Somewhere in the ether above the typical melodrama and theatrics that permeate the mood of Placebo’s sixth album, Battle for the Sun, the strangest, and most rewarding thing, happens — it becomes quite clear that although legendarily troubled frontman Brian Molko is still “dancing with the devil in the details,” the rapid descent into suicidal tendencies has been replaced with an insatiable desire to let the light shine in. And cheers to Molko for this, because positivity is a sheen the raven-haired lad wears well, as evidenced by standout track “Bright Lights,” where he proclaims that “a heart that hurts is a heart that works.” Longtime Placebo fans will (hopefully) revel in this moment of clarity, an expository statement so striking and important for a band whose history is pock-marked by decadent self-destruction. To witness the converse, to hear the obvious effect a breakthrough can have as Molko celebrates “coming up for air” in “Breathe Underwater,” is more than enough reason to give this defiant and luminously spirited (and self-financed) record a go. (Vagrant) –Carrie Alison

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