Black Market Music
by Placebo
User Score
8.7

Universal acclaim- based on 66 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 60 out of 66
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 66
  3. Negative: 3 out of 66

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  1. XaviLangley
    Jan 16, 2022
    10
    Este sin duda es un álbum increíble. Es perfectamente compatible con cualquier persona que haya pasado por algún momento oscuro en su vida. Con respecto a su sonido, ¿Que decir? El equilibrio perfecto entre el la balada rock y pop. Los críticos seguramente tienen algo en contra de Molko y su banda.
  2. Charlyrockstar
    Apr 14, 2014
    8
    a great album of placebo, is a great band, but it's not my favorite album but is a good album, is the balance of the first album, but not in the scence, placebo are the great band of Great britain, in the decade of 90's
  3. shinian
    Sep 16, 2013
    10
    I'm not surprised that this album gets unfavorable reviews from critics (65/100 on metacritic, while user score is 95/100) because this album don't need too much time to entertain, but needs some time to appreciate it in the way it should be appreciated. It's very melancholic album about human behavior, social maladjustment, social exclusion and it needs time to understand and interpretI'm not surprised that this album gets unfavorable reviews from critics (65/100 on metacritic, while user score is 95/100) because this album don't need too much time to entertain, but needs some time to appreciate it in the way it should be appreciated. It's very melancholic album about human behavior, social maladjustment, social exclusion and it needs time to understand and interpret it... this is not for guys sitting and listening to music all day only to create as much reviews as they can.

    With "Without you I'm nothing" this is the best Placebo album and one of my personal favorites.
    Molko and his crew did some experiments to expand their music with new sounds and even more mysterious lyrics and as a result we received album with 12 little drugs that just can't get out from my head.

    Atmosphere and confusing lyrics mixed with catchy sounds made this album a little phenomenon for me, literally a drug that makes me high or makes me sail away if I'm already high.    … Expand
  4. placebomad
    Mar 4, 2013
    10
    my favourite band and my favourite album of all time.Yes even better than without you i'm nothing. Glam rockers placebo emerged back in the mid nineties at the height of britpop era.Whilst there were many copy bands of the likes of oasis and blur,placebo were totally unique.Influenced by bands such as sonic youth,brian molko and the gang made unique angsty songs that people could relatemy favourite band and my favourite album of all time.Yes even better than without you i'm nothing. Glam rockers placebo emerged back in the mid nineties at the height of britpop era.Whilst there were many copy bands of the likes of oasis and blur,placebo were totally unique.Influenced by bands such as sonic youth,brian molko and the gang made unique angsty songs that people could relate to. A band of outsiders for outsiders i believe Molko quoted and this is true.If you are angsty you are likely to relate to this band. I also think molko is an underated guitarist and uses some weird kind of tunings at times.That coupled with a unique high pitch voice and poetic lyrics,the band is vastly underated.Loved and loathed in equal measure,placebo aren't likely to appear on the front cover of NME again.But who needs NME?.They get it wrong a lot and there top 100 lists are predictable. I will continue to love this band till i die and never forget 'peeping tom' off this record.… Expand
  5. Ricko
    Mar 16, 2012
    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 ofThe 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".… Expand
  6. paulb
    Jan 29, 2009
    8
    Great album, made me feel ok.
  7. [Anonymous]
    Mar 2, 2007
    10
    I love Placebo!!!!!!!
  8. MarcoM
    Nov 15, 2005
    9
    This album is a masterpiece; it has influenced my taste in music (MUSIC not men) in various ways. Simply genius.
  9. melissaj
    Sep 13, 2005
    10
    Looooove this band!!!
  10. cazb
    May 6, 2005
    10
    Black Market Music is a great album from Placebo.
  11. PierreB
    Jan 29, 2005
    10
    Placebo rules and so does this album!
  12. gaellev
    Sep 22, 2004
    10
    I think It's the better but I love all of them.
  13. hannahk
    Jul 19, 2004
    10
    i think its placebo's best album ever.commercial for levi,days before u came and slave to the wage are really outstanding.
  14. bahbee
    May 25, 2004
    9
    Well..i don't own the album..but i have heard much from it. Yes much. And what i have heard..is..excellent. Yes it is.. well that's your opinion isn't it? Yes. I love the taste in men video clip...ooooh brian..
  15. ElenaN
    Mar 27, 2004
    9
    Commercial for levi is awesome, and Slave to the wage is worth becoming an anthem
  16. WarrenS
    Oct 2, 2003
    10
    Critics be damned! This is a great cd!
  17. anna*
    Aug 23, 2003
    10
    This album is so much better than the reviewers would have you think. I love its style - it is darker than the previous two (excellent) records, and Brian, Stef & Steve continue to make fantastic music whilst experimenting and pushing the boundaries. Spite & Malice is a dazzling example of what Nu-Metal ought to have been (yet with a good message), while Commercial For Levi is a twisted This album is so much better than the reviewers would have you think. I love its style - it is darker than the previous two (excellent) records, and Brian, Stef & Steve continue to make fantastic music whilst experimenting and pushing the boundaries. Spite & Malice is a dazzling example of what Nu-Metal ought to have been (yet with a good message), while Commercial For Levi is a twisted little acid lullaby which fully exhibits Molko's highly individual (and pleasant) singing voice and an unusually wiity way with words. Excellent stuff.… Expand
  18. Laura
    Aug 6, 2003
    10
    This album is another stroke of genius from Placebo. Commercial For Levi- outstanding.
  19. Xmen
    Mar 6, 2003
    10
    excellent CD! à réécouter chaque fois qu'on le désire sans lassitude!! Bravo Placebo!
  20. MichaelL.
    Jun 14, 2002
    10
    hahahahaha 52!! this is the best cd of all time!! all cd of placebo is a masterpiece(and i include single) but the biggest joke in this is that black market music have 52 but the great eminem(i will to say in the same time that eminem is one of the worst in music) have 73!!
  21. ArtursP.
    Feb 28, 2002
    9
    Very good album. "Peeping Tom" is one of my favorite songs...
  22. wickedwitch
    Jul 27, 2001
    10
    the best ever!

Awards & Rankings

37
#37 Most Discussed Album of 2001
46
#46 Most Shared Album of 2001

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
65

Generally favorable reviews - based on 12 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 12
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 12
  3. Negative: 2 out of 12
  1. Rolling Stone
    50
    Black Market Music loses its sparkle and its melodic sense whenever it grows a conscience.
    Read full review
  2. Q Magazine
    60
    Black Market Music feels like a watershed, a merely good record after a great one, and that in itself is disappointing.
    Read full review
  3. 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]
See all critic reviews »