Placebo - Placebo – 10th Anniversary Collectors Edition (Album)
» Shock to release new Placebo album - February 24, 2009
» Placebo - Festival Hall, Vic - February 22, 2010
» Soundwave 2010 - Eastern Creek Raceway, NSW - February 21, 2010
To celebrate its big one-0, androgynous rockers Placebo have reissued their self-titled debut complete with re-mastering, snappy new packaging and a few extra treats. For the most part, the album stands the test of time quite well.
The highlights now, as they were then, are the poppy torment of 'Teenage Angst' and the lively drive of 'Nancy Boy'. Also worth a mention are the energetic opener 'Come Home', and the catchy '36 Degrees', whose child-like rhymes underpin the sense of innocence and enthusiasm that characterises the album. Other than that however, there’s not a whole lot to get excited about, and certainly nothing that stands out in the way that 'Pure Morning' and 'Every You Every Me' would two years later on their landmark follow-up, Without You I’m Nothing. It's also worth mentioning that those annoyed by Brian Molko’s nasal voice in more recent Placebo outings will really get the shits with this one – his ‘Meeee and Yewww’ whine is more shrill then ever here.
Although as an album it is weaker than each of its successors (with the possible exception of 2000’s uneven Black Market Music), it is worthwhile revisiting Placebo’s debut in the context of the bands broader career. This album depicts a young band with unbridled enthusiasm and excitement about the hedonistic rock and roll lifestyle that awaits them.
The mood here is sharply contrasted in the following Placebo albums, in which a maturing Molko spends more time reflecting on the damage done by indulging in this lifestyle. As he writes of 1995 in the new booklet: ‘this was before I had the adequate funds and opportunity to completely embrace what is oft glorified as the rock ‘n’ roll lifestyle. It’s funny because I’ve come to realize that a lifestyle it ain’t.’As with most ‘collectors editions’, this release is aimed at the hardcore fans who already have it in the original form (those new to the band are probably better off starting with this year’s brilliant Meds and working backwards). Happily, there are more than enough added goodies to justify a second purchase - previously unavailable demo ‘Paycheck’, and fan club only demo ‘Flesh Mechanic’ are added, along with B-sides ‘Drowning By Numbers’ and ‘Slackerbitch’, which is probably the highlight of the extras.
To complete the trip down memory lane, the album also comes with a bonus DVD, made up videos, live performances and some notable TV appearances (including a rousing rendition of 'Teenage Angst' on what appears to be a children’s breakfast show). You get the feeling that it is not so much the music of this patchy-but-promising album that is being highlighted with this release, but rather the fact that Placebo are still around and still relevant 10 years on.
A revisit to this album and its accompanying DVD reminds us that when they first hit the scene, they had all the hallmarks of a fad - their story was very much about boys-who-kinda-look-like-girls, with a side bar on the fact that they actually had some pretty good songs if editorial space permitted.
Through 10 years of consistently strong material supported by relentless touring, the band has managed to bring the music to the forefront of the Placebo story, and that is something worth celebrating.
