7. Muse Absolution
Arguably Muse's greatest album (it's a toss up between Absolution and Origin Of Symmetry), Absolution was originally supposed to be a concept album about the theme of insanity, but this was derailed by the heavy influence of the Iraq war. Nevertheless the album is phenomenal, and has one of the most striking album covers in modern rock history. The cover depicts a man looking up towards the sky as over a dozen figures, arms out-stretched, appear to be flying overhead, casting shadows on the earth. The artwork was designed by the English graphic designer Storm Thorgerson, who is known for his collaboration with bands like Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath and Biffy Clyro (interestingly, Thorgerson also did the album artwork for Black Holes And Revelations). The artwork apparently represents souls ascending to Heaven during the rapture, or aliens descending onto the earth as observed by a human. According to Muse's drummer Dominic Howard, both interpretations are valid. Curiously, nobody is quite sure how Thorgerson suspended the figures which cast the shadows on the ground, as apparently none of it is photo-shopped.
Brian Wilson
Contributor
Commonly found reading, sitting firmly in a seat at the cinema (bottle of water and a Freddo bar, please) or listening to the Mountain Goats.
See more from
Brian