Customer Reviews

Garbage

5 star:		(193)
4 star:		(38)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

When one looks back at the alternative rock scene that dominated the first half of the 90s, Garbage's self-titled debut album immediately comes to mind as a defining album from that movement. A decade old as of this writing, "Garbage" (1995) has stood the test of time and not only contains some of the best singles from the 90s, but is a modern-day classic.

"Garbage" has many elements in its sound which can explain its broad appeal. The songs are so incredibly infectious and danceable, fans of dance-pop (Madonna, Janet Jackson) are sure to enjoy the album. But "Garbage" is undeniably a rock album, first and foremost. With crunching guitars, intense drumming, and a charismatic frontwoman, a more rock inclined audience is sure to dig "Garbage" as well. Garbage's music also encompasses an element of 70s/80s cool new-wave. In a sense, Garbage was like an updated version of Blondie for the 1990s, so fans yearning for a new Debbie Harry are sure to appreciate Garbage.

Another reason "Garbage" struck such a chord with the public is there really wasn't another band quite like them. There were bands that were precursors to Garbage, like Curve, and My Bloody Valentine, among others, but they didn't take off and explode as Garbage did, for whatever reason, probably due to marketing and timing. Garbage's debut came out at the perfect time. In an era of post-grunge, where many up-and-coming bands were clearly derivative of Nirvana and Pearl Jam, Garbage's brand of rock/pop/retro offered a refreshing change of pace. While Garbage's cynical themes fit the disparaging alt. rock 90s like a glove, the lyrics are often tongue-in-cheek. In this sense, Garbage had the best of both worlds: cynical lyrics for cynical times, but with the playful, sexy trimmings of Blondie.

Because the musicians of Garbage, Butch Vig, (drums) Steve Marker, (guitar) and Duke Erickson, (guitar) were made up of first-rate producers, namely Butch Vig, they knew how to craft songs meticulously and methodically. They also happened to be great songwriters' to-boot. Great songwriters and producers' aside, the band still needed the perfect singer...enter Shirley Manson.

While working on songs for their new band, Vig, Marker, and Erickson spotted the Scotch-born Shirley Manson on MTV. At the time Manson was the lead singer for (the underrated) Angelfish. Knowing Manson would be the perfect singer, the band sent out the word and a short time later Manson joined the group, thus Garbage was born.

It's one thing to have great songs and producers, but the perfect singer is needed to put a face on the music and the image. Truth be told, Garbage without Manson would have been like Van Halen without David Lee Roth. Without Manson, Garbage most likely would have been a good, but untimely forgettable band, a footnote in the 90s. While the songs on "Garbage" are excellent, no doubt, it is Manson that truly makes them shine. Truly a gifted singer, she can change from sounding sensitive to indifferent, seductive to vengeful, passionate to passive, all in a single breath. While her beautiful voice can enchant, it can also scorn. Much like Nico before her, Manson is a true femme fatale. Manson proved to be very popular with males and females alike. Her self-confidence, integrity, and self-empowerment no doubt struck a chord with a female audience. Being extremely attractive, a femme fatale, a sort of black widow, was no doubt appealing to men.

Garbage's unique brand of electronic pop/rock is demonstrated immediately with the seductive "Supervixen." Manson sounds as though she gets sadistic pleasure as she plays with the listener, telling her audience to "bow down to me." The off-beat "Queer" is equally seductive, and quite mesmerizing, leaving a lasting impression. The album's massive hit, the super infectious "Only Happy When it Rains" is without doubt, one of the greatest rock songs from the 1990s. It both epitomizes and mocks the self-involvement and narcissism of generation X. If Manson had toyed with the listener up to this point, she now shows her teeth with the aggressive "as Heaven is Wide." With its almost Black Sabbath-like riff, with electronic trimmings, it makes for an intriguing and captivating listen. The good-but-not-great "Not my Idea" is cut from the same cloth and keeps up the momentum. The somewhat spacey, "Stroke of Luck" shows traces of both beauty and darkness, as Manson lets her guard down as she sings "did you know I was lost until you found me." One of the catchiest, most memorable songs on the album, the vindictive "Vow" is both unforgiving and seductive. An ode to female empowerment, Manson shows her contempt for the dimwitted in "Stupid Girl." The hard-rocking but danceable "Dog new Tricks" keeps the album moving along. "Garbage" saves some of its best songs for last and demonstrates its mastery of pop-craft with the lush "My Lovers Box," and "Fix Me." Like most Garbage albums, the self-titled debut ends on a morose note with the cheerless "Milk," which leaves a lasting feeling.

Ten years old, Garbage's self-titled debut album has aged well and sounds as good today as it did back in '95. "Garbage" stands as one of the finest albums from the 1990s and is an essential cornerstone to add to any modern rock collection. People unfamiliar with Garbage are best served starting off here with the self-titled debut. But Garbage is no one-album-wonder band, and people who like what they hear here are advised to buy "Version 2.0," (1998) "Beautiful Garbage," (2001) and "Bleed Like Me" (2005).

What can I say about this album? It's the brilliant debut from the best band to ever grace Earth with its presence, Garbage. If you're not a really hardcore Garbage fan, you should buy the US release of "Garbage". But if you are reading this and are contemplating spending the money to get a copy of "Subhuman" (Garbage's first ever song...as far as I know), DO IT! "Subhuman" is a brilliant song; dark, biting, sharp and extremely catchy. This Japanese version of "Garbage" also contains "#1 Crush"...the same version as on the Romeo and Juliet Soundtrack. So if you're buying this thinking you'll be getting the original version of "#1 Crush", you're mistaken. You'll probably have to search for the extremely rare vinyl single of "Subhuman". Anyways, "Subhuman" isn't the only good thing about this album. It's packed with 13 other tracks, ranging from a gloomy introspective kind of feel in "Stroke Of Luck", to confident and cocky self-proclamation in "Supervixen" (the best track in my opinion. Well, buy it! It's worth it.

I came to this album only very late in the game, and I have to say: better late than never. I knew Garbage by reputation, a reputation that was strengthened when I agreed to take into my home two completely black cats, sisters named Tori (after Tori Amos) and Shirley (after Shirley Manson). Finally, to learn more about my kitty's namesake I gave this album a try, and I was absolutely shocked at how great it is.

The amazing thing about this album is that on the surface it is almost a punk album, with a tough exterior, hard driving rhythms, edgy production, and extraordinary arrangements. But somehow, partly because of the stunningly musical nature of each cut and partly because of the breathy, almost girlish quality of the vocals by my cat's namesake, the songs comes across as more pop than alternative.

There really isn't a bad cut on the album, and several of them are quite exceptional. The album begins on a strong note with the rasping, gritty "Supervixen" before moving into the spectacular "Queer, " which is one of the greatest songs on the album. It proceeds on to such marvelous pop masterpieces, as "I'm Only Happy When It Rains "and" Vow." Not all of the songs are as good as they appear to be. "Not My Idea" for instance is a decent song that is made memorable by stunning arrangement. The care and crafting that goes into every song is remarkable in this way.

I'm still not certain that I would have been inspired to name my cat after Shirley Manson had I gotten her as a kitten, but I am now definitely a fan of the band. This is one those discs that is going to spin significant time in the future in my CD player.

This album still gets high rotation in my CD player, 7+ years after its release. It's an incredibly unique CD that captured my attention when it came out. Garbage is comprised of Shirley Manson (Vocals, guitar), Duke Erikson (guitars, keyboards, etc), Steve Marker (guitar, bass, etc), Butch Vig (drums, efx, etc). This is one of the more innovative and original debut albums I have heard, a pretty influencial album if you ask me. There's a mix of everything here. This is by far their darkest album, there's lots of grungy type guitars, but they also manage to encorporate different noises, you'll probably hear different sounds each time you turn on the CD.

Shirley's vocals are captivating. Haunting at one minute, next she is seductive. There is not one bad song on this album. As one reviewer pointed out, each song could have stood on its own as a single. My personal favorite is the closing track "Milk", a high note to end the album on. Very haunting melody and lyrics. "Supervixen" has a unique start/stop sound to it. The album actually has a lot of lyrics that I think a lot of people could relate to, about feeling different from everyone else. "Queer" is a good example. "Only Happy When It Rains" is a fairly depressing song that works itself into an anthem.

This CD works on a lot of levels, worth many many many repeated listenings. One of the best bands to come out on the 90s in my opinion. Give this one a shot, it's a great CD.

How does a young man who went through high school listening to nothing but Ice Cube, Too Short, Dr. Dre, NWA, House of Pain, Cypress Hill, Run DMC, Ant Banks, Spice 1, Digital Underground and countless other rap acts graduate from high school and upon entering his second year in college all of sudden fall in love with a band from Wisconsin consisting of three producer geeks in their forties and one fire headed female singer from Scotland? Easy...they're that damn good. I remember hearing the single "Only Happy When it Rains" in 1996, seeing the video and feeling like I was witnessing something very special. I had already been turned on by many other alternative bands before them...most notably Beck and Weezer, but here was something completely different and new. Isn't that such a blessing in rock music? Different and new? That's just what Garbage was. I went out and bought the single to "Rains" and there were two bonus tracks on there..."Girl Don't Come" and "Sleep". These two songs were just amazing, they blended hip hop beats, melancholy melodies and the haunting but lovely crooning of Shirley Manson. I thought, if these two songs are this good and were left off the album...the album must be pretty decent. I was hooked...I went out and bought this album just as I was leaving my Uncle's house for a six hour trip back home. I listened to this album again and again and again the entire trip on my walkman. I remember by the time I got to the last song, "MILK", I was on an emotional rollercoaster...never had an album done this to me. It seemed like every song on there was a gift. There's just something about this genius that is Butch Vig and coupled with the vocals of the scary, beautiful, sad, attacking, haunting Manson...they were just able to create something so fresh. I'm telling you...buy this album and really listen to it. It is one of the best albums of the 1990s without a doubt...it belongs up there with "Odelay", "OK Computer", "Nevermind", "Siamese Dream" and "The Chronic".

TRACK #1: "SUPERVIXEN" Up beat, whineing guitars that pause, noise but soft vocals by Shirley.

TRACK #2: "QUEER" Their first hit single...this song feels very European, French, trashy, seductive...jazzy. A song inspired by a newspaper article Vig read about a man who paid a prostitute to sleep with his son. Shirley is super sexy on the vocals..teasing us..."You can touch me."

TRACK #3: "ONLY HAPPY WHEN IT RAINS" The song that made me fall in lvoe with them. Fast, catchy, heavy, unique. A shot at bands like Nirvana and Pearl Jam for acting like being a rock star is so terrible that we can only sing sad songs all the time. Shirley shows she is a unique singer in a business where most women sing the same.

TRACK #4: "AS HEAVEN IS WIDE" A heavy, eerie song that is just a driving force with attacking lyrics that can scare you stiff. A fearless long.

TRACK #5: "NOT MY IDEA" A more up beat, do-do-do song with a wolf in sheeps clothing message. Shirley shows us she's not a little girl, she's dangerous.

TRACK #6: "A STROKE OF LUCK" Probably the most haunting song they've ever done. Dark, gothic, cold but beautiful. One of my favorites of the non singles.

TRACK #7: "VOW" Their first single, a lot of effects, hard rockin'...Shirley Manson had arrived!

TRACK #8: "STUPID GIRL" They're biggest hit to date. With the beat from The Clash's "Train in Vain" this was the most catchy song on the album and caught on quickly with the majority. Very fashion show, elegant maybe.

TRACK #9: "DOG NEW TRICKS" My least favorite on the album...it just never grabbed me like the others, but still a decent track.

TRACK #10: "MY LOVER'S BOX" Another sad love song, haunting, heartbreaking. Shirley makes you fall in love with her.

TRACK #11: "FIX ME NOW" The song that grew on me over time.

TRACK #12: "MILK" My favorite song of theirs from the first listening to today. This song is so emotional it nearly made me cry after first hearing it. Shirley pouring her heart out, wanting to be loved by anyone. It's such a sad, melodic song with lyrics to cut. Also Shirley's personal favorite song of the album.

If you're going to get this album...get the Japanese import. It has two bonus tracks on it...their first song ever "Subhuman" which is very raw, ugly, dirty and intriguing and one of my all-time favorites..."#1 Crush"...seductive, sexy, breathless...like making love with Shirely through the stereo.

Garbage is one of the best bands of our generation and deserve more respect than they've been given...writing this four days before the release of their fourth album "Bleed Like Me"...let's hope the album takes the world by the b**ls!

"Garbage" is a debut album of great strength, it's a band announcing itself with the best material it has to offer, going for broke but never disappointing. What makes their music so enjoyable is the feeling of so much being mixed around. Consider that their songs can sound like a hybrid of The Doors, The Beatles, 90's U2, Patti Smith and Blondie...all at the same time. "Supervixen" is a rousing opener, a metallic invocation to "make a whole new religion" and singer Shirley Manson daring us to make her our obsession. "Queer" is a seductive piece that sounds like Nancy Sinatra meets Jim Morrison while "Only Happy When It Rains" is a wonderfully catchy, memorable and dark in-your-face jam that would make Patti Smith proud. The band's drummer, Butch Vig, was Nirvana's producer on "Nevermind," yet with Garbage there are barely any traces of this being a grunge retread (indeed, the sound is a little more accessible than Grunge, by all accounts a dead genre). The band shines precisely because of their talent, the guitars are examples of wonderful sonic experimentation much like what U2's The Edge was doing through the 90's. Shirley Manson is a great singer who knows how to express moods, her voice is not limited and it is surprising how many ranges she can reach through-out the album. The album has it's moments of gothic flourishes and techno polishes. Since this album announced them to the world Garbage has found success with their later albums ("Beautiful Garbage" being their most experimental outing to date), but "Garbage" is their baby, the album that showed us there was more to Girl Power and modern rock than the Spice Girls and Bush.

It's hard to believe that I've been a fan of Garbage since 1995 and that I'm only eighteen years old but it's true! This was actually the first CD I ever purchased and I played it non-stop for about a year. I just refused to listen to anything else because I was so taken by their guitar and keyboarding sound with loop-filled electronic rock that's experimental yet gritty.

I remember seeing the video for "Queer" with Shirley Manson walking around the streets with her hands beckoning the camera to follow. I was completely captivated, to say the least, for I had never seen anything quite like it before. I also think that this album helped me deal with my parents moving me around so much in such an early stage in my life. It was getting to the point of me finding it useless in making any friends. I strongly believe that this album helped me deal with a lonely time in my life.

I actually saw them live for [a] second time ... and it was really amazing. When they performed the silky ballad "Milk" it reminded me of this album and how much it meant to me. It seems that I'm always listening to VERSION 2.0 (which is my favorite album by them) or BEAUTIFULGARBAGE (because it's their newest). Either way, each individual album is an absolute pleasure to listen to. Garbage's unique style of postmodern technopop with dark, angst-laden lyrics will appeal to alternative, punk-rock, and even techno/electronic fans. They were the groundbreaking artists of their time and I truly believe that they are going to be creating great music for years to come.

While I was waiting in limbo between Debbie Harry's last solo album and Blondie's reunion album, into the void came a band that fit my need for great music perfectly.
This eponimous debut from the alternative rock band, Garbage, is the first album in a wave of new generation female-led outfits that took Blondie's example of how to make music from the feminine viewpoint and catapulted it into the rock stratosphere. Shirley Manson's lyrics are pure "hell hath no fury like a woman scorned" delight. I don't know who hurt her, but I wouldn't want to be him!
Ms. Manson doesn't shrivel up over her broken heart, but instead comes out spitting and clawing like a wild cat seeking revenge against her former captor. With songs like "Vow", "As Heaven Is Wide" and "Not My Idea", Garbage turn her anger into danceable alt. rock and give the listener the feeling that Shirley and company know how he or she feels. The hit single "Stupid Girl" (not the same as Pink's new tune) takes aim at a woman who uses her shallowness to attract men only to throw them away like old kleenex. It's "Rip Her To Shreds" for the nineties.
All the way through, this album makes vengeance something to rock out to. If you've ever been through a break-up, you'll know just what these songs mean!

To talk about the debut album by Garbage for me is like talking about making a startling discovery. After hearing "Vow" many times before it's release (a personal favorite in my computer's MP3 jukebox), I remember picking up the album the day it arrived in my local record shop, not sure what I got my hands on. Six years (!) later, it still has a nice, clean spot in my CD collection. It's always a thrill to hear this album, especially seeing how the landscape of music has changed since it came out. I still get chills when listening to "A Stroke Of Luck" (one song I really hoped to hear live when I saw them on tour some time back), and trip back with "Stupid Girl", Supervixen", "Only Happy When It Rains", and "Milk" (a great album closer). This is definitely a great debut album if there ever was one, and was worth the full price I paid for it in the end.

What a stunning debut from the band i know and love Garbage. I have to admit that my first album i purchased by garbage was version 2.0 (which i love), so after that i ran out and bought their debut and see how the band came about. 12 great tracks here, all worth a thousand and one listens to. This a very dark and angry album but in a fun and sarcastic way. Shirley Manson is a goddess of voice and words:"hey boy take a look at me, let me dirty up your mind, i'll strip away your hard veneer and see what i can find." from the song Queer. Another fabulous songs include only happy when it rains, not my idea, vow, milk, and of course their most popular song stupid girl (a timeless classic). The song A stroke of luck is so haunting and mysterious, i'm still a bit confused what this song is about but it is great:"You say that you'll be there to catch me or will you only try to trap me..." I like this album, very-understated than the rest of their albums. Nothing glossy or over-produced here, just very raw, emotionally-rattled songs that will make you think twice about ending a relationship with a strong-willed girl.