Knowing that singer Brian Molko and his band mates have long been friendly with mutual admirer David Bowie, Marilyn Manson, and now with the openly "mysterious" Michael Stipe, their M.O. is clear. Though Placebo has oft been described as "glam," likely because of Molko’s personal style, their sound has less of that bluesy, T. Rex swagger and more a blend of grunge, punk and industrial. On Meds, the '80s/'90s industrial approach is in full force, showing their age a bit, but for those of the same, a welcome comeback for a sound that has withered away behind the aggro-metal of today. Here you hear the affects of Bowie and Manson along with Peter Murphy and early NIN. The LP starts out with a powerhouse of six solid songs, pounding a dent in your memory with the title track, followed by the all-around winner "Infra-red," which dances out with a plodding keyboard line leading into a dial-pushing gust of a chorus hook that will warrant replay after replay. "Drag" has a grungier guitar base carrying a peppy, self-effacing and memorable chorus. "Space Monkey" is a perfect example of the result of the influences cited above. "Follow The Cops Back Home" is probably the runner-up here, with a perfect melancholy created by some simple sad picks of the guitar and Molko's vocal melody, with lyrics that seem to suggest a longing for younger days of mischief and carelessness. "Post Blue" is a close third, with a sultry, groovy vocal hook and sing-songy guitar riff. Stipe lends just a breath of vocals on "Broken Promise," which builds like an eerie suspense film and another unforgettable chorus, citing a vehement: "I'll wait my turn, to tear inside you, and watch you burn." Americans, whom all but ignored Placebo’s last release, would be foolish to repeat the act with the brilliant Meds. "I'm medicated, how 'bout you?"
(Date of release: March 21, 2006)
