Three star

JUST when you least expect it Placebo release their fourth album.

Much like the last effort, Black Market Music three years ago, there's plenty of uncomplicated and simple guitar sounds put together with Brian Molko's unique voice - which is simply brilliant.

The problem is everyone's heard it all before and far too many times.

Four albums now of very similar music, a cross between pop and punk, meaning this 12-song album is average at best.

Even fewer points were scored with some of the lyrics which were typically bizarre.

Then comes the good points. Their new single The Bitter End is a very good pop tune and is sure to get those pale-faced, nail polish and eyeliner-wearing fans up off their seats and into the record shops.

And Brian Molko is a superb vocalist and definitely as good as if not better than most of the alternative music singers today.

However this album is far from Placebo's glory days of Pure Morning and Nancy Boy earlier on in their seven-year career.

Maybe it's time for a radical change to get them back on track.

MS