Loud Like Love

{{expand section|date=January 2015}}

During the Battle for the Sun tour, band members Brian Molko and Stefan Olsdal both stated on various occasions that they were working on material for the next studio album.{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DCzvTNmHBJs |title=Placebo Interview Brian Molko in Singapore 2010 |via=YouTube |date=20 August 2010 |accessdate=26 February 2012}} In November 2011, the band announced via their Facebook page and official website that they will be returning to the studio in 2012 to record their seventh studio album.{{cite web |url=http://www.placeboworld.co.uk/news/placebo-hitting-studio-2012 |title=Placebo Hitting The Studio in 2012 |date=23 November 2011 |work=Placeboworld.co.uk |accessdate=26 February 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131004223841/http://www.placeboworld.co.uk/news/placebo-hitting-studio-2012 |archivedate=4 October 2013 }}

Molko was originally working on material for a possible solo release, and he wrote various songs for it that would later appear on Loud Like Love. The band went in the recording studio to record some singles, but then they began to record more and more material.{{cite web|url=http://www.purevolume.com/news/placebo-brian-molko-interview-2013|title=Placebo's Brian Molko on Transgressive Love, Technology and Disconnect, and That "My Computer Thinks I'm Gay" Line|publisher=Pure Volume|accessdate=28 September 2013}}

The album was recorded in London's RAK Studios, where Placebo had also recorded their fifth studio album, Meds. Production duties, as well as mixing, were handled by Adam Noble.

The album revolves around the theme of love, in all different forms: romance, happiness and also heartbreak. "Too Many Friends" deals with people spending time on the internet and end up being far more close to the hundreds of friends on the internet than off the computer. "Rob the Bank" is about somebody loving you unconditionally, even if you, in this case, rob a bank.{{cite web|url=http://editorial.bandwagon.sg/interview-stefan-olsdal-of-placebo|title=INTERVIEW: STEFAN OLSDAL OF PLACEBO|publisher=Bandwagon|accessdate=8 September 2013}}

The album was announced on 21 May 2013 through the band's official website.{{cite web|url=http://www.placeboworld.co.uk/news/loudlikelove |title=Loud Like Love Album Announcement on Placebo Official Website |date=21 May 2013 |accessdate=21 May 2013 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130607122658/http://www.placeboworld.co.uk/news/loudlikelove |archivedate=7 June 2013 }} Loud Like Love's track listing and its first single, "Too Many Friends", were officially announced on 17 June 2013.

The album's lead single, "Too Many Friends", was released on 8 July 2013. The music video, written and directed by Saman Kesh, was filmed in Los Angeles, and features the first collaboration between Placebo and American novelist Bret Easton Ellis.{{cite web|author=Bret Easton Ellis|url=https://www.twitter.com/BretEastonEllis/status/353280950907580416|title=Twitter: Bret Easton Ellis, 5 July 2013|date=5 July 2013|accessdate=6 July 2013}} Another song premiered from the album is the track "Loud Like Love", which was released as a digital download on 6 August 2013 and as a single on 18 March 2014.{{cite web|url=http://www.placeboworld.co.uk/news/digital-pre-order-itunes-instant-grat-track-lll-lyric-video|title=Digital Pre-Order, iTunes Instant Grat Track & LLL Lyric Video!|publisher=Placeboworld.co.uk|date=29 July 2013|accessdate=30 July 2013|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130730093158/http://www.placeboworld.co.uk/news/digital-pre-order-itunes-instant-grat-track-lll-lyric-video|archive-date=30 July 2013|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://www.placeboworld.co.uk/news/loud-love-ep-out-now-0|title=Loud Like Love E.P – Out Now|publisher=Placeboworld.co.uk|date=19 March 2014|accessdate=19 March 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140322014203/http://www.placeboworld.co.uk/news/loud-love-ep-out-now-0|archive-date=22 March 2014|url-status=dead}}

The album was released worldwide on 16 September 2013. The release formats include a box set, a deluxe CD digipack with the DVD "Live at RAK Studios", a CD and a 12" vinyl. On the day of Loud Like Love's release, an internet show titled "LLLTV" was streamed live from YouTube Studios in London. It was the first YouTube live stream of its kind.{{cite web |url=http://www.placeboworld.co.uk/news/placebo-announce-loud-love-tv-show |title=PLACEBO ANNOUNCE 'LOUD LIKE LOVE TV' SHOW |date=3 September 2013 |accessdate=5 September 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130908085613/http://placeboworld.co.uk/news/placebo-announce-loud-love-tv-show |archive-date=8 September 2013 |url-status=dead }} The show featured, among other things, Placebo performing songs from the album and older songs (chosen in part by the audience through an online poll), band interviews and guest appearances by people who collaborated with Placebo on the making of the album.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aSm-09gU1zg|title=PLACEBO : LOUD LIKE LOVE TV : 16.09.13 FULL SHOW|via=YouTube|date=18 September 2013|accessdate=22 September 2013}}

The album entered the UK Albums Chart at number 13,{{cite web|url=http://acharts.us/album/80118|title=Loud Like Love by Placebo – Music Charts|website=αCharts |accessdate=1 October 2016}} the first time Placebo have missed the UK Top Ten in ten years (since Sleeping With Ghosts) and their lowest UK album position ever.{{cite web|url=http://acharts.us/performer/placebo|title=Placebo – Music Charts|website=αCharts |accessdate=1 October 2016}} The album also entered the French Albums Chart at number 3, the first time they missed the French number one spot since Without You I'm Nothing fifteen years earlier. The album charted in the Australian Albums Chart at number 9 and at number 18 in the Irish Albums Chart. Loud Like Love is also the first Placebo album to miss the Portuguese Top Five, peaking at number 15. The album entered the US Billboard chart at number 98, where the previous one, Battle for the Sun, reached number 51.{{cite web|url=http://acharts.us/album/44153|title=Battle for the Sun (album) by Placebo – Music Charts|website=αCharts |accessdate=1 October 2016}} The album did peak at number 1 in Switzerland, Placebo's third album in a row to do so. This currently is the album's only number 1 peak.

{{Music ratings

| MC = 56/100{{cite web | url=http://www.metacritic.com/music/loud-like-love/placebo | title=Loud Like Love – Placebo | publisher=Metacritic | accessdate=20 September 2013}}

| rev1 = AllMusic

| rev1Score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}

| rev2 = Alternative Press

| rev2Score = {{Rating|2.5|5}}{{cite journal |last=Pearlman |first=Mischa |year=2013 |title=Placebo – Loud Like Love |journal=Alternative Press |volume=October 2013 |issue=303 |page=92 |publisher= Alternative Press Magazine, Inc. |issn=1065-1667 |url=http://www.altpress.com/magazine/issue/303_fall_out_boy | accessdate=30 August 2013}}

| rev3 = Clash

| rev3Score = 6/10{{cite magazine | url=http://www.clashmusic.com/reviews/placebo-loud-like-love | title=Placebo – Loud Like Love | magazine=Clash | date=9 September 2013 | accessdate=20 September 2013 | author=Arber, Amanda}}

| rev4 = Drowned in Sound

| rev4Score = 5/10{{cite web|url=http://drownedinsound.com/releases/17842/reviews/4146843|title=Placebo – Loud Like Love|date=16 September 2013|accessdate=20 September 2013|author=Rolle, Kat|archive-date=21 September 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921054520/http://drownedinsound.com/releases/17842/reviews/4146843|url-status=dead}}

| rev5 = The Guardian

| rev5Score = {{Rating|2|5}}{{cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2013/sep/12/placebo-loud-like-love-review | title=Placebo: Loud Like Love – review | newspaper=The Guardian | date=12 September 2013 | accessdate=20 September 2013 | author=Simpson, Dave}}

| rev6 = The Line of Best Fit

| rev6score = 6/10{{cite web |last1=Zarley |first1=B. David |title=Placebo – Loud Like Love |url=https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/reviews/albums/placebo-loud-like-love-136498 |website=The Line of Best Fit |access-date=1 August 2022|date=6 September 2013}}

| rev7 = laut.de

| rev7score = {{rating|3|5}}{{cite web |last1=Kabelitz |first1=Sven |title=Banken ausrauben, Liebe machen, Swastikas an die Wände malen. |url=https://www.laut.de/Placebo/Alben/Loud-Like-Love-89741 |publisher=laut.de |access-date=1 August 2022 |language=de}}

| rev8 = Mojo

| rev8Score = {{Rating|3|5}}

| rev9 = NME

| rev9score = {{Rating|2|5}}{{cite web |last1=Horton |first1=Matthew |title=Placebo – 'Loud Like Love' |url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/album/reviews-placebo-2-14807 |website=NME |accessdate=8 August 2018}}

| rev10 = Q

| rev10Score = {{Rating|4|5}}Perry, Andrew. Q, October 2013, New Albums review. Placebo – Loud Like Love. P. 109.

}}

"Loud Like Love" was met with generally mixed reviews from music critics. The album holds an approval rating of 55/100 at Metacritic, which indicates a mixed or average reception.

Alternative Press' Mischa Pearlman wrote that "too much of this album comes off like self-parody, meaning it's a far cry from the pulverizing power of their best work". AllMusic wrote that "many of these songs play like less-alienated, if no less paranoid, OK Computer-era Radiohead cuts", adding that "however, the songs here are still laden with Molko's high-pitched vocals, which he characteristically uses to play the eternally angst-ridden and alienated teenager -- something the band's fans will surely appreciate", giving the album 3.5 stars out of 5. Amanda Arber of Clash said that Loud Like Love is "easy to absorb musically and easy to ignore lyrically" and "50 minutes of simply okay alt-rock." The Guardian gave the album two stars out of five, saying "the veteran band sticks to what it knows for Loud Like Love."

{{Track listing

| all_writing = Brian Molko, Stefan Olsdal and Steve Forrest

| total_length = 47:16

| title1 = Loud Like Love

| length1 = 4:51

| title2 = Scene of the Crime

| length2 = 3:27

| title3 = Too Many Friends

| length3 = 3:34

| title4 = Hold on to Me

| length4 = 4:54

| title5 = Rob the Bank

| length5 = 3:38

| title6 = A Million Little Pieces

| length6 = 4:40

| title7 = Exit Wounds

| length7 = 5:48

| title8 = Purify

| length8 = 3:45

| title9 = Begin the End

| length9 = 6:00

| title10 = Bosco

| length10 = 6:39

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Bonus Track (Box Set Download and iTunes)

| title11 = Pity Party (of One)

| length11 = 4:19

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Deluxe Edition DVD – Live at RAK Studios

| title1 = Loud Like Love

| length1 = 5:25

| title2 = Scene of the Crime

| length2 = 3:55

| title3 = Too Many Friends

| length3 = 4:12

| title4 = Purify

| length4 = 3:54

| title5 = Pity Party (of One)

| length5 = 4:15

| title6 = Exit Wounds

| length6 = 6:16

| title7 = A Million Little Pieces

| length7 = 5:02

| title8 = Begin the End

| length8 = 6:55

}}

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{{Certification Table Top}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Austria|type=album|artist=Placebo|title=Loud Like Love|award=Gold|accessdate=28 July 2014|relyear=2013}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=France|type=album|artist=Placebo|title=Loud Like Love|nocert=true|salesamount=65,000|salesref={{cite web|url=http://www.chartsinfrance.net/Placebo/news-92595.html|title=Placebo choisit "A Million Little Pieces", nouvel extrait de l'album "Loud Like Love"|publisher=Charts in France|first=Jonathan|last=Hamard|date=1 July 2014|accessdate=3 June 2019}}|relyear=2013}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Germany|type=album|artist=Placebo|title=Loud Like Love|award=Gold|accessdate=28 July 2014|relyear=2013}}

{{Certification Table Bottom}}

;Placebo

• Brian Molko – vocals, guitar, keyboards
• Stefan Olsdal – bass guitar, guitar, piano, keyboards, cimbalom, backing vocals
• Steve Forrest – drums, percussion

with:

• Bill Lloyd – keyboards, bass guitar
• Fiona Brice – string arrangements, backing vocals
• Fabian Waltmann – additional programming

;Technical

• Adam Noble – production, mixing, programming
• Mike Horner – assistant engineer (RAK Studios, London)
• John Prestage – assistant engineer (Strongroom Studios, London)
• Tom Bailey – assistant engineer (Air Studios, London)
• Dick Beetham – mastering
• Joseph Llanes – photography

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{{Placebo}}

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Category:2013 albums

Category:Placebo (band) albums

Category:Universal Records albums

Category:Albums recorded at RAK Studios