Meds

Placebo return with their fifth studio album

Due to their penchant for androgynous attire/makeup and raw guitar riffs, Placebo has been described by some as a glam version of Nirvana. The multi-national band was formed by singer/guitarist Brian Molko (part Scottish and American, but raised in Britain) and bassist Stefan Olsdal (originally from Sweden). Earlier, both had attended the same school in Luxembourg, but didn't cross paths properly until 1994 in London, England. After the huge global success of their singles collection, Once More With Feeling, Placebo return with their fifth studio album, Meds. Recorded over an eight-week period at London’s RAK Studios, Meds marks the return of a very confident band that after a decade together keep growing in stature. Meds was made with French producer Dimitri Tikovoi (Trash Palace), who made the band strip back their sound, doing away with studio trickery and taking Placebo back to their early indie-rock roots. "Dimitri's idea for this record was to get us to make a first album again and to take us out of our comfort zone", says Brian Molko. The album is full of potential singles and the band seems to be evolving into pop music without leaving its rock roots.

Meds is as musically and stylistically convincing as Placebo’s previous work

The whole teenage angst shebang with gender-bender glamour-rock poseurs Placebo was suddenly changed in 2003 with the release of their much anticipated Sleeping With Ghosts, when the band's voice Brian Molko and his posse traded their gloomy pretentious sound to something more inventive and brighter. Molko, still meowing his melancholic lyrics in his cracked voice over the same polished guitar strums, showed some serious songwriting skills. Meds is as musically and stylistically convincing as their previous work, with Alison "VV" Mosshart (of ubiquitous The Kills) appearance on the excellent opening and also a title track, which mixes acoustic and electric guitar very well, and some help from R.E.M.'s Michael Stipe on Broken Promise. The mood set by the opener is naturally supported by the classic Placebo number Infra-Red and a brighter, mellower Drag. Space Monkey sounds almost like a parody to Marilyn Manson sound circa Mechanical Animals era and then the album subsides in a more relaxed and less catchy tracks, but, once set, the atmosphere is quite thoroughly maintained throughout the entire album, and the disc is destined to be one of the better pop-rock British endeavors of 2006. Highlights include Blind, Pierrot The Clown, Post Blue, Song To Say Goodbye and the first single Because I Want You, an urgent, impassioned plea to not give up on love; three-and-a-half minutes of joyous pop, reminiscent of the band’s early work.

The main themes are loss, confusion, revenge, love, addiction and dependence

Placebo have once again captured their unique alternative sound in an entire record. Although some of the tracks have a very pop-related genre, there is still enough mysterious and dark music to satisfy. One of Brian Molko's main qualities, other than his unique feminine voice, is his ability to writhe beautiful, poetic and sentimental lyrics. Meds is no different. The lyrics are kind of abstract which lets people interpret their own meaning, but you can always guess what he is trying to say and get it right, everyone can relate to these songs. The main themes are loss, confusion, revenge, love, addiction and dependence, like on all the Placebo albums. Brian’s voice has matured greatly and it suits the music perfectly and makes it more enjoyable to listen to. Meds was recorded in a matter months but has outdone everyone’s expectations. This is an amazing album, which might take a few listens to get used to, but it’s worth it!