Yeah, right: neither did we. But judging from lyrics such as “It’s time for something biblical”, Bellamy might have heard about it. Us other ignorants were thinking --- erm, yeah, right, Matty.
Thoughts of a dying atheist, Time is running out, Apocalypse Please to begin with –promised a rather uplifting record – not.
Generally speaking, Absolution was Francis Ford Coppola’s Apocalypse Now revisited.
Released in September, it followed one of the hottest summers in history. The heat wave over Europe could have been orchestrated by a sound designed to melt existences.
The year in music moved between the feverish Hey Ya, the most infamous base-line ever produced by a guitar (aka Seven Nation Army) – and someone else’s falsetto squeaking I believe in a thing called love (does anyone remember The Darkness?).
Johnny Cash died in 2003, surviving his wife June by only a few months.
The third Gulf War in Iraq began.
Marion and I had graduated from school the year before and were now attending university. Muse were not exactly on our schedule. Our time wasn’t running out, we were yet again victims of our own utterly bad timing.
Apart from Stockholm Syndrome, an instant skull-cracker, it needed years until this record became visible on our musical horizon. We would love and we would hate – all to no avail.
Absolution came and went unnoticed - for no reason whatsoever.
Some all time favourites are assembled on this one: Butterflies and Hurricanes, an anthem, with lyrics for eternity…‘best, you’ve got to be the best, you’ve got to change the world and use this chance to be heard’.
Hysteria, an old friend, rediscovered while playing ‘Rock Band’…I want it now, give me your heart and your soul…guess he demanded it all, didn’t he?
[By the way, has anyone ever noticed the parallels between Bellamy’s end of the world scenarios and the nuclear case of emergency depicted in The Clash’s London Calling? Just saying…]
…and of course, Falling away with you, which tiptoes softly, like a whisper. Somewhere inside something explodes. Fireworks. A feeling from deep within that conquers you, a feeling that cannot be explained, calculated or rationalized – not even uttered. It just exists, for no reason. So be it. Falling away with you? Anytime, Love!
Sorry for the ignorance, lads. We were searching, you were on a mission – but it still needed some time until we would combine in a Neutron Star Collision.
...just graduated!
Pop-cultural happenings
Madonna kisses Christina Aguilera and Britney Spears at the VMAs
The Stooges reunite – so do Backstreet Boys
Peter Jackson concludes his Lord of the Rings trilogy with The Return of the King
Soundtrack (indie-approved version)
Speakerboxx/The Love Below – Outkast
St. Anger – Metallica
De-Loused in the Comatorium – The Mars Volta
Elephant – The White Stripes
Maybe Memories – The Used
A Mark, A Mission, A Brand, A Scar – Dashboard Confessional
Youth and Young Manhood – Kings of Leon
Thirteenth Step – A Perfect Circle
Get Born – Jet
Sleeping with Ghosts – Placebo
The War on Errorism – NOFX
Scandinavian Leather – Turbonegro
…and a few songs singing along to was only allowed in secret
I’m with you – Avril Lavigne
Beautiful – Christina Aguilera (c’mon, even The Lemonheads covered it)
Dancing on a Friday Night – The Darkness
Thank You - Dido
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