PLACEBO - BATTLE FOR THE SUN (Vagrant)

Battle For The Sun could had been Placebo's breakthrough album here in America had they never left Virgin Records after the release of their previous album Meds. That is not to say that a label like Vagrant are incapable of getting songs like "For What It's Worth" and "The Never Ending Why" on radio, which they've succeeded in limited capacity on XM, Sirius, and various internet radio stations. However, although Placebo may still be a fresh name on unseasoned ears, let's be honest. Their most famous single, "Pure Morning", was released 11 years ago and played heavily between take-your-pick singles from Third Eye Blind and Goo Goo Dolls. Outside of Foo Fighters and Green Day (two American bands with consistent commercial rock output), there is very little sympathy for any artist that ruled the modern rock airwaves in 1998. MDs from the last five years have moved on to find their new Placebo (the more commercially minded, less sexually confused Muse). Such heartbreak doesn't stop Placebo from trying hard to regain the love from the U.S. market with this new record.

As a fan of Placebo's older material, I am all for the band making a commercial push here in the States. Take a song like "Breathe Underwater" and you can't help to fantasize how much your local FM Alternative radio station improves with this pop-rock diddy in rotation. As much as bloggers, indie-rock snobs, and gutter-punks complain about the Alternative Rock radio format, what we all want is it to simply improve. We want less mall-rock, less Active Rock crossover, more diversity. Placebo and the songs from Battle For The Sun seem to be the perfect vehicle for such a revolution in radio. Yet FM radio seems intent on playing the same Coldplay and Weezer songs as it did 6 months ago.

As far as the Placebo standard, Battle isn't the amazing groundbreaking longtime fans would hope it would be. The band matured on 2006's Meds while beginning the sometimes-dulling process that finally morphs the signature sound of a veteran band. If or not this is a decline from their prime years is debatable. Brian Molko's lyrics are almost as cryptic and challenging as the songs he wrote for Without You I'm Nothing, sacrificing very little to achieve an increase in vocal melodies and dramatics. The overall feel of Molko's words are less curious and smug, and more bitter - often giving listener's possible insight on the departure of longtime drummer Steve Hewitt (see buzz-ballad "Happy You're Gone").

In 2007, Placebo joined Linkin Park's Projekt Revolution tour for reasons hardcore fans are still trying to comprehend. It was an odd attempt for the artsy glam-pop band to gain more attention in the U.S., yet, unfortunately, a more successful attempt than perhaps the release of Battle For The Sun.

Click the above album image to buy the CD from Amazon.

Clicking >>HERE<< will give you a pop-up player where you hear samples from Battle For The Sun

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