Since I last heard Placebo, Brian Molko has been to the Des’Ree school of lyric writing and may have read two entire books. I find the lyrics of ‘Bright Lights’ to be nothing short of atrocious. His voice sounds like a parody of its former self, with little power or emotion, and the song relies heavily on bland, sappy, effects-laden backing vocals.
The problem with music that sounds good to teenagers is that young rock bands inevitably grow up and experience the ‘Chilli Pepper’ effect – becoming poppier with age. For the best of musicians this can work out, but it hits hardest those who trade on image and angst. In my opinion, Kurt Cobain’s suicide saved Nirvana from becoming lame. I’m aware I’m not talking about Placebo any more, but there really isn’t much to say about Bright Lights apart from, ‘Don’t buy it’.
Release Date 08/02/2010
I've been playing bass guitar and guitar for over half my life. I last played bass in in a band called Electromotive and as a singer-songwriter I have written songs about cheese and vajazzles (separate songs!). I started out listening to 60s, 70s and 80s rock as a kid and I was in to grunge and U.S. punk and ska in the 90s. Since then, I've broadened my tastes and I like the best of all styles of music, even country. I've been writing for Silent Radio since it started.
