Absolution - Muse > Reviews > It’s the End of the World

Author's product rating:   

Originality
Lyrics
Quality and consistency of tracks
How does it compare to the artist's other releases
Value for Money

Advantages:	Nice step forward, fantastic music, some excellent songs and hardly a duff track here
Disadvantages:	Can understand why some people dont get Muse

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

With each of their previous albums Muse have gone some way to prove again and again how they are improving and their undeniable talents. This their third proper album, ‘Absolution’ has gone a long way to really put the Devon band at the top of the music word, in terms of commercial success, critical acclaim and popularity all they way down.

Muse are one of the most exciting bands around, from their spectacular live performances to an experimental side that many rock bands do not have. They can craft proper songs, complicated works and have long left behind any people that call them a poor mans Radiohead. A three piece band comprising of Matt Bellamy as front man with songwriter, vocal, lead guitar and keyboards all to his credit helped along by Dominic Howard on drums and Chris Wolstenholme on bass guitar.

On the face of it Muse had been away for some time, and needed to come back with a bang. They did not disappoint with this album, a fine selection of tracks with a number of real tunes and a good overall collections. While keeping what is becoming their own unique touches to songs. The tone of the album as a whole is of a very dark nature, looking at the song titles shows as much. Some life experience add depth to the lyrics and a general dissatisfaction with the world provide more material. The album does prepare for the end of the world, but at the same time making it sound so good.

1. Intro
The album is opened by a brief but dramatic little introduction at this point. The sound of a marching in a military sense gradually builds up to fill the speakers in an impressive way. It does fit in rather well with the tone of the album, and leads right onto the opening few notes of the next track.

2. Apocalypse Please
A stark intro to wake you up from the slightly surreal opening number, a harsh piano thumping away then lifts into Matt Bellamy’s soaring vocals. His voice has the distinctive high-pitched tones of previous albums, but carry a whole new sense of twisted feeling behind the words as he screams this is the end of the world. Matt can make it sound good though, as the whole song is frantic and anguished in the lyrics and music. Not a bad opener, perhaps a slightly intimidating start but grows quickly.

3. Time Is Running Out
One of the stand out tracks for the album as a whole. Released as a first single to show off the album, it does have many qualities that make it a good single, easy to get into and able to be taken as a three minute pop song. It is a simple song, basic chorus, bridge and verse with easy lyrics running together but it works really well. Energetic guitars and drumming drive the song at a fast pace, continuing the same themes as the previous song.

4. Sing for Absolution
Just looking into the song title for the past three tracks and you get the feeling where the album is heading. This track is a much more delicate number than the crunching rock numbers previously. Haunting vocals matched well with piano as the leading instrument. Like Apocalypse Please would not have looked out of place on their last album, Muse like to go in for the epic endings and build up and this song provides it.

5. Stockholm Syndrome
Moving back up with the pace, a longer guitar intro is a louder number. Darker tone to the song, and when the guitars really crash into the chorus it is a powerful song. More classic Muse with the vocals and keyboards adding to the song powered by bass. Released as an internet only single first, another great track to complement those on the album already.

6. Falling Away with You
Another softer intro to the song as it is allowed to build up into once more a fine chorus. A simple song again, nice guitar licks and easy to listen to with an instrumental background. Almost a soothing track it is a ballad with meaningful words to it. Like much of the album the track go together really well with those around it, and the song is a real grower the more you listen to it.

7. Interlude
Simply a 30 second odd piece of soft instrumental and guitar feedback. Not too such why it was done, but it leads into Hysteria well which is one of the best tracks on the album and provides a nice piece of rest as the title suggests.

8. Hysteria
As above this is one of the best tracks on the album it really stands out with its quality. Another clear choice of a single from the album, like the other two stands alone well and is the sort of music that should be in the charts and on the radio. From the awesome intro to the lead out of messy guitars it does not let down any of its pace and flies along. A fantastic guitar solo underline the quality of the song in a very polished sort of way.

9. Blackout
A softer approach to the next track, very much more toned down and subtle approach to a light ballad. The strings section is used to great effect on the song, making it another epic orchestral number from Muse. Relaxing and smooth pace it is a good song, contrasting to the past track and fits in well. Really good to listen to.

10. Butterflies & Hurricanes
The track starts out with a quiet and slow paced beginning with a slightly dark surrounding tone and steel lyrics. Like other tracks opens into a leading vocal section that raises the volume. It is nicely done, the background instruments are understated and add to the atmosphere created by the track. Good crafting of the song, it is a real composed song almost classical with the construction in a operatic sense, at over five minutes it is long and carries on well.

11.The Small Print
Once more a loud and simple number, a straightforward rock song. Superb drumming adds to the song providing the driving force and power behind it. The guitars are grumbling along flicking between styles Fine lyrics, sometimes hard to make out going with the style of the album. Nice catchy and loud number.

12. Endlessly
Somewhat of a strange song, moving away from guitar hooks, an electronic backbone to the track instead of guitars drive the song. It is another soft song, ambling along at a nice pace without being really remarkable. A love song done well and has a mark of quality.

13. Thoughts of a Dying Atheist
A nice title to the track, the whole number moves across at a more friendly and alive pace. Guided by the drumming again and comes together for a chorus as they do so well. A pretty morbid tone to the lyrics, with feelings of death. Not as overblown as some of the other earlier tracks that may please some people, but this is another decent rock tune bouncing along as it does.

14. Ruled By Secrecy
Although 14 tracks comes down to 12 with the intro and interlude its not a bad value for an album this good, and it never threatens to lose the quality by padding out sub standard songs. Having said that this is not really a good way to end the album, leaving on a damp note with this. It could have been better to go out with a bang instead of another winding and hauntingly slow track. It is sobering, but slightly too drawn out to expect to finish the album on, sadly.

Overall a top album, one of the best new albums to have come out of 2003. Muse have continued to go forward and have made advances on their older stuff, while coming out more into the mainstream success. The songs are fantastic, some of the best collections in terms of quality of song writing around in modern rock music. The album can move between easy singles such as Hysteria and Time is Running Out to slower numbers like Blackout. Well worth getting into, a great album from a great band.