Much likely one of the most different bands of the 90’s, Placebo is a British band that was completely different and had nothing to do with the other British bands of its time, in a time of the big clash between Oasis and Blur, and the emergence of Radiohead in the industry, Placebo completely stood out of all these other bands and did its own sound.
Formed in London in 1994 by vocalist–guitarist Brian Molko and bassist–guitarist Stefan Olsdal, and in late 1994 Robert Schultzberg joined as drummer. Molko was born in Belgium and Olsdal and Schultzberg in Sweden; Molko and Olsdal grew up in Luxembourg before separately relocating to London and becoming British citizens. Schultzberg left the band in 1996 shortly after the release of the band's eponymous debut album due to conflicts with Molko, and was replaced the same year by Steve Hewitt.
In October 1995 the band released "Bruise Pristine", a split single with the band Soup, on Fierce Panda. Molko would later speak in negative terms about this release.
By 1996 Placebo were signed with Caroline Records. Their debut album, the self-titled Placebo, was released on 17 June 1996. The album was produced by Brad Wood and was influenced, according to Molko, by Sonic Youth and Depeche Mode. The release peaked at No. 5 on the UK Albums Chart at the height of the Britpop era; their highest-charting album in the country until 2022. After the album's release, Placebo went on a headlining tour across Europe, performing in countries like France, Italy, and Switzerland.
The album, the aesthetic, the attitude, everything in this release completely stood out from the other bands at the time, the instrumental was quite complex but raw at the same time, with well written and well performed drum lines, aggressive, raw, and very well written, the guitar and bass works were also different from everything else, Molko and Olsdal used alternate tunings to create the lines in a very Sonic Youth inspired way, creating a lot of textures and droning notes and rhythm lines.
And one of the most crucial factors: Molko’s voice.
Nasal, high-pitched, Molko’s voice sounded just like the rest of the band: completely different from everything else, not just his voice but also the looks.
Molko attracted a lot of attention at the time for the gender-bending looks and lyrical content, which also stood out from the content of other bands.
Although their debut album is raw, and not that mature sounding, the album is a perfect representation and showcase of the band’s talent and the possibilities of other sounds that could come in their later albums, so much that the sound of their latest works became more and more complex and texturized, but this debut album already shows the band’s highly creative spectrum to the songs.
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