Placebo Ask ‘The Never-Ending Why’
by Niki N. Phaser on Jul.21, 2009, under Music News
Placebo’s Brian Molko has confirmed that the next single off of Battle for the Sun will be the three and a half minutes The Never Ending-Why, which is already a live favourite. The video has been shot and the official release date will be September 7. Considering that the first single from their sixth album was the dance-indie friendly For What It’s Worth, this choice sadly confirms that Placebo aren’t too brave when it comes to singles. After repeatedly stating that Battle for the Sun is a dramatic change in their evolution, more upbeat and optimistic tracks like Bright Lights or Kings of Medicine would have been an appropriate way to back those statements, singles-wise.
The Never Ending-Why, just like For What It’s Worth, will be pleasing the band’s niche, but not necessarily their faithful fanbase, as many music critics would think. The fans already own the album and for them a single is not an encounter with new material. They already have their favourites and an opinion on the whole thing. So, The Never Ending-Why, which is quite a great rock song by the way, is more about pleasing that segment which stands in between: they are acquainted with Placebo, but know only the singles (and maybe this time they’ll buy the album). In all probability, this song will not be a turning point in the band’s history and will not win them a lot of new followers. Songs like the two mentioned before or Speak in Tongues are reaching to a wider audience and could display the more complex side of Placebo, if released as singles. The future is wide open.
