:: beautifulgarbage

Garbage

When you think back to 1996 when, having released their first album as a supposed studio-only band, Garbage burst onto the music scene, unsure of how long this project would last, it’s gratifying to know that they are as strong as ever as we approach 2002. This album showcases the strength in broadening, even further, their styles while retaining the craft of writing good songs and progressing the production features. With a true rock pop-rock queen in Shirley Manson and three other talented musicians alongside, they provide a focus for studying musical trends, in reliving the classic melodic styles from many years ago, with a full-on multi-layered, beat-laden assault of modern sounds. The first single “Androgyny” features strong guitar layering to accompany the wonderful Shirley Manson voice. The sensually arousing notion throughout the album ensures attention. It’s worth noting each track carefully because upon multiple listens, it guarantees affection and stimulation. The sound is distinctive Garbage. Other worthy tracks include “Untouchable”, the poppy “Cherry Lips (Go Baby Go)”, and my favourite “Breaking Up The Girl”, with a cool beat. “Drive You Home” is as sweet and stripped-back as you can get, and “So Like A Rose” also reflects Shirley’s personal nature. Her vocal sound is great and she wrote the lyrics to these songs, adding a songwriting prowess to her singing ability. All the touring they did for the previous album has obviously added extra confidence to the way she and the band are doing things. The trademark loops are well evident. Despite being a very strong album, full of the pop hooks and devilish rock elements that makes Garbage so likeable, they look to and succeed in progressing the sound into something richer and varied again. I suppose they cater for their many fans that see different things within the band. Of course, no Garbage CD would be complete without a CDROM element. http://www.garbage.com