Medication For The Faithful
Placebo are the kind of band to split fans right down the middle on their most recent releases. Sleeping With Ghosts had a mixed reception when it was released in 2003- It displayed a slightly different side to their previously successful mix of angst ridden whines and that guitar sound only found on their tracks. However, the album was catchy and songs like 'English Summer Rain' were bound to stick in the head of anyone who heard it. 2004 brought with it Once More With Feeling, a musical timeline of their achievements, finally ending on 'I Do'.
And this is where their 2006 release, Meds, takes off from. Beginning with the title track, which features Alison Mosshart to provide some relief from Brian Molko's unmistakeable voice, it's a true Placebo anthem. Second track, 'Infra-Red' bears another catchy anthemic chorus to compliment the stripped down feel to the verses. Placebo seem to have removed the junk from their music, stripped down to the almost naked figures found on the albums artwork.
Third track, 'Drag' is my personal favourite- it harks back to their very best songs. It's a chaotic declaration of love that sounds like an extension of 'I Do' from their previous release, mixed in with a dash of their first album to add flavour.
In many ways, this album sounds like the perfect combination of Sleeping With Ghosts and their very first self titled album. There's less of the grime and weight from Black Market Music and more focus on the song writing at hand. Even their haunting ballads, which were seemingly perfect on previous albums have been given a new lease of life and have been revitalised. 'Follow The Cops Back Home' is mournful, the feeling you get at 3am when you're still sat up thinking about your relationship and how it feels like it's coming to an end.
There's a tangible sense of fear and sadness on this album. It runs throughout all the songs, no matter how catchy they are. Placebo have once again released an album that is going to be played again and again because the emotions they weave into their music is so real and true, something you can relate to so easily that you feel you've a friend to keep you company through the bad times.
Uncertainty seeps through the songs, there's questions about medication and if it truly helps or just hinders people on the way to normality. There's a sense of loss and of confusion to who people really are- 'Post Blue' tries to make sense of the world. 'Because I Want You' is the equivalent of 'Black Eyed', 'Brick Shithouse' or 'The Bitter End'. It's the focal point of the album and certainly is an intensive single, but there are many more songs to be found that are far more impressive.
'Pierrot The Clown' is much like 'Burger Queen' from Without You I'm Nothing. It's a sad, dreamy song to lose yourself in for a blissful 4 minutes and 22 seconds. Next song, 'Broken Promise' features Michael Stipe and is a highly enjoyable number. However it pales in comparison to 'One of a Kind', that features a delicious bass and a brilliant sing-a-long chorus. 'Song To Say Goodbye' is a perfect ending to the album, catchy, sad but brilliantly executed. Molko and co are somehow able to balance gloom with upbeat in a way that proved there's life in this band yet!
Somewhere between the first disappointing play and the second eye opening listen something magical happened. Placebo might have removed a hell of a lot from their sound, but they've added maturity and honesty onto their lyrics and if you're a sucker for poignant, moving lyrics, this is an album that you will come to enjoy.