1. Absolution (2003)
I may be biased in my placement of this album, for it was the one that got me into Muse in the first place, but Absolution has earned its place, coming second to Green Days American Idiot in Kerrangs poll: 50 Best Albums of the 21st Century. Its easy to see why (and why maybe they should have put it in first). The band must have also realised it was their best work too, releasing six singles, rather than the four or five they had released or would later release with their other albums. Absolution is Muses heaviest album to date and is the origin of some of the bands trademark musical styles; symphonic-rock, classical music and electronica. As with most Muse albums, the band was influenced by various aspects of society, most predominately: the beginnings of the Iraq war, which led to apocalyptic concepts running throughout. It is the changing of the styles tying in with overrunning theme that makes the album work well as a whole, as well as each individual song being brilliant on its own.
Key Tracks: Time Is Running Out, Hysteria, Butterflies and Hurricanes.
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