Placebo – Battle For The Sun
Let’s cut to the chase here – this Placebo record is definitely one that sounds like Placebo. It is all very familiar and its dynamics and structures and nasal delivery of Brian Molko’s vocals. However, the band themselves sound like they’ve given themselves a kick up the backside. After the average-sounding Meds three years ago the band have a new drummer (Steve Forrest), some new elements (brass and strings) and a new outlook on life (Molko is now a father). The music may not change on the surface but there is more to be admired than their previous effort.
Steve Forrest fits into the band lineup with ease and adds much needed power to some of the more epic songs like the title track of the album, which is a key standout and one of the central tracks of the album. The rest of the songs are what Placebo do best – angst rock with great hooks. Kitty Litter, Ashtray Heart, For What It’s Worth, Breathe Underwater…all of them are underpinned by great choruses that stick in your head for days on end.
If you add to the equation the excellent production skills of Dave Bottril, which was an inspired booking by the band, there is the potential for their best album. Sadly, it falls short because of the songs as a whole aren’t as strong as a collection like Without You I’m Nothing or Black Market Music and songs like Come Undone are just dull and feels like filler. On the whole though, this is a welcome return to form by a band you could now consider ‘elder statesmen’ – even if their music isn’t growing up itself.
RATING – 3/5
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Posted on June 12th, 2009 by Max
Filed under: Albums, Reviews
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