Search - Garbage :: Beautiful Garbage

Garbage once again prove they are not Garbage

Iain | NZ | 10/03/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Being a big Garbage fan, this album was long anticipated for me. Although it was slightly different from what I expected, I was not disappointed. Beautiful Garbage contains a lot of things that Garbage has not done before, but it still retains that typical Garbage sound.1) Shut Your Mouth - a nice aggressive opener that could be straight off the previous album. But beware: this is not Version 2.0: Version 2.0 (if you follow me).
2) Androgyny - I'm sure everyone already knows this song, and they will either like it or hate it.
3) Can't Cry These Tears - this is the most experimental song on the album, so it's surprising it comes on so early in the album. Sounds almost Christmasy (what with all the bells and such), but the Garbage sound kicks in at the end.
4) Til the Day I Die - a funky little number which will get into your head and refuse to leave. Quite poppy, but with enough quirky studio effects to keep you happy.
5) Cup of Coffee - a soft number, reminiscent of 'You Look So Fine'. Again, nice song with enough studio effects to keep it from dragging.
6) Silence is Golden - the most heavy Garbage song recorded. This has no electronic effects (rare for garbage), just extremely heavy distorted guitars and powerful vocals from Shirley.
7) Cherry Lips - the most poppy Garbage song recorded. Almost entirely electronic, the sickly sweet vocals and catchy melodies serve almost to balance out the previous track.
8) Breaking up the Girl - a nice track, with sing-along vocals. Has the same happy-go-lucky feel as Cherry Lips.
9) Drive You Home - this is the most simple Garbage song I have heard. With almost no studio effects, it doesn't quite have that edge to it that Garbage normally have, but the haunting vocal line still makes it one of the most powerful songs on the album.
10) Parade - the fastest Garbage song recorded. Reminiscent of Version 2.0, this is a reminder that Garbage still know exactly what they're doing.
11) Nobody Loves You - this is very reminiscent of their first album. Starts with a highly charged riff that sounds like it's straight from a spy film, builds it up with live drums and distorted guitar, and then turns into dark trip-hop. Possibly the most complex song on the album, and will satisfy all the old Garbage fans.
12) Untouchable - Garbage take urban music, and do it much better. Very groovy, very listenable.
13) So Like a Rose - on their first two albums, the last track was quite a soft one. This is no exception, although So Like a Rose is by no means the softest on the album. It is more mellow, and very stirring."

Not Version 3.0, but still beautiful

Andrew J. | Chicago, IL United States | 10/03/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"There will be people who run out to get Garbage's new album that will predictably bemoan the group for not releasing the sonic equivalent of a Version 3.0. I will start by saying I still believe Version 2.0 to be the group's crowning achievement to date. But anyone who knows Garbage knows they are all about twisting and sampling pop conventions--experimenting with sound, creating new hybrids of funky ear-candy, whether they draw from harder rock, simpler pop, or dancier techno. This album is by far Garbage's most eclectic, and that's not a bad thing. Version 2.0 felt more uniform and polished, which is why I believe it to be a superior effort, but Beautifulgarbage has fun with itself, especially in "Parade," "Till the Day I Die," and "Cherry Lips." The slower ballads aren't as haunting as previous slow songs (like "Milk" and "You Look So Fine"), but they still make sure to earn the title's "beautiful." As for Shirley shedding her darker, more cynical persona, I can't say that's an entirely welcome departure, but I also can't fault her and the band for going in new directions (it's called growth and experimentation, folks; that's how bands attain that ever-elusive "longevity"). And it's not like this album is a complete departure or anything; it's undeniably GARBAGE. "Shut Your Mouth," the first track on the CD will leave you with no doubt there. I'm relieved Shirley and the boys haven't let me down. And here's to hoping they don't wait as long before they release their next effort (even if it's just the long-awaited B-sides compilation)."

Mixed bag

Iain | 10/11/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This album warrants a pretty complicated review. It can be sublime (Parade), mundane (Breaking Up The Girl) and immensely quirky (Cherry Lips). Beautifulgarbage? Well, sometimes the former, less the latter.
I think your enjoyment of this album will depend on whether you prefered the earlier, more raw sound of their first album, or you went crazy for the more polished, sophisticated, textured sounds of Version 2.0. I liked 2.0 better; it seemed like with this album the band would continue with the studio sheen that marked 2.0, while not forgetting the crunching guitars and experimenting with the electronic sounds.
Well, you get what you wish for. This album is extremely polished; some people will find it overly so. The "experimental" songs like Cherry Lips and Can't Cry These Tears might be overly saccharine for those who loved the raw Garbage. It didn't bother me though- I liked the experiment. Sometimes you can't even tell that it's Shirley singing, which kinda ..., but I love that Garbage is willing to pursue new musical genres (50's bebop, 80's new wave). If any band can do it, Garbage can. The whole theory behind the band - crunching guitars with electronic samples and Shirley Manson's heaven/hell voice - is great, it works, and it lends itself to stretching musical boundaries. They definitely do that more on this album. Where 2.0 was pretty tight as an album, beautifulgarbage is all over the place.
But when garbage is good, they are sublime. "Parade" is the best song on this album, and almost sounds like a leftover from 2.0; it signals a direction that I hope Garbage follows - the guitars have never been better (they remind me of my favorite spacerock band, Hum), the drums are incredible, amazing beats, and Shirley's voice reaches new levels - the melody is amazing and almost ethereal.
The great thing about Garbage is that you know they have the potential to be sublime, and you keep hoping they'll produce the best album of the 00's. You've heard it in "Vow," "Special," and now, "Parade," and you know they're getting closer each time. Well, this isn't the perfect album you've been waiting for, but it certainly will keep you happy in the mean time. Besides, Garbage on a bad day is still a thousand times better than whatever Christina Aguilera's new single is. Count your blessings."