Absolution - Muse
Absolution Image
Metascore
72 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 16 Critics What's this?

User Score
8.5 out of 10

Universal acclaim- based on 206 Ratings

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  • Summary: A commercial and critical success in the UK upon its release in the fall of 2003, 'Absolution' marks the third album for the English rockers (who frequently draw comparisons to Radiohead--but then again, who doesn't?). It also marks their first time working with producer Rich Costey.

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 11 out of 16
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 16
  3. Negative: 2 out of 16
  1. Alternative Press
    100
    Absolution's chaotic choruses feel like the triumphant culmination of some earth-shattering undertaking. [Jul 2004, p.146]
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  2. Playlouder
    80
    'Absolution' is Muse's most accomplished album to date, and kicks their - at the time - excellent debut album 'Showbiz' into the ground.
  3. All Music Guide
    60
    Muse continue 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.
  4. Mojo
    30
    Pushes the trio's grandiose delusions onto new levels of interpretative-dancing, mirror-cracking excess. [Oct 2003, p.107]
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See all 16 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 106 out of 116
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 116
  3. Negative: 5 out of 116
  1. MG4390
    10
    Another masterpiece by Muse, following the amazing Origin of Symmetry. Every song on the album is great, with the top 3 being Hysteria, Butterflies & Hurricanes, and Stockholm Syndrome.… Expand
  2. manurock
    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 Ruled by Secrecy are fantastic songs and others like Apocalypse Please or Sing for Absolution are also great.… Expand
  3. Amos982
    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.… Expand
  4. Mark
    3
    Warning! Contains self-indulgent wankery. Very lame album, save for 'Hysteria', which is actually quite good.

See all 116 User Reviews

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