Muse is one of the greatest bands of all time, and I feel lucky to have been around during their peak of touring and creating bombastic new music. Their discography spans over two decades, evolving from raw alternative rock to orchestral and electronic experimentation. It’s time to rank their massive catalogue from worst to best.
Muse Albums Ranked
10. Simulation Theory (2018)
9. Will of the People (2022)
8. Hullabaloo Soundtrack (2002)
7. Showbiz (1999)
6. Drones (2015)
5. The 2nd Law (2012)
4. The Resistance (2009)
3. Black Holes & Revelations (2006)
2. Absolution (2003)
1. Origin of Symmetry (2001)
10. Simulation Theory (2018)
Best Song: The Void
Worst Song: Get Up and Fight
Simulation Theory marked the moment that Muse decided to move into a poppier, synthier direction. They stripped away some of the scale and heaviness they were traditionally known for, and moved in the direction of simpler, plainer music. “Something Human” is a good embodiment of this direction, as it’s a relatively generic single that doesn’t really have much about it that screams “MUSE”.
And with this decision, this album just doesn’t tend to hit the heights of the best Muse albums. It either plays it safe with songs like the aforementioned, or it goes in some downright bad directions with “Get Up and Fight”.
There are some really solid tracks here though. I really enjoy “The Dark Side”, I think “Propaganda” features some welcome experimentation on the album, and “The Void” is certainly the best of the bunch. This melds the classical, dark Muse sound I love with this new synthy direction, and I simply can’t get enough of it.
With that said though, none of these land near the top 20 best Muse songs. And that’s never a good thing.
9. Will of the People (2022)
Best Song: Kill or be Killed
Worst Song: Ghosts (How Can I Move On)
Will of the People is the de facto choice for most disappointing album, as the early singles showed massive promise. In fact, this was the most excited I’ve ever been for the release of a Muse album. So much so, that on my first reaction to it, I somewhat tricked myself into thinking it was a phenomenal album. A bit of a “Phantom Menace” effect was at play here…
The issue is, the singles promised a return to the frantic, frenetic energy and chaos of earlier Muse work, but the album delivered a disjointed collection of singles that were boiled down representations of better, earlier Muse work.
“Liberation” is a callback to The Resistance, but doesn’t nearly hit the highs of the era. It’s over-compressed and overdone. Ghosts is a callback to the acoustic songs of the past, such as “Unintended” but fails to be memorable on any level.
The only thing holding Will of the People from the last spot is the fact that it at least reaches some awesome, and fun highs. “Kill or be Killed”, “Won’t Stand Down”, and “Verona” all reach classic Muse heights, and these few carry the rest of the album from being the worst yet.
8. Hullabaloo Soundtrack (2002)
Best Song: Recess
Worst Song: Forced In
It would have been unthinkable that a Muse B-Side and live album could be above 2 full studio albums just a decade ago, but here we are. Hullabaloo calls back to the rawest and heaviest side of Muse, something that has now become something fans are regularly yearning for a return to. From “Yes Please” to the live performance of “Dead Star”, this album has everything heavy and raw you could ask for.
And, it still manages to pull in stunningly gorgeous quieter sides. “Recess” features a mixture of the heavy and the soft sides of Muse, and remains a top song of all time in my book.
The downside of the album is obviously that you can feel it is a collection of b-sides. There is no discernible running theme, and the styles and genres shift unpredictably. But each song, barring a couple, provides something truly unique and fun to sink your teeth into.
7. Showbiz (1999)
Best Song: Showbiz
Worst Song: Sober
Most casual Muse fans are totally unaware that the band has been around since the 90s. They just squeaked into the decade with the release of their debut album in 1999, Showbiz. And it features some of the best Muse songs.
From the opening notes of “Sunburn”, you can feel that you’re in for a treat. The twinkling piano lines make way for ominous, deep bass tones, and eventually, a towering chorus. The bass and piano both dance around each other throughout the runtime, and the vocals push in pull with the pace of the song in perfect balance. And this one isn’t even the best the album has to offer!
That honor would go to “Showbiz” which is just a masterclass in building and building until an eventual release. The song feels like it’s always getting faster and heavier, and it’s a roller coaster you never want to get off of.
There’s other huge standouts, such as “Uno” or “Unintended”, but there is an uneven nature to this album as well. Most of the 2nd half of the album pales in comparison to the first, with songs like “Sober” and “Overdue” not having the same pull or unique qualities as tracks like “Muscle Museum”. For a first outing though, this might be the best I’ve heard.
6. Drones (2015)
Best Song: The Handler
Worst Song: Revolt
Drones may be much-maligned in the hardcore Muse community, but I beg to differ. Sure, there is one very sore spot I have with the album, and that’s the track “Revolt”. It’s one of those overly cheesy, goofy songs that absolutely decimates the flow that the album had discovered at that point. However, outside of this one blemish, this album is very good.
I love the return to more traditional rock that this album marks, as we get the absolutely killer “The Handler” and “Reapers” out of this one. And even the rock songs that blend some more pop elements like “Dead Inside” absolutely crush in my book. What makes a song like “Dead Inside” work for me is just how big it gets. Sure the first half is strong, but it’s mostly setting up this massive, larger than life outro. An outro that crushes in the headphones but annihilates in a live setting. Seeing these tracks live for the first time is what really solidified Muse as one of the greatest of all time in my book.
While there’s plenty to nitpick here, there’s also plenty to just flat-out love. Sure, “Psycho” is too long, and needed to cut a repetition or two. Sure “Mercy” is somewhat derivative of “Starlight”. But these songs are pretty much all good fun, technically awesome, and a joy to the ears. They’re not as good as the best Muse songs, but I see it as significantly more cohesive and lasting than either of the two last place albums on this list.
5. The 2nd Law (2012)
Best Song: Explorers
Worst Song: Big Freeze
The 2nd Law is one of the most eclectic collection of songs that you’ll ever see on a good album. I’m not sure that it all actually works together as a cohesive work, but the individual songs are so strong that it can carry this album to a respectable placement.
The slap bass of “Panic Station” is absolutely infectious, but it is immediately followed up by a symphonic metal song in “Survival”. Then, right after that we have a dubstep song in “Follow Me”. Don’t get me wrong, I love every single one of these songs individually, but they don’t really work as a cohesive unit.
This is an album that has continued to grow in popularity over the years, though. On it’s release, there was a lot of disappointment from Muse fans, but I can see a lot of support coming for the 2012 release now. The production on this album is immaculate, balancing the new age of compression and synths with the grit that I need for a heavy song to feel heavy. And there are some of the most musically intricate moments that Muse has brought to life yet with songs like “Animals”.
4. The Resistance (2009)
Best Song: Exogenesis: Symphony Part 3 (Redemption)
Worst Song: Guiding Light
Muse’s forray into the orchestral is everything I wanted it to be and more. From the 3 part exogenesis symphony, to the orchestra-led “United States of Eurasia”, everything about this album screams big, bold, and strings.
While this is the era where the cheesiness that Muse is known for started to emerge fully as a part of their core sound, it’s balanced by the novelty of this moment at this point in their history. They hadn’t made songs that ventured this much into the pop realm yet. “Undisclosed Desires”, “Resistance”, and “Uprising” are all unabashedly pop, but unequivocally awesome.
And this is also balanced by the awesome heavy moments, in “MK Ultra” and “Unnatural Selection”, which harken back to their old sound with flying colors.
So yeah, I see why this one is often not cited as a fan favorite, but it’s definitely one of mine!
3. Black Holes and Revelations (2006)
Best Song: City of Delusion
Worst Song: Map of the Problematique
It physically hurts to place Black Holes & Revelations outside of the top 2 spots, but the reality is, somebody has to be here. And while this is a top 10 album of all time for me, it just can’t crack the top of Muse!
This might be one of the most consistently awesome records of all time. I don’t have a single track on here that I would rate below a 9.5/10. And, it does so while experimenting across a bunch of unique soundscapes that I’ve never heard quite like this before. And I still haven’t heard another band emulate some of these sounds since. Even Muse!
“City of Delusion” has an argument to be the greatest song of all time, and it’s not even cited as a top track by the average fan. Most will settle on “Knights of Cydonia”, and I can see why. Not only is it a progressive, epic, energetic rock song, but it also is a staple as the live show closer. And for good reason.
The blending of genres on this album might be my favorite element. “Knights of Cydonia” features elements of surf rock, while “Supermassive Black Hole” features a Brittany Spears-like pop sensibility. But every song, no matter how experimental, sounds undoubtedly Muse.
2. Absolution (2003)
Best Song: Stockholm Syndrome
Worst Song: Falling Away With You
Absolution is regularly cited as your favorite musicians favorite album. And that’s saying something.
From the opening track, you know you’re in for a unique experience. “Apocalypse Please” is unquestionably a top 10 Muse song, and its only gotten better with age. And that’s true for most of this album, which has timeless production elements and writing across the board.
“Blackout” features some of their best ballad work, while “Hysteria” has been voted the best bass line of all time in numerous polls.
But the crowned jewel of Absolution is “Stockholm Syndrome” – a song so good that it’s altered the course of rock music. Many artists have taken inspiration from the rapid-fire riff, and I’ll consider this the best song I’ve ever witnessed in a live show.
I could see an easy argument for any of the top 3 albums taking the top spot, but for me, Absolution just barely misses out.
1. Origin of Symmetry (2001)
Best Song: All
Worst Song: None
This has historically been my favorite album of all time, and it’s easy to say why. I LOVE the gritty, dark, ominous, classically inspired elements laden throughout the entire runtime. From the bach-inspired riff of “Plug-In-Baby”, to the Rachmaninoff-inspired pianos of “Space Dementia”, this album is filled with classical references melded to a dark, rock atmosphere.
Even the more intimate moments are some of the most intricate, experimental, and unique songs I’ve heard, and they stay in my head long after every single listen. “Screenager” and “Darkshines” are heavily underrated by the fanbase, and they shouldn’t be. What I would give to hear this whole album played live…
And yes, it might be a slightly cliche pick, but I cannot name a single song on this album that isn’t perfection. My historical pick would have been “Megalomania”, but after years of repeated listening, the song has fallen deep into my psyche and I’m fully in love.
There is no bigger album, no dirtier, and no more awe-inspiring than this one by Muse, and therefore, it takes the top spot for today.
See my article ranking every Muse single for more Muse content!
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best Muse album?
Origin of Symmetry is widely regarded as Muse’s best album due to its dark tone, classical influence, and consistency, but Absolution and Black Holes & Revelations are often also in contention.
What is the worst Muse album?
Simulation Theory is often considered Muse’s weakest release due to the more pop-focused direction and lack of standout tracks. Especially in comparison to the bands earlier work.
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