SOUNDTRACK: PLACEBO-B3EP (2012).
Placebo went away for a time and now (well, 2012) they’re back with an EP and an album. This EP has 5 songs and it returns their sound to days of old (although their sound hasn’t changed all that much, honestly, but their last album seemed less…something). This returns to noisy days of yore. “B3” has a sleazy kind of synth, big rocking guitars and drums, and of course Brian Molko’s voice (they wouldn’t be Placebo without his voice).
The second track is a cover of a Minux song “I Know You Want to Stop” and it falls right in with the placebo sound. I actually thought it was one of their own.
“The Extra” slows down the craziness of the EP, but it sounds very much like a Placebo ballad. Rather than a love ballad it is a creepy ballad. The theme is summed up”If I am an extra in the film of my own life, will someone please turn off the camera.” There’s great guitar sound on “I.K.W.Y.L.” with Molko’s keening voice adding tension.
And the final song, “Time is Money” is one of Molko’s aching slow song. “Time is Money bastard, so like Jesus, give it all away.” Somehow he turns that sentiment into a love song. And I love Molko for that.
For an EP, this is a really solid collection of songs–no throwaway tracks here. Let’s hope the full length is as good.
[READ: September 18, 2014] “Stepping Out”
In this piece, I can’t decide if Sedaris is messing with us or not. This essay is all about his love affair with the Fitbit.
In my head, Sedaris is a pampered homebody who only goes out when he has to. While I would never say he was unfit, I just can’t picture him exercising, even if that exercise is walking. On the other hand, I know that he is rather obsessive, so I can see him taking to something like this and really running (or walking) with it.
Sedaris’ friend Lesley explained the pedometer to him. “The goal is to take ten thousand steps per day and, once you do, it vibrates.” He asks, “Hard?” She says “No, it’s just a tingle.” So he bought one. And he quickly learns that 10,000 steps is a little more than 4 miles for him.
He says he can achieve that easily in a day, especially since he has people coming to his door all the time, “wanting you to accept a package or give them directions or just listen patiently as they talk about birds, which happens from time to time when I’m home in West Sussex….” (more…)
I Just Read About That... 