I'd never heard any Placebo before. I always thought they were a fairly small emo band until I saw them on this years' Reading Festival line up. I was intrigued then, so it was handy that Alex posted up Meds. It was handy in so many ways.
When I started to listen to the opening and title track 'Meds' the first thing that struck me was Brian Molko's voice. It is a very unusual voice, and it genuinely sounds like he is pinching his nose throughout the entire album. However, after only three songs I had fallen in love with this bizarre noise. His voice, the lyrics and the music have such a wonderful strength together, and it makes the album such a great listen.
It has a really calm sound to it, but lyrically I think it is very stressed and very angry. Initially I was reminded of The Used in that it just sounds, how I can only really describe as 'insecure'. It sounds sort of quirky, or unstable...But after a few more listens I changed my mind on this; it's a lot deeper than that and a lot more powerful.
There is no track I like less than another, I think the whole thing is a work of absolute genuis - it really is quite simple but it's so effective and catchy. I think I could listen to this all evening. In fact, I might.
This has definitely been the best album I have heard all year... unless I heard The Downward Spiral this year.
5/5.
I'm very pleased by this review.
ReplyDeleteYou should also listen to Placebo's other albums. They're all fantastic.
I most certainly will be. It would be easier if they came up in album swap though, as my listening schedule always appears to be fully booked.
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