Since the band's 1996 self-titled debut,
Placebo
has penchant for delivering spiky, stylishly slick
pop
songs, in particular
"Nancy Boy"
and
"Pure Morning."
Brian Molko
's femme-like vocals and androgynous appearance is matched with
Stefan Olsdal
Steve Hewitt
's solid
glam
-inspired instrumentation, giving
a spot of its own in the typically cheeky
Brit-pop
scene. Fourth album
Sleeping with Ghosts
works with the band's
post-grunge
/
experimental
desire to keep things campy and emotionally intact; however,
's a bit reserved this time around. While
Without You I'm Nothing
boasted a
glam rock
edge and
Black Market Music
captured more of a
punk
-
polish,
Sleeping With Ghosts
crawls with mopish, gnarled
ballads
.
"Bulletproof Cupid"
is a vibrant album opener with classic guitar snarling, but the album's intensity quickly drops when
"English Summer Rain"
's flimsy
electronic
bits lose step with
Molko
's dismal interpretation of nature. The electric riffs of
"The Bitter End"
stick with
's frenzied
rock
style, and
"Plasticine"
"Second Sight"
are equally cool dark
, but stand in contrast to the bigger standouts of
"Taste in Men"
from
"Every You Every Me"
has an undeniable swagger, and any attempt to tame its overconfident character simply doesn't work. The whiny, synth-driven
"Protect Me from What I Want"
is a perfect example;
's sharp wit is much too literal in criticizing social conformity, typically mocking and self-deprecating as in the song
"Special Needs."
doesn't venture out lyrically or sonically, but that's not to say it's a bad album. The members of
, now in their early thirties, move beyond the spit and scowl of their previous albums, and new fans will find
to be a good record. Old fans, though, might think the band wimped out while growing up. ~ MacKenzie Wilson