Meds (+DVD) - Placebo

...when I first heard that Meds was to be released, I was intrigued to hear what the new album was to sound like. Each and every time the band release a new album, the claim that it is 'the album they have always wanted to make' and Meds was to be no exception.

In an interview with Zero magazine just as 'Meds' was due to be released, lead singer and guitarist Brian Molko stated that 'the fact that, somehow, in your 30s, you're still managing ...
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Number 1: Meds feat. Alison Mosshart
The album kicks off with the title track of 'Meds', a song that is about where the band are at this point in their lives. Filled with angry guitars, Brian Molko screams 'baby, did you forget to take your meds?!' until his little face goes blue! I have to say that there was little to no impact of having the Kills Alison Mosshart on the track as, when I went to see Placebo live, the lines of 'sex, ... more

It's no secret that I'm a massive Placebo fan. After first hearing the striking guitar riffs and solid drum beats from 'The Bitter End' I was instantly hooked. After buying the brilliant 'Sleeping With Ghosts', I ventured onto their older records and found that, although all of them were amazing, I was the most taken with 'Without You I'm Nothing', a blend of sordid ballads and haunted memories, it was described as the 'difficult' second album by the alternative heroes.

So, when I first heard that Meds was to be released, I was intrigued to hear what the new album was to sound like. Each and every time the band release a new album, the claim that it is 'the album they have always wanted to make' and Meds was to be no exception.

In an interview with Zero magazine just as 'Meds' was due to be released, lead singer and guitarist Brian Molko stated that 'the fact that, somehow, in your 30s, you're still managing to connect to youth culture and that you haven't become David Gray yet is kind of cool!'

But would their 5th offering still connect with this member of the youth culture?

Number 1: Meds feat. Alison Mosshart
The album kicks off with the title track of 'Meds', a song that is about where the band are at this point in their lives. Filled with angry guitars, Brian Molko screams 'baby, did you forget to take your meds?!' until his little face goes blue! I have to say that there was little to no impact of having the Kills Alison Mosshart on the track as, when I went to see Placebo live, the lines of 'sex, drugs, and complications' were filled by Molko and bassist Stefan Olsdal. None the less, a great opening track!

9 out of 10

Number 2: Infra-Red
The second single is the second track on the album. 'Infra-Red' really does help to break the last shards of ice at the beginning of the album and is very easy to pick up and to get stuck in your head! This one is possibly the most catchy of them all on the album, especially with the line 'someone call the ambulance/there's gonna be an accident!'

8.5 out of 10

Number 3: Drag
Traditional Placebo song about misfortune. Simple guitar and bass riffs through out, accompanied by well placed drums. Rhyming lyrics make this one a memorable experience from the album!

7.5 out of 10

Number 4: Space Monkey
This track should definitely be the next single! It's awesome! Unusual but with still the Placebo theme that we all know and love running through it! The track starts with a kind of metal hitting metal sound, to imply the imagery of someone building a space ship or something along those lines. Muffled lyrics from Molko help to evolve the song well.

9.5 out of 10

Number 5: Follow the Cops Back Home
The first real slow track of the album. Quite boring to be blunt about it but, after such a killer song as 'Space Monkey', it would seem that way. Gentle guitars and slow drums. To me, just an album filler but not terrible.

6 out of 10

Number 6: Post Blue
Thankfully, the tempo has increased again! Despite the bands claim that they don't write 'gimmicked' lyrics anymore, with this track I have to disagree. With one lyric being 'it's in your bag of golden brown' and 'it's in the special way we f---' I can't say that they are out of the misty woods of cheese yet!

7 out of 10

Number 7: Because I Want You
The first single taken from 'Meds' and, in my opinion, not a great way to introduce the album to the buying public at all. A monotonous drone it seems, should have just been an album filler. Still a good effort but the video for the single doesn't release it's full potential to me.

6.5 out of 10.

Number 8: Blind
This ones another real favourite of mine with the band going back to their original formula of twisted love stories. A beautiful break in the album with fantastic, touching lyrics. One of the songs that really sells the album.

9.5 out of 10

Number 9: Pierrot the Clown
Speaking from the heart now, and as a dedicated fan, it pains me to say this but I really can't stand this song. It just really gets on my nerves. I can't listen to it all without clenching my fists! For that reason, I'm not going to give it a mark out of ten because it may put you off the rest of the album which includes some fine tracks.

Number 10: Broken Promise feat. Michael Stipe
This song would be brilliant at a festival! The track really does put 'Pierrot the Clown' to shame! The soft melody of a piano introduces the adultery based song before moving swiftly onto unexpected aggressive guitars and drums! The addition of REM's lead singer was great than Alison Mosshart on 'Meds'.

8.5 out of 10

Number 11: One of a Kind
As a wrestling fan, I did kind of expect to hear a similar version of current WWE/ECW Champion Rob Van Dam's entrance theme but this was far from it! Unique and quirky, this is another one of the main selling points of the album in my opinion! Thought provoking lyrics and a different tune help to mark its path on the albums road!

9 out of 10

Number 12: In the Cold Light of Morning
Another quite dull song in contrast to the previous one. Starts off nicely but getting a little bit tiresome, as if it was almost a dream like atmosphere. However, it does grow on you.

5.5 out of 10

Number 13: A Song to Say Goodbye
An apt last track name which was, ironically enough, the first internationally single from 'Meds'! This is a great way to end the album, really another high point. With the video, it makes for a powerful song. Fantastic!

9.5 out of 10

Moving onto the DVD, I can't help but say that I was a little disappointed when I watched this. Being the fanatic that I am, I wanted to get the DVD on the terms of how good 'Soulmates Never Die Live in Paris 2003' and 'The Singles Collection' were.

The documentary included isn't anything much to write home about and doesn't last that long either. The lyrics to the albums songs is a little useless considering how, if you bought the DVD set, it came with a book in the front of it containing the lyrics anyway! Just a space filler.

The Live 8, Twenty Years and If Only Tonight We Could Sleep (with the Cure) are a nice asset as well as the Backstage at Live 8, previously available on the official Placebo website and the photo galleries.

Demos from 'In The Cold Light of Morning' and 'Pierrot the Clown' prove that they are better than the album version. 'I Do' from the Singles Collection of 2005 and previously unreleased track of 'Long Division' are worth checking out too.

The front cover of Meds is of a naked lady with the album name and bands name covering up her private areas. Her face is doubled as if she is two faced, showing the bands different sides in retrospect. The colours are quite dull and, if passing the album in the shop, you may not even be aware that it was there! Definitely not an eye catcher...

The disks are white but the CD has a florescent pink out line and the DVD has a lime green outline, adding some much needed colour. The book included contains some poetic images of, yep, you've guessed it, a topless woman! A few band pictures and lyrics included here.

The total running time for this package is 93 minutes. From online site 'Play' the set is now £10.99 (lets just say it's a lot cheaper than when I got it!) and on Amazon it is also £10.99

If you haven't currently got the album, I would recommend you do so. It may be a good starting point for someone who is just starting to appreciate indie and rock based music. I would say that the DVD isn't that worth while, only if like me you are a collector of Placebo articles and merchandise.

All in all, give the album a try. To me, however, it isn't as good as some of their previous offerings with the highs being quite high and the lows being average 

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