# The Placebo appreciation thread! **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 30, 2003, 9:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-placebo-appreciation-thread/178475 "2003-05-30T09:55:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2003, 9:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-placebo-appreciation-thread/178475/1 "2003-05-30T09:55:32Z")
All right, admit it! Who of you like Placebo (the band, in this case)? I first heard of them when their hit song “Pure Mourning” hit the airwaves, and I immediately thought Geddy Lee (of Rush) must be doing some sort of guitar pop side project. 😃 The voices are so similar, it’s scary. Didn’t think too much of it at the time, liked the song, but never bought a CD. Until recently. A friend of mine put “Without you I’m nothing” in the CD-player after a night on the town, and played the title track. Wow. I’ve been picking up their albums ever since, and I am HOOKED, let me tell you. These guys rock. Songs like “Every you every me”, “Black-eyed”, and “Meet you at the bitter end” off the new album, I can just play them over and over again. Their lyrics are depressing, mostly. But the music just rocks! Their albums are consistently good, and have very few songs on them that don’t at least get my right food tapping. The last album (“Sleeping with ghosts”) seems to have all the good songs in the first half, though. It’s excellent road music, as well. Also, you gotta love a band that’s been known to describe themselves as “the only 50% gay rock trio in the world” (one’s gay, one’s straight, and one’s bi). 😉 So, who’s with me? Any other Placebo fans out there? ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2003, 9:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-placebo-appreciation-thread/178475/2 "2003-05-30T09:57:00Z")
And can someone tell me when they will be visiting Holland again for a show or two? 🙂 I tried their website, but it’s flash, and doesn’t work here at the office. ---
**Author:** ![Loneraven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c0e974/32.png) [@Loneraven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loneraven)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2003, 10:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-placebo-appreciation-thread/178475/3 "2003-05-30T10:27:28Z")
Their website is annoying in the extreme. You’re not alone, **Coldfire**. I’m currently going through a Placebo phase. I’ve been borrowing albums off my long-suffering friends for the last few months. First heard of them when watching Cruel Intentions. Their song Every Me Every You is the opening music for that film, and it stuck with me. Since then, I’ve been pretty much listening to them constantly. Yes, that does include now. Nancy Boy is the only song that really wakes me up in the morning. It’s also the only song I’ve ever heard of that was described by its writers as “all about gay sex.” I then saw an interview with Brian Molko, and was utterly compelled by the whole glitter/eyeliner/miaow aspect of it. The new album - well, I’ve only heard a few songs off it - This Picture, Bitter End and Sleeping With Ghosts, and I love all three, but particularly the title track. There’s something so haunting about it, and Brian Molko’s voice is so distinctive and so very depressing. But then, they do have their upbeat moments. _goes off humming a friend in need’s a friend indeed, a friend with weed is better…_ ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2003, 11:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-placebo-appreciation-thread/178475/4 "2003-05-30T11:09:36Z")
The album with Pure Morning has… Pure Morning and a lot of songs that sound nothing like it. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2003, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-placebo-appreciation-thread/178475/5 "2003-05-30T13:44:13Z")
That parts true, God knows. Placebo is one of the bands that converted me with a video. I was standing in the _Niteclub 9:30_ in DC one night (waiting for Emmet Swimming, I think) and that video came on the monitors there. That video is brilliant, with him standing on the edge and everyone making a scene… > [@](#): > > And then he steps off and stands perpendicular to gravity. A brilliant metaphor for taking chances. I almost broke down and cried. But Coldfire…‘like Geddy Lee’? You’re weird, man. Weird. ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2003, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-placebo-appreciation-thread/178475/6 "2003-05-30T13:51:42Z")
Placebo’s first, self-titled, album is the best IMHO. The band I used to play drums in did a version of Nancy Boy… I love that cool floor-tom pattern in the verses and the build-up towards the end. I’ve seen them live a few times, moist recently at Brixton Academy. My God it was loud! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![SmackFu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/53a042/32.png) [@SmackFu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmackFu)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2003, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-placebo-appreciation-thread/178475/7 "2003-05-30T14:10:35Z")
Like others, I love the song from Cruel Intentions. Haven’t really gotten into their other stuff though. ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2003, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-placebo-appreciation-thread/178475/8 "2003-05-30T14:18:10Z")
Of course, the thing with Placebo is that they’re not actually good - it’s just a weird psychosomatic effect that makes you think they are. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Equal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Equal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equal)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2003, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-placebo-appreciation-thread/178475/9 "2003-05-30T14:21:36Z")
After I read it, the medicine in it made me feel _much_ better! what/ you mean it wasn’t really medicine?? :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Tomcat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Tomcat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tomcat)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2003, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-placebo-appreciation-thread/178475/10 "2003-05-30T15:02:07Z")
_it’s a rrace…a race for rats…a race for rats to die…_ I hum that incessantly at the office. I really like everything that I have heard, but I haven’t been able to afford any new cd’s for awhile. I’ve been hoping they will come through Prague this summer, but I haven’t heard anything yet. -Tcat ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2003, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-placebo-appreciation-thread/178475/11 "2003-05-30T19:35:59Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Jonathan Chance \* > \*\*But Coldfire…‘like Geddy Lee’? You’re weird, man. Weird. \*\* C’mon, man! Are you trying to tell me there’s _no similarity_ between **Molko** ’s voice and **Lee** ’s, when listening to _Pure Mourning_? Getoutaheah! I’ve been a Rush fan for over a decade, listen to all their albums continuously, and the first thing I thought of when hearing that song was Geddy flippin’ Lee. So there. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2003, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-placebo-appreciation-thread/178475/12 "2003-05-30T19:52:33Z")
Must be a Euro-thing. I don’t hear that at ALL. Molko’s got that drone thing going. Ged is way higher and more melodic. Weird, man. Weird. ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2003, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-placebo-appreciation-thread/178475/13 "2003-05-30T20:02:17Z")
A Euro thing. Pshaw. C’mon folks, back me up here. Help me prove **Chance** is the insane one, not me! ---
**Author:** ![Doomtrain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/0ea827/32.png) [@Doomtrain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doomtrain)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2003, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-placebo-appreciation-thread/178475/14 "2003-05-30T20:58:42Z")
I’m with you, **Coldie** , I love sugar pills! Mmm, fake medicine! ---
**Author:** ![Tusculan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecd19e/32.png) [@Tusculan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tusculan)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2003, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-placebo-appreciation-thread/178475/15 "2003-05-30T21:56:23Z")
Never heard of the band, so I checked Barnes & Noble for some samples. Guess what I read on their site in the review (of the Placebo album) by All Music Guide : > [@](#): > > Placebo may sound like a mix between Smashing Pumpkins and Rush So there. (I know, the reviewer doesn’t mention the singer, but still…) The samples sound allright, but didn’t really ‘get’ me yet. ---
**Author:** ![irishgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8edcca/32.png) [@irishgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/irishgirl)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2003, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-placebo-appreciation-thread/178475/16 "2003-05-30T23:46:17Z")
I saw them live twice. Several years ago, when I was in a goth-punk-skater phase. They rock. “A friend in need’s a friend indeed A friend with weed is better” Truer words were never spoken! Nancy Boy and Burger Queen are my favourites, but it’s hard not to love them when you’ve sung your lungs out to them while sitting on your 6’4’’ leather-clad friend’s shoulders in the front row of the mosh pit. Brian Molko is stunning (although the squeakiness grates after a while). He’s very pretty too, fantastic green eyes. ---
**Author:** ![Tanaqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3bc359/32.png) [@Tanaqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tanaqui)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2003, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-placebo-appreciation-thread/178475/17 "2003-05-30T23:54:29Z")
I’ve never had the pleasure of listening to Rush, so I can’t compare the two, but Brian Molko’s voice makes me want to scoop out my eardrums with a spoon. I’m not critisizing him for not being able to sing, mind you–I listen to punk, so who am I to talk about skilled singers–but his voice just grates on my nerves. Despite that, though, I quite enjoy some of their music. I occasionally listen to some of their stuff still–I like Nancy Boy and their latest single. And yes, the video for Pure Morning is pretty cool. Really, I find Brian Molko (the lead singer, if anyone is confused) far more interesting than the actual music they produce. He flaunts his sexuality and seems to enjoy being provocative. And, of course, he’s gorgeous. Pure sex. In a dress. Though sadly, he seems to have gone all butch now. He was remarkably feminine when he had longer hair. ---
**Author:** ![irishgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8edcca/32.png) [@irishgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/irishgirl)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2003, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-placebo-appreciation-thread/178475/18 "2003-05-31T00:13:53Z")
Ah yes, if IRC Brian appeared on Top of the Pops in a pair of leather trousers and a t-shirt with “Stunt-girl” on the front to sing Nancy Boy. There’s an old NME cover where he looks particularly fine. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2003, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-placebo-appreciation-thread/178475/19 "2003-05-31T00:32:21Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Tanaqui \* > \*\*I’ve never had the pleasure of listening to Rush, so I can’t compare the two, but Brian Molko’s voice makes me want to scoop out my eardrums with a spoon. \*\* Well, to be honest, this is how my mom described her reaction to ol’ Ged. ---
**Author:** ![penny\_dreadful](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/71c47a/32.png) [@penny\_dreadful](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/penny_dreadful)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2003, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-placebo-appreciation-thread/178475/20 "2003-05-31T00:36:52Z")
I first got into Placebo when I saw them in _Velvet Goldmine_. Brian Molko was so pretty. Sorry to hear he’s looking less femme these days. Here’s a non-flash [site](http://www.angelfire.com/ne2/placebo/tour.html) that lists their tour dates. July 9th I am so there! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-placebo-appreciation-thread/178475.md?page=2)