Placebo - Black Market Music

Sex, drugs, and pop rock seem to be what Placebo is all about. After I listened to samples from their old albums, it seems that nothing much has changed. It's evident that "Black Market Music" is definitely in the same vein as their other material. The music itself consists of simple minor chord progressions and rock beats combined with, leader singer, Brian Molko's trademark, nasally voice. Placebo does however experiment lightly with electronic sounds and layered effects on their instruments. Overall, the band has a very polished and distinctive sound that carries a wide range of influences. While the tracks 'Taste In Men' and 'Special K' are getting commercial attention, I feel songs like 'Black-Eyed' and 'Commercial For Levi' demonstrate Placebo's talent as a band. These songs showcase exceptional performances by Molko both lyrically and vocally. Towards the end of the album, 'Narcoleptic' and 'Peeping Tom' reveal that Placebo can fit some subdued ballads within the mid-tempo power pop. While I have to admit that I'm not much of a Placebo fan, I do think that the album has it's highlights and is worth a listen. Also, if you pick up a copy of the US release of the album, you will get two bonus tracks, 'Without You I'm Nothing' featuring David Bowie and a cover of 'I Feel You'. [www.placeboworld.co.uk]