Product Description

Teignmouth neo-prog rockers' third album follows 2001's 'Origin Of Symmetry'. For this release the band trim back on the progressive flourishes somewhat without sacrificing musical innovation. Includes the single 'Time Is Running Out' and the track 'Stockholm Syndrome' which sold 5000 "copies" as an innovative download single.

Track Listing

1. Intro
2. Apocalypse Please
3. Time Is Running Out
4. Sing for Absolution
5. Stockholm Syndrome
6. Falling Away with You
7. Interlude
8. Hysteria
9. Blackout
10. Butterflies and Hurricanes
11. Endlessly
12. Thoughts of a Dying Atheist
13. TSP
14. Rule by Secrecy

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #482 in Music
• Released on: 2003-09-22
• Number of discs: 1

Amazon.co.uk Review
With Absolution, size is most definitely an issue. Hoping that it will finally propel them into the musical major leagues, Muse have set out to create a cross-genre monster, a contemporary meisterwerk, the biggest-sounding album in years. That they almost succeed is testament to their sky-high confidence and unarguable abilities. With just three members to draw upon, they've individually stretched themselves to fill in the inevitable sonic gaps. Bassist Chris Wolstenholme, in particular, does sterling work, producing a driving buzz to lift "Time Is Running Out" to a massive crescendo, then a rush of distortion that pushes "Hysteria" to Queen-like levels of ecstasy.

Throughout, Matt Bellamy adds classical grace with his tinkling, rolling grand piano, all the while moaning and shrieking out his fear of decay, destruction and death, like a traumatised Gene Pitney. Indeed, aside from their classical leanings and clear kinship with the prog-rock likes of Queen and Rush (there are some outbreaks of metal here), Muse often draw on classic pop, employing lush 1960s-style arrangements. With "Blackout" they go even further, daring to conjure Bacharach's "Magic Moments". If there's a weakness here, it's that the songwriting remains inconsistent, but this is usually covered up by musicianship and studio wizardry that leave Coldplay languishing in Muse's dust. --Dominic Wills

Customer Reviews

Not their best album
This is not their best album, worth listening to, definitely. I would urge you to buy it but if it's a choice of different muse albums go for Black Holes and Revelations. Very good lyrics and the songwriting is upto scratch as usual. Still very good.

Propably their best 9/10
By this stage in most bands careers they've had that classic album that gets them in the history books. Somehow despite their amazing talent Muse haven't managed this yet.

If Orgin suffered from being too unvaried this cd has Muse spreading themselves far too thin. While the anthems are numerous and indeed brilliant they are always seperated by the inclusion of too many slow songs that kill the momentum of the album while not adding enough in return.

Apocalypse please - Propably the best opener ever, crashing and climatic.

Time is running out - Slightly sleasy sounding pop song, with an explosive chorus.

Sing for absolution - Propably the best of the albums slower moments, it has atmosphere in spades.

Stockholm Syndrome - A heavy fast paced, floor the arena style rock/metal song.

Falling away from you - Squeaky guitars and romantic lyrics, it doesn't fit on Absolution and its pretty dull too.

Hysteria - Anthemic rock song about lust that keeps a strong layer of tension with competing guitars and a killer base line.

Blackout - A nice slow song with meaningless but pretty lyrics that feels a bit like Shine on you crazy diamond (Pink Floyd).

Butterflies and hurricaines - An experimental and intresting song that builds up layers of climactic emotion to an explosive level only to stop the song totally with a piano and pick it all back up again intact, testiment to Muses genius.

The small print - This is just filler but its fast paced filler so its not going to need skipping.

Endlessly - A great slow song if a little too similar to blackout in its construction.

Thoughts of a dying athist - Absolutely brilliant track where Matt confronts the underlying fears of the album, or maybe just because I can relate to a fear of death in a godless world...

Ruled by secrecy - Lyrical dribble but with a beautiful piano solo towards the end make it one of the albums best tracks.

Buy this for sure and lets hope their 5th studio album can be their Morning Glory or Ok Computer.

what the world needs now...
A great album, from a band who marry prog and retro with about 1000 other styles without difficulty. Great riffs, great vocals, and interesting [if borderline emo] lyrics, and while Bellamy still sounds like Thom Yorke, the band definitely have their own style and scope. I'm still amused that people always try and judge which album is best... it's such a personal thing. If you like this album, you'll like the others. Simple.