SOUNDTRACK: PLACEBO-Loud Like Love (2013).
I enjoyed Placebo’s previous EP and I had high hopes for this album. And I was not disappointed. Loud Like Love is a great record–with very catchy songwriting, clever word play and a return to the sound that we love best from them–loud guitars, sleazy bass and so much angst.
The title track opens with a quiet guitar riff until the whole band bursts forth and it emerges as the rocking Placebo of old. The track is a loud brash rocker—catchy as anything they’ve done. “Scene of the Crime” introduces some keyboards to the opening and slowly builds to a bracing end chorus. “Too Many Friends” has always bugged me for the opening line, “My computer thinks I’m gay” which I find inscrutable, especially since it is sung with virtually no musical accompaniment. Later, the follow-up line makes up for it: “Whats the difference anyway? when all that people do all day is stare into a phone.” The song turns around from there and has a great chorus. “Hold on to Me” is the slow brooding song on the disc, full of angst. “Rob the Bank” has a great raunchy bass sound that propels this rocker
“Exit Wounds “is a longer song (almost 6 minutes) with a very electronic sounding drum beat introduction. “Purify” has a breakdown in the middle with some spoken word echoes. “Begin the End” is the first of two 6 minute songs that close the disc. This one has a kind of epic feel—he’s not hurrying through this one, allowing it to linger with us a bit longer. I enjoy the way it seems to ramp up a bit after 5 minutes. “Bosco” ends the disc with a piano intro. It’s slow song with a great melody. It’s even a little touching.
Those who hate Molko’s voice will not like this album, and it clearly is not designed to convert anyone. But new listeners may find this batch of quite accessible songs to be a great introduction to the band.
[READ: November 4, 2014] Artichoke Tales
I saw this book in the children’s section of my library and the cover drawing of a girl with an artichoke on top of her head blowing a dandelion looked so peaceful and nice that I brought it home for my daughter.
And I’m glad I read it first because on page 24, two artichoke people have sex (in shadow) and on the next page the guy thinks to himself “I made her come” (which could, of course, be taken two ways, but still). A couple of “fucks” later on in the book coupled with my late realization that this book was published by Fantagraphics confirmed that this is in no way a children’s book–it may not even a be a teen book.
But it is a good book, nonetheless–just don’t be fooled by how sweet it looks. (more…)
I Just Read About That... 