Description:
This U.K. three-piece's self-titled debut often got compared to Smashing Pumpkins and Rush--Smashing Pumpkins for its unashamed mid-'70s prog-rock allusions and Rush because of singer Brian Molko's unusually high-pitched, almost androgynous voice. In reality, Placebo were far more salacious, downright dirty, and culturally confusing
This U.K. three-piece's self-titled debut often got compared to Smashing Pumpkins and Rush--Smashing Pumpkins for its unashamed mid-'70s prog-rock allusions and Rush because of singer Brian Molko's unusually high-pitched, almost androgynous voice. In reality, Placebo were far more salacious, downright dirty, and culturally confusing than either. (The band is a mix of American, Swedish, and English, with some Lebanese and Luxembourgian thrown in.) For their second album, Placebo have looked to the late '70s for inspiration, to the sound of early New Order and the Banshees--with a dash of the '90s thrown in: "Brick Shithouse," for example, starts like the most balls-out Prodigy song. If their debut was the sound of a no-holds-barred sexual drug frenzy lasting way into the next day, then Without You I'm Nothing is the resultant rumpled, libidinous comedown. As such, it's much classier, cerebral and great to listen to when hung-over. "I'm unclean / A libertine / And every time you vent your spleen / I seem to lose my power of speech," Molko breathes on the awesomely overcharged title track. In a year when Marilyn Manson and Bauhaus continue to revitalize the goth movement across America, Placebo's moment may well have arrived. --Everett True
"Released: October 12, 1998
Genres: Alternative Rock, Glam Rock
Favourite Tracks:
- Ask For Answers
- Burger Queen
- Every You Every Me
- Pure Morning
- The Crawl
- Without You I'm Nothing
- You Don't Care About Us"
the giraffe added this to a list 8 months, 1 week ago
""Pure Morning" was my introduction to Placebo, and led to me picking up this album & their debut shortly after. They've grown as songwriters since then, but this album shows them at their glammy best.
Favorite song: "Without You I'm Nothing"
(No disrespect to David Bowie, but this song was better without him hence why you won't hear his voice here.)"
"Day 07 - A song that reminds you of a certain event
I mentioned this in the older list too but this still reminds me of my friends memorial. His brothers and friends played this and it was chilling, since they said this was the last song that our friend had listened to before killing himself."
"Day 22 - A song that you listen to when you're sad
If I'm in the mood to embrace my sadness, that is. If I want to cheer up I'll listen to something that makes me happy."
"Song: Without You I'm Nothing
Lyrics:
"Strange infatuation seems to grace the evening tide.
I'll take it by your side.
Such imagination seems to help the feeling slide.
I'll take it by your side.
Instant correlation sucks and breeds a pack of lies.
I'll take it by your side.
Oversaturation curls the skin and tans the hide.
I'll take it by your side.
I'm unclean, a libertine
And every time you vent your spleen,
I seem to lose the power of speech,
Your slipping slowly from my reach.
You grow me"
the giraffe added this to a list 2 years, 6 months ago
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