Advanced Search Beta »
Basic Search Fields
Battle For The Sun - Placebo
User Score
8.5 out of 10

Universal acclaim- based on 33 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 30 out of 33
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 33
  3. Negative: 1 out of 33

Review this album

  1. Your Score
    10 out of 10
    Rate this:
    out of 10
  1. Submit
  2. Check Spelling

  3. Characters remaining: 5000 out of 5000

view
per page
  1. AlexL.
    Jun 9, 2009
    8
    Key tracks: The Never-Ending Why, For What It's Worth, Breathe Underwater, Battle for the Sun.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  2. AnneL
    Nov 8, 2009
    10
    What a pleasure! Love most of the songs. Drums still powerful and lyrics showing a new stage / maturity in Brian's life. Had been disappointed with their albums after Black Market Music. This one makes them top of my list again. Gripping music. Fabulous sounds. Love letting them take over me!
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  3. MarkJ.
    Jun 11, 2009
    10
    best album of the year, amazing!
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  4. ChuckS.
    Jun 10, 2009
    9
    This certainly isn't WYIN, but my guess is Molko and Co had to grow after the huge commercial success of Meds and SWG, and if that growth means simpler and somehow duller lyrics, more synths, strings and even horns (For What It's Worth) then so be it, the guys still sound great (thanks in part to Bottril), have great melodies and punching riffs, and have a kick a** new drummer (sorry Hewitt). Two thumbs up!… Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  5. BrunoRoss
    Jun 9, 2009
    10
    Fantastic!
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  6. JazzUp
    Jan 26, 2010
    9
    There's both dark and bright feelings in the album. Every song is full of meaning. I consider this album decent and I've paid for it already.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  7. DavidH
    Dec 13, 2009
    7
    Didn't like it at all at first, but it has started to grow on me. It was much much better at a live show.it has 3 songs which stand out which can make an album these days because more people tend download singles from itunes etc than albums. i can understand why a lot of hardened fans such as myself wont like it but at least they are trying to sound more rounded. I think this will go down better in the U.S.A than past albums. overall a good effort but just not good enough for Placebo, I feel slightly disappointed.… Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  8. Korneel
    Jun 11, 2009
    8
    Definitely a great record! It has it's weak moments, but overall it stands straight.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  9. MarciaC
    Jun 13, 2009
    10
    Beautiful album, don't know why critics are complain about.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  10. Dana
    Jun 29, 2009
    10
    Didn't like it at first, but now I'm totally addicted to it. Best Placebo album, doubtless.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  11. FabioM
    Jun 9, 2009
    10
    Fantastic album, Brian's vocal is Amazing on it, one of the best albums of their Carree.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  12. PaolaV.
    Jul 19, 2009
    10
    Its an absolute great work, I've follow them since their beginnings and i bought it just because, not expecting too much after meds, and it was refreshing surprising, the lyrics were by no means predictable, I think its their finest work so far.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  13. Natalya777
    Dec 6, 2010
    10
    ÐамеÑаÑелÑнÑй алÑбом! ÐпÑоÑем, как и вÑе алÑÐ±Ð¾Ð¼Ñ Placebo! ÐиваÑ, оÑганиÑÐ½Ð°Ñ Ð¼ÑзÑка, заÑваÑÑваÑÑÐ°Ñ ÑÐµÐ±Ñ Ñеликом, оÑигиналÑÐ½Ð°Ñ Ð¸ беÑÑпоÑно ÑаланÑливаÑ!… Expand
  14. Nikos52
    Sep 16, 2011
    9
    It is outstanding how they can still release such a great album. The style has changed a little bit, maybe it's more focused on the vocals than before, but i really didn't mind that. It's still Placebo, but they're doing something a bit different and it's good. There's a lot of energy here and you can't really start naming tracks without listing the whole album. It's a wonderful work, worthy of buying… Expand
  15. Ricko
    Mar 21, 2012
    8
    At first listen it was my least favourite Placebo record after Sleeping With Ghosts. Apart from Brian Molko's vocals it just didn't feel like a Placebo record for some reason. It might have been the brighter, more positive sound of the record or it might have been the production that gave the music a different shape. The record isn't as spikey as other Placebo records, but the more I've listened to it, the more I like it and I would now put it above Meds and on a par with their debut, despite it being very different. It goes without saying it doesn't match WYIN. The songs are more power chord rock than glam/goth rock, the production is slick, and there are loads of excellent tracks on it. Even "The Never Ending Why", my least favourite track on the records, has a nice dancy chorus. In fact there are several time throughout the album that remind me of the bands cover of Boney M's Daddy Cool. The worsts thing about the album is that lyrically at times it takes itself a bit too seriously, and also the fact that Trigger Happy Hands was omitted from it and included on a bonus disk on a reissued version of the album. Very nearly a 9 out of 10 but just short for me. For the most part it's a very strong album.… Expand
prev next
Page:
  • 1

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
62 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 17 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 17
  2. Mixed: 10 out of 17
  3. Negative: 1 out of 17
  1. All Music Guide
    60
    Battle for the Sun, the band's sixth album and first with drummer Steve Forrest, is given a steel-reinforced production by David Bottrill, a sound that could conceivably be placed on mainstream rock radio if that format still existed, or if it were used as a vehicle for something else than Placebo's music, which remains resolutely pitched toward a niche audience, no matter how many little frills of horns or farting synths grace their guitar grind.
    Read full review
  2. Drowned In Sound
    40
    Battle For The Sun feels hazy, lazy and lost--a muggy summer afternoon. Predictable lyrics grate awkwardly like manufactured pop-factory produce, while a 'nice' helping of sunshine-synth and sighs paint a chirpy celebration of life and all its hand-clappy beauty. Meh.
    Read full review
  3. musicOMH.com
    60
    The album may revive the band's career in North America, but for many of their loyal fans it will come as a major disappointment.
    Read full review
See all critic reviews »