Placebo – Battle for the Sun

To the music world, Battle for the Sun is just another Placebo album that sounds similar to all of their other work that they have consistently churned out under the radar for the past 15 years. But for diehard Placebo fans it’s another piece of art finding its way into the decrepit reaches of a blistered and twisted soul searching for companionship. Placebo speaks to a certain subculture – one that is rooted in sexual questioning, low self-esteem, and quiet rage; all of which are contained and muted with psycho-somatic narcotics. Like punk music, as long as there is anti-government, angry kids, punk music will exist. So as long as there is this subculture that identifies with Placebo, Placebo will continue to put out albums such as Battle for the Sun and find success.

Obviously though, the album is different somewhat from Placebo’s past albums but only somewhat. One thing that is different is the absence of overplaying from drummer Steven Hewitt who was replaced by Steve Forrest (always thought that was a neat stamp for them). The band maintains their signature sound and doesn’t venture out much; I guess like a folk singer with an acoustic that just keeps putting out “songs.” And if you are familiar with Placebo’s songs then all of the new ones sound different but if the band has only been in your peripheral, Battle for the Sun will only sound redundant. And if the band has only been in your peripheral, then that’s okay; the band didn’t make this album for you. Placebo is fantastic at engaging their fans. Placebo is a band that has found their niche and they do what they do with apparently little thought of how important they are to the Movement of Music.

All the pieces of a Placebo album you’d want are there; throbbing beastial guitars, synths and delays spackling the gaps, Molko’s sudden drops in vocal melodies and the distant hope of finding restitution in the fragmented mental well-being that Molko offers in lyrics. Also, Placebo is known to do some cheeseball hooks and appears in the new album like the verse on the title track “Battle for the Sun;” Molko repeats words over and over like “Sun, Sun, Sun… Done, Done, Done” which is kind of Sesame Street sounding but the chorus gives reprieve by being luscious. However, Battle for the Sun is a brand-right album from a hard working band that knows what their fans want and at the end of the day that is what it is all about; the band plays music from their soul and there are people that like it.

Tagged as: London, Rock

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