HomeMusicReview: Placebo Placebo “Black Market Music” (Virgin)This is music that will become your DNA. Placebo is one of those bands that can be considered timeless. The music is one second indie rock and the next poppy and Cure-ish. The arrangements are very inventive, in the sense of Bowie or PJ Harvey. Spite & Malice features Justin Warfield (of the band Tape) rapping the old slogan Dope, guns, fucking in the streets. Commercial For Levi is a beautiful childlike lullaby warning the listener about Coke & Ecstasy and pleading, Please dont die. There is a haunting piece about voyeurism (Peeping Tom), a love song about ketamine (Special K) and the first single (meant to confuse says singer Brian Molko) Taste in Men. The latter starts with a beat influenced by Paul Oakenfold. Molkos Michael Stipe meets Geddy Lee vocal style is a refreshing voice in the days of post-Nirvana, angry suburb white kid heavy metal. This album is the perfect blend of everything good about rock n roll. Placebos debut album was released in 1996. Since then they have appeared in the film Velvet Goldmine, opened for David Bowie at his 50th birthday concert at Madison Square Garden and have supported U2 on many European Popmart tour dates. All this while headlining their own shows all over the world. In 1999, Placebo recorded a new version of Without You Im Nothing featuring Bowie on vocals. This album will not disappoint fans of Lou Reed, Sonic Youth, Iggy Pop and PJ Harvey. Placebo has a sound that is unique, dark, happy, sober and intoxicated. In a perfect world, this will be a number one album and sell millions. Known as a band notorious for sex and drugs, Black Market Music is a realization record. Do we have a wiser, older, just-say-no Placebo on our hands? Nah…they just realize they are in it for the music.
