View source for Fans given 'Absolution' by Muse (20030809 NME article)

''A short article about the pre-release playback of Absolution in the 9th August 2003 issue of NME magazine.''

Matt Bellamy (centre) kidnaps two ''NME'' readers and takes them away on his spaceship. Probably

=Fans given 'Absolution' by Muse=

====MATT BELLAMY MAKES SURPRISE APPEARANCE AT EXCLUSIVE PLAYBACK AT THE LONDON PLANETARIUM====
'''Muse''' took over London's Planetarium last week to give fans the chance to hear their new album 'Absolution' before anyone else. Some lucky ''NME'' competition winners also got o meet the band.<br/>
&nbsp;&nbsp;''NME'' readers Jo Meyer and Joe Read met singer Matt Bellamy before heading into the Planetarium's theatre to listen to 'Absolution' under projections of the night sky and distant galaxies.<br/>
&nbsp;&nbsp;"As images of space are generally a good influence on our music, we chose the Planetarium for this," Bellamy told ''NME''. "It fits in really well with the album - looking at the world from an objective point of view."<br/>
&nbsp;&nbsp;Matt also revealed the meaning behind 'Absolution<nowiki>''</nowiki>s striking cover, which shows a man with a gas mask staring into the sky.<br/>
&nbsp;&nbsp;"The bloke's looking ambiguous and unusual," he said. "He's stood there and he's holding a gas mask to look like he's protecting himself from something - an end-of-the-world scenario. But something's happened and he's taken it off.<br/>
&nbsp;&nbsp;"He's looking up and it's Judgement Day. The aliens have either come down to earth or the chosen ones are flying away - and he's looking up kind of thinking, 'Why haven't I been chosen?' I think from that point of view sometimes!<br/>
&nbsp;&nbsp;Muse will be heading out on tour later in the year, which is likely to follow in the extra-terrestrial theme.<br/>
&nbsp;&nbsp;"I'm building a big keyboard thing with lights so every time I hit a note a big light flashes - like some sort of spaceship piano," Bellamy joked. "Like ''Close Encounters Of The Third Kind''!"<br/>
&nbsp;&nbsp;Muse release their new single 'Time Is Running Out' on September 8, followed by 'Absolution' on September 22.

===='ABSOLUTION' FABULOUS?====
=====What did Muse fans make of the band's new album?=====

"It's great from start to finish. I love the first track - 'Apocalypse Please'. Listening to it in the Planetarium was a great experience."<br/>
'''Favourite track:''' All of them<br/>
'''''Jake, 25'''''

"Phenominal - absolutely out there. I've got to wait now to get the album - it isn't fair! It blew me away!"<br/>
'''Favourite track:''' 'Time Is Running Out'<br/>
'''''Adam, 20'''''

"It was what I expected, the usual pomp rock. But it was a really good idea playing it in the Planetarium."<br/>
'''Favourite track:''' 'Sing For Absolution'<br/>
'''''Clara, 18'''''

"I thought it was a bit shit. It was a too prog, too overproduced and it didn't rock enough. There's no 'Plug In Baby' or 'New Born' and the ballads are cheesy and embarassing."<br/>
'''Favourite track:''' 'TSP'<br/>
'''''Joe, 22'''''

"I think it's quite apocalyptic. You can see reflections of their influences: some bits are like Radiohead and some are like Marilyn Manson."<br/>
'''Favourite track:'''<br/>
'Time Is Running Out'<br/>
'''''Jo, 18'''''

{{Backto | NME (magazine) | NME magazine}}

[[Category:Absolution-era media]]
[[Category:NME magazine]]