http://www.vimeo.com/6159370

Placebo – The Never-Ending Why

I’ll be honest, Placebo’s new album, Battle for the Sun, is growing on me. At first I hated it, but now it’s really starting to be quite good – Yes, it’s no “Black Market Music“, but it is growing on me. This is the video for their second single from Battle for The Sun, and is out on 14th September, from all the usual places. The trio also play Reading and Leeds this weekend.

I loved Placebo. They were the first gig I ever went to (Wembley Arena in November 2004), and, like many of my age, they soundtracked my teenage years. I loved Black Market Music (Special K? Black Eyed? Passive Aggressive? Amazing), I loved Sleeping With Ghosts (English Summer Rain? This Picture? The Bitter End? Special Needs? Great!). I even endured Meds multiple times (Song to Say Goodbye and Space Monkey are okay). However, their latest album, Battle for the Sun, is a bit of a mixed bag of songs.

On the plus side: it’s a return to their anthemic alt-rock, with much of the same lyrics about sex, drugs and low self-esteem that did them so well for their first three albums.

However, it just sounds like a jaded dad reminiscing about old times gone. It’s like they’re writing about the drugs and sex, but not getting any. Like they’re talking about battling self esteem problems, but are really quite happy. It’s all just a bit, well, lacking that youthful exuberance that did them so well before. Granted, full credit to them – they’re not sitting back and counting their money, or doing that “experimental album” that so many bands do, but it’s just lacking a little something that I can’t put my finger on.

I don’t dislike the album. I think the songs are better quality than those of Meds – the songs are stories, they’re anthemic at times. It’s just a bit too over-produced and pristine for my liking – a clinical sense of melancholy.

5.5 out of 10.

Placebo’s new album, Battle for the Sun is out now. Order it from Amazon here. Read other reviews at MetaCritic. Want a video about how they made the album, and watch them rehearse a bit? Watch below.

Following the success of their recent warm-up shows, Placebo have announced a UK and Irish arena tour in December to cap off another amazing year for the London trio.

Tickets go on sale this Friday, 29th May at 9am. Tickets are priced at £25 for all dates, and £26.50 in London, €40 in Dublin.

Tuesday 8th December – Birmingham LG Arena
Wednesday 9th December – London The O2 Arena
Friday 11th December – Bridlington Spa
Saturday 12th December – Manchester Central
Monday 14th December – Glasgow SECC
Tuesday 15th December – Dublin Olympia Theatre

Placebo were the first band that I was crazy fan-boy over, and whilst their last album (Meds) was rather lack lustre, I’m holding out a lot of hope for their new album, Battle for the Sun. The first single to be taken from it, “For What It’s Worth” marks a return to their pop-friendly “Sleeping with Ghosts”, reminiscent of “This Picture”.

Watch the video below and let us know what you think in the comments below!

http://myspacetv.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=56112658

“For What It’s Worth” is released on 1st June, ahead of the album, “Battle of the Sun” being released on June 8th. Pre-order the album on Amazon now.

Taking a hint from the rather brilliant Popjustice’s Twitter page, we’re starting another quick and easy to write “Daily feature” – In the Post. Basically, one item that’s been in our post recently, most days at midday. It might be amazing, it might be rubbish, either way we’ll give it our 2 minute judgement. Like this feature? Hate it? Leave us a comment below.

Placebo were the first band that I was crazy fan-boy over, and whilst their last album (Meds) was rather lack lustre, I’m holding out a lot of hope for their new album, Battle for the Sun. The first single to be taken from it, “For What It’s Worth” marks a return to their pop-friendly “Sleeping with Ghosts”, reminiscent of “This Picture”.

It’s a great, sturdy return to form, and should keep their enthusiastic fan base pleased with the ambiguity of the lyrics, the radio-friendly chorus and the rocking, brooding atmosphere. With the immensly catchy refrain of “Got no friends / Got no lover” it’s sure to be in your head for much of the day – let’s just hope that the album lives up to the strength of this single. If it does, I’ll see you down the front for their likely tour at the end of the year.

“For What It’s Worth” is released on 1st June, ahead of the album, “Battle of the Sun” being released on June 8th. Pre-order the album on Amazon now.

Placebo were the first band that I was crazy fan-boy over (a role that has now been replaced by Delays and Bloc Party), and whilst their last album (Meds) was rather lack lustre, I’m holding out a lot of hope for their new album, Battle for the Sun. To celebrate the new album they’ve announced a trio of shows for early May around the UK.

Tickets go on pre-sale tomorrow (Monday 6th April) at 9am from here and from 9am Wednesday (8th April) for normal people.

Saturday 9th May 2009 – Sheffield O2 Academy
Sunday 10th May 2009 – Bournemouth Opera House
Tuesday 12th May 2009 – London Shepherds Bush Empire

Fresh from supporting previous “Band to watch” the Kissaway Trail and Editors at various points in the past few months, London’s Red Light Company are currently pounding the touring circuit around the UK, and hopefully will start making pretty massive waves in the UK music scene soon.

The five-piece sounds like the bastard lovechild of early Placebo and Suede bought up to date for the 00’s emo kids. Androgynous, powerful, driven and still full of emotion, Richard Frenneaux’s voice has at times the nasal whine of Brian Molko, at others the fragile-and-close-to-breaking shout of Win Butler.

Backed up by a deafening wall of guitars that you’ll either love or hate, their initial tracks up on their myspace are pretty strong for a debut, and are almost certainly the reason they were signed a couple of months ago to Lavolta Records.

Definately ones to be watching in the coming weeks and months, as they mature their sound and work on (hopefully) an album. Hopefully (from my perspective) they’ll grow to fill the void left by Placebo at the moment in the music industry.

After the jump: their halloween video, and tour dates for later this month and early May.

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