Loud Like Love’s loudest moments (“Exit Wounds,” “Purify”) are all puff and no power. But on the tormentedly bemused “Too Many Friends,” we get incisive philosophical reflections on technological alienation and the swelling meaninglessness of modern existence.
Overall, this still feels very much on the level Placebo was at with 1999 single "Every You Every Me," minus more artfully constructed, impressive instrumental compositions and lyricism. [No. 102, p.59]
The best album of Placebo, better than Battle for the sun and Meds, this album have at least five epic musics: A million little pieces, LoudThe best album of Placebo, better than Battle for the sun and Meds, this album have at least five epic musics: A million little pieces, Loud like love, scene of crime, rob the bank and hold on to me.…Expand
Similar to Meds, but better. Absolutely Love Loud Like Love and Too Many Friends. Some upbeat joyful stuff, but also some reflectiveSimilar to Meds, but better. Absolutely Love Loud Like Love and Too Many Friends. Some upbeat joyful stuff, but also some reflective melancholy music as well. Too many Friends would be Just that - Melancholy but up beat! Awesome!…Expand
Highly addictive, beautifully mature and so Placebo. Can't stop listening to Bosco and A Million Little Pieces. The Loud Like Love isHighly addictive, beautifully mature and so Placebo. Can't stop listening to Bosco and A Million Little Pieces. The Loud Like Love is another amazing piece of art that can't disappoint the long time fens.…Expand
For me Loud Like Love while it has its flaws, is arguably Placebo's most direct and focused work since Black Market Music. I'm a Placebo fanFor me Loud Like Love while it has its flaws, is arguably Placebo's most direct and focused work since Black Market Music. I'm a Placebo fan and while I understand the criticisms people have of the band, I prefer to focus on the positives. Also, if you don't like Brian Molko's voice then I'm sure what your doing listening to Placebo records.
"Loud Like Love" opens with a decent pop rocker that despite trying to hard to be epic, still packs a punch. This is followed by the excellent "Scene of the Crime". "Too Many Friends" is the album's low point and I can't believe this was chosen as the lead single. Its lyrically cringeworthy as well poorly thought out musically. "Hold onto me" is excellent which is followed up by the heaviest track on the album "Rob The Bank" which is a great tune if a lyrically on the questionable side. "A Million Little Pieces" sounds like one of the weaker tracks off of "Sleeping With Ghosts" - its not bad but its not great either. "Exit Wounds" and "Purify" are strong tracks and have all the elements of classic Placebo. "Begin The End" is decent if a bit dreary and in the end it doesn't really go anywhere. The album's closer "Bosco" would be a fantastic song if the outro wasn't so dragged out, and Molko's insistence on endlessly repeating the phrase "Suck You Dry" kills an otherwise great song.
The strengths of this album lie in the music and the playing. Lyrically, Placebo have had better (and worse) days. Production wise its pretty much spot on. Perhaps its the fact that we only get 10 tracks as opposed to the 12 or 13 we've gotten on the band's last few releases, but its does feel like a very focused record with a clear direction. When you think that the band have released decent stand alone singles "Trigger Happy Hands" and "B3" since this album's predecessor, you wonder if the inclusion of these over "Too Many Friends" would have made the album far better. I'd take an album like this ever 3 or 4 years from Placebo at this stage in their career's.…Expand
Not a bad album, but NOT their best. This album sounds like Placebo, but not as the Placebo we used to know. Some songs are joyful (Loud LikeNot a bad album, but NOT their best. This album sounds like Placebo, but not as the Placebo we used to know. Some songs are joyful (Loud Like Love, Too Many Friends) and other are very melancholic (Bosco, Hold on to Me) and others could have been part of Battle for the Sun; but it doesn't matter because the album sounds different.…Expand
The last effort of Placebo sounds like...Placebo under steroids with a more consistent, cleaner, and tighter sound. That music is packed withThe last effort of Placebo sounds like...Placebo under steroids with a more consistent, cleaner, and tighter sound. That music is packed with true gems (Exit Wounds- the chorus is addictive Too Many Friends), has amazing, delicate and melancholic melodies (Bosco, Hold On To Me). I do not perceive any boring song, from start to finish. Driven by a good pacing plus a lot of memorable hooks, this record should fulfill the old fans and bring part of young one. Lyrics are what we get used to listen from Placebo. Sex, drugs, violence (i.e Rob The Bank is painful and pathetic, a self-parody of Follow The Cops). Nevertheless, Brian Molko besides signed a lot of insightful and emotional lyrics, therefore, the band has produced a timeless pop album. Placebo is far, far beyond the laughable symphonic aspirations of Bellamy & Co.…Expand
To me, Meds was one of the highest moments on Placebo's discography. They rediscovered Molko's vocals, Stephan's riffs and Steve's style onTo me, Meds was one of the highest moments on Placebo's discography. They rediscovered Molko's vocals, Stephan's riffs and Steve's style on drums. After a hardly reachable Sleeping with ghosts, they did it.
Loud like love is another effort to reach their own style, after a non-recognizable Battle for the sun. No doubt they have evolved, and it's remarkable that they are on their way again.…Collapse