Destination Desolation (Black Market Music - Placebo)

Member Name: Sephiroth

Product:	Black Market Music - Placebo
Date:	24/07/01 (122 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: rock, rock, rock

Disadvantages: dark, slow

Not being a huge Placebo fan myself, i only bought this album as it was in the sales for around a fiver. Nevertheless, it surprised me and shocked me that Placebo are making music this good. From the 'riff-alike' songs of Bruise Pristine and Nancy Boy from their earlier stuff, it's somewhat refreshing to hear this band trying new things. This album i think is a lot darker, seedier and in places colder than anything they've attempted previously. Doing a 'Radiohead'? possibly.

From the first track, 'Taste In Men', we hear Placebo going off into weird, dark goth territory. With it's rolling bass and high pitched feedback squealing it doesn't really do much else- not the best of starts to an album. Still quite a good song though- heavy looped drums collide with Brian's unmistakeable wail, it's still fairly listenable.

'Days Before You Came'- now this is more like the Placebo we know and love! Heavy thrashy guitars, big, fast drums and Brian putting 110% into the vocal duties. Good stuff! It's one of the more upbeat songs on the album, and clocking in at about 2.20, its effectively short. A song of lost love methinks (a line goes- "didn't want you anyway"), but the most un- slushy love song ever!

'Special K' is allegedly about LSD. So there. As for the song, it's probably the best on the record. It starts with a beautiful acoustic riff, but after about 10 seconds, it transforms into a heavyweight rock sucka that blows your ears off. Hard guitars and faster drums on the chorus are matched with a slower drum (but not too slow) pattern and strummed guitar for the verses, which makes for an excellent song. Singalong chrous too!

'Spite And Malice' is also very good. Inlisting the talents of under-rated and very talented rapper (yes, i did say rapper) Justin Warfield, it skins along nicely. Thundering bass, catchy guitar hooks and a nice change to
Brian's usual voice, we get a fresh sound here. Not nu-metal (thank god), more like alt rock/ rap, if you can imagine that.

'Passive Aggressive' is one of the more downbeat, slow songs on this album (there are quite a few, believe me), but it's still a fairly good track. Lots of guitars, slow, lethargic drums pound away and Brian sounds unusually relaxed. It's hard work, but pays off when you listen to it all. Rewarding.

'Black Eyed' is a more upbeat rocker, with only 2 chords in the whole song, it uses dynamics very well. An uneven beat blasts away, Brian mutters something about broken homes, and a big squealy noise thunders in the foreground. Chorus! It rocks- big, heavy guitars still there, the drums kick in and the squealy noises actually compliment the song nicely.

'Blue American' is again, very slow. A strong Piano line eventually finds its way onto this song, Brian sounds very melancholic and the song is a heartbreaking tale of loves lost and found ("i wrote this novel just for you/ im so pretentious, yes its true") a very beautiful song, it highlights Placebo's growing sense of maturity, and sounds brilliant in the process.

'Slave To The Wage' was their second single of 2000, and what a single! heavy guitars, a Pavement sample and a catchy chorus all give Placebo a new signature tune, finally displacing the ghost of Nancy Boy. Weird, feedback-y noises squeal, regular guitars rock out and a steady drum pattern all mesh together nicely here, and bring Placebo's brand of alternative rock a new edge.

'Commercial For Levi' is one of my favouites from this record. It's a lively, chirpy 2 minute or so pop song, and features acoustics, pop song drums and even a xylophone! A bittersweet song, it has the pleading chorus of "you'll die, don't die, don't die, don't die". A gorgeous little love song if ever i heard one. Cute.


'Haemoglobin' is the key apparantly. Sounding like a Tool record when it starts, it quickly progresses into a heavy rock riffola monster. Distorted vocals, and repetetive strumming all help to make the song a Placebo Rawk song. It's dark, very catchy, but occasionaly irritating. Not the best on here, but good enough if you have the paitence.

'Narcoleptic' is yet another slow, downbeat song. To the un- initiated, it could be classed as dull or boring, but to the trained ear, it's just as good as the rest of the songs on this album. Again, hard work, but worth it in the end.

'Peeping Tom' is the album's final song (if you don't count the secret track), and finishes it nicely. Downbeat (i told you there were lots of those on this album didn't i?), it trickles along at a slow pace. Using the piano again, and some slow drumming, it helps Placebo shake off their tag of Rock wannabes, and elevates them to a higher, more critically acceptable level. In other words, they're not kids with guitars anymore. They're better now.

All in all, this record is very good. If dark, cold and desolate in places. This is actually a good thing, because it shows Placebo can do this sort of music. Very mechanised, cold and dirty. It does exactly what it says on the tin (or cover).

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