Muse — H.A.A.R.P.

Muse begin their live CD/DVD while "Dance Of The Knights" from Prokofiev's "Romeo And Juliet" plays in the background. That isn't anything new, since The Smiths used to begin live performances with the same piece. But watch the DVD and you'll discover the entrance is done through a trap door, while rose petals fall from the roof. Seriously. It's definitely ridiculous, but it's also a good prelude to H.A.A.R.P.'s astronomical colossus. The package chronicles a two-night stand at London's Wembley Stadium last June, heavy with numbers from 2006's Black Holes And Revelations and 2004's Absolution. The CD is pretty standard and the DVD is mostly just fancy camera work and flashy stage production, but it features more tracks and several moments demonstrating why Muse are a must-see. Matthew Bellamy's guitar tapping-filled solo on "Invincible" is one instance. That said, there's really nothing here you couldn't get from seeing the band live. Buy H.A.A.R.P. if you're a huge fan, but if you're undecided... nothing beats the real thing.

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