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Muse - Absolution CD (album) cover

ABSOLUTION

Muse

 

Prog Related

3.81 | 512 ratings

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voliveira
4 stars 8/10

Listen Absolution was a challenge for me. I think he, like Lateralus, was the album that I heard repeated more times to make a review here on the site. Simply could not have formed an opinion about it. There was a sense of division within me, considering both the positive and the negative points.

In the end, I conclude that this is not a masterpiece.

It is arrogant. Yes, arrogant. What better word to describe it? Arrogant, ambitious, pretentious? All those adjectives fall very well. We know that Muse is a band of simple tastes, always being eclectic and bold, but I think here they crossed the line. The structure of the album just does not work as well as its predecessor Origin of Symmetry (which I found to be much better). While there are a lot of songs that will certainly enter the ranks of the best they've done, there are others that make me twist the nose.

I still can not digest a song like Thoughts of a Dying Atheist. I think so far is the worst they've done. To tell the truth, both she and Small Print Endlessly seem as out of place in the structure of the album (although the other two are still relatively good). I think if they were not here I would easily provide a rating of 5 stars. Hysteria also seems somewhat disposable, and I can not stand the introduction of Time is Running Out (because of her I refused to listen to the entire album for some time - before you hear it to make my review). We have an Overture which reminds me of The Wall (listen Bring The Boys Back Home, and you'll understand what I'm talking about) and a Range. Short tracks, and just opening transition.

Now, the other ...

I do not know where to start. Well, I think there are three big favorite here. Stockholm Syndrome is a metal monster, like Butterflies and Hurricanes is a classical band in the best sense - and notice how both together can form "Never Enough" Dream Theater (well, they never denied the inspiration to the song, is not it?) ! And Falling Away With You is a beautiful romantic track which escapes the clichés of a genre. The influences of classical music are still manifesting in Blackout and opening imposing Apocalypse Please (Piano Matthew is even more present here, stealing the scene as the bass did on the previous album), plus highlights of Sing for Absolution Ruled by the closure secrecy.

Overall, Absolution is a great album, but not a masterpiece. Is somewhat uneven, and I do not want to sound an annoying saying I did not like him, but somehow I do not think is all that talk. 4 stars.

voliveira | 4/5 |

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