Absolution (album): Difference between revisions
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==B-Sides== |
==B-Sides== |
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Three non-album studio tracks were released as b-sides. |
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"The Groove" - 2:38<br /> |
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"The Groove" - 2:38, b-side to "Time Is Running Out" <br /> |
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"Eternally Missed" - 6:04 |
"Eternally Missed" - 6:04, b-side to "Hysteria" <br /> |
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"Fury" - 5:02, b-side to "Sing for Absolution" Included on Japanese version of the Album |
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==Personnel== |
==Personnel== |
Revision as of 02:55, 19 July 2008
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Absolution is the third studio album by English alternative rock band Muse. It was released on September 21, 2003[1] in the UK and almost six months later on March 23, 2004 in the U.S. by Taste Music Limited. The album yielded the band's first big American hits - "Time Is Running Out" and "Hysteria", the former becoming their first UK Top 10 single. Unlike previous albums, the recording and releasing of Absolution was not subject to constraining schedules, allowing the band to take as much time as they felt necessary to refine and alter their songs.
Background
Writing and composition
The band spent much of 2002 recording the album with producer Rick Costey.[2] The album incorporates themes of fear, mistrust, personal achievement and joy.[2] Bellamy said that the beginning of the Iraq War had an effect on their songwriting.[2]
As with previous albums, the band was compared to Radiohead and one reviewer called Bellamy's vocals a "Thom Yorke vocal impersonation".[3]
Release
This section needs additional citations for verification. (April 2008) |
The first release from the album was download-only single "Stockholm Syndrome".[2]
The album debuted at No. 1 in the UK charts, and soon after, reached No. 1 in the French charts. Within weeks of release it reached the top 5 in twelve countries, the top 10 in fifteen countries and the top 20 in twenty countries. Due to the long delay between the UK version and U.S. version releases, Absolution remained popular worldwide for an unusually long time, and saw the release of 5 singles (and 1 charity special download "Apocalypse Please"). Absolution sold 71,597 in its first week in the UK and has gone on to sell over 600,000 (in the UK), making it double platinum. It has also gone platinum in Europe as of April 2005 with sales over 1,000,000 in the continent. The album has sold 513,000 in the United States as of April 2007 making it Muse's first album to go gold there. It has also sold over 2.5 million worldwide as of April 2007.
The album reached #1 on the Top Heatseekers chart and #107 on the Billboard 200 in the USA. It was their first album to chart in the US.[4]
Critical reception
Track listing
All lyrics written by Matthew Bellamy, all music written by Matthew Bellamy, Dominic Howard, and Chris Wolstenholme, except where noted.
- "Intro" – 0:22
- "Apocalypse Please" – 4:12
- "Time Is Running Out" – 3:56
- "Sing For Absolution" – 4:54
- "Stockholm Syndrome" – 4:58
- "Falling Away With You" – 4:40
- "Interlude" – 0:37
- "Hysteria" (Bellamy/Wolstenholme) – 3:47
- "Blackout" – 4:22
- "Butterflies & Hurricanes" – 5:01
- "The Small Print" – 3:28
- "Fury" (bonus track between "The Small Print" and "Endlessly" on Japanese release) – 4:58
- "Endlessly" – 3:49
- "Thoughts Of A Dying Atheist" – 3:11
- "Ruled By Secrecy" – 4:54
Initial copies of the CD featured inlay errors, where the songs "Interlude" and "Hysteria" switched places on the track listing.
Limited edition UK bonus DVD
- "The Making of Absolution" documentary
(Also Hysteria and Interlude positions are switched on the tracklisting, yet this is not the case on the album)
Australian Tour Bonus Disc
- "Stockholm Syndrome" – 7:14
- "New Born" – 6:11
- "Muscle Museum" – 4:18
- "Hysteria" – 4:14
- "Bliss" – 4:01
- "Time Is Running Out" – 4:06
This bonus CD is entirely composed of live versions, recorded at the Big Day Out in Sydney, January 23 2004 for Australian radio station Triple J and broadcasted in the radio show "Live at the Wireless".
B-Sides
Three non-album studio tracks were released as b-sides.
"The Groove" - 2:38, b-side to "Time Is Running Out"
"Eternally Missed" - 6:04, b-side to "Hysteria"
"Fury" - 5:02, b-side to "Sing for Absolution" Included on Japanese version of the Album
Personnel
- Matthew Bellamy – lead vocals, guitars, piano, synthesizers
- Chris Wolstenholme – backing vocals, bass guitar, synthesizers on "Hysteria" and "Time Is Running Out"
- Dominic Howard – drums, percussion
- Paul Reeve – backing vocals, vocal samples
Chart positions
Album
Year | Chart | Position |
---|---|---|
2003 | UK Albums Chart | 1 |
2004 | Top Heatseekers | 1 |
2005 | The Billboard 200 | 107 |
Singles
Year | Single | Chart | Position |
---|---|---|---|
2003 | "Stockholm Syndrome" | UK Downloads Chart | 31 |
2003 | "Time Is Running Out" | UK Singles Chart | 8 |
2003 | "Hysteria" | UK Singles Chart | 17 |
2004 | "Sing For Absolution" | UK Singles Chart | 16 |
2004 | "Apocalypse Please" | UK Downloads Chart | 10 |
2004 | "Butterflies & Hurricanes" | UK Singles Chart | 14 |
2004 | "Time Is Running Out" | Modern Rock Tracks | 9 |
2005 | "Hysteria" | Modern Rock Tracks | 9 |
2005 | "Stockholm Syndrome" | Modern Rock Tracks | 31 |
References
This article needs additional citations for verification. (April 2008) |
- ^ "Muse website". Retrieved 2007-04-21.
- ^ a b c d Gene Stout (2008-05-07). "'Absolution' plows the ground for Muse's U.S. following". Seattle PI. Retrieved 2008-06-29.
- ^ Tim DiGravina. "Absolution review". Allmusic. Retrieved 2008-06-29.
- ^ "Billboard chart history". Retrieved 2008-06-10.