Let me get this out of the way first off: I am not a big fan of emo-pop, so maybe I’m not the best person to review Placebo. The whiny nasal vocals and amazingly repetitive hooks tend to drag, and I find myself just wanting to slap the band and tell them to man up. That said, I should think if you are a fan of the band, you will love this nearly three hour concert disc filmed at London’s Brixton Academy in September 2010 during the band’s tour for their album Battle for the Sun.
Placebo is not a band that has achieved the same level of popularity in North America as they have abroad. Their “emo” stylings have spawned numerous top ten singles in the UK. The three-piece band is very tight on stage, and their sound is pristine live. The striking stage visuals are complemented by all sorts of digital post effects seamlessly inserted into transitions (maybe a few too many post tricks, as it seems to detract from the show, drawing attention to the video editor instead).
Internationally beloved, the Battle for the Sun tour played 143 shows to over 2.5 million fans in 44 countries. Placebo’s global success is highlighted in the excellent bonus live tracks: Kitty Litter (Switzerland 2009), Speak in Tongues (Mexico 2009), For What it’s Worth (Japan 2009), Breathe Underwater (Germany 2010), Bright Lights (Switzerland 2010) and Trigger Happy Hands (Belgium 2010).
Track Listing:
- 1. Nancy Boy
- 2. Ashtray Heart
- 3. Battle For The Sun
- 4. Soulmates
- 5. Kitty Litter
- 6. Every You Every Me
- 7. Special Needs
- 8. Breathe Underwater
- 9. The Never-Ending Why
- 10. Bright Lights
- 11. Meds
- 12. Teenage Angst
- 13. All Apologies
- 14. For What It’s Worth
- 15. Song To Say Goodbye
- 16. The Bitter End
- 17. Trigger Happy Hands
- 18. Post Blue
- 19. Infra-Red
- 20. Taste In Men
Video:
Placebo: We Come in Pieces is presented in an aspect ratio of 1.78:1, 1080p encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and running an average of 28 Mbps. The cuts are so quick in hyperactive you best not watch this video if you suffer from epileptic fits or migraines. There are so many post-production effects and purposed distortion, it is hard to say where the artifacting is on purpose or not. Colors are rich, close-ups sharp and detailed. Blacks are stable for the most part.
Audio:
The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 mix sounds sufficiently live, boasting a great deal of dynamic range. The surround is fairly immersive, highlighting crowd ambience and response. LFE is in full use with rich lows and bass. The balance is average, but lead vocals often get lost in the mix.
Special Features:
- Coming Up For Air (01:01:17; HD 1080i) an extensive behind the scenes following the band on their international tour. A bit too narcissistic for my tastes, but I imagine fans of the band will love it.
- Trigger Happy Hands (00:10:31; HD 1080p) Wonderful, surreal clown world!!! This music video/short film is easily my favorite part of this Blu-ray release.
- Bonus Live Tracks:
1) Kitty Litter – Switzerland
2) Speak in Tongues – Mexico
3) For What It’s Worth – Japan
4) Breathe Underwater – Germany
5) Bright Lights – Switzerland
6) Trigger Happy Hands – Belgium
Final Thoughts:
This band definitely has a rabidly loyal UK following. If you are one of their fans, you will love this release. I can’t imagine why you would buy this if you weren’t a fan, so me being critical is really beside the point. This nicely spotlights the band both on and behind stage. Enjoy, Placebo fans, enjoy, and maybe the band will write some less whiny song lyrics.
