Meds
Meds is the fifth studio album by British alternative rock band Placebo, released in 2006 on Virgin Records. It was released in most countries on 13 March 2006, although it was released three days earlier in Australia (standard and special editions) and New Zealand (standard edition only). Illegal copies had previously been available on the Internet since 17 January 2006.
Background
Placebo had planned to record a more electronic, keyboard-driven sound on Meds; however, producer Dimitri Tikovoi suggested a back-to-basics approach, which Brian Molko recounted in Zero Magazine:
It was our producer's agenda really, which we didn't really know about until we got into the studio. ...We were in a place that was very much about samplers and computers and vintage synthesisers. This recording session really became about playing again. We were in an old-school studio so there were no real tricks to hide behind.[11]
On the theme of the record, Molko says:
I think there's a lot of songs...about the dangers and effects of drinking. ...'Infra-red's about that, when you get very drunk and you've got a bee in your bonnet about something, and this vengeful quality emerges. You start thinking about people who've done you wrong and [want] to set the record straight.[11]
The album was re-released by Virgin Records in the U.S. in January 2007, including an extra three tracks ("Lazarus", "UNEEDMEMORETHANINEEDU", and "Running Up that Hill"), but omitting "In the Cold Light of Morning" because it contains "dirty words".[12]
This album has been released with the Copy Control protection system in some regions.
Track listing
All songs written and composed by Placebo, except where noted.
| Writer(s) |
| 1. |
"Meds" (featuring Alison Mosshart) |
|
2:55 |
| 2. |
"Infra-Red" |
|
3:15 |
| 3. |
"Drag" |
|
3:21 |
| 4. |
"Space Monkey" |
|
3:51 |
| 5. |
"Follow the Cops Back Home" |
|
4:39 |
| 6. |
"Post Blue (Dave Bascombe Mix)" |
|
3:11 |
| 7. |
"Because I Want You" |
|
3:22 |
| 8. |
"Blind" |
|
4:01 |
| 9. |
"Lazarus" |
|
3:23 |
| 10. |
"Pierrot the Clown" |
|
4:22 |
| 11. |
"Broken Promise" (featuring Michael Stipe) |
|
|
| 12. |
"One of a Kind" |
|
3:20 |
| 13. |
"Song to Say Goodbye" |
|
3:36 |
| 14. |
"UNEEDMEMORETHANINEEDU" |
|
3:30 |
| 15. |
"Running Up that Hill" |
Kate Bush |
4:56 |
"Running Up that Hill" is apparently digitally remastered, but otherwise the same version that was released in 2003 as part of the limited edition Sleeping with Ghosts bonus disc, copies of which can still be found in many stores. "Lazarus" and "UNEEDMEMORETHANINEEDU" are found on the title track's single.
| 1. |
"This Picture" |
|
| 2. |
"Special Needs" |
|
| 3. |
"Protect Me From What I Want" |
|
| 4. |
"I Do" |
|
| 5. |
"Black-Eyed" |
|
| 6. |
"Pure Morning" |
|
| 7. |
"English Summer Rain" |
|
| 8. |
"Twenty Years" |
|
| 9. |
"Nancy Boy" |
|
The Chilean 2CD edition includes a bonus CD of live tracks recorded at the Centro Cultural Estacion Mapocho Santiago on the 1st and 2nd of April, 2005. "Song to Say Goodbye (Adios Volka Mix)" is credited in the liner notes, however it does not exist on either disc.
Special edition DVD
- Documentary
- Lyrics (with full instrumental soundtrack of the album)
- "Twenty Years" (Live at Wembley 05.11.04)
- "If Only Tonight We Could Sleep" (Placebo and The Cure)
- Backstage at Live 8 photo galleries
- "Long Division" (audio)
- "In the Cold Light of Morning" (demo; audio)
- "I Do" (demo; audio)
- "Pierrot the Clown" (demo; audio)
Chart positions
- #1 - France, Belgium, Austria, Switzerland, Greece, Mexico, Chile
- #2 - Germany
- #3 - Finland, Portugal
- #4 - Australia, Italy, Argentina
- #5 - World Chart
- #7 - UK, Poland
- #10 - Netherlands, Czech Republic
- #12 - Norway
- #20 - Denmark
- #33 - Sweden
- #95 - Canada
- #180 - U.S. (5,974 units in the first week)
Credits
- Dave Bascombe - mixing
- Natalia Bonner - violin
- Fiona Brice - string arrangements
- James Brown - engineer
- Ian Burdge - cello
- Sarah Button - violin
- Krista Caspersz - violin
- Reiad Chibah - viola
- Alex Cowper - design
- Antony Crossfield - digital imagery
- Raj Das - assistant engineer
- Flood - mixing
- Fiona Griffiths - viola
- Nadav Kander - management
- Gita Langley - violin
- Jessie Murphy - violin
- Emma Owens - viola
- Pigott Smith, Tom - violin
- Daniel Porter - assistant engineer
- Helena Rathbone - cello
- Katherine Shave - viola
- Bob Smith - assistant engineer
- Ellie Stanford - violin
- Dimitri Tikovoi - producer
- Deborah L. White - violin
- Lucy Wilkins - violin
- Dave "Soulfingers" Williams - violin
- Sara Wilson - cello
- Richard Woodcraft - assistant engineer
- Tim Young - mastering
- Lee Wellington - bass
References
- ^ MacKenzie Wilson. "Meds - Placebo". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/album/r823567. Retrieved 5 September 2011.
- ^ "Critic Reviews for Meds at Metacritic". Alternative Press (May 2006): 176. http://www.metacritic.com/music/meds/critic-reviews. Retrieved 5 September 2011.
- ^ "Critic Reviews for Meds at Metacritic". Mojo (April 2006): 106. http://www.metacritic.com/music/meds/critic-reviews. Retrieved 5 September 2011.
- ^ "Critic Reviews for Meds at Metacritic". NME: 43. 11 March 2006. http://www.metacritic.com/music/meds/critic-reviews. Retrieved 5 September 2011.
- ^ Joe Tangari (4 May 2006). "Placebo: Meds". Pitchfork Media. http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/6328-meds/. Retrieved 5 September 2011.
- ^ Dan Raper (4 April 2006). "Placebo: Meds". PopMatters. http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/placebo_meds. Retrieved 5 September 2011.
- ^ Robert Christgau (18 April 2006). "Lost in the Lonely Crowd". Village Voice. http://www.robertchristgau.com/xg/rock/placebo-06.php. Retrieved 5 September 2011.
- ^ "Critic Reviews for Meds at Metacritic". Rolling Stone: 69. 6 April 2006. http://www.metacritic.com/music/meds/critic-reviews. Retrieved 5 September 2011.
- ^ Jonathan Keefe (7 April 2006). "Placebo: Meds". Slant Magazine. http://www.slantmagazine.com/music/review/placebo-meds/768. Retrieved 5 September 2011.
- ^ "Critic Reviews for Meds at Metacritic". Q (April 2006): 118. http://www.metacritic.com/music/meds/critic-reviews. Retrieved 5 September 2011.
- ^ a b http://www.placeboworld.co.uk/archive/zero_0306_03.html
- ^ "PLACEBO "Brian Molko Takeover Show" The Residency - live on Xfm radio (part one)". YouTube. 13 December 2009. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UJdFeztMAfk. Retrieved 5 September 2011.
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