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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
The ever changing Placebo, June 17, 2009
I have been a fan of Placebo since 2003 when I went into a record store and on a whim bought Sleeping with Ghosts. I have never looked back. Sleeping with Ghosts is a truly genius album, and to this day 6 years later, one of my favourites. In 2006, Placebo released Meds. It was a decent album, with some great highlights (Space Money in particular) and now in 2009, here is Battle for the Sun. I will admit that at first i was bias, because this is the first time in 10 years an album has been done without ex-drummer Steve Hewitt. This suddenly turned to excitement when i first heard the title track 'Battle for the Sun'. It was the perfect song, a truly well rounded Placebo sounding effort that had me anticipating the new album.
When the special edition arrived on my doorstep (in two beautiful colour books no less) and I listened to it the first time one thought came to mind: this doesn't sound like Placebo. Where's the mega ballad? Where's the alternative and grunge type sounds? Then you have to remember that they've grown up. How many times can Brian write songs about androgony and drugs? You have to remember he's 36 and has a young son now. Things have changed and I think that's why Placebo have lasted as long as they have. Every album is different. Without You I'm Nothing (their second effort) was very slow and soft, Black Market Music (their third album) was very electronic and Sleeping with Ghosts was...perfect.
After a few more listens, some songs started to stand out, Ashtray Heart, Bright Lights and Breathe Underwater, just to name a few. Still, Battle for the Sun would have to be my favourite song on the album because it is the only song that sounds truly like a Placebo song. The band's sixth effort shows no signs of a band past their prime, or a band that has lost the plot. This album reeks of a band who are changing with the times, who are developing, who are experimenting and who are progressing. This album is a fantastic effort from Brian and co. and will live next to Sleeping with Ghosts in my cd player for a long time to come.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Looks like the devil's here to stay..., June 28, 2009
First off, I really liked the direction Placebo went with their last album "Meds", where the band incorporated more electronic influences into their music, as opposed to their usual live sounding style. Well, with the addition of a new, young and energetic drummer, Placebo has gone back to their more live rock sound as heard on previous three albums before Meds. With "Battle for the Sun" Placebo keeps their old sound, but at the same time spices things up by this time adding orchestral elements (i.e. violins and trumpets) to their music here and there to create a moodier atmosphere. Also, on BFTS the general sound of the music and lyrics have a more uplifting feel to them, with redemption being the major theme of this album. To be honest, I was hoping the band would continue in the direction Meds was going... but then again they did add the song "Bright Lights", which is a great Meds sounding song.
Overall, BFTS is a good album that on its own terms does not disappoint, and it is safe to say it is definitely on par with the rest of the bands consistently strong discography. My current favorite song on the record is "Speak in Tongues" uuuhhhh.... so good!
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Placebo Stays True To Itself., September 3, 2009
Placebo's last album, Battle For The Sun, surprisingly, has been under a lot of criticism. It is true, that in their last album, the band has stepped outside the "Placebo box" and allowed their creative efforts to manifest themselves in an album that is not a typical Placebo production; however, the fact that the new album is different doesn't diminish the quality of the album: it is different, nevertheless great! In one of the interviews on the Placebo website, Brian Molko, has mentioned that Placebo tried to make the new album more "positive" and "universal" as opposed to their last album Meds that was very "dark" and saturated with personal pain; pain that was explored, poked at and examined, as if "under the microscope." Meds is my favorite album, and many would agree, that the "dark place" that Brian mentions, which inspired Meds, is the place where Placebo is at their best; there, in the "dark," Placebo is in their element, and has no equals. The band's ability to expose the darkest and most agonizing nuances of their personal experiences makes those who listen to their music appreciative of band's openness and makes it easier to connect to the emotions that infuse Placebo's music, because there is no questioning that those emotions are displayed in their most real form, no matter how horrific, embarrassing or painful.
However, one can also appreciate Placebo's attempt to shift their music into a more positive direction. Not every single experience in our life is a negative one, and it is interesting to see Placebo attempt to communicate those positive experiences through their music. Even though in the Battle For The Sun, Placebo has dropped their typical electronic sound, got rid of all the slow ballads, incorporated more positive and hopeful lyrics and infused every single song with an extreme level of energy, the band still managed to maintain the unique style which sets them apart from the rest of the rock bands. Brian's unique voice is as intoxicating as ever; it adds emotional and painful undertone to every song. Brian's high-pitch voice plays a role of a shadow against which the happier tonality of the album becomes not only more distinct, but also more dear. The lyrics of the songs are still engaging, they do not tell the story, but rather describe experiences and communicate emotional reactions associated with those experiences.
Even though the album is solid throughout, there are some extreme highlights: Kings Of Medicine, Breathe Under Water, Happy You Are Gone, Devil In The Details. Those songs not only possess the intensity so typical to Placebo, but also are so full of energy, borderline addictive energy, that after the last note is played one wants to replay the song over again. I think that with this album Placebo has proven that change is not a bad thing; it would have been much worse if the band ignored the fact that they are changing, as people and as a band, and tried to pretend to be who they no longer are. Staying true to themselves, is what allowed this band to be so successful, and to keep such a broad range of followers, since the beginning of their extensive career.
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