Without You I'm Nothing and Black Market Music (1998-2003)
In 1998, Placebo switched to the major label Virgin Records, and issued their album Without You I'm Nothing in November. It was another large seller in England and initially appeared to be the group's breakthrough in the US, where MTV embraced the album's lead single "Pure Morning", but subsequent singles/videos failed to match the success of its predecessor.
The singles "Nancy Boy", from Placebo (1996), and "Pure Morning", from Without You I'm Nothing, were the peak of their British success, both charting in the top ten. Since Without You I'm Nothing, the band have received less positive coverage from the British music press whom, on occasion, have mocked the perceived pretentiousness of front-man Molko. However, the band has retained a huge popular and critical following in continental Europe. By way of their English-accented fluent French front-man, France has become their very first target market in Europe, which has led to them gaining a huge popularity there, even in excess of their British fan base.
The band's third release, Black Market Music, added hip-hop and disco elements to the band's tense rock sound. The UK saw a release date in early 2000; US fans were treated to a re-sequenced version that autumn. The US version featured a slightly different track listing, adding the aforementioned Bowie version of "Without You I'm Nothing" and the band's cover of Depeche Mode's "I Feel You". The recording spawned additional UK hits such as "Taste in Men" and "Slave to the Wage".
Placebo encountered resistance from the British music industry upon release of the single "Special K" due to its use of a ketamine high as a simile for love. The song was released in Australia as a single before eventually being made available in the UK as an EP featuring the B-sides and remixes that would have filled out a conventional two-disc single release. At the time the band claimed this was due to dissatisfaction with the two-disc single format, a claim somewhat undermined by their subsequent single releases all being made available in two-CD formats accompanied by a 7" vinyl.
Their style altered little from Placebo through Black Market Music, based around fairly straightforward guitar playing, often influenced by the style of 1970s British and American rock, and Molko's high-pitched vocals. The first single for the album, "Taste in Men", was one of their most popular, with a trance synthesiser in the background and wailing distorted guitars.Black Market Music did not receive the same level of long term recognition and media hype as Without You I'm Nothing did, but its peak sales out performed those of its predecessor, in both the UK and France.
Source : Wikipedia
In 1998, Placebo switched to the major label Virgin Records, and issued their album Without You I'm Nothing in November. It was another large seller in England and initially appeared to be the group's breakthrough in the US, where MTV embraced the album's lead single "Pure Morning", but subsequent singles/videos failed to match the success of its predecessor.
The singles "Nancy Boy", from Placebo (1996), and "Pure Morning", from Without You I'm Nothing, were the peak of their British success, both charting in the top ten. Since Without You I'm Nothing, the band have received less positive coverage from the British music press whom, on occasion, have mocked the perceived pretentiousness of front-man Molko. However, the band has retained a huge popular and critical following in continental Europe. By way of their English-accented fluent French front-man, France has become their very first target market in Europe, which has led to them gaining a huge popularity there, even in excess of their British fan base.
The band's third release, Black Market Music, added hip-hop and disco elements to the band's tense rock sound. The UK saw a release date in early 2000; US fans were treated to a re-sequenced version that autumn. The US version featured a slightly different track listing, adding the aforementioned Bowie version of "Without You I'm Nothing" and the band's cover of Depeche Mode's "I Feel You". The recording spawned additional UK hits such as "Taste in Men" and "Slave to the Wage".
Placebo encountered resistance from the British music industry upon release of the single "Special K" due to its use of a ketamine high as a simile for love. The song was released in Australia as a single before eventually being made available in the UK as an EP featuring the B-sides and remixes that would have filled out a conventional two-disc single release. At the time the band claimed this was due to dissatisfaction with the two-disc single format, a claim somewhat undermined by their subsequent single releases all being made available in two-CD formats accompanied by a 7" vinyl.
Their style altered little from Placebo through Black Market Music, based around fairly straightforward guitar playing, often influenced by the style of 1970s British and American rock, and Molko's high-pitched vocals. The first single for the album, "Taste in Men", was one of their most popular, with a trance synthesiser in the background and wailing distorted guitars.Black Market Music did not receive the same level of long term recognition and media hype as Without You I'm Nothing did, but its peak sales out performed those of its predecessor, in both the UK and France.
Source : Wikipedia
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