“Absolution,” the third album by Muse – a British three-piece – has the band finding their voice and style in a perfectly paced, well written anthology of an atmospheric struggle with reality.
The prowess of vocalist Michael Bellamy on keyboards makes him easily among the most dynamic front men in alternative music. Although his vocal stylings are often reminicent of Thom Yorke of Radiohead.
This album quickly moves near the top of the “best of the year” lists, but it isn’t perfect. The juxtaposition of fast and slow tracks in “Absolution” lends an uneven quality that upsets the tenious balance created in the better songs, and the songwriting trends a dangerous line between gorgeously earnest and curiously overwrought.
However, these compliants fall by the wayside in the face of the generally excellent music available on the album.
The single “Time is Running Out” is full of cool keyboards and is ready for rock radio – although perhaps not vice-versa. The macabre titled “Apocalypse Please” is gorgeous and haunting, and “Falling Away With You” is a lithe and sweet.
Also reviewed:
Eric Clapton
“Me and Mr. Johnson”
Long removed from the days of “Clapton is God,” we now enter the era of “Clapton covers God.” In this fourteen song anthology, Clapton offers a quick listen to the music of one of the godfathers of American music, Robert Johnson. This is an important album and Clapton does it impeccably.
Carina Round
“The Disconnection”
Her voice is as sweet as an idol, but Carina is not. “The Disconnection” rises Round to the level of Chan Marshall (Cat Power) and Karen O (The Yeah Yeah Yeahs) among angst riden female contemporaries.
Lou Reed
“Animal Serenade”
Former Velvet Underground front man, Reed, offers a two disk live album of his and VU’s songs. Reed plays the crowd well and runs the gamut of his career. The highlight is a nearly 10 minute version of “Venus in Furs” that closes disk one.
