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The Best Of 2003 - Top 20 Albums

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No.3 Muse - Absolution

With Showbiz, they were dismissed as baby Radiohead copyists. So with Origin Of Symmetry, they threw a match into the fireworks factory of Matt Belamy's head and let all hell break loose. And, to forcefully conclude that metaphor, there were some spectacular explosions, but it was all over the place. All bang and no sparkle. With .Absolution, .Muse. reign.. in. .those ..supernova impulses and execute a controlled explosion of remarkable substance. As ever, Howard and Wolstenholme construct a titanium backbone of a rhythm section for Bellamy's neo-classical compositions, which are flawlessly and spectacularly carried off. It's a semi-masterpiece, by the way.

No.4 Radiohead - Hail To The Thief

Arguably their best record to date, Hail To The Thief cannily silenced most of the grumblers. It brings back the rock ("2+2=5" more than equals "Paranoid Android" or "Just"), and the soft guitar songs ("Scatterbrained", "I Will"), as well as continuing their adventures into digital ("Sit Down. Stand Up", "The Gloaming"). Those in the latter category sound more focused and natural than anything from the last two albums, and with Thom Yorke's discretely caustic lyrics carrying more bite than usual, this is both the most coherent and varied album of Radiohead's career so far.