9. Ruled By Secrecy
http://youtu.be/hSw6che1RUg 'Absolution' was a bleak album at times, let's make no bones about it. It's closing track is no different with a couplet as dark as what follows -
"Wash the blood off your hands / This time she won't understand."
What starts off as a muted and low-key arpeggiated ballad that can be replicated with little skill on your own piano eventually blossoms into one of Matt's signature piano moments with the drama that only he can bring to the table. A common complaint throughout Muse's career is that they sound too much like Radiohead. Generally speaking, that is a falsehood spread by lazy critics with nothing constructive to say, but here Muse pull it off. And I mean that as a compliment, as it's pulled off with all the soul of Thom Yorke, yet the cherry on top of Matt's theatrical flourish. Brilliant stuff.
8. Sing For Absolution
http://youtu.be/6Ck6Hcg2cjk The almost title-track of 'Absolution is one of Muse's best lullabies. The video depicts a space-bound Matt crooning this one from his spacesuit, and that is the perfect setting for such an out-of-this world song. Halfway through the band, like so many other times, breaks down into noise, but for the final chorus it all turns into a wonderful twinkly sounding jetstream as Matt prepares to do battle with whatever nasty aliens are threatening our planet this week, eventually leaving nothing behind but the icy piano keys the tune sauntered in on. This song led into the raging battle scene of 'Stockholm Syndrome', which I'll tell you now, is yet to come, but where will it land?