(Unclassifiable) Muse - Absolution

[JAStewart]

Absolution reviewed
Soaring orchestral backing, pounding bass, vocals emotional enough to make you want to tear your own heart out...

"Absolution" is the long-awaited third studio album by Muse, and it really was worth the wait. Muse have made a distinct change in direction on this album, using far more strings and piano, less guitar and distortion, and showing an all together mellower side to the band who brought us such aggressive tracks as "Cave" and "Plug in Baby". That's not to say that this new-found softer side is a bad thing. "Absolution" provides the perfect contrast to the angry, loud and sometimes disturbing sound of both "Showbiz" and "Origin of Symmetry". It shows that Muse are more than the screaming rock band that many have type-faced them to be, and proves to critics and cynics alike that they are long past the "Radiohead tribute band" comments made about them in the past.

Intro and Apocalypse Please - The perfect entrance to an album with the title "Absolution". This song provides our first taste of the end-of-the-world theme, which is present throughout the album. The intro (reminiscent of marching armies) sets the scene for the screaming vocals provided by Matt Bellamy, and the overall effect is one which cannot fail to paint pictures of a burning world slowly crumbling.

Time is Running Out - The first shop release single from "Absolution", and it is easy to see why. Catchy, cleverly written with contrasting verse and chorus, and impossible to get out of your head, TIRO is possibly the most accessible track on the album. Unfortunately, this accessibility means that TIRO is by no means the most thought provoking song that Muse have written. The lack of thought required to listen to this song (especially having been placed next to Apocalypse now), though adding a touch of the commercially acceptable, makes it one of the low points of the album.

Sing for Absolution - The title track of the album. "Sing..." carries a dark, almost frightening style to each verse, which leaves the listener slightly unsettled. Strangely though, it is not a depressing song. The chorus is uplifting enough to lift the entire song. I found myself smiling as I listened. The first of a series of slower tracks on "Absolution", "Sing..." could easily be added to the list of classic Muse songs, right beside "Unintended".

Stockholm Syndrome - If any song could define the traditional Muse sound, this is the one. The first single to be taken from the album, on download only, SS sees a typically layered, violent sound, with the trademark Bellamy vocals wailing in the foreground. The hardest track on "Absolution", SS is great stuff.

Falling Away - Slow, pretty Good..

Hysteria - With a title that once again portrays the idea of a world ending, "Hysteria" is by no means the loud, brash, unordered song that the title suggests. "Hysteria" is a highly melodic, ordered song, with well thought out lyrics, supplied as always by Bellamy. With such a melodic song, there was a risk that "Hysteria" could have been over produced, but Muse (and their production team) have succeeded in avoiding this. The static base and build up give way to what can only be described as an excellent piece of music, with just enough of an edge to be interesting, without seeming out of place next to falling away.

Blackout - A candle lit room filled with incense smoke, the flickering on the walls, the mellow atmosphere... if blackout fitted in any one place, it would be that room. The chilled sound would filter perfectly through the darkness. A stunning string arrangement that sends shivers up the spine, twinned with gentle drumming and flowing vocals, makes "Blackout" not only the ultimate chill-out song, but also a wonderful piece of writing and production.

Butterflies and Hurricanes - Once again, an orchestral section is well placed in this song. The synth gives the impression of a band moving towards the future, and allows for a build up to be proud of. The piano in this track is also very well placed, and though subtle, gives and edge which makes "Butterflies..." one of the stand out tracks of "Absolution".

The Small Print - Is a crashing, soaring, pounding track, which is a lyrical masterpiece. It is also highly thought provoking towards human nature and society. TSP and SS are the loudest songs of the album, and provide a welcome break from the gentle side of Muse.

Endlessly - With synth that any dance track would die to have, "Endlessly" is another truly pretty song. It makes a refreshing addition to the album to hear a song which relies so heavily on synth, but in my opinion, one song is enough. Not one of the best songs on the album for me, but a song that has already gathered a huge fan base.

Thoughts of a Dying Atheist - My personal favourite. Fantastic distorted guitar, and the catchiest line on the album in "scares the hell out of me". I cannot wait to hear this song live, as I get the impression that it will be a true crowd pleaser. The reflective quality of the lyrics in this song, and the guitar solo make this song a stand-out track, which orders every listener to stand up and take notice.

Ruled by Secrecy - Is to "Absolution" what "Megalomania" was to "Origin...". A very mellow, contemplative ending to the album, "Ruled..." just begs for the listener to take a step back and truly think about life as a whole. It closes the album in such a way that it reminds me of a parting goodbye from a long-lost friend.


Stockholm Syndrome
Butterflies And Hurricanes
Hysteria

5/5

[StonedMoogle]

Excellent review, JAStewart. Muse is one of my favorite bands and this CD is what got me into them. And I'm sure anyone else who listens to it will be immediatlely drawn into their style too.

Sing for Absolution and Hysteria are the best tracks on the album, in my own personal opinion. Every word is meaningful. It is no doubt that they are one of the best Indie Rock bands out that (that is what I refer to them by).

It does show the mellower side of Muse, and the mellower side is truly excellent.

SM's Rating: I also give this one a 5/5

[Eragor88]

I can only agree, I prefer Origin of Symmetry though, still 5/5

[Kif]

Yeah Muse are one of the greatest Brit Rock bands I know, but this album disappointed me a bit. I was looking forward to the heavy riffs and talented lyrics that OOS and Showbiz had, but I wasn't as pleased when I heard this album.

4/5

[manuscriptreplica]

yeah i agree with you cky2kendall_version2 i thought the album was a let down as well - sort of like by the way by chili peppers. i was looking forward to the heavier riffs, but there was only really one or two i.e stockholm syndrome + hysteria (its called interlude on my album cover... weird huh?) so yeah. still good though though i prefered origin of symmetry.

nice review as well very in depth at least you explained why you liked it... instead of 'i like this album cos muse are awesome'.

4/5

[Distorted Vision]

I preferred Origin Of Symmetry but Absolution is still good - it has some great moments and a few boring parts but overall I like it.

4/5

[frowned]

I actually think Absolution shows huge improvement in Bellamy's growth as a lyricist. If you listen to / read the lyrics to the first two albums - the lyrics are just crap. I mean like Oasis crap whereby he just sings stuff cos it rhymes, it's like on this album he's found something that moves him (war / impending apocalypse) and he has something to write about... well.

Good review. Thoughts of a Dying Atheist is my favourite song on the album too, good choice for penultimate track. I'd probably give the album 4/5, just because I have to be EXTREEEMELY impressed to give anything 5/5.

[br3ad_man]

I just bought this album. Showbiz came free with it I have one word for this album: WOW

[moderaterock222]

great review. its a great album, the more i listen to it the better it becomes. matt bellamy is a very talented musician and now on this album the majority of the lyrics are great too

[Ecu]

A great band ^^
I dont know very well the other albums, but they are very talented so it must be good

A 5/5, and time is running out for me

[BlacklightGuitarist]

Muse are my favourite band in the universe, and I waited and waited and waited for Absolution, to the point where I decided that it couldn't possibly live up to my expectations. I bought the album. I listened to it in disbelief. INCREDIBLE, a religious experience, and definately a 5/5. A lot more keyboard in this album, and, also, I thought, the sound could be pulled off live, wheras a lot of OOS had a lot of double-tracking, because not even Matthew Bellamy can play guitar and keyboard live. I love this album... I have had it in my CD player pretty much non-stop since I bought the album, and I have no intention of taking it out.

[BlacklightGuitarist]

Oh, and they are classifiable. Muse are prog rock at its finest, and prog rock is the generally-accepted term used to classify bands that are otherwise unclassifiable.

[martyn]

muuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuse th best band on planet earth,mars and all he others i cant praise them enoughthoughts of a dying aetheist and the small print
are my personal favourites screw every other band in britain at the moment
MUSE COMING THROUGH
6/5

[UKTwister]

I'd say it's not quite of the same quality as Origin Of Symmetry.

Did you not give falling away with you a proper listen? because it deserves a hell of a lot more than three words!

I think absolution is a lot heavier than origin of symmetry without needing heavier riffs. Some great moments are the last chorus on Butterflies and hurricanes, The ending to sing for absolution and the Yeah Yeah bit on Time is running out.

5/5 - better than showbiz, not as good as OOS

[Britrock]

I know it's a big bump, but the album was just released in America, so I thought I'd get it a bit of attention. It's still in my CD rotation, and they're the greatest band in Britain at least at the moment.

I would hardly call Muse or even just that CD unclassifiable. Not to say it isnt good, but I was really disapointed how it took much of the limelight away from Mars Volta's De-loused album. To call Absolution the most adventurous album of last year seems just silly if you put it next to De-loused IMO.

[brycey]

I bought "Absolution" a few months back, and it is fantastic! It's one of the most unique albums I own, as most of mine are ska, punk and pop-punk.

Very good and detailed review.

[standardrule]

i think this was their best themed album, as for best well it does have some ammazing songs but missed songs like in your world with the simplistic baseline

[Gubbe]

they only getting better and better
absolution is their best album
oos their second best

muse is the best band of all times

they dont know how to make bad music, because i know all their songs and not one of them is bad
i dont know a band who have only good songs (except for my own band ofcourse) so that makes muse the best band ever

Yeah...no...