Placebo, Classic or Dud?

I give the first album lots of credit though, for managing to sound like Rush and Smashing Pumpkins and still not be utterly revolting.

Wouldn't it be funny if the singer looked like Frank Black?

Ned, darling--How could I *possibly* disown the head of the T. Rex and Sparks discussion lists?!? Look, we've had our disagreements in the past (a certain same sex-loving, Gap ad-appearing Canuck singer/songwriter with a much prettier voice than BRIAN FUCKING MOLKO comes to mind), and we'll get through this, too, I swear...;-)

I've only ever heard "Pure Morning" but I don't care if the rest of their work does more for me than Joy Division, Glenn Branca, and Lalgudi Jayraman put together. For that blight on the 90s radio landscape, a resounding DUD.

Since when did I have anything to say about Terence and Philip?

we are bad bad people

(disclaimer: i don't really wish anybody would suffer needlessly and then die, it's just amusing to conceive of such things after a few pints of London Pride -- anyone is free to imagine me suffering great deal should it amuse them. and it does I'm told)

Could work...

Sorry 'bout that. Yeah it took a while to sink in but I now realise my erroneous vitriol was slightly garbled. I mean really, how silly do I look, getting all excited like that and getting Brian Malkovich's name wrong!

I'm most dreadfully embarrassed...

Perhaps I should keep it simple: Placebo and Brian Molotov are for shit.

But couple of years ago I was queuing to get into a felafel restaurant in Paris for a Sunday lunchtime snack when I realised the guy standing in front, patiently waiting in line, was Molko. The As du Felafel is a tiny place, everyone crammed into tight spaces. Had a table for 2 had freed up before a table for 4 we'd have ended up sharing a table with Molko and (I assume) his girlfriend. As it was they ended up sharing with a very ordinary looking middle-aged couple in their late fifties. In no time at all they were speaking away animatedly, the couple telling him that their son also played a band, apparently on the local pub circuit in East Anglia. I thought Molko handled himself beautifully, utterly friendly, showed a genuine interest in what the couple had to say, and at no time tried to imply that his band was successful on a different level from their son's. (Although the fact that his companion was about 3 inches taller than him and looked like a supermodel might have offered a clue).

i'd heard something-or-other of theirs years ago and hadn't cared for it. something about the way Molko came off in interviews annoyed me at the time, too, so i kinda didn't care. kinda blew them off and thought no more of it.

then, a couple of years ago, a friend of mine and i exchanged mix CDs. we hadn't previously been friends, but these CDs are actually what did it. on her CD was a bunch of Placebo, amongst other things (including the utterly gorgeous Trembling Blue Stars "Little Gunshots" and Perfect Pop Moment "Don't Falter" by Mint Royale featuring Lauren Laverne). and while goddamnifhisvoicewasn'tawfullynasalandannoying, i couldn't help being carried away by the utter bombastic Crush!Angst!Giddiness of "Special K." some of the other songs of theirs were alright, but that's what made them stick in my mind.

what made me actually go buy some, however, was another friend's inclusion of "English Summer Rain" on a mix CD she put together not long ago (well, obviously). i ended up looping that over and over for quite some time. that bass slide. exquisitely tasty. mmmm.

so eventually, i ended up with the special edition of Sleeping With Ghosts, mostly cos i wanted to hear "Bigmouth Strikes Again" (which is a huge disappointment, BTW. :P). there's plenty to irritate on the disc itself, and plenty to appreciate in that sort of big, dumb angsty way. the thing with them is that it all sounds so good, even when the lyrics aren't particularly so. yes, bits are derivative, but they do it so well and take such obvious pleasure in it, and are (more to the point) v. good at transmuting that pleasure into something audible.

anyrate, surprise favourites on the disc ended up being their covers of "Running Up That Hill" and "The Ballad of Melody Nelson." they're really, really flipping good.
so, i do want more. am not a rabid fan and probably never will be, and i don't know that i'd call it a complete conversion, although i've changed my mind. now the interviews mostly amuse. then again, most things do these days, because i find it v. hard to take almost anything seriously. XD
(as to the cover of "I Feel You," it actually hurts me quite a lot. that's the one thing i skip over on that disc with regularity after having sat through it once. *shudders* urrrrgh.)

Thank you,
please don't hit me on the face,
laters.

Still not heard Sleeping With Ghosts, Tim? Really, give it a whirl.

http://www.placeboworld.co.uk/news/index.html :

1.10.07

PLACEBO PART COMPANY WITH DRUMMER STEVE HEWITT

Placebo have parted company with drummer of 11 years, Steve Hewitt, due to personal and musical differences.

Brian Molko commented "Being in a band is very much like being in a marriage, and in couples - in this case a triple - people can grow apart over the years. To say that you don't love your partner anymore is inaccurate, considering all that you've been through and achieved together. There simply comes a point when you realize that you want different things from your relationship and that you can no longer live under the same roof, so to speak."

The split is amicable and a sad time for both parties. Steve Hewitt replaced Robert Schultzberg behind the drum kit in 1996 whilst the band were promoting Placebo’s eponymous debut album and went on to record the following 4 studio albums ‘Without You I’m Nothing’, ‘Black Market Music’, ‘Sleeping With Ghosts’ and most recently ‘Meds’.

Placebo have just returned from the USA where they were part of the high profile ‘Projekt Revolution Tour’ alongside Linkin Park and My Chemical Romance. The band are now taking a well earned break.

Brian Molko and Stefan Olsdal will begin work on Placebo’s 6th studio album next Spring and are in no rush to find an immediate replacement for Steve.

"Tase In Men"

amusing tim f typo

placebo were what all the girls liked at school who thought rock was trendy now but were a bit scared of metal. i went out with a girl who liked to put on their first album while we fooled around, put me off a bit.

The duddest of them all. There is no-one dudder.

Only mildly entertaining thing about them is that "Nancy Boy" has a chord progression so bleedin' obvious that even someone tone-deaf can count their way through it.

you are all just homophobic meatheads who don't understand molko's totally original and controversial music.

classic. shame about steve.

Yeah, agreed. Fantastic drummer, seemed crucial to me for the band to work. Guess we'll see.

no sonic youth in placebo, god

Eh?

oh, i was just lazily referring to/deriding a comment upthread that suggested that sonic youth was musically similar to placebo. :)

It's far more to accurate to say that Placebo have had a major SY jones over the years but it's there. I'm sure SY themselves think nothing of it.

i hear the pumpkins, particularly in that first self-titled record. quite a nice record that one. i guess my view on the placebo-sonic youth thing is based on a pretty one-dimensional standpoint - lately i haven't been able to think about sy without thinking about the melodic guitar interplay and feedback. though, there is doubtless more to the band's music than that, and that's probably where a placebo comparison could slot neatly in

New single, free download @ http://www.placeboworld.co.uk (or: send them your email address and then get nothing, if you're like me)

maybe it's for the best

Ha, I had the same experience.

Wouldn't have it any other way.

Got the mail! Glorious 128 kb/sec. Didn't think anyone still used that, but anyway. I don't hate it. :-)

Yeah, the mail went to my spam folder.

I finally heard the "Running Up That Hill" cover and it's pretty much OTM

Quite right.

I kind of hate them but I'll admit 'Nancy Boy' was one of my favorite songs when I was younger.

Also nothing special about it but I think 'special needs' sounds very rock stadium to my ears. They've got maybe better songs but its the one that I think sounds the most expansive. Sort of makes me want to be a rockstar and play it.

I want to make that 'songs that make you want to stadium rock' thread now but I don't know how to properly enunciate it.

Hmm, they're back:

--

PLACEBO

B3 EP Out Digitally October 16 On Universal Music;

Limited Edition Physical CD Due October 30

Launch #B3KISS Competition

Allowing Fans A Chance To Create & Share Their Own B3 EP Artwork

www.b3kiss.com

New Album Planned for Release in 2013

http://www.b3ep.com

http://www.placeboworld.co.uk

After fifteen years, six studio albums, 12 million units sold worldwide, breakdowns, clean ups and the dizzying swell of global success, Placebo is back with a new five-song EP B3 due digitally in the U.S. October 16 on Universal/UMe, and as a Limited Edition physical CD on October 30. The highly charged title track exemplifies their dark and melodic trademark sound and features singer Brian Molko’s instantly recognizable vocals. Stream an edited version of “B3” now via the Placebo Soundcloud page: http://soundcloud.com/placeboworld/placebo-b3-edit

A new studio album by Placebo—Molko (guitar/vocals), Stefan Olsdal (bass) and Steve Forrest (drums)—is due to follow the EP in 2013. While not a reflection of the direction of the new album, the band felt strongly that their fans should get to hear new music in the interim. For more information on the EP, visit http://www.b3ep.com.

Placebo has also launched the #B3KISS Competition, asking fans to create their own version of the B3 EP artwork. To enter, fans need to HashTag their photo #B3KISS on Instagram or Twitter, or upload it here: www.b3kiss.com. The band will choose their favorite version and the winner will receive a framed test print of the B3EP artwork, signed by Placebo. The competition closes October 31, 2012.

B3 Track Listing

01. B3

02. I Know You Want To Stop

03. The Extra

04. I.K.W.Y.L.

05. Time Is Money

Actually, having given it an ear -- not bad! Like it more than Battle for the Sun already, that seemed a bit of a timekiller.

Also, having looked at "Time is Money" and inevitably thought, "How very Swans," the opening lyric is straight up "Time is money...bastard..." Not a cover, unsurprisingly.

A band I used to quite enjoy, in later years really want to fucking hate. Like many others do. They're an easy target. However, "Every you, every me" is one hell of a ride.

And new album soon:

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3760/9069367648_d95d0336f2_z.jpg

Loud Like Love Track Listing

01 - Loud Like Love

02 - Scene Of The Crime

03 - Too Many Friends

04 - Hold On To Me

05 - Rob The Bank

06 - A Million Little Pieces

07 - Exit Wounds

08 - Purify

09 - Begin The End

10 - Bosco

It always surprises me when I find out Placebo are still going... since Sleeping With Ghosts they've been pretty much invisible here, 'The Bitter End' being the last track of theirs I remember getting ANY exposure!

oh god

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKLONjkiL1c

It'll come back to me one day / like a needle in the hay

errr, that's not how it works Brian

It pretty much went from 0 to WTF over the course of the first four lines, and I'm already more than well aware at how bad Brian Molko's lyrics can be. I'm getting a bit of a giggle at the thought of the Brian Molko of 'Nancy Boy' and 'Pure Morning' fame embracing his inner Victor Meldrew and ranting about modern technology.

New video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pi_AJxsdOKo

that was forgettable. it's Placebo by the numbers and they aren't pulling it off on one listen.

And, uh, here's an actual VIDEO video...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y5cZvbOisk4

Narrated by Bret Easton Ellis! GREAT.

mmm pink vinyl best of

http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/1393/3949/products/boxset_01_1024x1024.jpg

http://www.placeboworld.co.uk/#aplaceforustodream

not so sure about the sleeve mind

I still like the first two albums!

A second best-of, hm. Well it includes tracks from Meds at least where the other didn't by default.

Listening to Without You I'm Nothing for the first time in ages.

Forgot what a great album this is.

References to weed, coke and boobs = absolute gold to my 8th grade friends

First new Placebo music in five years just came out:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KudGpbfWYrI

There is a promise of more new music on the way as well...

Huh. Will have to give a listen later.

I can't help but liking this album again - the last one I liked was Sleeping With Ghosts but then I kinda lost interest for a while