10 Rare Muse Songs You've Probably Never Heard

All of the previous Muse albums felt like they were prepping us for Absolution. As opposed to the wild zaniness of Origin of Symmetry, this is where the band really doubled down on the space rock elements and came through with hit after hit, with Hysteria becoming one of the most celebrated rock songs of the 21st century. On the other hand, the most interesting cut from the album might be the one that sounds the most un-Muse.

Opening with a typical arpeggiated guitar lick, Thoughts of a Dying Atheist is a borderline pop tune that somehow found its way onto the final track listing. Though the actual subject matter of an atheist questioning his beliefs at the sight of the apocalypse doesn't really scream single material, every other facet of this song practically begs to be played on the radio. The chorus of the tune may be the most infectious piece of music these guys have ever laid down, with a sound that's almost glam rock in its presentation.

For as weird as it sounds, the Yeah-Yeah end tag almost feels like Matt is taking on some sort of Bowie-like persona when he's singing. With only a few live performances of this song in the can and one monster of a hook, this is one of the lowlights of Muse's career that deserves to be huge.