Placebo - 'Battle for the Sun' (Vagrant) Review

"I need a change of skin," cries Brian Molko on "Kitty Litter," the lead track of this London trio's sixth album. And along come veteran alt-metal producer David Bottrill and upstart California drummer Steve Forrest to heighten a glam-punk bombast that lost its exoticism when mainstream emo did it bigger, with a better profit margin. Lacking lyrics as memorable as 2006's Meds, Battle for the Sun is heavier but duller, with the gap between Molko's spindly melodies and the fatter, newly Americanized riffs widening. These Maybellined mavericks have now become followers....full text Battle for the Sun is Placebo's first self-released album after their contract with Virgin, and their first with drummer Steve Forrest. Frontman Brian Molko calls the album "a record about choosing life, about choosing to live, about stepping out of the darkness and into the light." It was recorded in Toronto with Grammy Award winning producer Dave Bottrill (Tool)....full text Kitty Litter
Ashtray Heart
Battle For The Sun
For What It's Worth
Devil In The Details
Bright Lights
Speak In Tongues
The Never-Ending Why
Julien
Happy You're Gone
Breathe Underwater
Come Undone
Kings Of Medicine...full text