Much like trying to categorize the band, it is hard to know where to start a review of such an album. Probably the easiest place would be the cover, which features a composite shot of model Sabrina, breasts blurred out in a horizontal bar, which also features the band and album title. It is very immediately striking and quite suitable for the disc itself. Inside, more poses from a topless Sabrina grace the pages. Eventually, the booklet gets to lyrics and credits, which are rendered in such a manner as to be nearly completely impossible to read. By the end of the booklet, it's as if the band has just given up on the artwork as only the blank background from the front cover is left.
With such an arty cover concept, one could easily expect a high degree of pretension, but whatever their past, Placebo this time just came out to rock. Even though a lot of the gender-bending is gone from this disc, at least compared to past efforts, the band still retains a great deal of experimentalism. The core of this is straightforward, somewhat stripped-down rock, but there are various hip-hop touches, as well as additions of the current instrument that prevailing trends seem to be in love with, the piano. The huge debt owed to The Cure is also readily apparent, particularly if you get the package that comes with a DVD. The vocals are highly charged and emotional, but far away from emo. They may not be Halford quality, but they are gripping and have their own sense of urgency.
Probably the best and most captivating song is Post Blue, which was my introduction to this album in a local CD store. It also has one of the greatest choruses ever, "I break the back of love for you." I actually thought it was a chick singing, but after my initial disappointment when I discovered it was not, it was easy to catch the groove for a very catchy, excellent song. While the album is not of the "throw a dart, find a great song" variety, the two lead-off tracks, Meds and Infra-Red are fantastic, along with the aforementioned Post Blue. The rest of the album is definitely solid, which some brilliant structuring. Alison Mosshart from The Kills and Michael Stipe also show up as guests, yet those performances are far from gratuitous as both of them are used to great effect.
This band was once compared as a glam version of Nirvana, which isn't true, if for no other reason than Placebo does not have one really good drummer and the rest of the musicians are shit, which was the case with Nirvana. The songs do share a certain and similar amount of anger, twisted self-reflection and social rejection, though Placebo both has better lyrics, better delivery, better music and references sex, drugs and desire much more constantly.
The 411: This is a good album for anyone to have in their collection, straightforward rock with enough touches never to be boring, good pacing and dynamics, heavy enough to be driving, yet undistorted enough to be a refreshing change of pace. The production on this disc is stellar, as is the artwork and pound for pound, just a top shelf, all-around solid package. This is one of David Bowie's favorite bands and what more endorsement do you need? Highly recommended.
