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Critic Reviews
100
With their third studio album, 'Absolution', they have crafted a truly elemental opus.
15y
100
Absolution's chaotic choruses feel like the triumphant culmination of some earth-shattering undertaking.
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3y
90
Muse have widened the goalposts and re-established what rock is allowed to stand for. Next to ‘Absolution’, even something as majestic as ‘Elephant’ sounds so painfully small.
13y
90
Overall, the album features some unforgettable tracks, many great tracks but incomparable to the best, and a few obvious let downs. Absolution is the most cohesive and drawn together Muse album to date.
12y
90
Whilst many still consider Muse to be Radiohead/Queen/”insert band here” rip offs there’s no denying that in ‘Absolution’ they’ve crafted a real gem.
6y
90
Absolution is pure yet corrupt, baroque yet carnivorous, controlled yet distorted.
2mo
80
Absolution is an emotional, philosophical, sophisticated, poetic, and beautiful piece of rock music that does this pathetic planet proud.
15y
80
Muse continues to make unrelenting hardcore art rock; Absolution is a tad cheesy, a bit too grandiose in its ambitions, bursting at the seams with too many ideas, and thus exactly what any Muse fan craves.
15y
80
Like Coldplay on A Rush of Blood to the Head, Muse sound like a band who are at the top of their game. Their confidence carries you through the album's excesses.
10y
80
It's the sound of a band hell-bent on doing something different, without forgetting to rock.
4mo
80
For sheer bravado and imagination it's something that few bands will top this year.
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3y
75
The album's intensity can be exhausting but tracks such as Sing for Absolution and Endlessly easily rival anything from Radiohead.
4mo
66
Absolution certainly doesn't tone anything about the band down to any degree.
11y
60
It's too bad that vocalist Matt Bellamy doesn't bring as much ingenuity to his singing.
11y
60
Exactly what Jon Anderson and co were shooting for 30 years back, only inevitably a certain muddiness of purpose and melody hamper them. And please, no Tales From Topographic Oceans.
10y
40
Pushes the trio's grandiose delusions onto new levels of interpretative-dancing, mirror-cracking excess.
Print Only
2y
Examining: Muse
Part 3 - Absolution
The progressive, psychedelic, gothic, classical reinterpretation of alt-rock found on “Origin of Symmetry” was beloved by fans and critics alike, and Muse would only see more success as they went on tour. Muse’s live skills hadn’t diminished in the slightest, and their headlining “Origin of Symmetry” tour saw them moving up from clubs and concert halls to higher slots in festivals and even arenas. The trio handled the ... read more
(Band Binge: Muse Part Three of Six)
So, from one of the tightest and fun rock records of the early 2000s, how do you top or continue that feat?
Make a concept album of coarse!
From talking about the world and the emotions that is inside of themselves, Muse take a very minor risk and try to do something that at the time they had never done before: talk about the world at large with their very first concept record. So what's the concept? Well, the first track paints it pretty well. It's the ... read more
Absolution? More like absolute BANGER.
This is an amazing follow-up of 'Origin of Symmetry'.
Muse keep surprising me with their beautiful instrumentation paired amazingly with Matt Bellamy's glass shattering falsettos. If I would try to do a high note like Matt, I'd end up losing my voice at the very first attempt. Every song has it's own character, making this album not only memorable, but also one of the best Art rock albums out there. I also love how diverse this ... read more
This is the best album i have listened to. Personally it is. So beautiful. Blends heavy rock with a gentle grace.
While not as consistent as Origin Of Symmetry, Absolution has arguably even higher highs, and is still a great showing from Muse. Highly recommend.
(87 -> 80)
First one to really grow off me. About as good as Showbiz with fewer and slightly weaker highs.
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patton, thisisabtlgrnd, philthy, Alejandro González, MarkyC, sweertner, OPENblinds, KillerBeast, hARded2000Become a Subscriber
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Track List
| 1 | Intro 0:24 | 72 |
| 2 | Apocalypse Please 4:13 | 89 |
| 3 | Time Is Running Out 3:56 | 91 |
| 4 | Sing for Absolution 4:55 | 88 |
| 5 | Stockholm Syndrome 4:58 | 94 |
| 6 | Falling Away with You 4:41 | 84 |
| 7 | Interlude 0:37 | 76 |
| 8 | Hysteria 3:47 | 95 |
| 9 | Blackout 4:22 | 83 |
| 10 | Butterflies & Hurricanes 5:02 | 90 |
| 11 | The Small Print 3:29 | 86 |
| 12 | Endlessly 3:49 | 82 |
| 13 | Thoughts of a Dying Atheist 3:11 | 85 |
| 14 | Ruled by Secrecy 4:54 | 84 |
Total Length: 52 minutes
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3d
ik i dogged rym for having post-rock sec for a brief period, but ngl, id say Blackout fits into that genre somewhat but not fully
