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Rating: Before the album's release, Brian Molko stated that Placebo would return to their roots, setting aside electronics and distinctly focusing on simplicity (electric guitar/bass/drums). After listening to the album, it becomes immediately clear that the band's leader's statement was only a half-truth.
Compared to "Sleeping with Ghosts," the use of electronics has certainly been significantly downsized but not completely eliminated, as it is present in almost all songs, to varying extents. On the other hand, it's also true that Placebo chose to be simpler and not seek out alternative sounds, thereby creating their most mature album, juxtaposing electronics with indie rock proportionally. The album opens with "Meds," sung together with VV of The Kills; the initial guitar riff is similar to that of "Every You and Every Me" but the song soon changes, becoming a duet that flirts with obsession, 2 minutes (quite short) that are very powerful and disorienting, in which the chorus "Baby, did you forget to take your meds?" becomes obsessive and gets into your head. Then it moves to "Infra Red," a song with dark but somewhat banal and simplistic lyrics, accompanied by compelling and very powerful music. Here as well, we find the forced emphasis on madness and obsession: "Someone call the ambulance, there's gonna be an incident."
"Drag" is definitely the most classic placebo-esque song of the entire album; the melancholy and sadness that Placebo wanted to convey with this song feel very much like rehashed material that tries to wink at the group's origins but loses much compared to the other album tracks. The same goes for songs like "Follow the Cops Back Home" and "Because I Want You," which are explicitly aimed at the band's past but turn out to be the weakest. "Space Monkey," on the other hand, is an innovative song for Placebo; from the enigmatic lyrics to the sick but engaging and almost hypnotic sound, this song truly deserves to be remembered as one of Placebo's best efforts. "Post Blue" and "Blind" flow effortlessly and are both highly enjoyable, followed by a beautiful love song, "Pierrot the Clown." A refined and angry song at the same time, thanks to Molko's beautiful voice, it remains one of the best tracks on the album. "Broken Promise" somewhat disappoints expectations given the duet with Michael Stipe (leader of R.E.M.) but is certainly not a poorly executed song; it is simply an average Placebo song with the addition of Stipe's voice, which is moreover overshadowed by Molko's more exuberant voice.
In "One of a Kind," there is a very curious beginning, which then transitions to a song where the bass takes a significant role, resulting in something catchy and "precious." The album closes with two excellent songs, "In the Cold Light of Morning," a very, very beautiful homage to Leonard Cohen, a narcotized lullaby with a sound very different from that of Molko and co; in my opinion, it truly deserves recognition. "Song to Say Goodbye" is the single we all know by now, and even though it's not rock, it conveys the despair of the text (wonderful) and closes the album elegantly but especially with a see you later.
In summary, this "Meds" is truly an excellent album through which Placebo have managed to improve their music once again, even though some flaws are still present. If this band continues on this path, maturing their sound time after time, we could have one of the best rock bands of recent years (even though they already are) and will certainly be able to reserve a place of honor in the theater of rock music.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
02 Infra-Red (03:17)
One last thing before I shuffle off the planet
I will be the one to make you crawl
So I came down to wish you an unhappy birthday
Someone call the ambulance
There's gonna be an accident
I'm coming up on infra-red
There is no running that can hide you
'Cause I can see in the dark
I'm coming up on infra-red
Forget your running, I will find you
One more thing before we start the final face off
I will be the one to watch you fall
So I came down to crash and burn your beggar's banquet
Someone call the ambulance
There's gonna be an accident
I'm coming up on infra-red
There is no running that can hide you
'Cause I can see in the dark
I'm coming up on infra-red
Forget your running, I will find you
(I'll find you)
[Distorted singing]
Someone call the ambulance
There's gonna be an accident
I'm coming up on infra-red
There is no running that can hide you
'Cause I can see in the dark
I'm coming up on infra-red
Forget your running, I will find you
'Cause I can see in the dark
I'm coming up on infra-red
There is no running that can hide you
'Cause I can see in the dark
I'm coming up on infra-red
Forget your running, I will find you
I'll find you
I'll find you
03 Drag (03:23)
You're always ahead of the game
I drag behind
You never get caught in the rain
When I'm drenched to the bone every time
You're the first one to swim across the Seine
I lag behind
You're always ahead of the game
While I drag behind
I drag behind
I drag behind
I drag behind
I drag behind
You're always ahead of the pack
I drag behind
You posses every trait that I lack
By coincidence or by design
You're the monkey I've got on my back
That tells me to shine
You're always ahead of the pack
While I drag behind
I drag behind
I drag behind
I drag behind
I drag behind
I drag behind
I drag behind
I drag behind
I drag behind
You're always ahead of the rest
When I'm always on time
You got As on your algebra tests
I failed and they kept me behind
I just gotta get off my chest
That I think you're divine
You're always ahead of the rest
While I drag behind
I drag behind
I drag behind
I drag behind
I drag behind
I drag behind
I drag behind
I drag behind
I drag behind
04 Space Monkey (03:53)
A Space Monkey in the place to be
Riding in a rocket to a planet of sound
She and the unplanned Dominos in drag
Increasing population of 100%
Space monkey in the place to be
With a chemical appeal
And a picture of me
Arm around in the carnival of me
Raising the temperature 100 degrees
We're sewn together
She's born to last my
Side of stronger
I die inside her
A Space Monkey in the place to be
A mass of contradictions in golden frame
Raising the roof in a calamity way
Completely meretricious as a poke in the eye
Space monkey in the place to be
Talk of the town with a Colombian rock
Out on a limb in the carnival of me
Raising the temperature one hundred degrees
We're sown together
She's born to mesmer
Beside astride her
I die inside her
It's far too sacred
Don't ever fake it
And don't, and don't, and don't let me down
Like you let me down before
Like you let me down before
Space monkey in the place to be
With some free-association and a hole in her head
Out on a limb in the carnival of me
Raising the temperature one hundred degrees
We're sown together
She's born to mesmer
Beside astride her
I die inside her
It's far too sacred
Don't ever fake it
And don't, and don't, and don't let me down
Like you let me down before
Like you let me down before
Like you let me down before
Like you let me down before
08 Blind (04:03)
If I could tear you from the ceiling
And guarantee a source divine
Rid you of possessions fleeting
Remain your funny valentine
Don't go and leave me
And please don't drive me blind
Don't go and leave me
And please don't drive me blind
If I could tear you from the ceiling
I know best have tried
I'd fill your every breath with meaning
And find a place we both could hide
Don't go and leave me
And please don't drive me blind
Don't go and leave me
And please don't drive me blind
You don't believe me
But you do this every time
Please don't drive me blind
Please don't drive me blind
I know you're broken
I know you're broken
I know you're broken
If I could tear you from the ceiling
I'd freeze us both in time
And find a brand new way of seeing
Your eyes forever glued to mine
Don't go and leave me
And please don't drive me blind
Don't go and leave me
And please don't drive me blind
Please don't drive me blind
Please don't drive me blind
Please don't drive me blind
Please don't drive me blind
09 Pierrot the Clown (04:24)
Leave me dreaming on the bed
See you right back here tomorrow for the next round
Keep this scene inside your head
As the bruises turn to yellow
The swelling goes down
And if you're ever around
In the city or the suburbs of this town
Be sure to come around
I'll be wallowing in sorrow
Wearing a frown
Like Pierrot the Clown
Saw you crashing round the bay
Never seen you act so shallow
Or look so brown
Remember all the things you'd say
How your promises rang hollow
As you threw me to the ground
And if you're ever around
In the backstreets or the alleys of this town
Be sure to come around
I'll be wallowing in pity
And wearing a frown
Like Pierrot the Clown
When I dream I dream of your lips
When I dream I dream of your kiss
When I dream I dream of your fists
Your fists... Your fists
Leave me bleeding on the bed
See you right back here tomorrow for the next round
Keep this scene inside your head
As the bruises turn to yellow
The swelling goes down
And if you're ever around
In the city or the suburbs of this town
Be sure to come around
I'll be wallowing in sorrow
And wearing a frown
Like Pierrot the Clown
Like Pierrot the Clown
Like Pierrot the Clown
Like Pierrot the Clown
Like Pierrot the Clown
11 One of a Kind (03:22)
On top of the world you get nothing done
Talk is cold and burns like the sun
Can't you see these skies are breaking
Cause the top of the word is where I'm from
The back of the class is where I was
Keeping quiet playing dumb
Can't you see these skies are breaking
Cause the back of the class is where I'm from
And I am one
I am
I am one
I am, I am, I am, I am, I am
I'm on a race and it's killing time
I don't need yours I'll keep it with mine
Can't you see these skies are breaking
Cause I'm on a race and I'm doing fine, thank you
Two of a kind no one home
I'm in a crowd and I'm still alone
Can't you see the skies are breaking
Cause one of a kind is all I own
I am one
I am
I am one
I am, I am, I am, I am, I am
Out of the womb and into the void
I wanna try but I get annoyed
Can't you see these skies are breaking
Cause I'm out of the womb and into the void
I am one
I am
I am one
I am, I am, I am, I am, I am
I am, I am, I am, I am, I am
On top of the world you get nothing done
13 Song to Say Goodbye (03:35)
You are one of God's mistakes
You crying, tragic waste of skin
I'm well aware of how it aches
And you still won't let me in
Now I'm breaking down your door
To try and save your swollen face
Though I don't like you anymore
You lying, trying waste of space
Before our innocence was lost
You were always one of those
Blessed with lucky sevens
And the voice that made me cry
My, oh my
You were mother nature's son
Someone to whom I could relate
Your needle and your damage done
Remains a sordid twist of fate
Now I'm trying to wake you up
To pull you from the liquid sky
'Cause if I don't we'll both end up
With just your song to say goodbye
My, oh my
A song to say goodbye
A song to say goodbye
A song to say
Before our innocence was lost
You were always one of those
Blessed with lucky sevens
And the voice that made me cry
It's a song to say goodbye (x8)
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Other reviews
By Jack_85
Pierrot The Clown... touches even those with a heart of stone, bringing a tear to even those who have no eyes to cry.
Brian, Steve, and Stefan are like wine. They get better with time.
By Matt7
In this little masterpiece, everything is perfect: the electronics present but not annoying, the lyrics, the guitars, and Brian’s desperate yet sweet voice.
This album represents the sum of the previous four albums: it has the rage of Placebo, the melancholy of Without You I’m Nothing, the flaws of Black Market Music, and the right experimentation of Sleeping with Ghosts.
By The Punisher
"Now yes, 4 years ago they intrigued me... now I only save the cover which is gorgeous!"
"Placebo, another 'nice' album to review... MONEY DOWN THE TOILET."
By Brizz89
The album is in the end the classic album that almost all bands that want to re-propose themselves without changing anything is: a search to continue without changing the profile that ends in boredom and repetition.
Meds is halfway between the band’s old glories and that half-failure that I consider to be their penultimate work.
By ste84
The rock of Placebo is not made to be played only with essential instruments.
'Meds' is a work to be appreciated over time but it will not sound new to you at all.
