beautifulgarbage

by

Garbage

Edit

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.

The first album was a little raw in a very good way, then came the greatest Garbage song from the soundtrack of Romeo and Juliet - #1 crush - and even though the second album didn't have any songs quite in that league, it seemed like they were getting in a groove and coming close, so i figured the next album would be monster. Now the next album is here, and it is... this??? What the heck is this???

I'm all for experimentation, good musicians do go in different directions, sometimes working, sometimes not. This album, however, is not experimentation. It is complete musical schizophrenia, and such a major, crushing disappointment after the highs of their other 2 albums, I'm still unsure whether to laugh, cry, or send the group a sympathy card for the mental meltdown at least one member has obviously sufferered.

Even after all these years, I still listen to the first two albums at least once a month, that's how much I enjoy them. If you, like me, are a major fan of the first 2 albums - don't get this one!!! Like me, just pretend it doesn't exist, and hope that the band goes back to making good music with the next album.