[4/5] With their stellar fifth album, Meds, U.K. androgyny kings Placebo have somehow managed to pay tribute to Depeche Mode, embrace their inner cabaret-pop starlet and crank their guitars to levels not attained since 2001's Black Market Music. Electro-shocked riffs and poppin'-and-lockin' beats sparkle on tunes such as "Infra-red," in sharp contrast to the washes of lonely piano that color the disc's many mournful ballads (see the appropriately titled "In The Cold Light Of Morning"). This mix of restrained atmosphere and unfettered noise dominates Meds, leading to emotional tension ("Broken Promise," which features a gravelly cameo from R.E.M.'s Michael Stipe alongside its exploding chords) and buzzy punk nuggets such as the title track, which features the seductive wail of Kills singer VV.
(ASTRALWERKS) Annie Zaleski
 Official Website: http://www.astralwerks.com
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