Kristjan Järvi's 18-piece Absolute Ensemble brings irreverence and rhythmic mettle to the world of contemporary classical and third stream music. This is the group's fourth release, and it features works by six composers -- the last of which is Jimi Hendrix, whose "Purple Haze" is given a warped reworking by Daniel Schnyder. (In the liners, Hendrix's tremolo bar is hilariously described by Schnyder as a "joy slide stick tool.") Schnyder's own "subZERO," a three-movement concerto for bass trombone featuring David Taylor, is one of the disc's centerpieces, a marvelous showcase for an instrument seldom pushed to the foreground. The late Lepo Sumera's relatively lengthy "Play for 10," with its maddening staccato repetitions and stark mood swings, is another major highlight. Denman Maroney is unaccompanied on his own "Par 3," an astonishing work for prepared piano; he returns to wreak inspired havoc on "Purple Haze" as well. Pianist Matt Herskowitz contributes "Serial Blues," an energetic, improv-heavy jazz/funk vehicle that highlights his own virtuosity, as well as that of the ensemble's rhythm section (drummer/percussionists David Rozenblatt and Pablo Rieppi, bassist Mat Fieldes). Slap-bass funk and sectional counterpoint collide on Charles Coleman's "Absolution," while a sneakier sort of percussive engine propels the opening "Dance Machine." Riotously complex, thoughtful, and often uplifting, the music defies categorization even as it upholds the rigors of classical orchestration. ~ David R. Adler, All Music Guide
Denman Maroney (Piano), Daniel Schnyder (Executive Producer), Daniel Schnyder (Arranger), Matthias Winckelmann (Executive Producer), Ingo Wulff (Design), Matt Herskowitz (Piano), Tommy Beck (Executive Producer), David Taylor (Trombone (Bass))
Absolution is the third studio album by English alternative rock band Muse. It was released on September 21, 2003 in the UK and on March 23, 2004 in the U.S. by Taste Music Limited. The album yielded the band's first American hits – "Time Is Running Out" and "Hysteria", the former becoming their first UK Top 10 single. In 2006 it was voted the 21st best British album ever. The album was placed in at #23 after a public vote for Q magazine in February 2008 for the Best British Albums of All Time.[1] In 2009 it was voted by Kerrang! as the second-best album of the 21st century (thus far).
The band spent much of 2002 recording Absolution with producer Rich Costey.[2] The album was recorded in studios in both Los Angeles and London.[2] Bellamy said that the band made a "conscious decision" to "get together in a room and make music", setting aside time to record the album, as with previous albums recording sessions were 'hastily arranged' and rushed.[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]
The track "Blackout" featured an 18-piece orchestra.[3]
Release
Absolution was released on 23 September 2003 on CD and double vinyl.[4] It was their first album released on the A&E Records label.[4] There were six singles, of which the first, "Stockholm Syndrome", was download only.[4] Due to contractual obligations the band couldn't allow the song to be downloaded for free, so the fee was set at $0.99 and it was downloaded more than 20,000 times.[2]
Reception
Commercial
Absolution was Muse's first album to chart in the US, and is credited with establishing the band a fan base there.[2] The album reached #1 on the BillboardTop Heatseekers chart and #107 on the Billboard 200.[5]
Critical
The album was largely well received by critics. Both Q and The Guardian gave it four out of five stars, with three out of five stars being awarded by Allmusic and Rolling Stone. As with previous albums they were compared to Radiohead, with Tim DiGravina of Allmusic calling Bellamy's vocals a "Thom Yorke vocal impersonation".[6] However, DiGravina also said that the album still "struck a nerve" with the band's more alternativehard rock fans,[6] a view that was agreed with by The Guardian's Alexis Petridis.[7]
Initial copies of the CD featured inlay errors, where the songs "Interlude" and "Hysteria" switched places on the track listing. Cover art by Storm Thorgerson.
Bonus tracks
Japanese bonus track
"Fury" - 4:58 (Also featured as the b-side to the Sing for Absolution single).
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)
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 broadcast in the radio show "Live at the Wireless".
