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Rating: Brian Molko is the classic example of characters you either love to the point of foaming at the mouth or find as nauseating as parmesan in coffee; you'll hear few people say "Placebo? Yeah, I don't mind them...". The problem lies elsewhere: the flop they've made with this album is quite staggering. It doesn't contain any unlistenable tracks: the issue is that it lacks its own sense. The semi-electronic turn of the previous "Sleeping With Ghosts" was well-received by critics and the audience (selling a few million copies, in fact), at this point the English trio's musical evolution was ripe for completion (see the two excellent new tracks present in the previously released collection): only the Placebo decide to take not just a step back, but a whole stroll of them. And to think that the disc starts off well with the title track, an excellent example of minimalist rock, and, as a side note, the voice of the beautiful and talented Alison Mosshart (half of the Kills). It is followed by "Infra-red", with its excellent melody and arrangement in perfect Placebo style (it's already a classic of Molko and company). Well, you might say? Then come the troubles: "Drag" hints at the more rock production of the trio, but it's so bland as to go unnoticed. "Space Monkey" is the experimental track that the Placebo love to include in every album (for example, "Something Rotten" in the previous one), but it lacks bite and comes across as flat and uninspired. "Follow The Cops Back Home" is pure filler, with its monotonous pace and completely flavorless melody. At least "Post Blue" and "Because I Want You" (especially the latter) stir the waters a bit, but "Blind" (a rockish melody but as obvious as an end-of-season sale) and "Pierrot The Clown" (slow) bring everyone back to earth. The much-anticipated duet with Stipe, "Broken Promise", is considered disappointing by many; instead, it's among the few acceptable moments of the work, especially for the nice big guitars in the chorus and Molko's unique vocals taking the spotlight. His Majesty Michelino from Athens, on the other hand, is missing. Past another filler, the album closes with "In The Cold Light Of Morning", very somber and sung softly by Molko, and the well-known single "Song To Say Goodbye", which comes and goes. What a shame, a missed opportunity.
A work that looks too far back, for a group that's always accustomed us to looking forward. Time will tell if it's a temporary block. Or a definitive paralysis.
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.
