I'm still trying to get my arms around the new Muse CD, “The Resistance.”

I love the band's anthemic sound -- think next-generation Queen -- and approach to production. And I really liked 2006's "Black Holes and Revelations. But none of the new songs are jumping out at me. It’s pleasant enough, but I'm still trying to find the heart of the album. To other ears, "The Resistance" is getting "generally favorable reviews," so I'll keep trying.

Humorous sidelight: On release day, I wanted to buy one of the “deluxe editions” with bonus DVD, so went to Best Buy, which priced it $2 less than other places. So, I get there, and am scouring the racks, and a guy next to me asks, “You looking for the new Muse?” I gave him an odd look -- I was dressed for work, not wearing a band T-shirt -- and replied, “Yeah, are they out already?” Sure enough, Best Buy was already sold out. The guy says, “I think I’m gonna go to Target and pay the $2 more just to get a copy.” I said, “Good idea” ... then made a beeline for the door. No way dude was going to beat me to Target, just in case there was only one copy. Turns out Target had a half-dozen copies, so my guiltiness faded quickly. But it’s been a loooooong time since I ran into other music fans fighting for copies of a hot release.