Sleeping With Ghosts
by Placebo
Metascore
64

Generally favorable reviews - based on 14 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 14
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 14
  3. Negative: 0 out of 14
  1. Filter
    85
    The album is overflowing with modern day punk-pop anthems, dressed up with technological marvels and justifiably bleak outlooks. [#5, p.89]
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  2. Billboard
    80
    Sleeping With Ghosts is glorious; an unrepentant emotional exorcism that cohesively hurdles between the bleak and wounded, the exuberant and defiant.
  3. Q Magazine
    80
    Spikily brilliant. [Apr 2003, p.111]
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  5. Playlouder
    80
    Like post-Kelli Sneaker Pimps or a goth Massive Attack, it adds slow trip-hop beats and whispery vocals to a dreamy soundscape.
  6. Dot Music
    80
    Sound-wise, 'Sleeping With Ghosts' is pretty much flawless.
  7. Amazon.com
    70
    As much an album for slam-dancing nights out at Goth haunts as it is music for the psychiatrist’s couch.
  8. The A.V. Club
    70
    Placebo may never reach an American audience past its established fans, but those fans ought to gravitate to Sleeping With Ghosts' uncluttered, moody niche.
  9. Pitchfork
    64
    No peaks, no gorges, just a steady oscillation between adequate and inspired.
  10. Rolling Stone
    60
    It's a rare rocktronic mix that actually grooves, even if the ride can be a little jittery.
  11. AllMusic
    60
    New fans will find Sleeping With Ghosts to be a good record. Old fans, though, might think the band wimped out while growing up.
  12. PopMatters
    60
    It tends to dilute the very elements that make the band unique.
  13. Uncut
    40
    Electro-guru Jim Abbiss... can't salvage much from the band's often tedious three-chord bustlings or Molko's lamely repetitious lyrics. [May 2003, p.90]
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  14. Blender
    40
    Ultimately, the anthems are as generic as they are hooky. [May 2003, p.123]
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  15. Mojo
    40
    There's some terrific and accessible stuff here.... but the result is still an album that retreads old Placebo themes. [Apr 2003, p.110]
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Awards & Rankings

85
#85 Most Discussed Album of 2003

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
8.7

Universal acclaim- based on 60 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 53 out of 60
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 60
  3. Negative: 3 out of 60
  1. Charlyrockstar
    Apr 14, 2014
    9
    the great album of palcebo, in this balance of electro pop, with no loose the essential rock of the first albums, is the complement of Withoutthe great album of palcebo, in this balance of electro pop, with no loose the essential rock of the first albums, is the complement of Without You i'm Nothing in Live… Full Review »
  2. shinian
    Sep 16, 2013
    9
    First Placebo album that is not a collection of random-themed songs, but concentrates on a one problem ended relationships and people thatFirst Placebo album that is not a collection of random-themed songs, but concentrates on a one problem ended relationships and people that remains with us as a 'ghosts'. Beautiful lyrics and vocals with great arrangement.

    Favourite: Sleeping with Ghosts, Centrefolds, This Picture, The Bitter End, Special Needs, Protect me from what I want.    … Full Review »
  3. Ricko
    Mar 16, 2012
    8
    Placebo's 4th album is another solid piece of work but again fails to come near their best work Without You I'm Nothing. While most of thePlacebo's 4th album is another solid piece of work but again fails to come near their best work Without You I'm Nothing. While most of the songs are quite good, very few of them are exceptional. Also, despite it being a pretty good collection of songs, they don't all necessarily go together to make a cohesive album and at times the pacing and style is a bit all over the place. That said, "The Bitter End", "Plasticine" and especially "Protect me from what I want" are all up there with the bands best work and there are no weak tracks on it. I don't think it works as an album but I'm still giving it an due to the number of really good tracks on it.… Full Review »
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