7. Hysteria
http://youtu.be/RS2WvsYFgLA Ten years on, and that buzzing hornets nest of a bassline still sends shivers. Amazingly for such a landmark moment, the chorus is actually somewhat phoned in, catchy as it is, but that's not what this song is all about. Just after the two minute mark comes one of Muse's most jaw-dropping guitar freakouts - one of those moments that get festival/nightclub crowds losing themselves. Then follows a spectacular solo, followed by another chorus, followed by the same guitar hurricaine as before. It's simple, but Muse know what they're doing by this stage, and it's devastatingly effective like few other rock songs not written by these three guys. Oh, and it was also a pretty big chart hit - the UK has good taste.
6. Butterflies And Hurricanes
http://youtu.be/hucz0qsXEUQ This was, and still is, a fantastic song - you don't get many rock bands with the confidence to include an extended piano solo in the heart of their first number one album. But Muse are no ordinary band. This anthem for positivity and change has some stunning instrumental work that no amount of classical symphonies on any future album can surely top - this was Muse at their daring and creative peak. In fact, the song could maybe even have been longer. It all seems to end rather abruptly, which is disappointing given what had gone before, but that would be a very harsh criticism for a band that was already pushing their own already wide envelope.
"You've got to change the world and use this chance to be heard."
Muse certainly did that with 'Absolution' and this song was one of the magnificent talking points, all that without Matt's trademark guitar heroics.