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 Caught in the Carousel - Music Reviews and More
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Placebo
Extended Play '07
Virgin Records
If you’re a fan of Placebo, you have to wonder what the point is of their latest release, Extended Play ’07. Featuring singles over the course of their 10-plus years together and three unreleased live tracks, there’s not much new here to mine. Any avid fan could piece most of these songs together in a playlist on iTunes. But to be fair, this release isn’t made for the already-converted; as the band’s website explains: “This EP will serve as an introduction to Placebo for new fans discovering the band this summer.”
So how does it fair as an introduction? If you have an appreciation for electric intensity and Brian Molko’s unique vocals, then you’ll like it. A lot. Taken from their self-titled debut, there’s the gender-bending “Nancy Boy,” with its throttling guitars; Molko sounds young on this track, with his utterly fascinating voice even higher and more androgynous than usual. The catchy “Every You Every Me” may be vaguely familiar to anyone who saw the Sarah Michelle Gellar film Cruel Intentions. “Taste In Men” and “The Bitter End” highlight their dark, driving sound, while the captivating “Meds” gives you a taste of their most recent work. Live tracks include the brilliant cover of Kate Bush’s “Running Up That Hill” and the crowd-pleaser “Pure Morning.”
This chronological look works well as basic primer, but it barely scratches the surface of Placebo’s rich and deep musical history. For those of you who want to dig deeper, try Once More with Feeling: Singles 1996-2004.
--Jessica Simons
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