| Battle for the Sun | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 8 June 2009 | |||
| Recorded | August–September 2008 | |||
| Studio | Metalworks Studios, Canada | |||
| Genre | Alternative rock[1] | |||
| Length | 52:15 | |||
| Label | PIAS | |||
| Producer | David Bottrill | |||
| Placebo chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Singles from Battle for the Sun | ||||
| ||||
Battle for the Sun is the sixth studio album by Britishalternative rock bandPlacebo. It was recorded inCanada in 2008 and released on 8 June 2009 by record labelPIAS. It is their first album with new drummerSteve Forrest, following the departure ofSteve Hewitt in 2007.
Battle for the Sun reached number 8 in theUK Albums Chart, and received a generally favourable reaction from critics. Four singles were released from the album: "For What It's Worth", "The Never-Ending Why", "Ashtray Heart" and "Bright Lights".
David Bottrill produced the record, after having previously worked withTool,Muse,Silverchair,Remy Zero, anddEUS. James Brown, who worked on the band's 2006 albumMeds, engineered.[2] It is also the first album with the new drummer,Steve Forrest. Recording took place atMetalworks Studios,Mississauga,Ontario.
OnBattle for the Sun, the band utilize new instruments, such as trumpets and saxophones.[3] Molko even experimented with theSpringtime (experimental electric guitar made byYuri Landman).[4]
The material on the album has influences from such bands asPJ Harvey andMy Bloody Valentine.[5]
Frontman Brian Molko said on the concept of the album:
We've made a record about choosing life, about choosing to live, about stepping out of the darkness and into the light. Not necessarily turning your back on the darkness because it's there, it's essential; it's a part of who you are, but more about the choice of standing in the sunlight instead.[6]
Molko has also stated thatBattle for the Sun is the band's first album with a discernible thematic unity.[7] Molko states that his favourite track from the album is "Speak in Tongues".[8]
Molko was inspired to write bonus track "Unisex" by the movieCloverfield.[9]
The title track debuted onZane Lowe'sBBC Radio 1 show 17 March 2009. After the world première, it became available for free download on the band's official site. At an exclusive secret gig held on 17 March 2009, inLondon, the band played a number of new songs from the album, including the tracks "Ashtray Heart", "Julien", "Kitty Litter", and "Devil in the Details". They also coveredNik Kershaw's "Wouldn't It Be Good". The album was made available for streaming on the band's official website between 29 May and 31 May 2009.[10]
Battle for the Sun was released on 8 June 2009 as a download,CD, limited edition CD andDVD,LP, and a limited editionbox set. It reached number 8 in theUK Albums Chart.[11] Its debut in US marked 10,000 copies sold, and worldwide shipments were 500,000 copies worldwide.[12]
In 2009. It was awarded a diamond certification from theIndependent Music Companies Association which indicated sales of at least 250,000 copies throughout Europe.[13]
The box set features the full album plus two extra studio tracks, a CD to access exclusive live recorded tracks, a DVD of the December 2008Angkor Wat performance, a DVD of exclusive studio footage and a 32-page photo book featuring exclusive artwork, photos and handwritten lyrics as well as the full album on 2 x Heavy Vinyl LP.[14]
| Aggregate scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Metacritic | 62/100[15] |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [1] |
| Alternative Press |  [16] |
| Drowned in Sound | [17] |
| IGN | 8.9/10[18] |
| Kerrang! | [19] |
| NME | [20] |
| Pitchfork | 3.4/10[21] |
| Rock Sound | [22] |
| Rolling Stone | [15] |
| The Times | [23] |
Battle for the Sun received a generally favourable reaction from critics. Eddie Fleisher ofAlternative Press gave the album 4 and a half out of 5 stars, writing thatBattle for the Sun "takes the best elements of their sound and focuses it into a cohesive listening experience ... there's no filler to be found". The review also notes how Steve Forrest as drummer gives the band a much-needed kick and how Brian Molko's lyrics are given more clarity. Fleisher also says the album contains two of the best Placebo songs ever, "Happy You're Gone" and "Kings of Medicine".[24]
Others, however, have been less than receptive.NME said thatBattle for the Sun was "a desperately transparent copy of originality. For those who still believe in them, Placebo will, at least, remain an efficacious live band at festivals this summer, but only given that the real thing (Suede,Muse,David Bowie,Nirvana et al) isn't currently on offer."[20]Rolling Stone added that "too many songs ("Devil in the Details") are full of bombast and bland angst, as if these smart guys know better but can't help themselves".[15]
All tracks are written by Placebo (Brian Molko,Stefan Olsdal andSteve Forrest), except as noted.
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Kitty Litter" | 3:47 | |
| 2. | "Ashtray Heart" | Molko, Steve Ludwin, Jordan Page | 3:32 |
| 3. | "Battle for the Sun" | Molko, Olsdal | 5:33 |
| 4. | "For What It's Worth" | 2:47 | |
| 5. | "Devil in the Details" | 4:28 | |
| 6. | "Bright Lights" | 3:32 | |
| 7. | "Speak in Tongues" | 4:06 | |
| 8. | "The Never-Ending Why" | 3:23 | |
| 9. | "Julien" | 4:43 | |
| 10. | "Happy You're Gone" | 3:50 | |
| 11. | "Breathe Underwater" | 3:44 | |
| 12. | "Come Undone" | 4:36 | |
| 13. | "Kings of Medicine" | 4:15 | |
| Total length: | 52:15 | ||
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 14. | "Unisex" | 4:04 |
| 15. | "The Movie on Your Eyelids" | 3:53 |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 14. | "Wouldn't It Be Good" | 3:19 |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 14. | "In a Funk" | 4:07 |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 14. | "Post Blue" (Chinese Whispers Remix featuring Li Ya) | 5:25 |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 14. | "For What It's Worth" (Losers Maximal Techmix) | 5:48 |
| 15. | "For What It's Worth" (Savours Remix) | 6:00 |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Trigger Happy Hands" | |
| 2. | "Monster Truck" | |
| 3. | "Breathe Underwater" (Slow) | |
| 4. | "Unisex" | |
| 5. | "Because I Want You" (Redux) | |
| 6. | "Blind" (Redux) | |
| 7. | "Drag" (Redux) | |
| 8. | "Twenty Years" (Redux) | |
| 9. | "Soulmates" (Redux) | |
| 10. | "Trigger Happy Hands" (Buffalo Daughter remix) |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Ashtray Heart" (live at Romexpo, Romania 2009) | |
| 2. | "Battle for the Sun" (live at Turkcell Arena, Turkey 2009) | |
| 3. | "Breathe Underwater" (live at Seoul Olympic Hall, South Korea 2009) | |
| 4. | "Bright Lights" (live at Leipzig Arena, Germany 2009) | |
| 5. | "Come Undone" (live at Summer Sonic Festival, Tokyo 2009) | |
| 6. | "Devil in the Details" (live at Stuttgart Schleyerhalle, Germany 2009) | |
| 7. | "For What It's Worth" (live atPukkelpop Festival, Belgium 2009) | |
| 8. | "Happy You're Gone" (live at Rockwave Festival, Greece 2009) | |
| 9. | "The Never-Ending Why" (live at the Melbourne Soundwave Festival, Australia 2010) | |
| 10. | "Speak in Tongues" (live at Paris Zenith, France 2009) |
Deluxe Edition bonus DVD 1:Live at Angkor Wat
Deluxe edition bonus DVD 2
Weekly charts[edit]
| Year-end charts[edit]
|
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Belgium (BRMA)[56] | Gold | 15,000* |
| France | — | 85,000[57] |
| Germany (BVMI)[58] | Gold | 100,000^ |
| United Kingdom (BPI)[59] | Silver | 60,000^ |
| United States | — | 10,000[60] |
* Sales figures based on certification alone. | ||
| Country | Date |
|---|---|
| Japan | 3 June 2009 |
| Australia | 5 June 2009 |
| Hong Kong | |
| United States | 8 June 2009 |
| Canada | |
| United Kingdom | |
| Philippines | 7 November 2009[61] |
| Worldwide(Redux Edition) | 27 September 2010 |
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