ABSOLUTION

This is a fine album from 2003, better than any other work I have heard from Muse. In it I hear many, many influences and similarities from artists such as ELO, Queen, Radiohead, Dredg, and Rush. Is it prog?- in many ways it is: it has some great electronic moments, long songs alternating with short songs, complicated structures, and some fine bombastic elements that put me in mind of early Queen (first 3 or so albums). But, it is also just a great pop rock album. Highlights for me are "Apocalypse Please", "Time is Running Out", and "Stockholm Syndrome". The first half of the CD is a masterpiece but my interest wanes towards the end, somewhere about "Blackout", or so. I can rate ABSOLUTION a solid 4 stars, however. Fans of Radiohead, Dredg, and Queen should be well pleased.