Music

Sometimes as a music reviewer, you have to put your headphones above the parapet and admit you think something that’s deeply uncool is actually rather good. The latest effort from pop-goth buffoon Brian Molko and his crew constitutes such a moment. Because, however easy it is to dislike Molko, it’s surprisingly difficult to dislike this album.The fact is that Molko, like Damon Albarn, has a continuing ability to conjure supremely good melodies, something that most big acts (from Fatboy Slim to REM) seem to lose after a handful of great singles. That’s why in Europe, where they’ve never been as bothered about what you’re meant to like, Placebo are huge.

And why even here, where admitting to liking Placebo is as fashionable as wearing a James Blunt T-shirt to Fabric, the band still sold out their upcoming Alexandra Palace show in days.Placebo’s formula is simple – glammy rock; heartfelt (if po-faced) angst; big, soaring choruses – but, on this fifth album, they execute it with serious aplomb. The band have stripped back some of their recent pomp and replaced it with the kind of raw, driving energy that characterised their decade-old first album. That leaves Molko’s tunes to shine and, sure enough, most of these tracks are strong enough to be singles. It’s a stirring listen. Honest.