Absolution
by Muse
User Score
8.8

Universal acclaim- based on 415 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 380 out of 415
  2. Mixed: 14 out of 415
  3. Negative: 21 out of 415

Review this album

  1. Your Score
    0 out of 10
    Rate this:
    • 10
    • 9
    • 8
    • 7
    • 6
    • 5
    • 4
    • 3
    • 2
    • 1
    • 0
    • 0
  1. Submit
  2. Check Spelling
view
per page
  1. LoganM
    Jun 29, 2006
    9
    this would definately be a ten if it werent for the fact that this band sounds like a mimic of Radiohead
  2. Beercan
    Sep 17, 2004
    9
    Okay. Picture Radiohead, right? Okay. Now imagine Radiohead if they ROCKED. Hard. You're right, that WOULD be awesome! It just so happens I know where you can hear such an album. Go to your record store and find Absolution, by Muse. No, dude, don't download it - it's actually worth the money. Put it in and go to track 5, "Stockholm Syndrome". Pretty awesome, right? Wait Okay. Picture Radiohead, right? Okay. Now imagine Radiohead if they ROCKED. Hard. You're right, that WOULD be awesome! It just so happens I know where you can hear such an album. Go to your record store and find Absolution, by Muse. No, dude, don't download it - it's actually worth the money. Put it in and go to track 5, "Stockholm Syndrome". Pretty awesome, right? Wait until you hear the rest! What's that? Yeah, dude, you're right - Stylus magazine totally sucks! I wish I were payed to be pretentious too! Anyway, enjoy!… Expand
  3. Vampire25
    Dec 4, 2010
    9
    Absolution is a great rock album. It really showed that Muse is a band to take very seriously. The lyrics are what really make this album. And the guitar is soaring. This album just sounds so good. Great tracks from this album is Apocalypse Please, Stockholm Syndrome, and Butterflies and Hurricanes. All In All, Absolution is Muse's best album yet. A-
  4. j30
    Jan 30, 2012
    9
    Absolution is the turning point for Muse both creatively and musically. It's epic, grandeur sound is a bit corny in some places, but effective none the less. Just a fantastic listen.
  5. Argeon
    Nov 13, 2015
    9
    Absolution is literally Origin of Symmetry 2.0

    It starts off with a killer track (in the same spirit that In The Flesh? kicks off The Wall) and only rollercoasters through talking about the end of the world and, like most of Muse, motifs of broken relationships, salvation, and panic.

    It's still their best album to date, on par with OoS.
  6. LoRevisor
    Jan 15, 2015
    9
    Excelente Álbum mesmo sendo mais fraco. Apocalipse Please,Sing For Absolution,Ruled By Secrecy,Blackout são meio fracas. Mas tem a clássica Hysteria
    Top 5 Absolution 2003
    1-Hysteria
    2-The Small Print
    3-Time It's Running Out
    4-Falling Away With You
    5-Stockholm Syndrome And Butterflies And Hurricanes
  7. marcmyworks
    Sep 16, 2018
    9
    I was first introduced to Muse with Absolution so it will always have a special place in my heart. Overall its an epic stadium rock album with anthems challenging religion and the political climate of 2004. Download: Apocalypse Please, Time is Running Out, Butterflies & Hurricanes, Hysteria.
  8. clinteastwoo
    May 11, 2016
    9
    gREAT Album........................................................................................................................... Great Heavy rock and Ballads songs
  9. MartinS
    May 6, 2006
    8
    I had heard Time Is Running Out and Hysteria and they were brilliant so I got this album and was not dissapointed. They do not have the widest range of vocals so perform to what they are good at. Muse music contains brilliant guitars and lyrics that you will be singing whenever you hear the song start. Not always in the mood for Muse but sometimes I play it and realise, Hey I should I had heard Time Is Running Out and Hysteria and they were brilliant so I got this album and was not dissapointed. They do not have the widest range of vocals so perform to what they are good at. Muse music contains brilliant guitars and lyrics that you will be singing whenever you hear the song start. Not always in the mood for Muse but sometimes I play it and realise, Hey I should listen to them more often!… Expand
  10. Paul
    Nov 26, 2007
    8
    Muse, just seen them again live and they blew the stage apart, great album, amazing band.
  11. ScottW.
    Aug 19, 2007
    8
    Great rockin time. Full of energy and fast past tunes. Not the best from the band for sure, but still a album any hard rocker shoud have, not just muse fans. Just like the past albums they show that they are one of the best at making load music have melody.
  12. muzziklover
    Sep 11, 2010
    8
    Though it has songs that represents what's so good about Muse, the album suffers from how incoherent it is. Sure, each songs are fantastic and awesome but it sounds like they are out of place but it is Muse's most eccentric, energetic and varied album and is worth checking out.
  13. manurock
    Aug 5, 2011
    8
    Great album by Muse, not as good as their masterpiece "Origin of Symmetry" but still shows Muse's alternative rock/progressive rock/punk rock/classical music approach (which would then switch to electronica/pop metal in the next album "black holes...") that has made this band so well-known. However this album isn't as consistent as Origin of Symmetry.My favourites? Well, Hysteria and RuledGreat album by Muse, not as good as their masterpiece "Origin of Symmetry" but still shows Muse's alternative rock/progressive rock/punk rock/classical music approach (which would then switch to electronica/pop metal in the next album "black holes...") that has made this band so well-known. However this album isn't as consistent as Origin of Symmetry.My favourites? Well, Hysteria and Ruled by Secrecy are fantastic songs and others like Apocalypse Please or Sing for Absolution are also great.… Expand
  14. EmmeKira
    Jun 9, 2015
    8
    A great record from what was probably the golden age of this (still) amazing rock band. Many incredible tunes and some true amazing pieces of work (Hysteria, Stockholm Syndrome, Sing for Absolution). Not every track is memorable, but they still managed to craft great follow-up to Origins of Symmetry. Still, I think Muse proved their greatness much better with the next LP, the beautifulA great record from what was probably the golden age of this (still) amazing rock band. Many incredible tunes and some true amazing pieces of work (Hysteria, Stockholm Syndrome, Sing for Absolution). Not every track is memorable, but they still managed to craft great follow-up to Origins of Symmetry. Still, I think Muse proved their greatness much better with the next LP, the beautiful Black Holes & Revelations.… Expand
  15. PaulF
    Oct 12, 2004
    7
    Good. But lacks the greatness and experimentalism of Origin of Symmetry. In my opinion, muse have taken a step back rather than a step forward.
  16. owenrw89
    Dec 4, 2016
    7
    Overall, it's a powerful rock album. It defines an era of rock rather than the genre itself. It saw Muse slide towards a more commercial rock sound, making it more accessible to the masses, but a little unfaithful to the fans of their earlier sounds.
  17. PlugInBaby
    Sep 12, 2018
    7
    Good album, maybe even great. While it suffers from a few tame and unexciting moments such as Sing for Absolution, it has highlights like Time is Running Out and Butterflies & Hurricanes, although the single release of the latter is better
  18. mw04
    May 13, 2022
    7
    The album loses its way a bit at the end. However this album contains some of their very best such as Hysteria
  19. PhilA
    Jan 30, 2005
    6
    Agree with Paul F. I have been a long time Muse fan, so I know my stuff. This album is just wrong - some of the tracks are downright boring and uninventive. Where is that bold and innovative Muse we came to love with Showbiz and OoS? + All the ingenious b-sides. I do thank them VERY VERY much for "Hysteria" though. That song is worthy of comparison with Bliss, musically - not lyrically.
  20. Amos982
    Nov 6, 2011
    6
    While Absolution is not a bad record by any means, it exemplifies the 'rage against the machine' meets 'radiohead' criticisms. The album features plenty of good songs, but fails to find a footing and sounds disjointed at times. Still a solid effort with some great, climactic songs.
  21. Ricko
    Dec 29, 2016
    6
    "Absolution" is a record that despite its flaws, has aged quite well. While it aims high it falls short on many levels, it must be said that "Absolution" is a very listenable and a very enjoyable rock record. It's frantic and dramatic and underlines why some people love Muse while others cant stand them. The songs are packed to the gills with a mix of bludgeoning riffs and delicate hooks"Absolution" is a record that despite its flaws, has aged quite well. While it aims high it falls short on many levels, it must be said that "Absolution" is a very listenable and a very enjoyable rock record. It's frantic and dramatic and underlines why some people love Muse while others cant stand them. The songs are packed to the gills with a mix of bludgeoning riffs and delicate hooks but the operatic vocals and apocalyptic lyrics, while knitting well with the music, take themselves a bit too seriously in places. For me, Muse records always have killer singles which bring their albums up a few notches - "Time is Running Out" a great example of this on "Absolution". Unfortunately the other singles from this album are don't have the same punch. Overall, we have a solid piece of rock music, if not terribly exciting album.… Expand
  22. AndyY
    May 9, 2006
    5
    Radiohead-lite, minus the abstract creativity.
  23. DaveC
    Apr 15, 2004
    4
    Overblown, pretentious, samey and at times unlistenable, although there are some passable highlights, including the title track.
  24. MarkM
    May 22, 2004
    4
    Muse are to Radiohead what Creed is to Peral Jam, what Bud Light is to Guinness...
  25. MarcoM
    Nov 15, 2005
    4
    Nothing new or interesting...
  26. TimS
    Jan 2, 2007
    3
    After the amazing first two albums Muse have changed, they are now a different band - a much more commercial group. Their first albums contained a lot more obscure darkness and was much more intense. While I can listen to most of the track (except "Sing for Absolution" which is a terrible track) it is not even decent ambient music. I was very disappointed - some songs are good though but After the amazing first two albums Muse have changed, they are now a different band - a much more commercial group. Their first albums contained a lot more obscure darkness and was much more intense. While I can listen to most of the track (except "Sing for Absolution" which is a terrible track) it is not even decent ambient music. I was very disappointed - some songs are good though but the not-good out-weighs the good (the good being "Hysteria", "Stockholm Syndrome" and "Time is running out".… Expand
  27. Mark
    Jun 24, 2008
    3
    Warning! Contains self-indulgent wankery. Very lame album, save for 'Hysteria', which is actually quite good.
  28. jfred7
    Apr 27, 2011
    3
    Muse desperately need to learn some restraint. Compositionally, their music has promise, but they ruin it with overwrought melodrama. Most of the songs contain an over-the-top swell or outburst and quite a bit of over-emoting from Matt Bellamy; this is frustrating enough in any individual song, but the cumulative effect of an entire album of this extravagance is absolutely maddening.
  29. AdamX
    Apr 20, 2004
    0
    dreadful
  30. MAbs
    Jun 26, 2005
    0
    Muse are the worst band ever. That is all.
next
Page:

Awards & Rankings

10
#10 Most Discussed Album of 2004
11
#11 Most Shared Album of 2004

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
72

Generally favorable reviews - based on 16 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 11 out of 16
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 16
  3. Negative: 2 out of 16
  1. Filter
    90
    A massive concept album that is so gluttonously huge-sounding that it makes The Wall sound like a Sebadoh record. [#10, p.94]
  2. Drawer B
    70
    Despite the daunting Radiohead-colored cloud that hangs heavy over Muse, the band pushes the limits of its slick, pre-apocalyptic rock with a self-assured strut.
    Read full review
  3. Mojo
    30
    Pushes the trio's grandiose delusions onto new levels of interpretative-dancing, mirror-cracking excess. [Oct 2003, p.107]
See all critic reviews »