Thursday, 1 May 2014

That's Entertainment : Placebo


When I first met Lee in 2000, I used to make a lot of mix tapes to play in my car - a brand new Hyundai Excel with reclining seats.  And everywhere we went, I played tapes.  Not long in to our courtship, Lee declared that  I listened to a lot of 'whiney bitches'.  As I spluttered on my lemon Smint, I clarified what she meant by the comment and she proceeded to say: "Well, that singer of the Smashing Pumpkins, the Pet Shop Boys and Placebo…they're all whiney bitches."  Furthermore, she finalised that I really should start think about some other sort of music if she was to continue riding in my car.

I swallowed hard.  Black Market Music had just been released and I was listening to it repeatedly every chance I had, and I'd known Placebo for a few years and was an ardent fan.  It must have been real love because 14 years later we're still together.  We've seen Placebo a few times in the ensuing years and when Placebo released their new album late in 2013, not only did she really quite like it, Lee put it on her I-pod.

And what's not to love.  Coming out at the height of Britpop (Placebo is a bit of a snark at singular word named bands like Blur, Oasis, Suede [of the Britpop era]), Placebo laced their music with teenage angst and grimy, gritty druggy references whilst kicking you in the teeth, slashing your wrists and breaking aching hearts.  With a camp, glam fuzz whack, Placebo delivered something for those from the left of centre, a bit alternative-Britpop (or real Britpop without the stolen Kinks and Beatles sounds though maybe pinching some Bowie and Bolan).  And much like Garbage, their fan base is varied, freaky and completely and utterly devoted.

With charismatic, androgynous and outspoken vocalist and guitarist Brian Molko out front and tall, soft spoken bassist Stefan Olsdal holding the reigns, their peak came when drummer Steven Hewitt beat the lids and they wowed the British press.  Their self-titled debut and the sophomore effort Without You I'm Nothing made them darlings of the charts on both sides of the Atlantic, peaking with an appearance with David Bowie at the 1999 Brit Awards.  Also bobbing up in the glam rock movie Velvet Goldmine, Placebo were making a name for themselves.  There's nothing more that the English music press like than an eccentric & queer band that deliver them plenty of copy.  But there's nothing more that the English music press quickly grow tired of is an eccentric & queer band that come to resent all that copy.

But it's the music that I love.  And the poetic lyrical leanings of Brian Molko.  There's a simplicity to some of it, almost like they've raided some teen school kids'  diaries, but it never comes across contrived.  Another nice touch is the hidden instrumental tracks at the end of their first three albums.  Plus they do delicious covers of many songs I loved from my youth as well as gloriously odd ball B-sides and remixes aplenty by DJs from all spectrums.  They work with interesting directors for arty film clips and live, Placebo are second to none.  Placebo rock with ferocity, ache with the best balladeers and use such a large canvas that when you're not banging your head, your dancing your night away.  Oh…and apparently, the singer is a nasally, whiney bitch.

Over the years, despite the music media criticisms, Placebo have continued to deliver high quality audio and visual delights.  With each successive album, there is a clutch of songs that worm their way in to my music memory and feature on end of year highlights.  Plus they're really good with their fans, taking up the connection with their website and free downloads way before a lot of bands made it fait accompli.  They tour the world, taking their back catalogue to those around the globe, most of which wouldn't know a music media person if they tripped over them, nor could they care less.

So if you're looking for a band that still does it their way without compromising their sound, Placebo is worth investing in.  And sure, the singer might be a whiney bitch, but don't let that distract you.  After a while Lee came around and got on board, you will too ;-)





















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