnb|Beaumont|2008|p=81}}</ref> Recorded between April and May 1999 at [[RAK Studios]] and [[Sawmills Studio]], respectively,<ref>{{Harvnb|Beaumont|2008|p=61}}</ref> the album was produced by [[John Leckie]] and Paul Reeve in conjunction with the band. ''Showbiz'' was a moderate commercial success, reaching number 29 on the [[UK Albums Chart]].<ref name="UK"/> As of 2018, ''Showbiz'' has sold more than 1.2 million copies worldwide.
'''''Showbiz''''' is the debut [[studio album]] by English [[Rock music|rock]] band [[Muse (band)|Muse]], first released on 7 September 1999 through [[Taste Media]].<ref name="ootw81">{{Harvnb|Beaumont|2008|p=81}}</ref> It was released in various other regions around the world through the band's different regional labels such as; Naïve in France, [[Motor Music|Motor]] in Germany, Russia, Turkey and Ukraine, [[Maverick (company)|Maverick]] in the United States, [[Play It Again Sam (record label)|Play It Again Sam]] (PIAS) in [[Benelux]], and [[Avex Group|Avex Trax]] in Japan.<ref name="ootw81"/>

Recorded between April and May 1999 at [[RAK Studios]] and [[Sawmills Studio]], respectively,<ref>{{Harvnb|Beaumont|2008|p=61}}</ref> the album was produced by [[John Leckie]] and Paul Reeve in conjunction with the band. Five singles were released from the album; "[[Uno (Muse song)|Uno]]", "[[Cave (song)|Cave]]", "[[Muscle Museum]]", "[[Sunburn (Muse song)|Sunburn]]", and "[[Unintended (song)|Unintended]]."


Despite receiving generally mixed reviews from critics, ''Showbiz'' was a moderate commercial success, reaching number 29 on the [[UK Albums Chart]].<ref name="UK"/> As of 2018, ''Showbiz'' has sold more than 1.2 million copies worldwide.
''Showbiz'' was released in various regions around the world through the band's different regional labels: Naïve in France, [[Motor Music|Motor]] in Germany, Russia, Turkey and Ukraine, [[Maverick (company)|Maverick]] in the United States, [[Play It Again Sam (record label)|Play It Again Sam]] (PIAS) in [[Benelux]], and [[Avex Group|Avex Trax]] in Japan.<ref name="ootw81"/>


==Background and recording==
==Background and recording==
Line 51: Line 59:
[[John Leckie]], the producer of the album, started attending Muse's concerts in the latter half of 1998. Leckie was based at [[Sawmills Studios|Sawmills recording studio]], where the owner Dennis Smith had given the band free recording time the previous year, from which the ''[[Muse (EP)|Muse EP]]'' had resulted in 1998. He built up a relationship with the band during this time, coming to say that he'd "want to work with the band if ever they could afford him". Leckie had not worked with many bands for quite some time prior to doing so with Muse. The recording was finished by 15 May 1999.
[[John Leckie]], the producer of the album, started attending Muse's concerts in the latter half of 1998. Leckie was based at [[Sawmills Studios|Sawmills recording studio]], where the owner Dennis Smith had given the band free recording time the previous year, from which the ''[[Muse (EP)|Muse EP]]'' had resulted in 1998. He built up a relationship with the band during this time, coming to say that he'd "want to work with the band if ever they could afford him". Leckie had not worked with many bands for quite some time prior to doing so with Muse. The recording was finished by 15 May 1999.


==Sleeve artwork==
==Artwork==
The sleeve design was criticised by Muse biographer [[Ben Myers]], who wrote that it was "just plain strange. Ill-advised. Tacky, even" and "recalled the sort of artwork that Eighties prog-rock revivalists like [[Marillion]] used or, worse still, the doodlings of a sci-fi obsessed A-Level art student" instead of "the work of an exciting, new, distinctly modern band."<ref>{{cite book |last=Ben Myers |title=Muse: Inside the Muscle Museum|year=2007|page=95|publisher=Independent Music Press|isbn=978-0955282256}}</ref>
The sleeve design was criticised by Muse biographer [[Ben Myers]], who wrote that it was "just plain strange. Ill-advised. Tacky, even" and "recalled the sort of artwork that Eighties prog-rock revivalists like [[Marillion]] used or, worse still, the doodlings of a sci-fi obsessed A-Level art student" instead of "the work of an exciting, new, distinctly modern band."<ref>{{cite book |last=Ben Myers |title=Muse: Inside the Muscle Museum|year=2007|page=95|publisher=Independent Music Press|isbn=978-0955282256}}</ref>


==Reception==
==Critical reception and legacy==
{{Album ratings
{{Music ratings
| rev1 = [[AllMusic]]
| rev1 = [[AllMusic]]
| rev1score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}<ref>{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r430209 |label=Muse: ''Showbiz'' |first=Tom |last=Demalon |access-date=23 September 2011}}</ref>
| rev1score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}<ref>{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r430209 |label=Muse: ''Showbiz'' |first=Tom |last=Demalon |access-date=23 September 2011}}</ref>
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| rev4 = ''[[Rolling Stone]]''
| rev4 = ''[[Rolling Stone]]''
| rev4score = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref name="RS">{{cite journal |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/showbiz-19991014 |title=Muse: ''Showbiz'' |first=Neva |last=Chonin |date=14 October 1999 |journal=[[Rolling Stone]] |issn=0035-791X |location=New York |publisher=Straight Arrow |access-date=23 September 2011}}</ref>
| rev4score = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref name="RS">{{cite journal |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/showbiz-19991014 |title=Muse: ''Showbiz'' |first=Neva |last=Chonin |date=14 October 1999 |journal=[[Rolling Stone]] |issn=0035-791X |location=New York |publisher=Straight Arrow |access-date=23 September 2011}}</ref>
| rev5 = [[Sputnikmusic]]
| rev5score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref name="Sputnikmusic">{{cite web |url=https://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/962/Muse-Showbiz/ |title=Muse – ''Showbiz'' |last=Andrew H |date=14 January 2005 |publisher=[[Sputnikmusic]] |access-date=23 September 2011}}</ref>
| rev6 = ''[[USA Today]]''
| rev6 = ''[[USA Today]]''
| rev6score = {{Rating|3|4}}<ref>{{cite journal |url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/USAToday/access/47666843.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Oct+26%2C+1999&author=&pub=USA+TODAY&edition=&startpage=04.D&desc=Master+P+judges+next+generation%3B+Parton+picks+bluegrass |title=Muse, ''Showbiz'' |first=Edna |last=Gundersen |date=26 October 1999 |journal=[[USA Today]] |access-date=15 June 2013}}</ref>
| rev6score = {{Rating|3|4}}<ref>{{cite journal |url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/USAToday/access/47666843.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Oct+26%2C+1999&author=&pub=USA+TODAY&edition=&startpage=04.D&desc=Master+P+judges+next+generation%3B+Parton+picks+bluegrass |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130615073031/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/USAToday/access/47666843.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Oct+26,+1999&author=&pub=USA+TODAY&edition=&startpage=04.D&desc=Master+P+judges+next+generation;+Parton+picks+bluegrass |url-status=dead |archive-date=15 June 2013 |title=Muse, ''Showbiz'' |first=Edna |last=Gundersen |date=26 October 1999 |journal=[[USA Today]] |access-date=15 June 2013}}</ref>
}}
}}
''Showbiz'' drew mainly positive reviews. Several critics drew comparisons to [[Radiohead]]. Leckie, who also produced Radiohead's 1995 album ''[[The Bends (album)|The Bends]],'' dismissed the comparisons, saying: "In the late 90s, any British band that sang passionately and played guitar was going to get compared to Radiohead."<ref name=":2">{{Cite magazine |last=Marchese |first=David |date=September 2009 |title=Pomp and Circumstance |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1wIe3FI6TI0C&pg=PA53 |access-date=28 September 2014 |magazine=[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]}}</ref> He said he chose to produce Muse after Radiohead because he had "intentionally looked for something different".<ref name=":2" />
Upon its release, the album received positive to mixed reviews from music critics, who saw the young band's potential, but were also quick to dismiss the album as promising yet derivative of other [[alternative rock]] bands of the '90s. Several critics drew comparisons to [[Radiohead]], due to the style of the songs, and the fact that ''Showbiz'' was produced by [[John Leckie]], who also worked on the aforementioned band's album ''[[The Bends (album)|The Bends]]''. Neva Chonin of ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' gave the album 3 out of 5 stars, saying ''Showbiz'' "matches [[Thom Yorke]]'s penchant for majestic agony – screams and the word self-destruction pepper the title track – but with an edge that's quirkier and decidedly more ragged than their elders".<ref name="RS"/> Brent DiCrescenzo of ''[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]'' said in his review of the album that "Muse expertly boil down Radiohead into punkish radio nuggets", but went on to question that "despite this promise, where can they go from here?", which resulted in a rating of 6.7 of a possible 10.<ref name="Pitchfork Media"/> In a less favourable review, ''[[NME]]'' said that "''Showbiz'' is not as clever as they think it is ... "Unintended" and the title track are overwrought, prone to excruciatingly bad pseudo poetry", which ended in a 6 out of 10 score from the publication.<ref name="NME"/> On the other hand, a more positive review came from [[Edna Gundersen]] of ''[[USA Today]]'', who gave the album 3 out of 4 stars, saying that the album "offers smart, seductive rock that's sophisticated but not stuffy, fun but not frilly", and that the songs "get a boost from the handsome voice of Matthew Bellamy, who builds tension by vocally snowballing from a hushed intensity to full-throttle wails."<ref>{{cite news| url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/USAToday/doc/408815084.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Oct%2026,%201999&author=&pub=USA%20TODAY&edition=&startpage=04.D&desc=Master%20P%20judges%20next%20generation;%20Parton%20picks%20bluegrass | work=USA TODAY | title=Master P judges next generation; Parton picks bluegrass | date=26 October 1999}}</ref>


Neva Chonin of ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' wrote that ''Showbiz'' "matches [[Thom Yorke]]'s penchant for majestic agony – screams and the word self-destruction pepper the title track – but with an edge that's quirkier and decidedly more ragged than their elders".<ref name="RS" /> Brent DiCrescenzo of ''[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]'' said in his review that "Muse expertly boil down Radiohead into punkish radio nuggets", but asked: "Despite this promise, where can they go from here?"<ref name="Pitchfork Media" /> In a less favourable review, ''[[NME]]'' said that "''Showbiz'' is not as clever as they think it is ... 'Unintended' and the title track are overwrought, prone to excruciatingly bad pseudo poetry".<ref name="NME" /> [[Edna Gundersen]] of ''[[USA Today]]'' wrote that the album "offers smart, seductive rock that's sophisticated but not stuffy, fun but not frilly", and that the songs "get a boost from the handsome voice of Matthew Bellamy, who builds tension by vocally snowballing from a hushed intensity to full-throttle wails".<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/408815084 | work=USA TODAY | title=Master P judges next generation; Parton picks bluegrass | date=26 October 1999}}</ref>
The album has drawn a noticeably greater appreciation and following since its release however, as of 2009 the album was ranked in the top 20 British albums of the last 20 years by the UK edition of MSN. As well as this, several songs from the album appear to have had lasting appeal among fans, such as the title track, which was one of the band's most requested songs during [[The Resistance Tour]] in 2010, when the band staged a fan vote for songs to be played during that tour's stadium leg.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://muse.mu/page.aspx?page=poll |title=Choose the Setlists |publisher=muse.mu |access-date=23 September 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110722222459/http://muse.mu/page.aspx?page=poll |archive-date=22 July 2011 }}</ref> The song was not played; however, "Unintended" and "Cave" were played several times throughout the tour, with "Sunburn" being introduced during later performances of the tour. "Falling Down" was also played during [[The 2nd Law World Tour]] in 2012. Once again, songs from ''Showbiz'' such as "Sunburn", "Uno", "Showbiz" and "Muscle Museum" were reintroduced to their concerts in 2015, 2016 and 2017. Of these, "Showbiz" continued to make occasional appearances in 2018 and 2019.


==Track listing==
==Track listing==
{{Track listing
{{Tracklist
| headline = ''Showbiz'' {{nobold|– Standard edition}}
| headline = ''Showbiz'' {{nobold|– Standard edition}}
| all_writing = [[Matt Bellamy]]<ref name=linernotes>{{cite AV media|title=Showbiz |author= [[Muse (band)|Muse]] |year=1999 |type=album liner notes |publisher=[[Taste Media]]}}</ref>
| all_writing = [[Matt Bellamy]]
| title1 = [[Sunburn (Muse song)|Sunburn]]
| title1 = [[Sunburn (Muse song)|Sunburn]]
| length1 = 3:54
| length1 = 3:54
Line 103: Line 109:
| total_length= 49:36
| total_length= 49:36
}}
}}
==Personnel==
{{Tracklist
{{col-begin}}
| collapsed = yes
{{col-2}}
| headline = ''Showbiz'' {{nobold|– Digital download edition<ref>{{cite web |url=https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/showbiz/id314455341/ |title=''Showbiz'': Muse |publisher=[[iTunes Store]] |access-date=23 September 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://muse.mu/shop/product/74/showbiz/menu/3/albums/ |title=Showbiz |publisher=[[Muse (band)|Muse]] |access-date=13 September 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090829085124/http://muse.mu/shop/product/74/showbiz/menu/3/albums/ |archive-date=29 August 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref>}}
Personnel adapted from ''Showbiz'' CD liner notes<ref name =linernotes />
| title13 = Spiral Static
;Muse
| length13 = 4:44
*[[Matthew Bellamy]] &ndash; [[Singing|vocals]] <small>(all tracks)</small>, [[guitar]]s <small>(1-8, 10-12)</small>, [[piano]] <small>(1-6)</small>; [[Mellotron]] <small>(2, 7, 12)</small>; [[Wurlitzer electric piano]] <small>(3, 12)</small>; [[Hammond organ]] <small>(4, 7, 10)</small>; [[synthesiser]]s <small>(5)</small>, [[guitar synthesiser]] <small>(9)</small>; [[Pump organ|harmonium]] <small>(10)</small>; [[String section|string]] [[arrangement]]s <small>(6)</small>; "[[sample (music)| alien samples]]" <small>(9)</small>; [[Record producer|production]] and [[Audio mixing (recorded music)|mixing]] <small>(2, 7–9)</small>; [[Cover art|artwork]]
}}
*[[Chris Wolstenholme]] &ndash; [[bass guitar]] <small>(1-3, 5-12)</small>; [[Backing vocalist|backing vocals]] <small>(10)</small>; [[Electric upright bass|double bass]] <small>(1, 4)</small>; "slap nylon bass" <small>(6)</small>; production and mixing <small>(2, 7–9)</small>
{{Tracklist
*[[Dominic Howard]] &ndash; [[Drum kit|drums]] <small>(all tracks)</small>; [[Percussion instrument|percussion]] <small>(6, 8, 12)</small>; "radio noise" <small>(2)</small>; production and mixing <small>(2, 7–9)</small>
| collapsed = yes
{{col-2}}
| headline = ''Showbiz'' {{nobold|– Japanese edition}}
;Additional personnel
| title10 = Spiral Static
*[[John Leckie]] &ndash; production and mixing <small>(1, 3–6, 10–12)</small>; "crickets" <small>(12)</small>
| length10 = 4:44
*Paul Reeve &ndash; production and mixing <small>(2, 7–9)</small>; backing vocals <small>(7, 8, 11, 12)</small>
| title11 = Escape
*Boris &ndash; "tape abuse" <small>(5)</small>
| length11 = 3:31
*Tanya Andrew – artwork
| title12 = Overdue
*Craig Gentle – [[Graphic design|design]]
| length12 = 2:26
*Ralf Strathmann – [[photography]]
| title13 = Hate This and I'll Love You
*Frederic Gresse – photography
| length13 = 5:09
{{col-end}}
| total_length= 54:20
}}
{{Tracklist
| headline = ''Showbiz'' {{nobold|– Benelux edition (Disc 2)}}
| collapsed = yes
| title1 = Host
| length1 = 4:17
| title2 = Coma
| length2 = 3:35
| title3 = Pink Ego Box
| length3 = 3:32
| title4 = Forced In
| length4 = 5:10
| title5 = Agitated
| length5 = 2:23
| title6 = Yes Please
| length6 = 3:05
| title7 = Fillip
| note7 = Live
| length7 = 3:46
| title8 = Do We Need This?
| note8 = Live
| length8 = 4:12
}}


==Charts and certifications==
==Charts and certifications==
{{col-start}}
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
{{col-2}}


Line 198: Line 181:
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Belgium|type=album|artist=Muse|award=Gold|title=Showbiz|relyear=2000|certyear=2002}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Belgium|type=album|artist=Muse|award=Gold|title=Showbiz|relyear=2000|certyear=2002}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Netherlands|type=album|artist=Muse|award=Gold|title=Showbiz|relyear=2000|certyear=2002}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Netherlands|type=album|artist=Muse|award=Gold|title=Showbiz|relyear=2000|certyear=2002}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=album|artist=Muse|award=Platinum|title=Showbiz|relyear=2000|salesamount=500,000|salesref=<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/muses-biggest-singles-and-albums-on-the-official-chart__24677/|title=Muse's biggest singles and albums on the Official Chart|website=officialcharts.com}}</ref>}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=album|artist=Muse|award=Platinum|title=Showbiz|relyear=2000|id=5856-2056-2|salesamount=500,000|salesref=<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/muses-biggest-singles-and-albums-on-the-official-chart__24677/|title=Muse's biggest singles and albums on the Official Chart|website=officialcharts.com}}</ref>}}
{{Certification Table Bottom}}
{{Certification Table Bottom}}
{{col-end}}
{{col-end}}
Line 261: Line 244:
|AVCM-65057
|AVCM-65057
|}
|}

==Personnel==
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
;Muse
*[[Matthew Bellamy]] – [[Singing|vocals]]; lead and rhythm [[guitar]]s; [[piano]]; [[Hammond organ]] on "Falling Down", "Unintended" and "Escape"; [[mellotron]] on "Muscle Museum" and "Unintended", [[Wurlitzer electric piano]] on "Fillip" and "Hate This and I'll Love You"; [[synthesizer]]s on "Cave", [[guitar synthesizer]] on "Sober"; [[Pump organ|harmonium]] on "Escape"; [[String section|string]] [[arrangement]]s on "Showbiz"; [[Record producer|production]] and [[Audio mixing (recorded music)|mixing]] on "Muscle Museum", "Unintended", "Uno" and "Sober"; [[Cover art|artwork]]
*[[Christopher Wolstenholme]] – [[Bass guitar|bass]]; [[Backing vocalist|backing vocals]]; [[Electric upright bass|double bass]] on "Falling Down" and "Unintended"; production and mixing on "Muscle Museum", "Unintended", "Uno" and "Sober"
*[[Dominic Howard]] – [[Drum kit|drums]]; [[Percussion instrument|percussion]] on "Showbiz", "Uno" and "Hate This and I'll Love You"; synthesizer on "Muscle Museum"; production and mixing on "Muscle Museum", "Unintended", "Uno" and "Sober"
{{col-2}}
;Additional personnel
*[[John Leckie]] – production and mixing on "Sunburn", "Fillip", "Falling Down", "Cave", "Escape", "Overdue" and "Hate This and I'll Love You"
*Paul Reeve – production and mixing on "Muscle Museum", "Unintended", "Uno" and "Sober"; backing vocals on "Unintended", "Uno", "Overdue" and "Hate This and I'll Love You"
*Tanya Andrew – artwork
*Craig Gentle – [[Graphic design|design]]
*Ralf Strathmann – [[photography]]
*Frederic Gresse – photography
{{col-end}}


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
*{{Cite book |last=Beaumont |first=Mark |author-link=Mark Beaumont (journalist) |title=Out of This World: The Story of Muse |year=2008 |publisher=[[Omnibus Press]] |location=London |isbn=978-1-84772-377-2 }}


===Notes===
===Notes===
{{reflist}}
{{notelist}}


==External links==
===Additional reading===
*{{Cite book |last=Beaumont |first=Mark |author-link=Mark Beaumont (journalist) |title=Out of This World: The Story of Muse |year=2008 |publisher=[[Omnibus Press]] |location=London |isbn=978-1-84772-377-2 }}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20090803012337/http://muse.mu/discography/albums/7/showbiz/ ''Showbiz''] at the [http://muse.mu/ Muse official website]


{{Muse}}
{{Muse}}

Revision as of 00:23, 1 September 2024

Showbiz
Studio album by
Muse
Released7 September 1999 (1999-09-07)
RecordedApril and May 1999
Studio
Genre
Length49:36
LabelTaste[a]
Producer
Muse chronology
Muscle Museum
(1999) 		Showbiz
(1999) 		Random 1–8
(2000)
Muse studio album chronology
Showbiz
(1999) 		Origin of Symmetry
(2001)
Singles from Showbiz
  1. "Uno"
    Released: 1999
  2. "Cave"
    Released: 1999
  3. "Muscle Museum"
    Released: 1999
  4. "Sunburn"
    Released: 2000
  5. "Unintended"
    Released: 2000

Showbiz is the debut studio album by English rock band Muse, first released on 7 September 1999 through Taste Media.[3] It was released in various other regions around the world through the band's different regional labels such as; Naïve in France, Motor in Germany, Russia, Turkey and Ukraine, Maverick in the United States, Play It Again Sam (PIAS) in Benelux, and Avex Trax in Japan.[3]

Recorded between April and May 1999 at RAK Studios and Sawmills Studio, respectively,[4] the album was produced by John Leckie and Paul Reeve in conjunction with the band. Five singles were released from the album; "Uno", "Cave", "Muscle Museum", "Sunburn", and "Unintended."

Despite receiving generally mixed reviews from critics, Showbiz was a moderate commercial success, reaching number 29 on the UK Albums Chart.[5] As of 2018, Showbiz has sold more than 1.2 million copies worldwide.

Background and recording

Showbiz was recorded between April 1999 and May 1999. However, the album included some older songs in Muse's repertoire, many of which can date as far back as 1996. Most of the songs on Showbiz had already been written at least by 1997. The songs featured on the album were among the "fifty or so" that Matt Bellamy had written before entering the studio. The band selected the songs which they deemed to be the more conventional and "straight-forward" to make up Showbiz. While the songs contain an eclectic and diverse sound featuring subtle classical, jazz, blues, Latin, and world music influences, they have a distinct and cohesive alternative rock aesthetic. The more experimental material was left out of the album to be included as B-sides in the single releases. A few of those songs were later featured on the compilation album Hullabaloo Soundtrack.

John Leckie, the producer of the album, started attending Muse's concerts in the latter half of 1998. Leckie was based at Sawmills recording studio, where the owner Dennis Smith had given the band free recording time the previous year, from which the Muse EP had resulted in 1998. He built up a relationship with the band during this time, coming to say that he'd "want to work with the band if ever they could afford him". Leckie had not worked with many bands for quite some time prior to doing so with Muse. The recording was finished by 15 May 1999.

Artwork

The sleeve design was criticised by Muse biographer Ben Myers, who wrote that it was "just plain strange. Ill-advised. Tacky, even" and "recalled the sort of artwork that Eighties prog-rock revivalists like Marillion used or, worse still, the doodlings of a sci-fi obsessed A-Level art student" instead of "the work of an exciting, new, distinctly modern band."[6]

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[7]
NME6/10[8]
Pitchfork6.7/10[9]
Rolling Stone[10]
USA Today[11]

Showbiz drew mainly positive reviews. Several critics drew comparisons to Radiohead. Leckie, who also produced Radiohead's 1995 album The Bends, dismissed the comparisons, saying: "In the late 90s, any British band that sang passionately and played guitar was going to get compared to Radiohead."[12] He said he chose to produce Muse after Radiohead because he had "intentionally looked for something different".[12]

Neva Chonin of Rolling Stone wrote that Showbiz "matches Thom Yorke's penchant for majestic agony – screams and the word self-destruction pepper the title track – but with an edge that's quirkier and decidedly more ragged than their elders".[10] Brent DiCrescenzo of Pitchfork said in his review that "Muse expertly boil down Radiohead into punkish radio nuggets", but asked: "Despite this promise, where can they go from here?"[9] In a less favourable review, NME said that "Showbiz is not as clever as they think it is ... 'Unintended' and the title track are overwrought, prone to excruciatingly bad pseudo poetry".[8] Edna Gundersen of USA Today wrote that the album "offers smart, seductive rock that's sophisticated but not stuffy, fun but not frilly", and that the songs "get a boost from the handsome voice of Matthew Bellamy, who builds tension by vocally snowballing from a hushed intensity to full-throttle wails".[13]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Matt Bellamy[14]

Showbiz – Standard edition
No.TitelLength
1."Sunburn"3:54
2."Muscle Museum"4:23
3."Fillip"4:01
4."Falling Down"4:33
5."Cave"4:46
6."Showbiz"5:16
7."Unintended"3:57
8."Uno"3:37
9."Sober"4:04
10."Escape"3:31
11."Overdue"2:26
12."Hate This and I'll Love You"5:09
Total length:49:36

Personnel

Charts and certifications

Release history

Region Date Label Format Catalog
Frankreich 7 September 1999 Naïve CD NV 3211-1
Deutschland 20 September 1999 Motor CD 547 979-4
Russland
Türkei
Ukraine
Vereinigte Staaten 28 September 1999 Maverick CD 0 9362-47382-2 0
Vereinigtes Königreich 4 October 1999 Taste/Mushroom CD MUSH59CD
LP MUSH59LP
CS MUSH59MC
MD MUSH59MD
Benelux 4 October 1999 PIAS CD 481.2001.20
Japan 4 October 1999 Avex Trax CD AVCM-65057

References

  1. ^ a b Trendell, Andrew (20 May 2014). "The 50 best second albums of all time". Gigwise. Retrieved 12 July 2021.
  2. ^ Raper, Dan (19 July 2006). "Muse: Black Holes & Revelations". PopMatters. Retrieved 12 July 2021.
  3. ^ a b Beaumont 2008, p. 81
  4. ^ Beaumont 2008, p. 61
  5. ^ a b "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 8 November 2018.
  6. ^ Ben Myers (2007). Muse: Inside the Muscle Museum. Independent Music Press. p. 95. ISBN 978-0955282256.
  7. ^ Demalon, Tom. Muse: Showbiz at AllMusic. Retrieved 23 September 2011.
  8. ^ a b "Showbiz". NME. United Kingdom. 1 October 1999. ISSN 0028-6362. Retrieved 23 September 2011.
  9. ^ a b DiCrescenzo, Brent (28 September 1999). "Muse: Showbiz". Pitchfork. Retrieved 23 September 2011.
  10. ^ a b Chonin, Neva (14 October 1999). "Muse: Showbiz". Rolling Stone. New York: Straight Arrow. ISSN 0035-791X. Retrieved 23 September 2011.
  11. ^ Gundersen, Edna (26 October 1999). "Muse, Showbiz". USA Today. Archived from the original on 15 June 2013. Retrieved 15 June 2013.
  12. ^ a b Marchese, David (September 2009). "Pomp and Circumstance". Spin. Retrieved 28 September 2014.
  13. ^ "Master P judges next generation; Parton picks bluegrass". USA TODAY. 26 October 1999.
  14. ^ a b Muse (1999). Showbiz (album liner notes). Taste Media.
  15. ^ "Australiancharts.com – Muse – Showbiz". Hung Medien. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
  16. ^ "Ultratop.be – Muse – Showbiz" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
  17. ^ "Ultratop.be – Muse – Showbiz" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
  18. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Muse – Showbiz" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
  19. ^ "Muse: Showbiz" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
  20. ^ "Lescharts.com – Muse – Showbiz". Hung Medien. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
  21. ^ "Discography Muse". irish-charts.com. Retrieved 8 October 2008.
  22. ^ "Italiancharts.com – Muse – Showbiz". Hung Medien. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
  23. ^ "ミューズのCDアルバムランキング、ミューズのプロフィールならオリコン芸能人事典-ORICON STYLE". Oricon.co.jp. Retrieved 27 February 2013.
  24. ^ "Norwegiancharts.com – Muse – Showbiz". Hung Medien. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
  25. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 14 September 2018.
  26. ^ "The Official UK Albums Chart 2001" (PDF). UKChartsPlus. Retrieved 1 April 2021.
  27. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2008 Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  28. ^ "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – albums 2002". Ultratop. Hung Medien. Archived from the original on 8 March 2021.
  29. ^ "Dutch album certifications – Muse – Showbiz" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers. Enter Showbiz in the "Artiest of titel" box. Select 2002 in the drop-down menu saying "Alle jaargangen".
  30. ^ "Muse's biggest singles and albums on the Official Chart". officialcharts.com.
  31. ^ "British album certifications – Muse – Showbiz". British Phonographic Industry.

Notes

  1. ^ Also released through Mushroom Records in the United Kingdom and Oceania, Maverick Records in the United States, PIAS Recordings in Benelux, Motor Music in Germany, Naïve Records in France, and maximum10 in Japan.

Additional reading

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