[.ca] Placebo

rush and the pumpkins? *confused look*:
Sometimes I get the feeling reveiwers like the ones for Amazon don't really lisen to the cd they reveiw. Placebo's first release is a case to point out. The reveiwer sound sliek he read Allmusic's reveiw and copied it. The Smashing Pumpkins and Rush comparisons make very little sense. Certainly a little, but to say they draw such a close comparisons as they say is strange. The Pumpkins sound is only there a little bit, maybe in the way they sing and the way the guitars and drums sound, but I hear more of a glammed up post-hardcore/post-punk sound. It seems to me they were listening to their Fugazi cds more than either Rush or the Pumpkins. The best thing I can say about Placebo is that I can draw no comparisons to their actual sound. Certainly a bit here and bit there, but even on this forming cd they have their own sound. A perfect fit of glammy-ness and post-punk. This cd isn't quite as good as their later ones, but it is pretty good in its own right. Not as a drugged up goodtime as some hold, it has some very fragile emotional content. Only a few tracks are as druggy and party centered as many hold the whole record is. I think people are confusing youth with partys. On this cd they dont' sound as mature as on their next three, but that's undertsandable, this is their first cd, they didn't even have a fulltime drummer yet. Understandably there's a certain amatuerness and youth to the record, but still it's amazing how melancholy it can be without being self-involved and oppressive. It's like the best emo and post-punk/post-hardcore, it is energetic and energizing to listen to and yet sad and alive and happy and makes you feel alive and ready to live and experiance everythign you can. No other band except maybe Joy Division and Interpol can do that to me so uterly completely. the onyl complant I have is that some of the songs get kind of repetitive, they use the same lyrics too often sometimes, but that's onyl on a couple songs. Otherwise I have no complaints about the songs. Anywho, I highly suggest this record to anyone who likes Placebo or post-punk or even some post-hardcore. I love it, and I suggest it very much.

UMMMMMMMMMMM...... Placebo:
OK I personally love this album. I mean like other people have said it is a mix of post punk and glam. But i still can't get enough of it. It is in my opinion their best album. Their other stuff like Without you i'm nothing and sleeping with ghosts are perfect examples of the Alternative genre. But this album......... it is hard to describe.The lyrics are as Placebo would say, "wrapped in lust and lunacy". The guitars and drums accompany the lyrics with eerie distorters and and powerful back up. What else can i really say except buy it.

Things are getting started:
on their First album english trio is practising thair own style - mix of glam-rock,punk,pop and avantgarde with satisfying results.the album is raw,with many heavily distorted guitars and Brian's despaired vocals.still "Nancy boy" shows the way where Placebo will go on their later works. there are many classic bands tracks like short but sweet "Teenage angst" and angry punk-rocker "36 deegres".they are the reason to listen to album.the intriguing 20 minutes long "Swallow","Lady of the flowers" and "I know" are filled with depressing atmosphere and dark layered guitar tecstures. Placebo is definitly one of the most original rock/electronic/experiment bands in whole modern music world.their first album shows how they were making their original sounds without use of synths and electronic in raw three person squad.a must-have for every fan.

Hang On To This Debut:
Although not as good as "Without You I`m Nothing" or "Black Market Music", Placebo`s debut is a fine, consistent rock album nonetheless, one that already showcases the band`s poignancy. Their meld of glam, punk, pop, rock and some experimentation in between makes for a solid record that still sounds fresh and appealling even if the trio has done better work after its release. Brian Molko`s voice is a central element here and one of the band`s strenghts, though it disturbs some people who consider it too whiny and androginous. "Placebo" focuses teenage innocence (or the loss of it) and the process of growing up, dealing with new matches, fears and obstacles. The lyrics are interesting, deep and appropriately ambivalent, presenting lost dreams and dark futures. Even the more noisy songs here show a fragile, hurt side, expressing teenage rebellion and loss. The overall tone and sound of the album can be compared to some Smashing Pumpkins` or Suede`s material, or even Nirvana, since these are bands that deal with related themes and ideas. "Placebo" is a strong record, a good debut from one of the best rock bands around.

Entirely Accessible:
I often am cautious about an artists first cd, because they seem to not have polished their craft quite enough. that is not the case here. this is probably my second favorite placebo cd of them all. the songs are just as well put together and melodic as placebo ever was. the only real draw back here is that placebo has always opened and album with a really strong song, the opener here is one of the weaker songs of the album, but this should hardly keep anyone away. unlike some of their other releases, this one should appeal to pretty much all placebo fans. those who complained 'sleeping with ghost's was too slow or that 'black market music' was too mainstream should get this cd. those in both camps, or those who like every work by this band will love this cd. a must. a great album from a masterful band.

• Come Home
• Teenage Angst
• Bionic
• 36 Degrees
• Hang on to Your IQ
• Nancy Boy
• I Know
• Bruise Pristine
• Lady of the Flowers
• Swallow