Black Market Music - Placebo

Stomping back into the music arena with full force, Placebo brush the tired Indie drones of melancholic boys away with a flick of a skinny wrist and present this, their Black Market Music, the band’s third album, that all in all establishes their unique sounds as their own and reveals an even stranger insight into their complicated world. There’s no time for this album to grow on you because it grabs you immediately, shakes you viciously then leaves you fearful and wanting more of the same: a twisted mix of lust and hate, ego and self-loathing that’s ever-present in Placebo’s work. Opening with the pulsating, electronic Block Rockin’ ...

“I was never faithful / And I was never one to trust.” Well I’m glad that’s cleared up then. Truthfully if you take Mr Molko’s lyrics as autobiographical then you do come to the conclusion he may not be the nicest man in the world. But then again if you want ‘nice and safe’ pop stars you end up with the likes of Steps, a world full of Steps clones: what a hideous thought (actually wait hasn’t that already happened?). Still whatever else you think of Placebo, the tag Steps clone is unlikely ever to be applied, although the thought of H in a dress, eyeliner and nail varnish amuses. Led by self confessed ...

...in being a very black, dark album musically, especially lyric-wise. This is Placebo's third album again written entirely by the threesome that is Placebo: Brian Molko, Stefan Olsdal and Steve Hewitt. This appears to be something of a "coming of age" album seeing them more mature and more intense than their previous albums but just as good and well-crafted as their songs always are. Very open lyrically about Molko's gay/bi-sexual lifestyle and past with his trademark nasal but soulful vocals demonstrating a good range. His vocals may not be to everyone's taste, verging on whining sometimes, but they sure complement the music well. ...