The British band Placebo have gotten more ink for the sexuality of its members than its music, which, to judge by their sixth studio album "Battle of the Sun" is completely understandable. This is formulaic rock at its worst, pumped out by dull, uninspired alt-rockers who should have retired the title long ago. It is not that Placebo is offensive; it is that Placebo fails to make any impression at all, aside from leaving a slightly metallic tang in one's mouth.
Take, for example, the title track. As he explains, he has "nothing left to say...say...say" hoping that the use of repetition will either make a hilariously ironic point, or simply drive everyone on the listening end to wonder why they bothered to buy this album. The last thing needed in this transitory media age is a band with nothing to say: we have plenty of unfocused noise as it is.
Of course, Placebo isn't trying to fool anybody. The title track is a wincingly honest study in artistic bankruptcy. With lyrics such as "I have nothing left to say," Placebo seems to be admitting that they're putting out something less than stellar, which is a shame. When the musicians find their work tedious, the audience is sure to agree.
Perhaps the final track, "In a Funk" is the most honest of the bunch. "I don't want to be alone," goes the lyric, and it seems true and almost compelling, until one realizes that instead of sparing us, Placebo has decided to wail about its boring uninsipired state in a highly produced setting.
Perhaps Placebo is just in a rut, but one hopes the band will regain some of the passion and joy that should inform their musical choices, even if their work isn't neccessarily upbeat in tone. A positive outlook should never be confused with artistic merit; but Placebo fails to provide satisfaction on either count.
Take, for example, the title track. As he explains, he has "nothing left to say...say...say" hoping that the use of repetition will either make a hilariously ironic point, or simply drive everyone on the listening end to wonder why they bothered to buy this album. The last thing needed in this transitory media age is a band with nothing to say: we have plenty of unfocused noise as it is.
Of course, Placebo isn't trying to fool anybody. The title track is a wincingly honest study in artistic bankruptcy. With lyrics such as "I have nothing left to say," Placebo seems to be admitting that they're putting out something less than stellar, which is a shame. When the musicians find their work tedious, the audience is sure to agree.
Perhaps the final track, "In a Funk" is the most honest of the bunch. "I don't want to be alone," goes the lyric, and it seems true and almost compelling, until one realizes that instead of sparing us, Placebo has decided to wail about its boring uninsipired state in a highly produced setting.
Perhaps Placebo is just in a rut, but one hopes the band will regain some of the passion and joy that should inform their musical choices, even if their work isn't neccessarily upbeat in tone. A positive outlook should never be confused with artistic merit; but Placebo fails to provide satisfaction on either count.
About the Author:
New Placebo CD "Battle for the Sun" is, at its title promises, an abstract and somewhat unrelated collection of music, sung with the disaffected nasal whine so common in so-called alternative 'indie' guitar bands that it should be referred to by number, as in, disaffected nasal whine #1.
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