"Without You I'm Nothing" is the second studio album by British alternative rock band Placebo. Recorded in mid-to-late 1998, it was released on 12 October 1998 by Hut and Virgin Records.
The album was both critically and commercially successful, peaking at number 7 on the UK Albums Chart and number 20 on the US Billboard Heatseekers Albums chart. It achieved platinum status in the UK and gold in France, selling over one million copies to date. Notable singles from the album include "Every You Every Me," "Pure Morning," and "You Don't Care About Us."
After the success of their debut album in 1996, Placebo began writing new material. They signed to Virgin Records in 1997 and started recording their second album.
The album was recorded at Real World Studios in Wiltshire over three months. While twelve songs were recorded, "Kitsch Object" was ultimately excluded from the album due to dissatisfaction. The guitar parts were created collaboratively, with a focus on a more mellow sound. The production was led by Steve Osborne, and "Pure Morning" was added to the album at the last minute after being recorded as a potential B-side.
The band had mixed feelings about the recording sessions, with frontman Brian Molko later expressing that the album felt slightly overproduced and contained too many slow songs for a second album.
Musically, the album featured a more mellow sound compared to their debut. The opening track "Pure Morning" includes a distinctive guitar loop, influenced by Sonic Youth. Lyrically, the album explores personal themes, including relationships and friendship. Molko noted that "My Sweet Prince" was particularly significant, dealing with the dual tragedies of love and drug addiction.
The hidden track "Evil Dildo" includes actual death threats left on Molko's voicemail, and "Burger Queen" references a homosexual, drug-addicted character.
The album cover, photographed by Corrine Day, features two sisters sitting at a table, capturing a candid, raw aesthetic. The album was released with two different colored CDs, black and red.
The lead single "Pure Morning" was released in August 1998 and reached number 4 in the UK Singles Chart, followed by the second single, "You Don't Care About Us," which reached number 5.
