Absolution - Muse

[Directed]

Absolution: Forgiveness. A freeing from guilt so as to relieve someone from obligation or penalty.

What if the retaliation for the liberation of Iraq sparks the apocalypse, ending all life on the planet, as we know it? What about the personal implications of life ending? What will your life end up meaning?

The album Absolution by Muse is born out of pondering these questions. It is a plea for forgiveness and hope, forgiveness that will never be obtained, and a hope that will never be fulfilled. Yet in the turmoil and struggle for that forgiveness and hope there is a kind of tragic beauty and religion.

Muse has the haunting and self-reflective style of Radiohead, mixed with the anthem and themes of U2 all with the motivating politics and emotions of Rage Against the Machine. This music is powerful stuff! Although I don’t buy their political philosophy or world view personally, you don’t need that to love what they are putting together in their sometimes vicious and biting guitar, like that on Stockholm Syndrome or Hysteria, and sometimes sweet and melancholy ballads, like Sing for Absolution or Blackout.

There is a genuine and honest feel to their songs that sucks you in and immerses you in their feelings and thoughts, and then takes you for an emotional ride. This is not a happy and everything is fine album, but it seems few good albums ever are. If you enjoy music that paints pictures emotions and feelings in a deep and meaningful way, you won’t want to miss this album. Their musical skill is excellent, and they have a rare talent for mixing great music with meaningful words. You will indeed find yourself wondering about the meaning of Absolution and Musing over this Album, making this band and album appropriately named, and quite good.

[King_Crud]

Muse are the band Radiohead could have been. I haven't payed too much attention to the meaning of their lyrics but I have their albums and they're great. Plus they're fantastic live.

[Directed]

I really enjoy the way they build a song up so that the Chorus just explodes. It is very emotionally satisfying. This album is one of those you can play over and over again, and you find a little something each time.

[Elf]

I don't know about the link between Radiohead and Muse, that doesn't strike me really.

I have played this album over and over again I never get tired of hearing it, along with all their other albums . They really do move me in a way that very few bands can. Seeing them play live is an amazing experience. Matt Bellamy is an awesome entertainer, with a great voice and an obvious love of what he does. I would stress to anyone who likes Muse to see them live - you most definitely will not be disappointed.

[amj]

Muse are the band Radiohead could have been. I haven't payed too much attention to the meaning of their lyrics but I have their albums and they're great. Plus they're fantastic live.

I'd disagree. Muse and radiohead have a different sound, both being amazing in different ways. But i'll agree, they are immense live. Best band i've seen.

As for the album...well it comes nowhere near topping origin of symmetry. Some tracks are noticeably weaker than others (Thoughts of a dying athiest and Falling away with you). But there are some immense songs on there (Stockholm syndrome, Ruled by secrecy) but the thing that pisses me of is that it's so poorly produced. It's way way over produced, they've taken the edge and rawness off the sound that partly made OOS so fucking incredible.

Edit: FUCK i've made it all 0's. Forget that bit lol.

[Elf]

I'd disagree. Muse and radiohead have a different sound, both being amazing in different ways. But i'll agree, they are immense live. Best band i've seen.

As for the album...well it comes nowhere near topping origin of symmetry. Some tracks are noticeably weaker than others (Thoughts of a dying athiest and Falling away with you). But there are some immense songs on there (Stockholm syndrome, Ruled by secrecy) but the thing that pisses me of is that it's so poorly produced. It's way way over produced, they've taken the edge and rawness off the sound that partly made OOS so fucking incredible.

Edit: FUCK i've made it all 0's. Forget that bit lol.

I disagree with you there too. OOS is a fantastic album and Absolution is too. I do not think Absolution is over produced. There is still the rawness there. If anything Showbiz is prolly the best work (I always love earliest work) with Sunburn being one of their greatest songs.

All of their work is great, all has merit on its own standing and I don't think any album can be compared to another. Muse goodness all round, just in different flavours.

[amj]

I disagree with you there too. OOS is a fantastic album and Absolution is too. I do not think Absolution is over produced. There is still the rawness there. If anything Showbiz is prolly the best work (I always love earliest work) with Sunburn being one of their greatest songs.

All of their work is great, all has merit on its own standing and I don't think any album can be compared to another. Muse goodness all round, just in different flavours.

If you want an example of the production, listen to the way the piano spectacularly fails to leap out at you on apocalypse please. It's abysmal. The intro ends louder than the song begins. It's almost irritating listening to the album because you know it SHOULD sound alot better. You can hear how it all should sound when they play live.

Showbiz IS a good album but it's a bit hit and miss. Showbiz, sunburn and uno are three of their best songs ever (my band covers showbiz, it's so fun to play) but stuff like I dunno...fillip just isn't quite up there. Which is to be expected for a debut.

[gunsella]

matt belamy wishes he was jeff buckley..... but alive and stuff

[lowededwookie]

Man I'm sick and tired of people comparing albums to previous instead of taking them for what they are... NEW ALBUMS.

There is not a single Muse album I dislike because they are each different to the previous. This means Muse, unlike many, will have a long shelf life. "Absolution"'s departure from "Origins of Symmetry" is brilliant and should be taken credit for that. For this reason Muse is very much similar to Radiohead who's albums have changed from previous with the noticable albums like "Kid A" and "Amniesiac" that departed greatly from the previous and also lead to the sound of Thom Yorke's brilliant "The Eraser".

Many say "Black Holes and Revelations" is a move back to their roots with "Origins of Symmetry" but while this maybe it doesn't necessarily make it a good thing. I love "Black Holes and Revelations" but if it is more of a move back to "Origins of Symmetry" then personally it is more a step backwards. Instead of progressing the sound the danger is that they could infact either become stagnant or run the risk of having people liken it too much to OOS and thus be judged squarely on that basis and as many have pointed out isn't as good as OOS. Personally "Black Holes and Revelations" and "Absolution" all shine on their own merits and anyone comparing these to previous albums are somewhat limited in their views.

"Absolution" is a brilliant album and a natural progression. As such I agree very much with the original review.

All those comparing it to OOS need to move on from that album. It's 6 years old ok.