Simulation Theory is the eighth studio album by English rock band Muse. It was released on 9 November 2018 through Warner Bros. Records and Helium-3. Muse co-produced the album with Rich Costey, Mike Elizondo, Shellback, and Timbaland. Following the darker themes of Muse's prior albums, Simulation Theory incorporates lighter influences from science fiction and 1980s pop culture, with extensive use of synthesisers. The contemporary political climate of the United States informed the lyrics.
New album Simulation Theory out now. 11 track standard CD plus 10 additional bonus tracks. 2x CD. 2x 180g Heavyweight Clear 12" Vinyl. 20 page hardback book.
The cover of Simulation Theory looks like the poster to Ready Player One and Muse’s mining of the Eighties seems just as deep: a set of references that have already carried weight for years. The neon pink cursive font feels borrowed from Drive, which borrowed it from Risky Business. The album cover was done by Stranger Things artist Kyle Lambert, who took influence from artists like Blade Runner designer Drew Struzan. The blurring results in clunkiness: Is this an album about a relationship where the metaphor is about our weird government or an album about the government where the metaphor is a troublesome yet irresistible woman? Take comparing a woman’s words to Propaganda (or the other way around): I’m the ocean you’re an oil slick/Now I am choking on your thought pollution/You make me offers that I can’t refuse/You keep telling pretty lies.
The least complicated or overly conceptual offering (for Muse) in over a decade, the 11-song set is focused and cohesive, blaring down a neon-washed highway of pulsing synths and driving beats while swerving to avoid the orchestral and dubstep meandering of their preceding 2010s output.
Muse’s eighth studio effort Simulation Theory is a concept album that explores the Simulated Reality, a hypothesis that defines reality and life as a simulation. The first clue which hinted towards the album title appeared in the Thought Contagion music video, where a cassette appeared that was dubbed Emotionality Rush, an anagram for the title. At the premiere of the Drones World Tour film, cinemas gave away badges with letters scattered around the Muse logo, which fans decoded as the new album title. Simulation Theory Q&A. Album Translations: Spanish Translation.
Simulation Theory" presents a band taking yet another giant stylistic leap, one that sounds as foreign to the pundits lobbying for a return to "Origin of Symmetry" as any contemporary pop act's music would be. Electronic sounds are the dominant force on this record, but don't let the album cover's "Stranger Things"-vibed cover fool you (and it's an apt comparison to make, since the cover was designed by Stranger Things artist Kyle Lambert), there is as much 2010s pop music influence as there is 1980s FM synthesis, though the degree. For the first time on a Muse album, it seems that the opening and closing tracks act as bookends to the whole record, with "The Void" echoing many of the stylistic choices made on the opening track, "Algorithm", driving home the concept behind this record, and it actually makes the album feel like a more complete experience, musically.
Tracklist
| 1 | Algorithm |
| 2 | The Dark Side |
| 3 | Pressure |
| 4 | Propaganda |
| 5 | Break It To Me |
| 6 | Something Human |
| 7 | Thought Contagion |
| 8 | Get Up And Fight |
| 9 | Blockades |
| 10 | Dig Down |
| 11 | The Void |
| Bonus Tracks | |
| 12 | Algorithm (Alternate Reality Version) |
| 13 | The Dark Side (Alternate Reality Version) |
| 14 | Propaganda (Acoustic Version) |
| 15 | Something Human (Acoustic Version) |
| 16 | Dig Down (Acoustic Gospel Version) |
Credits
- Artwork – Kyle Lambert
Barcode and Other Identifiers
- Barcode: 4943674289073
Other versions
| Category | Artist | Title (Format) | Label | Category | Country | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 190295559267 | Muse | Simulation Theory (11xFile, FLAC, MP3, Album) | Warner Music | 190295559267 | 2018 | |
| 4607147923931 | Muse | Simulation Theory (Super Deluxe Edition) (CD, Album, Dlx + CD, Liv + Unofficial, Dig) | Warner Bros. Records, Helium 3 | 4607147923931 | Russia | 2019 |
| 190295559366 | Muse | Simulation Theory (Cass, Album) | Warner Bros. Records, Helium 3 | 190295559366 | UK, Europe & US | 2018 |
| 0190295578855 | Muse | Simulation Theory (CD, Album) | Warner Bros. Records, Helium 3 | 0190295578855 | Europe | 2018 |
| 9029554726 | Muse | Simulation Theory (CD, Album) | Warner Bros. Records, Helium 3 | 9029554726 | Russia | 2018 |
Tracklist Hide Credits
| 1 | AlgorithmArranged By [Strings] – Matthew BellamyEngineer – Adam HawkinsEngineer [Assistant] – Aleks Von Korff, Rob Bisel, Tyler BeansOther [Shangri-La Assistants] – Colin Willard, Dylan Neustadter, Sam GrubbsProducer – MuseProducer, Mixed By – Rich CosteyTechnician [Tech Assistance] – Chris Whitemyer, Jeremy BermanTranscription By, Conductor – David Campbell |
| 2 | The Dark SideEngineer – Adam HawkinsEngineer [Assistant] – Aleks Von Korff, Rob Bisel, Tyler BeansMixed By – Mark "Spike" Stent*Mixed By [Assisted] – Michael FreemanOther [Shangri-La Assistants] – Colin Willard, Dylan Neustadter, Sam GrubbsProducer – Muse, Rich CosteyTechnician [Tech Assistance] – Chris Whitemyer, Jeremy Berman |
| 3 | PressureArranged By [Brass] – Matthew BellamyEngineer [Assistant] – Aleks Von Korff, Rob Bisel, Tyler BeansEngineer, Mixed By – Adam HawkinsOther [Shangri-La Assistants] – Colin Willard, Dylan Neustadter, Sam GrubbsProducer – Muse, Rich CosteyTechnician [Tech Assistance] – Chris Whitemyer, Jeremy BermanTranscription By, Conductor – David Campbell |
| 4 | PropagandaEngineer – Adam Hawkins, Tommaso CollivaEngineer [Assistant] – Martin Cooke , Nick Fournier*Mixed By – Mark "Spike" Sten*Mixed By [Assisted] – Michael FreemanProducer – Muse, Rich Costey, Team Timbo*Written-By [Additional] – Tim Mosley* |
| 5 | Break It To MeEngineer [Assisted By] – Martin Cooke , Nick Fournier*Producer – MuseProducer, Engineer, Mixed By – Rich CosteyTechnician [Tech Assistance] – Jeremy Berman |
| 6 | Something HumanEngineer – Adam HawkinsEngineer [Additional] – Tom Bailey, Tommaso CollivaEngineer [Assistant] – Aleks Von Korff, Martin Cooke , Nick Fournier*, Phillip Broussard, Jr*, Rob Bisel, Tyler BeansMixed By – Mark "Spike" Stent*Mixed By [Assisted] – Michael FreemanProducer – MuseProducer [Additional] – Noah GoldsteinProducer, Engineer – Rich Costey |
| 7 | Thought ContagionEngineer [Assistant] – Aleks Von Korff, Martin Cooke , Rob Bisel, Tyler BeansEngineer, Mixed By – Adam HawkinsOther [Shangri-La Assistants] – Colin Willard, Dylan Neustadter, Sam GrubbsProducer – Muse, Rich CosteyTechnician [Tech Assistance] – Chris Whitemyer, Jeremy Berman |
| 8 | Get Up And FightEngineer – Adam HawkinsEngineer [Assistant] – Chaz SextonEngineer, Mixed By – Michael IlbertProducer – Shellback for MXM Productions*Programmed By, Keyboards – Shellback Technician [Technical Assistance] – Chris Whitemyer, Jeremy BermanVocals [Additional] – Tove LoWritten-By [Additional] – Shellback |
| 9 | BlockadesEngineer – Adrian BushbyEngineer [Assistant] – John Prestiage*Mixed By – Adam HawkinsProducer – Mike Elizondo, MuseProducer [Additional] – Sebastien Najano, Viranda Tantula |
| 10 | Dig DownEngineer – Adam HawkinsEngineer [Additional] – Adrian BushbyEngineer [Assistant] – Brent Arrowood, John Prestage, Laurence Anslow, Phillip Broussard, Jr*Mixed By – Mark "Spike" Stent*Mixed By [Assisted] – Michael FreemanProducer – MuseProducer, Drum Programming, Keyboards – Mike Elizondo |
| 11 | The VoidArranged By [Strings] – Matthew BellamyEngineer – Adam HawkinsEngineer [Assistant] – Aleks Von Korff, Rob Bisel, Tyler BeansOther [Shangri-La Assistants] – Colin Willard, Dylan Neustadter, Sam GrubbsProducer – MuseProducer, Mixed By – Rich CosteyTechnician [Tech Assistance] – Chris Whitemyer, Jeremy BermanTranscription By, Conductor – David Campbell |
| 12 | Algorithm (Alternate Reality Version)Engineer [Additional] – Adam HawkinsPerformer – Matthew BellamyProducer, Engineer – Matt Bellamy*Producer, Engineer, Performer, Mixed By – Sebastien Najano |
| 13 | The Dark Side (Alternate Reality Version)Engineer [Additional] – Tommaso CollivaMixed By – Adam HawkinsProducer, Engineer, Performer – Matt Bellamy* |
| 14 | Propaganda (Acoustic Version)Engineer – Adam HawkinsMixed By – Mark "Spike" Stent*Mixed By [Assisted] – Michael FreemanProducer – Matt Bellamy*, Rich CosteyProducer, Engineer – Tommaso Colliva |
| 15 | Something Human (Acoustic Version)Engineer, Mixed By – Adam HawkinsProducer – Matt Bellamy*Producer [Additional], Engineer – Rich Costey |
| 16 | Dig Down (Acoustic Gospel Version)Directed By [Choir] – Tony Jones Engineer – Martin Cooke Performer – Torrence Gospel ChoirProducer [Additional], Engineer, Mixed By – Rich CosteyProducer, Engineer, Performer – Matt Bellamy* |
Companies, etc.
- Copyright (c) – Muse
- Phonographic Copyright (p) – Muse
- Licensed To – Warner Music UK Ltd.
- Mixed At – Neon Lights Studios
- Mixed At – Mixsuite LA
- Mixed At – Hansa Mix Room
- Mastered At – Sterling Sound
Credits
- Art Direction, Design [Package] – Jesse Lee Stout
- Artwork [Artwork Production Coordinator] – Keith Cathcart
- Cover [Illustration] – Kyle Lambert
- Illustration [Booklet], Painting [Booklet] – Paul Shipper
- Layout – Alex Tenta
- Mastered By – Randy Merrill
- Mastered By [Mastering Coordination] – Tommaso Colliva
- Music By, Lyrics By – Matthew Bellamy
- Performer, Art Direction, Design [Package] – Muse
- Photography [Additional] – Patrick McPheron
Notes
Sticker on shrinkwrap:"SIMULATION
THEORY
DELUXE CD
Featuring the hit singles
SOMETHING HUMAN,
PRESSURE and
GET UP AND FIGHT
plus
5 BONUS TRACKS
0190295578848"
Barcode and Other Identifiers
- Barcode (Scanned): 0190295578848
- Barcode (Printed): 0 190295 578848
- Label Code: LC14666
- Matrix / Runout (Variant 1, 2, 3): [Warner "Big W" logo] 57102234/0190295578848 21
- Mastering SID Code (Variant 1, 2, 3): IFPI LB 45
- Mould SID Code (Variant 1, 2): IFPI 0716
- Mould SID Code (Variant 2): IFPI 0769
- Mould SID Code (Variant 3): IFPI 078Y
- Rights Society: GEMA/MCPS
Other versions
| Category | Artist | Title (Format) | Label | Category | Country | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 190295559267 | Muse | Simulation Theory (11xFile, FLAC, MP3, Album) | Warner Music | 190295559267 | 2018 | |
| 4607147923931 | Muse | Simulation Theory (Super Deluxe Edition) (CD, Album, Dlx + CD, Liv + Unofficial, Dig) | Warner Bros. Records, Helium 3 | 4607147923931 | Russia | 2019 |
| 190295559366 | Muse | Simulation Theory (Cass, Album) | Warner Bros. Records, Helium 3 | 190295559366 | UK, Europe & US | 2018 |
| 0190295578855 | Muse | Simulation Theory (CD, Album) | Warner Bros. Records, Helium 3 | 0190295578855 | Europe | 2018 |
| 9029554726 | Muse | Simulation Theory (CD, Album) | Warner Bros. Records, Helium 3 | 9029554726 | Russia | 2018 |
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