The Bitter End (song)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| "The Bitter End" | ||
|---|---|---|
 |
||
| Single by Placebo | ||
| from the album Sleeping with Ghosts | ||
| Released | March 2003 | |
| Genre | Alternative Rock |
|
| Length | 3:10 | |
| Label | Virgin Records | |
| Writer(s) | Brian Molko; Placebo | |
| Producer(s) | ??? | |
| Placebo singles chronology | ||
| "Black Eyed" (2001) |
"The Bitter End" (2003) |
"This Picture" (2004) |
The Bitter End is a single by alternative rock band Placebo. Released in March 2003, it was lifted from their album Sleeping with Ghosts.
[edit] Critical response
Critics generally praised the single upon its release. Reviewing Sleeping with Ghosts, BBC.co.uk's rock / indie reviewer Dan Tallis described "The Bitter End" as "a good pop tune",[1] having "just the right amount of dark, gothic atmosphere to please their fans and enough radio friendly guitars to please the new generation of indie kids."[1] The Times thought the song "ramped up the energy level to devastating effect."[2]
Rock Sound reasoned that the track's "kick ass romp"[3] reinforces "their status as purveyors of pure indie pop in the vein of The Smiths."[3] However, NME saw differing influences woven in the track, reporting that The Bitter End "sees Placebo powering along with a relentless U2- chasing-after-The Cure melody that's as infectious as 24."[4]
Summarising Placebo's 2004 singles collection, Once More with Feeling, BBC.co.uk's Nottingham music reviewer Jaime Gill stated that "each song stems from a songwriter so instinctive and precise that when he writes a song called "The Bitter End", that's exactly what it sounds like."[5]
[edit] Formats and track listing
"The Bitter End" was released on 10th March 2003 via Elevator Music / Hut Records,[6] the first single to be culled from Placebo's fourth album Sleeping with Ghosts. Two CD singles offering differing B-sides were issued, as well as a single in 7" vinyl format.[6] Later, "The Bitter End" saw inclusion on the November 2004 compilation Once More with Feeling: The Singles.
| Format | Track number | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
| The Bitter End | ||||
| CD1 single (UK, Elevator Music) | B | D | T | BV |
| CD2 single (UK, Elevator Music) | B | E | DP | |
| 7" single (UK, Elevator Music) | B | D | ||
Key
- B - "The Bitter End"
- D - "Daddy Cool"
- T - "Teenage Angst (piano version)"
- BV - "The Bitter End video"
- E - "Evalia"
- DP - "Drink You Pretty"
[edit] Notes
- ^ a b Tallis, Dan. "Placebo, Sleeping with Ghosts", album review, March 2003, at BBC.co.uk; last accessed January 8, 2007.
- ^ Sinclair, David. "Keep Taking the Placebos", album review, 21 March 2003, The Times, reported by PlaceboWorld.co.uk; last accessed January 8, 2007.
- ^ a b Perrone, Pierre. "Sleeping with Ghosts", album review, March 2003, Rock Sound magazine, reported by PlaceboWorld.co.uk; last accessed January 8, 2007.
- ^ Watson, Ian. "Placebo : The Bitter End", single review, March 2003, at NME.com; last accessed January 8, 2007.
- ^ Gill, Jaime. "Placebo - Once More With Feeling (The Singles)", album review, 2 November 2004, at BBC.co.uk; last accessed January 8, 2007.
- ^ a b Singles from 'Sleeping with Ghosts'. "The Bitter End", at PlaceboWorld.co.uk; last accessed January 7, 2007.
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| Brian Molko | Stefan Olsdal | Steve Hewitt |
| Live members: William (Bill) Lloyd | Alex Lee |
| Discography |
| Studio albums: Placebo | Without You I'm Nothing | Black Market Music | Sleeping with Ghosts | Meds |
| DVDs and compilations: Soulmates Never Die (Live in Paris 2003) | Once More With Feeling (video collection) | Once More with Feeling | Covers |
| Singles: "Bruise Pristine" | "Come Home" | "36 Degrees" | "Teenage Angst" | "Nancy Boy" | "Pure Morning" | "You Don't Care About Us" | "Every You Every Me" | "Without You I'm Nothing" | "Burger Queen Francais" | "Taste in Men" | "Slave to the Wage" | "Special K" | "Black-Eyed" | "The Bitter End" | "This Picture" | "Special Needs" | "English Summer Rain" | "Twenty Years" | "Protège-Moi" | "Because I Want You" | "Song to Say Goodbye" | "Infra-Red" | "Meds" |
