User ratings in Music are temporarily disabled. More info

Absolution
by
Absolution Image
Metascore
72

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

User Score
8.8

Universal acclaim- based on 415 Ratings

  • 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.

Top Track

Hysteria
It's bugging me Grating me And twisting me around I'm endlessly Caving in And turning inside out Because I want it now I want it now Give me your... See the rest of the song lyrics
See Full Track List »
Powered by

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 11 out of 16
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 16
  3. Negative: 2 out of 16
  1. Drowned In Sound
    100
    A truly elemental opus.
  2. New Musical Express (NME)
    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.
  3. 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]
    All this publication's reviews
  4. Playlouder
    80
    'Absolution' is Muse's most accomplished album to date, and kicks their - at the time - excellent debut album 'Showbiz' into the ground.
  5. Blender
    70
    A daring and triumphant concoction. [#27, p.140]
    All this publication's reviews
  6. Rolling Stone
    60
    It's too bad that vocalist Matt Bellamy doesn't bring as much ingenuity to his singing.
  7. Stylus Magazine
    20
    Muse write... the same way Metallica write, i.e. just compiling bits of ‘music’ then sticking them together, except they’re more impressed with their fragments (though they’re simpler and duller and even more remarkably similar to each other than Metallica’s), so they make them go on longer and repeat them more times.

See all 16 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 118 out of 130
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 130
  3. Negative: 5 out of 130
  1. WillK
    Jun 26, 2004
    10
    it is a brilliant CD: probably the best one that Muse have ever done (and that says a lot!)
  2. MG4390
    Oct 29, 2010
    10
    Another masterpiece by Muse, following the amazing Origin of Symmetry. Every song on the album is great, with the top 3 being Hysteria,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
  4. TomG
    May 7, 2005
    10
    Freddie Mercury and Queen INCARNATE!
  5. Dimas
    Jun 28, 2008
    10
    Amazing!
  6. Scratch
    Jan 23, 2017
    10
    The lows are high and the highs are very high in this tale about the end of the world. Muse showcases their absolute best here; from soft andThe lows are high and the highs are very high in this tale about the end of the world. Muse showcases their absolute best here; from soft and slow ballads to heart-crunching guitar riffs, they tell a story completely through music that most would struggle to tell through words.… Expand
  7. IanB
    Mar 13, 2007
    9
    This is quite possibly the best rock record of the 21st century.
  8. AdamX
    Apr 20, 2004
    0
    dreadful

See all 130 User Reviews

Awards & Rankings

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

Current Music Releases

Full List »
99 Band on the Run [50th Anniversary Edition] - Paul McCartney & Wings
95 The Sky Will Still Be There Tomorrow - Charles Lloyd
93 This Could Be Texas - English Teacher
92 COWBOY CARTER - Beyoncé
91 The Carnegie Hall Concert - Alice Coltrane
90 1989 (Taylor's Version) - Taylor Swift
90 Iechyd Da - Bill Ryder-Jones
89 I Got Heaven - Mannequin Pussy
89 Black Bayou - Robert Finley
89 Tigers Blood - Waxahatchee
89 Only God Was Above Us - Vampire Weekend
89 Hey Panda - The High Llamas
88 Ozarker - Israel Nash
88 What Now - Brittany Howard
88 Orquídeas - Kali Uchis
88 The Past Is Still Alive - Hurray for the Riff Raff
87 Filthy Underneath - Nadine Shah
87 i/o - Peter Gabriel
87 Lahai - Sampha
87 Blue Lips - ScHoolboy Q
All Current Music »