Garbage

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Garbage

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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).