Customer Reviews

Black Market Music

5 star:		(28)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Placebo's Black Market Music is an album that you can listen to from start to finish and never have to skip a song. The flow of the album always keeps the listener interested, each song having its own unique message and sound. If you are a fan of unique distortion, this is an album for you.
Brian Molko's voice is unlike anyone I've heard before. He entrances his audience with his jaded lyrics and melodic voice. His songs are about drugs, depression, and distorted love. The song "Commercial for Levi" is my personal favorite on the album, it is a excellent demonstration of Molko's soothing voice and eccentric lyrics: "You're the one who's always choking Trojan, you're the one who's always bruised and broken, drunk on immorality, valium and cherry wine, coke and ecstasy, you're gonna blow your mind."
"Spite & Malice" is a rap/rock song, Placebo brings in Justin Warfield a rapper from One Inch Punch to experiment with different sounds. "Spite & Malice" is a song which uses a card game as a metaphor for life. "You look well suited like you came to win. Lust, spite and malice, your degrees of sin."
"I was never faithful and I was never one to trust. Borderlining schizo and guaranteed to cause a fuss." This line from "Black-eyed" is my favorite Placebo lyric. Molko shows his peculiar personality in this song. In the song "Blue American," you hear the dark side of Molko's voice. A slightly annoying, yet intense song, "Haemoglobin" is an important addition to the album. "Special K" is a fusion of sex and drugs, the distortion in this song is brilliant. The album opens with "Taste in Men," where Molko serenades to a lost love: "Come back to me a while, change your taste in men." The guitar riffs on "Days Before You Came" are awesome.
Overall, Black Market Music is Placebo at their best and I recommend this album to anyone who loves a mixture of grunge and emo rock.

After Placebo's second album, 1998's Without You I'm Nothing, exceeded their 1996 self-titled debut in maturity and song craftsmanship, fans of the band expected this highly-anticipated album to take another giant leap in the band's repertoire. Opinions will inevitably vary, but how much you enjoy this album (and how much of it you enjoy) all depends on what kind of sound you'd like to hear from Placebo.

Those who enjoy the faster, higher-pitched, guitar-driven music (think of a young Smashing Pumpkins), as was mostly found on their self-titled debut and maaaybe occasionally on Without You I'm Nothing, will take a liking to "Days Before You Came" and "Spite & Malice".

The most commonly heard style on this album is the somewhat-energetic, often fast-paced glam-rock that was introduced (and used frequently) on Without You I'm Nothing. Key examples are "Special K", "Slave To The Wage", and "Commercial For Levi." These songs are upbeat, but don't expect them to get cheery. Nosiree.

Fans of Placebo's darkly mature, downtempo gloom ballads (kudos to Radiohead), that were quite frequent on Without You I'm Nothing, will find something to sway and shed a tear to in "Passive Agressive", "Blue American", and "Narcoleptic".

Lastly, on this album, the band introduces a listen of heavier, harder alt-glam with a sprinkle of industrial and techno on top, as is heard on "Taste In Men" (the album's first single), and "Haemoglobin".

Overall, Placebo fans will thoroughly enjoy Black Market Music, regardless of what style of the band's previous work they enjoy. However, the album gives several nods (and even a few headbangs) to a faster, more energetic sound, rather than a surplus of Without You I'm Nothing's dark atmospherics or the self-titled's constant adrenaline rushes.

Those who hope that Black Market Music will entirely overwhelm Without You I'm Nothing will be a tad disappointed, but still impressed by what this album has to offer. I consider it very much worth the buy, and don't be fooled by a first listen. It grows on you rapidly.

Placebo have forever been trapped between britpop and punk: no-one was ever quite sure which way they leaned. On third album 'Black Market Music' the take a step towards the heavier side.

'Taste In Men' was perhaps not the best choice for first single, with its groove-based chilling rock, but its a good song, the softer 'Slave To The Wage' sounds quite a bit like a standard Placebo single whilst 'Special K' is an infectious, heavy, storming punk number with an unbelievably fast chorus and some nifty guitar work.

Elsewhere 'Spite + Malice' is an excellent injection of rap into Placebo's Britpunk, 'Days Before You Came' is a less infectious version of Special K, 'Passive Agressive' finds them in a some introspective mood and 'Blue American' and 'Commercial For Levi' are scarily assured in their quiet music while the lyrics strike deep into the heart. Drugs is a them Placebo continuously hit, and the two songs which are entirely about them on the album are 'Special K' and 'Commercial For Levi'. Whilst Special K is a standard 'this is how it feels' song, Commercial For Levi finds them for the first time questioning drugs, and pleading for the user to stop (I understand the fascination/I've ever been there once or twice or more/But if you don't change your situation/Then you'll die, you'll die, you'll die, don't die/Please don't die).

Haemoglobin is another good alt-rock number with the album's trademark guitars, an finally Peeping Tom is heartbreaking and doubtless the album's best lyrics, finishing with the empty chorus I'm weightless/I'm bare/I'm faithless/I'm scared. As an album closer, it sets the album's tone as thoroughly bleak.

Black Market Music may not be your party album (although Taste In Men has a groove you could dance to and Special K is postively euphoric) but it certainly serves as excellent material for your misunderstood teen, with some great tunes along the way.

Placebo had a big single years ago with "Pure Morning", but refused to become a one-hit wonder. This album is one of those CDs you'll be playing for the next two years, simultaneously catchy and insightful. Despite their dark image, this album is surprising accessible. Highly Recommended.

Long time Placebo fans will adore this album and have no reason to read further. It's for those of you who haven't discovered Placebo that I am writing this review. Having been skeptical of the band for a long time and only recently coming to realize just how talented and fun this band truly is, I know how easy it could be to dismiss them based on the few songs that have actually been given airplay in the US. Don't do it, though. This album, like their others, is full of raw emotion and deceptively simple yet intricately layered alternative rock. The faster moments hit hard and will leave you struggling against the impulse to tap your foot if you are in public. The slower songs are equally pleasing and you will find them stuck in your head again and again. Once you get used to Brian Molko's (the lead singer and guitarist) slight enunciation problem you will undoubtedly find yourself singing along constantly. The only thing that keeps this album down is the inclusion of rap in Spite and Malice. While some might enjoy this, I am not one of them. Also, while it's nice to see a band with a conscience I really could have done without some of the political stuff. Regardless, though, even the songs that are weaker are worth listening to (well, maybe not Spite and Malice). If you get a chance to see them live (they are currently touring the US) then I encourage you to as I discovered a new found appreciation for this album after hearing several of it's tracks live and now I enjoy it even more than before. Bottom line, while not perfect, this is an immensely enjoyable listening experience. You won't regret it.

Their first 2 albums 'Placebo' and 'Without You I'm Nothing' were truhly amazing. Afterwords they made this moody piece of darkness. Although it's my least favourite of Placebo, this album doesn't fall short to impress me with thier talent. Actually, my favourite Placebo-song is on this album.
It all starts with one of Placebo's best intro, the intro of 'Taste In Men'. Electronica fused with hard-hitting guitars were the key to succes for this first single. 'Day Before You Came' takes you back to Placebo's debut with the punk-feeling and hard-hitting guitars full of energy.
'Special K' was the 2nd single and it's a quit logical choice. Brian's lyrics are top notch on this one and the melody (actually even the whole song) gets stuck in your head and doesn't leave for days. The experimental track 'Spite & Malice' follows. Obscure lyrics sang by a rapper (not Brian himself). I didn't like it very much when I first heard it, but it's actually quit good and not at all a failed experiment (although I'm glad they haven't got a rap-song on 'Sleeping With Ghosts'). 'Passive Agressive' is one of the best ballads on this album, although it really has to grow on you. 'Black Eyed' is really good, but I would have picked a better 3rd single, in other words it's not that great. 'Blue American' is another ballad, not as good as the previous though. One of the lesser tracks. 'Slave To The Wage'...I really hated it when I first heard it (well maybe hating is a big word, but I didn't like it all), what a lame 4rd single I thoughed... Though, after many listenings I really began to like it...alot...and nowadays it's my favourite Placebo-song ever. Everything on this song is so perfect, and I really recommend you to watch the video of this track. It's the best video I have ever seen of a song, really great. 'Commercial For Levi' seems to get alot of good critics, but I find it to be one of the weakest tracks here.. 'Heamoglobin' starts off mysterious, before the snarring guitars come in. Good track, though weak lyrics.
I concidered 'Narcolepic' to be the weakest track on the album for a long time, but it's quit good actually. Best ballad on here. Oh well, Peeping Tom might be an even better ballad, close match between those two. Few minutes after Peeping Tom ended there's an hidden track named 'Black Market Blood' wich has this creepy sound.
I don't have the extra tracks, but I already heard them. 'Without You I'm Nothing Ft. David Bowie' is good, but I like the original better. 'I Feel You' is a great cover originally of Depeche Mode...

My best friend turned me on to Placebo a while back. He got into this fix where they were all he would listen too. After a few listens, I got hooked myself. While "Without You I'm Nothing" was a great album, I'm going to say that "Black Market Music" surpasses it. To me, this one takes a little longer to sink in (not unlike Depeche Mode's "Exciter") but once it has a hold on you, it doesn't let go.

This U.K. based outfit doesn't seem to care what's going on in the mainstream. They have a distinct sound that is all their own and BRILLIANT lyrics. Seriously, the lyrics to "Black Eyed" are some of the best I've heard. This album begs for radio play. Songs like "Special K" and "Days before you came" are full of energy and emotion with scrappy guitar riffs and Brian Molko's high-pitched wail suit it perfectly. On my favorite track "Spite and Malice", Justin Warfield steps up for a duet. His rapping is the perfect contrast to Molko's voice and the band's sound but it fits together perfectly.

In My opinion, this is Placebo's best album to date. I hope that more people discover them. I'm waiting to catch them live.

Placebo proved their talent on guitar, bass and drums with their self-titled debut, which had the vocals significantly quieter in the mix; they then showed their ability to make an album choc-full of infectious pop-rock songs, carried by Molko's singing, on 'Without You I'm Nothing'. Black Market Music doesn't see them simply churning out the same stuff again though - it is a genuinely innovative and excellent album.

Some people describe this record as simply a mix of the upbeat stuff from their debut and the slower, sadder tunes from 'WYIN', but this is short-sighted. In fact they've taken a big musical leap forward here (which would be carried to its logical conclusion on the even better follow up, 'Sleeping with Ghosts'): you can hear it in the dance-like samples of songs like 'Black-eyed' and 'Haemoglobin.' 'Spite and Malice' is rap-rock like no rap-rock song I've heard before (relax, they haven't gone all Papa Roach) and is a real grower. In fact maybe they should have called it 'Sugar and Spice', which would have aptly described Molko's sugary voice working so well against Justin Warfield's rapping.

Anyone who thinks Molko can't write lyrics or is concerned with nothing but sex and drugs should listen to 'Haemoglobin', a fine song about Christian martyrdom which ranks alongside Johnny Cash's best work. Every song on this CD could at least be called 'very good'; many are ridiculously sublime. A word of warning: they're into their minor notes. A lot of these songs have very sad sounds, however, in my opinion they're still ultimately hopeful. Highly recommended.

Wow! for Placebo to top the spiky pop riffs of "Placebo" was difficult, but they managed it with the heart wrenching side of their imaginations, with"Without you i'm Nothing" and now they return, once again acheiving what I believed to be impossible, topping both of these albums with a neat and perfectly taylored Black Market Music. This is an amazing album that has managed to take the best elemants of both previous albums, combine them with added maturity and more politics, to create the best thing to emerge from the minds of Placebo so far. The only problem with this album is that it leaves you feeling slighlty bemused as to how it was possible to reach such fantastic heights of ecstacy throughout songs such as Special K and Black Eyed, then in the next instant, having the feeling of your heart being pulled out of your chest (in a good way!) to songs such as Peeping Tom and Narcoleptic. So in conclusion, this is a mature and varied sounding collection of euphoria, with the only draw back being a touch of Spite and Malice (only joking, it was an interesting experiment, that worked well........as an experiment!)

Perhaps first off I should say that this is my favorate album of all time. For me Placebo was that band that turned me into someone else. Until them I was listening to lots of bad sludge rock and other horrible things, however when I bought this album after loving the song "special K" that I had heard on a sampler a friend had burned. Ironicly, the first time I listened to the cd I didn't think it was very good, but somehow it got better on every new spin until I was completely obsessed with Placebo to some fairly extreme ends. I can honestly say that they changed me, or in better words that they brought something out in me that had been there all along. Over the years i've buried many memories in their music, and its helped me out in many a personal struggle.
In my mind BMM is when Placebo hit their creative peak, Brian Molko was probably at the top of his madness, and at the same time they had matured enough as musicans to create a more complex album which reflected all the things affecting them. The result is a dark, dense, beautiful, haunting album tinted with bits of clautrophobic madness and large dashes of androgeny. The end result is a work that feels timeless.

"Nancy Boy" may be dead according to the band these days, but in the older albums such as this, he is granted a smudge of immortality.