Every artist has a beginning. For Muse, that arrived with their 1999 Showbiz. The band’s intriguing alt-rock sound was a big hit in the UK, but it wasn’t until 2003 that Muse hit the big time across the world. Armed with a more immediate sound and the improving vocals of Matthew Bellamy, Absolution was a success in North America as well.
Released on September 22nd, 2003, Absolution is often considered Muse’s greatest album for a plethora of reasons. “Stockholm Syndrome” showcases everything Muse excels at here – Matthew Bellamy’s soaring, versatile vocal range, subtle electronic flourishes that aren’t shoehorned in like later releases, and guitar that’s not overindulgent. Tempo shifts abound, but not in ways that distract from the killer material on display.
To this day, “Hysteria” and “Sing For Absolution” sound like the kind of arena-ready anthems that are also hard to find fault in. What a classic.
