Back in the mid to late nineties, Placebo could have been considered the antithesis to the macho swagger of Britpop. Where Oasis and Blur were singing about alcohol-fueled all-nighters, Placebo were exploring the realms of drug use, sex, and bisexuality on their self-titled debut album. While they received criticism and negativity – directed largely at effeminate front man Brian Molko – they would become one of the most beloved, and acclaimed bands of the era. Now, as the band are in the midst of celebrating their 20th anniversary, they have outlasted nearly all of their contemporaries.
Of course, maintaining a career for 20 years is no easy feat for any band. Thankfully, by means of constant reinvention, Placebo have always found ways to keep things interesting, and their ‘MTV Unplugged’ album is no exception. A legendary brand in itself, the series has hosted timeless performances from some of music’s biggest names. Bruce Springsteen, Alice In Chains, and most notably, Nirvana have all released ‘MTV Unplugged’ albums, and Placebo’s effort has seen them expand on the regular format for which the series is famous.
From a trembling cover of Sinead O’Connor’s ‘Jackie’ to start their performance, to an exposed version of ’36 Degrees’, it is truly refreshing to hear these songs in such a fragile manner. The chemistry between founding members Brian Molko and Stefan Olsdal hasn’t waned in the slightest over the last two decades. The classic Placebo single ‘Every You Every Me’ still sounds as ahead of its time as when it was first written, and it has been given a new breath of life with a vocal contribution from Broken Twin.
The re-imagining of the title track from ‘Meds’, stripped down to just Molko and piano – really shows how he has progressed as a lyricist over the years. This bleeds into a haunting, piano-led version of ‘Protect Me From What I Want’ featuring Joan As Police Woman. Covering almost every corner of their back catalogue, and favouring some of their lesser known hits; Such as ‘Too Many Friends’ and ‘Without You I’m Nothing’ instead of the more obvious choices. It serves as a great reminder of just how many wonderful songs Placebo have written.
As the set starts to wind down, they perform ‘Bosco’ live for the first time in their career, and the lush strings and subtle percussion make this rendition all the more compelling. Even though it could be considered one of the most covered songs of all time, they put their own unique stamp on ‘Where Is My Mind?’ by the Pixies, before bringing this unique performance to a close with ‘The Bitter End’.
While they may not be moving the units they did in their formative years, there is no denying the importance of Placebo. They have bucked every musical trend – always going against the grain so as not to comprise their art. ‘MTV Unplugged’ is not just going to be something die-hard fans of the band will enjoy. Anyone with the slightest connection to them will be compelled by the way Placebo still manages to push the boundaries of their own sound, even after 20 years.
GLEN BUSHELL