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Black Market Music - Placebo
Metascore
65 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 12 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 12
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 12
  3. Negative: 2 out of 12
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  1. Dot Music
    100
    This is an awesome album, almost certainly Placebo's pinnacle, although I'd love to be proved wrong.
  2. Sonicnet
    80
    While Placebo's latest, Black Market Music, doesn't have any single track as galvanizing as "Pure Morning," Molko, Swedish bassist Stefan Olsdal, and English drummer Steve Hewitt have again crafted a hip-hop-laced collection of hard-driving rock that effectively mixes clever wordplay with solid musicianship.
  3. All Music Guide
    80
    The album's consistency easily outmatches even the highest watermarks of either predecessor.
  4. Alternative Press
    80
    Charging rock songs and austere balladry make this album resonate more than the morass of bad music currently plaguing us. [#155, p.80]
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  5. Wall of Sound
    70
    Though his voice and attitude crosses Pet Shop Boy Neil Tennant's nasally histrionics with Gary Numan's clinical whelp, [Brian] Molko generally keeps his guitar playing tight and tough with Gothic overtones.
  6. Magnet
    70
    This is a decidedly more rocking Placebo. [#50, p.102]
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  7. HOB.com
    60
    Placebo's indie-glam rock fusion still sounds on CD like a good idea, and little more.
  8. Q Magazine
    60
    Black Market Music feels like a watershed, a merely good record after a great one, and that in itself is disappointing.
  9. Rolling Stone
    50
    Black Market Music loses its sparkle and its melodic sense whenever it grows a conscience.
  10. CDNow
    40
    Do all of these elements add up to an album that offers something more than the usual steady diet of carefully polished, capably executed, but ultimately unremarkable angst-ridden punk-pop? Answer -- probably not.
  11. New Musical Express (NME)
    30
    Unfortunately, this is not only their weakest album, it's their most confused.
  12. Pitchfork
    24
    I suppose that the backstreet Black Market Music will endear itself to gender-exploring teenagers who find the girl-on-girl action in Buffy the Vampire Slayer "fucking awesome."
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User Reviews

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User Score
9.4 out of 10

Universal acclaim- based on 36 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 25 out of 25
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 25
  3. Negative: 0 out of 25
  1. Ricko
    8
    The follow up to their masterpiece Without You I'm Nothing. Black Market Music, although it is a good record, just doesn't have the magic or charm of it's predecessor. In fariness, I do think Placebo tried to branch out their style a bit on this. It's a much darker album, "Taste In Men" dabbles in Industrial Rock while the unfairly maligned "Spite and Malice" has a rap verse in it. Two of the more upbeat tracks on the album "Blackeyed" and the blistering "Slave to the Wage" are up with Placebos best work. There are a number of other good tunes on here as well. Musically it stands up well but the main problem with it is the lyrics are a bit cringe worthy and the mood of the album in general is a bit miserable. It could have done with a few more upbeat or up tempo tracks. It misses a "You Don't Care About Us" or a "Scared of Girls".… Full Review »
  2. paulb
    8
    Great album, made me feel ok.
  3. [Anonymous]
    10
    I love Placebo!!!!!!!
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