Meds
Encyclopedia
Meds is the fifth studio album by British alternative rock
band Placebo
, released in 2006 on Virgin Records
. It was released in most countries on 13 March 2006, although it was released three days earlier in Australia (standard and special editions) and New Zealand (standard edition only). Illegal copies had previously been available on the Internet since 17 January 2006.
suggested a back-to-basics approach, which Brian Molko recounted in Zero Magazine:
On the theme of the record, Molko says:
The album was re-released by Virgin Records
in the U.S. in January 2007, including an extra three tracks ("Lazarus", "UNEEDMEMORETHANINEEDU", and "Running Up that Hill"), but omitting "In the Cold Light of Morning" because it contains "dirty words".
This album has been released with the Copy Control
protection system in some regions.
bonus disc, copies of which can still be found in many stores. "Lazarus" and "UNEEDMEMORETHANINEEDU" are found on the title track's single.
The Chilean 2CD edition includes a bonus CD of live tracks recorded at the Centro Cultural Estacion Mapocho Santiago on the 1st and 2nd of April, 2005.
"Song to Say Goodbye (Adios Volka Mix)" is credited in the liner notes, however it does not exist on either disc.
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
band Placebo
Placebo (band)
Placebo are a British rock band from London, England, formed in 1994 by singer and guitarist Brian Molko and bass guitarist Stefan Olsdal. The band was joined by drummer Robert Schultzberg, who was later replaced by Steve Hewitt after conflicts with Molko. Hewitt left the band in October 2007 and...
, released in 2006 on Virgin Records
Virgin Records
Virgin Records is a British record label founded by English entrepreneur Richard Branson, Simon Draper, and Nik Powell in 1972. The company grew to be a worldwide music phenomenon, with platinum performers such as Roy Orbison, Devo, Genesis, Keith Richards, Janet Jackson, Culture Club, Lenny...
. It was released in most countries on 13 March 2006, although it was released three days earlier in Australia (standard and special editions) and New Zealand (standard edition only). Illegal copies had previously been available on the Internet since 17 January 2006.
Background
Placebo had planned to record a more electronic, keyboard-driven sound on Meds; however, producer Dimitri TikovoiDimitri Tikovoi
Dimitri Tikovoi is a French record producer and DJ who has worked with bands such as Placebo, The Horrors, John Cale , Hope Of The States, Goldfrapp, etc....
suggested a back-to-basics approach, which Brian Molko recounted in Zero Magazine:
It was our producer's agenda really, which we didn't really know about until we got into the studio. ...We were in a place that was very much about samplers and computers and vintage synthesisers. This recording session really became about playing again. We were in an old-school studio so there were no real tricks to hide behind.
On the theme of the record, Molko says:
I think there's a lot of songs...about the dangers and effects of drinking. ...'Infra-red's about that, when you get very drunk and you've got a bee in your bonnet about something, and this vengeful quality emerges. You start thinking about people who've done you wrong and [want] to set the record straight.
The album was re-released by Virgin Records
Virgin Records
Virgin Records is a British record label founded by English entrepreneur Richard Branson, Simon Draper, and Nik Powell in 1972. The company grew to be a worldwide music phenomenon, with platinum performers such as Roy Orbison, Devo, Genesis, Keith Richards, Janet Jackson, Culture Club, Lenny...
in the U.S. in January 2007, including an extra three tracks ("Lazarus", "UNEEDMEMORETHANINEEDU", and "Running Up that Hill"), but omitting "In the Cold Light of Morning" because it contains "dirty words".
This album has been released with the Copy Control
Copy Control
Copy Control was the generic name of a copy prevention system, used from 2001 until 2006 on several digital audio disc releases by EMI Group and Sony BMG Music Entertainment in several regions...
protection system in some regions.
Track listing
"Running Up that Hill" is apparently digitally remastered, but otherwise the same version that was released in 2003 as part of the limited edition Sleeping with GhostsSleeping with Ghosts
Sleeping with Ghosts is the fourth studio album by English alternative rock band Placebo, released in 2003 through Astralwerks and Hut Records...
bonus disc, copies of which can still be found in many stores. "Lazarus" and "UNEEDMEMORETHANINEEDU" are found on the title track's single.
The Chilean 2CD edition includes a bonus CD of live tracks recorded at the Centro Cultural Estacion Mapocho Santiago on the 1st and 2nd of April, 2005.
"Song to Say Goodbye (Adios Volka Mix)" is credited in the liner notes, however it does not exist on either disc.
Special edition DVD
- Documentary
- Lyrics (with full instrumental soundtrack of the album)
- "Twenty Years" (Live at Wembley 05.11.04)
- "If Only Tonight We Could Sleep" (Placebo and The CureThe CureThe Cure are an English rock band formed in Crawley, West Sussex in 1976. The band has experienced several line-up changes, with frontman, vocalist, guitarist and principal songwriter Robert Smith being the only constant member...
) - Backstage at Live 8Live 8Live 8 was a string of benefit concerts that took place on 2 July 2005, in the G8 states and in South Africa. They were timed to precede the G8 Conference and summit held at the Gleneagles Hotel in Auchterarder, Scotland from 6–8 July 2005; they also coincided with the 20th anniversary of Live Aid...
photo galleries - "Long Division" (audio)
- "In the Cold Light of Morning" (demo; audio)
- "I Do" (demo; audio)
- "Pierrot the Clown" (demo; audio)
Chart positions
- #1 - France, Belgium, Austria, Switzerland, Greece, Mexico, Chile
- #2 - Germany
- #3 - Finland, Portugal
- #4 - Australia, Italy, Argentina
- #5 - World Chart
- #7 - UK, Poland
- #10 - Netherlands, Czech Republic
- #12 - Norway
- #20 - Denmark
- #33 - Sweden
- #95 - Canada
- #180 - U.S. (5,974 units in the first week)
Credits
- Dave Bascombe - mixing
- Natalia Bonner - violin
- Fiona BriceFiona BriceFiona Brice is a composer, orchestral arranger and violinist. She is known as sidewoman with the alternative rock band Placebo.Brice writes orchestral arrangements for various artists and has toured & recorded with several major pop artists, including Placebo, Kanye West, Sugababes, Boy George,...
- string arrangements - James Brown - engineer
- Ian Burdge - cello
- Sarah Button - violin
- Krista Caspersz - violin
- Reiad Chibah - viola
- Alex Cowper - design
- Antony Crossfield - digital imagery
- Raj Das - assistant engineer
- Flood - mixing
- Fiona Griffiths - viola
- Nadav Kander - management
- Gita Langley - violin
- Jessie Murphy - violin
- Emma Owens - viola
- Pigott Smith, Tom - violin
- Daniel Porter - assistant engineer
- Helena Rathbone - cello
- Katherine Shave - viola
- Bob Smith - assistant engineer
- Ellie Stanford - violin
- Dimitri Tikovoi - producer
- Deborah L. White - violin
- Lucy Wilkins - violin
- Dave "Soulfingers" Williams - violin
- Sara Wilson - cello
- Richard Woodcraft - assistant engineer
- Tim Young - mastering
- Lee Wellington - bass