Black Market Gardening - Fila Brazillia

Advantages: wide range of styles covered
Disadvantages: has a darker side than the first two albums

...Black Market Music is the third album from Placebo . Placebo are a band that play loud aggressive music and are still able to keep an accessible side to their sound. I beleive it has a lot to do with Brian Molko’s unique vocals. At times the band can sound pop-like and cute but other times the music gets so overwhelming that it sounds like it should be a full orchestra. The band still has a mature dark side to it , this is shown on tracks like “Passive Aggressive” which is somewhat of an epic style song along with the fantastic "Haemoglobin". Black Market Music also features a bonus track of the song they did with David Bowie entitled “Without you I’m nothing”. Brian Molko and David Bowie’s voice go amazingly well together. there are many highlights on this album and many different styles including Brian Molko even trying his hand... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: Taste in Men
Disadvantages: ???

...'Black Market Music' is the third album from the unique trio and is by no means a step down from the other two. It is a mixture of the power of power of 'Placebo' with the sensitivity of 'Without You I'm Nothing'. The bass is a big as ever, with Brian's lyrics and voice softening the heaviest of songs, and not to mention the inevitable presence of acoustic guitar in and amongst to add that extra little something. The album begins with the first single taken from the album, 'Taste in Men', a song filled with power and a memorable refrain making it the ideal starting song. 'Spite and Malice' provides something different with guest vocals from Justin Warfield, who adds something of a Fred Durst on a happy day tone to the song. 'Slave to the Wage', the second single, provides the essential cheery Placebo song, such as 'Pure Morning... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: not just the ballads they are famous for, savage garden mix their slower songs with upbeat rock-outs
Disadvantages: alot of the material doesn't have the same effect if you're in a good mood!

...Ok, since I'm having a serious case of writer's block (see my recent opinions on Destiny's Child and Atomic Kitten as examples of clutching at straws), I have decided to re-do some of my merely "helpful" opinions and try to make them a bit more useful!! The first of the bunch is the 1999 album from the Australian duo Savage Garden. As the ciao reviews have testified, this album is much loved and critically acclaimed. They are one of few overseas acts to crack the USA market in recent years, with 2 number one singles over there, but in 2001 Darren and Daniel decided to call it quits and go their separate ways. And as a parting shot, this album isn't a bad one to go out on. In fact it's a bloody good one. Savage Garden have taken Lionel Richie's initiative and created an image of "Ballad Kings", as the classic love songs... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful