DISClosure
CD Reviews of A National Scale
Garbage
beautifulgarbage
by Lisa Hummel
 It has been three
years since Garbage’s Version 2.0 hit the shelves, and much has
changed since then, both in the world and in the band’s sound. With
beautifulgarbage, their third release, the Madison, Wisconsin quartet
have rolled the dice a bit, releasing a “simple and straightforward”
effort (according to the liner notes) in comparison to the group’s
earlier, high-energy creations. The band acknowledges the star power of
its Scottish songstress Shirley Manson, attempts to shy away from their
electro-pop grunge sound, and traces their steps back to a different time,
with cuts that are reminiscent of Phil Spector’s girl groups of the 60s.
beautifulgarbage’s 13 tracks (plus the enhanced beautifulgarbage
mixer) could act as a journal of the band’s attempts to turn from their
bitter exteriors and reinvent their sound, as they seemingly do with each
cut. From pop to hip-hop, girl group to grunge, the album has a much
warmer, more human tone than either of the band’s previous releases. The
tracks on the disc range from the sexy first single “Androgyny” and the
rocking “Parade” to the moody ballad “Cup of Coffee” (on which Manson’s
vocals shine) to the harmony laden “Can’t Cry These Tears,” and “Cherry
Lips (Go Baby Go!);” the latter comes complete with wedding bell chimes
that evoke the days of The Shirelles and The Supremes.
Despite all of this newness and emotion channeling, Garbage is not totally
unrecognizable. If you listen closely, the band’s bite is still there.
Helmed by their drummer/producer Butch Vig (who also produced Nirvana and
Smashing Pumpkins, among others) and with much of the material penned by
Manson, the group bares its claws on “Shut Your Mouth,” “Til The Day I
Die,” and the aforementioned “Androgyny,” all of which serve as a taste of
the mechanized, rhythmic, and traditional Garbage.
beautifulgarbage’s stand-out track is the sweet and sullen “Til The
Day I Die,” which highlights Manson as the band’s true star, her vocals
echoing those of her heroine, The Pretenders Chrissie Hynde. (Interscope) |
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