Placebo's "Battle for the Sun" is, at its title promises, an abstract and somewhat unrelated collection of songs, sung with the disaffected nasal whine so common in so-called alt 'indie' guitar bands that it should be referred to by numbe nasal whinr, as in, disaffectede #1. The lead singer of Placebo seems to be hoping that by intoning certain phrases he will roust his listener into feeling something, even if he can only conceptually imagine what that something might be.
"Bright Lights" is the only saving grace on this album, and as a stand-alone single, it might work. There is a certain energy, personified by its effects-laden guitar, reminiscent of a peppier, more harmonic groove. When paired with the rest of the insipid, sluggish compositions, "Bright Lights" can't raise the album alone. There is simply too much drudgery and foot-dragging competence to elevate this album into anything other than grinding background noise.
On the positive side, "Bright Lights" offers the listener a comforting blend of late 80's/early 90's Echo and the Bunnymen frenetic guitar wash blended with punkish, upbeat backing vocals that remind one of what Billy Corgan would have sounded like if he had been well-adjusted. Which is and is not a good thing for the listener.
In this case, "Bright Lights" is anthemic without being particularly meaningful; it allows the listener a temporary harmonic reprieve from the rest of the album, which sinks into dirge-like bass and unimaginative lyrics. Placebo's problem is that they seemingly began listening to music in 1995, and then switched off all auditory input in 1996.
Music doesn't have to be upbeat to be good, but it should never be boring. Placebo does not win the battle.
"Bright Lights" is the only saving grace on this album, and as a stand-alone single, it might work. There is a certain energy, personified by its effects-laden guitar, reminiscent of a peppier, more harmonic groove. When paired with the rest of the insipid, sluggish compositions, "Bright Lights" can't raise the album alone. There is simply too much drudgery and foot-dragging competence to elevate this album into anything other than grinding background noise.
On the positive side, "Bright Lights" offers the listener a comforting blend of late 80's/early 90's Echo and the Bunnymen frenetic guitar wash blended with punkish, upbeat backing vocals that remind one of what Billy Corgan would have sounded like if he had been well-adjusted. Which is and is not a good thing for the listener.
In this case, "Bright Lights" is anthemic without being particularly meaningful; it allows the listener a temporary harmonic reprieve from the rest of the album, which sinks into dirge-like bass and unimaginative lyrics. Placebo's problem is that they seemingly began listening to music in 1995, and then switched off all auditory input in 1996.
Music doesn't have to be upbeat to be good, but it should never be boring. Placebo does not win the battle.
About the Author:
New Placebo CD "Battle for the Sun" is, at its title promises, an abstract and somewhat mixed collection of songs, sung with the disaffected nasal whine so common in so-called alt 'indie' guitar groups that it should be referred to by number, as in, disaffected nasal whine #1.
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