Blast from the Past: Garbage's Garbage

Throughout the mid to late 90's the music of Garbage was pretty much everywhere. Films, TV, radio, over here, over there, the music was playing wherever you went. As soon as one of their singles seemed to be losing steam and fading away it was quickly replaced by something else, which would hit the charts and overstay its welcome. Between the production talent of Butch Vig and the sexy, sultry voice of Shirley Manson there was little that Garbage couldn't conquer with their music and looks. It was a package that sold well and had it's artistic merits as well.

By melding alternative rock, electronica, and trip-hop Garbage managed to bring the remix to the rock world and to create a sound and style that was just different enough from all the alternative clones being unleashed on alt-radio towards the end of the last decade. Of course there were noticeable elements found within each song, the simple samples taken from songs like The Clash's "Train In Vain" which allowed for a familiarity with listeners. From there the band used their experiences tweaking music to make something different and new and stylish that everyone fell for. But listening to the music now I can't help but feel maybe we were a bit too susceptible to the band's marketing abilities and to Shirley's looks.

Garbage isn't necessarily a horrible album by today's standards, but it hasn't aged very well at all. The blips, samples, and electronic work found on the record seem almost annoying now, and the overall dramatic feel of the record screams of over production. If it weren't for MTV we would have even known who Garbage were?

Obviously a lot of people own this record and grew up with it and I'm sure a few of you may even still like it or at least feel nostalgia from it, but personally listening to this record brought back almost no memories for me. I don't remember listening to it on the radio, I don't recall being wowed by Manson when she first came on MTV, hell I don't even remember the words to any of the songs, so I guess for whatever reason Garbage has faded from my memory. Oh well.
Garbage - "Queer"
Garbage - "Only Happy When It Rains"
Garbage - "Vow"
Garbage - "Stupid Girl"
Garbage - "Fix Me Now"