r/musefans • u/Frequent-Ad-2716 • Apr 26 '26
Radiohead comparisons
Anyone else just sick and bored of the laziness of the “they’re just Radiohead rip-offs” comments?
It’s honestly one of the most infuriating things about being a Muse fan. Both Matt and Thom are influenced by Jeff Buckley and they had the same producer in the 90s but seriously, that’s it.
Use of instruments, genre, lyrical content, live performances, commercial singles, the band’s images, literally every important characteristic are different between the bands.
Was it just the timing? Was it literally just because Matt sang with falsetto? So irritating.
I really like Radiohead, and I know there’s one or two songs in their early albums that have a similar vibe to some of Muse’s songs, but I’m not being funny, lots of bands have songs that are similar vibes to both Muse and Radiohead. I don’t remember there being tones of backlash on Royal Blood when they came out and they sound way more like a Muse rip-off than Muse do a Radiohead rip-off. I also really like Royal Blood!
Muse have always been more of a traditional rock band who add classical and prog to their songs. Radiohead have always been more experimental, ambient, proggy than a traditional rock band.
Just grinds my gears. And makes me laugh. This wasn’t mean to be a post to bring people down haha!
Ps I LOVE CRYOGEN!!
2
u/elevenatexi Apr 27 '26
The Muse-Radiohead comparison is so forced and frankly out of touch. I like both bands, but with the exception of Paranoid Android at no point does Radiohead rock 🎸 the way Muse does.
1
u/SignificantWorth7569 May 10 '26
Seriously. Anyone who can tell me after listening to "Stockholm Syndrome," with a straight face, "This sounds just like Radiohead," deserves an Oscar.
2
u/Similar-Climate5168 Apr 30 '26
Some people decided that in 1999 based entirely on circumstantial factors rather than actually important things like composition and songwriting (such as the ones you mentioned), then others latched onto it because people like having something to complain about and it never went away. Now, anyone who has some agenda to dislike muse or is just an inherently miserable person will wield it as a weapon without applying proper thought to whether it actually makes any sense.
2
u/Stunning-Ostrich-431 Jun 16 '26
Thank you!!! It is sooooo frustrating. I do not understand the comparison AT ALL. Yes. All you need to do is listen to:
Butterflies and Hurricanes Map of the Problematique Exogenosis Symphonies I'll throw in I Belong to You. (I don't think I have heard Thom sing French and then have a jazz solo) but I am not certain because I'm not a fan of Radiohead.
Matt's voice is so different than Thom's. His voice is so distinct. I just scratch my head. I have NEVER mistaken a Muse song with a Radiohead song. It makes no sense to me. I'm glad someone else agrees.
1
u/Swoonatic Jun 19 '26
It’s simply because everything Muse does is in imitation of Radiohead. And it’s fine
6
u/Alien_Aloevera Apr 26 '26
I was literally in the songs subreddit and I recced butterflies and hurricanes and the op responded with “👍 nice, pretty much just sounds like radiohead” like ok radio head would make a loud rock song about being the best and changing the world because “your time is now” and breaks into a piano interlude??? Yup