The year is 1995, halfway through the decade and nearing a new millenium. New music was paving the way for the world; including the budding electronica. It was this year that Kurt Cobain had been gone for a year. Fans and friends and family alike were still grieving the loss of what has been said by many as "The Last Real Rock Star". It was official that grunge was probably dead but in some sense, still existent with the help from bands such as Foo Fighters, Smashing Pumpkins, Pearl Jam, and the up and coming band known as Garbage. Formed by "Nevermind" producer, Butch Vig in Wisconsin, Garbage began its roots in 1993 when grunge was in full throttle and the world was awaiting the "next Nirvana" as they called it in the early 90's. Vig sent in tapes of the band playing; to several labels. Keeping his name anonymous to prevent any extra ears and hands to get ahold of the material. Many producers claimed that at first, Garbage... well really did sound like their namesake; garbage. And they struggled to find a lead singer for the band as Vig didn't sing. But that soon changed when Steve Marker, guitarist of Garbage, saw Angelfish's "Suffocate Me" on MTV's 120 Minutes in 1994, this would be the one and only broadcast of the video. Scottish Lead singer and songwriter of Angelfish, Shirley Manson, was a sex goddess and had a voice that gave you goosebumps; a beautiful voice.
Shirley Manson of Garbage in the early to mid 1990's.
Shirley Manson had been working in the music business for about 10 years at the time. She was originally in a band called Goodbye Mr. Mackenzie; where she was a keyboardist and did backing vocals for the band. She wasn't a shadow on stage and she was and still is very talented. Record companies approached her with a solo album; which led her to recording an album with her Goodbye Mr. Mackenzie members under the name Angelfish. They only released one album in 1994 labeled "Angelfish" featuring the song which aired on MTV, "Suffocate Me". The band dissolved in 1994.
Butch Vig knew this was the future of Garbage and shipped her to the States to start recording their first few sessions, one of them being for their first single, "Vow" along with "Subhuman" and the original version of "#1 Crush". Which already got honors and apraisal around the world even before their debut album was ever released. Critics admired their "up-to-date" sound and making transitions from the old style "rock and roll" standard to the then modern sound of electronic music and mixing of the songs. And the fact they not only electronically edited the guitar riffs, but also used household objects to add effects to their songs; such as a broken DAT tape deck (this is so 90's right?) and an air conditioner. It was goth, it was dark, it was grungy as well but it also made you get up and dance, or tap your feet if you weren't a break dancer.
Finally, after over a year of recording, in August 1995, "Garbage" was finally released to the public. And with the release, also brought heavy promotion of the band in stores as well as heavy rotation of hits such as "Stupid Girl" and "Only Happy When It Rains" on MTV and modern rock radio stations throughout 1995 and 1996.
The album was filled with angst, revenge, deceit, depression, and betrayal. It was a teenager's gift in the mid 90's to have an album like this in their home.
As you pop in the CD and press "play", "Supervixen" is the first track and begins playing with a grungy/poppy intro. A man (or men rather) being captivated by one woman is the message behind "Supervixen"! "I will be your religion" says Manson. You can't live without her and you must "bow down..." to her in order to get what you want; her. We all know at least one girl who acts exactly as described. Allows men to honor her, worship her. In other words, for a lack of a better word, a woman who wants her man to be her bitch! It can't get any clearer than that. It's an A+ song. Shirley is sexy and she knows it and she proclaims it in this song.
Next we have "Queer". Though the namesake is queer and many people associated it with homosexuality, it's not to be confused. It's implying queer as in weird, strange, obscure. As the song says "The queerest of the queer". And according to the video, the song describes a sex favor, if you will. Shirley uses those looks, that charm, and her wits as described in the previous track to lure a man into doing a "favor" for her. And that favor? To drag him against the floor, shave his head, dress him down, then dump him out half naked. Sounds like a juicy number!
The 90's was filled with tons of great songs about sex, rape, murder, you name it! So why is it today we get drunk ketchup and Gaga proclaiming she's on top of the world? We're not always gonna be in a dapper mood; that's what the 90s were for!
"Only Happy When It Rains" is almost an ode to grunge, the early 90s and the way of thinking by the youth of Generation X. It's obviously directing toward Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Alice In Chains, you name it! "I only listen to sad, sad songs"; "I only smile in the dark/My only comfort is the night gone back/I didn't accidently tell you that/I'm only happy when it rains". It's a great song, it was a perfect single and a perfect video as well. It hit the nail on the coffin! Perfect 10!
"As Heaven Is Wide" is one of those songs that sounded like it should be in a spy movie or a car chase scene. It should've been the theme song for "Speed"; if it was released a year earlier. It's full of revenge, it cuts deep, cuts to the bone ("If flesh could crawl/My skin would fall from off my bones and run away from here"). Revenge is a key topic in Garbage's catlog of music and they sing, write, make the music on par with the mood. The whole crew knows exactly what they're doing; even when they first started out.
"Not My Idea" is a pretty good song with a great guitar riff to start off! It got me banging my head, tapping my shoes, feeling crazy when I heard it for the first time. The lyrics are revengeful, the guitar riff is revengeful, everything about this song is about revenge; that's all you really have to know. It's yet another great track!
"A Stroke of Luck" is one of those experimental songs that I was talking about earlier. You know the use of tape decks and air conditioners? This one uses that A/C example. And might I add, gives it a mellow and... cool sound; I couldn't resist! If I heard this song in 1995, I would've swore I jumped to 2000 when I heard this! It sounds so ahead of its time. Something that should've been on "Version 2.0"! Put your mind in 1995 for a sec and you'll see what I mean. But nonetheless, an awesome track with a dark trip hop beat behind Shirley Manson's signature soft-loud-soft vocals.
"Vow" the earliest track made by Garbage is definitely one of those songs that may not get out of your head for weeks. In the same tone as "As Heaven Is Wide", the song goes into details about a betrayal and how the girl will get her revenge on the person that broke her. I have to be honest with you, somebody broke me a couple of months ago, betrayed me by saying things behind my back, as soon as I got in the car and left for home, THIS was the song that made me feel... better. Why? I guess because I vented it out by singing along with Shirley's revengeful tone of vocals. It's just one of those songs that anyone can relate to... heck! Pretty much every one of Garbage's songs are relateable in some way.
"Stupid Girl", one of the most popular songs by Garbage and the first song I heard by the band, was the song that got me captivated by the band and got me hooked. Why? Because it's gripping, it's emotional, it hits the nail on the coffin. Because there's a lot of these "stupid girls" in this world, much of them being teenagers. We all know them! We all know some girl who makes silly decisions and pretends "to be high", pretend they're "anything just to be adored". It gives me chills everytime I hear it. And I still haven't got tired of hearing it after at least 1000 times of listening to it!
"Dog New Tricks": I think this song is about someone who puts someone down; put Shirley down maybe. Made her "feel worthless", used, abused, and neglected.
"My Lover's Box" is about someone yearning for love in their life, I believe. Lost love, abandonment from others, etc.
The last few songs really touch on the same topics so I'm not going into detail with "Fix Me Now". It's a lot like "Dog New Tricks" and "My Lover's Box".
As always, Garbage always has a gripping last track that makes you wanna crawl for more and leaves you hanging. That perfect example: "Milk". A very ambient song that puts your mind at ease for 4 minutes and leaves you at peace after listening to the first 11 songs. It's an amazing track, one of Garbage's best songs, and should not be dodged.
After their unknown status rose to the top, Garbage made millions on their first record. Giving Shirley Manson a job that she would still have today. Today, they are still going strong and just finished recording their fifth studio album, "Not Your Kind of People" (click here to see my review on the album). Which turns out to be a great album, just as good as their first. To be honest with you, I have never heard a necessarily bad Garbage song or album. They're all great albums and leaves you with a sense of "you're not alone".
Keep your eyes pealed for "Version 2.0" this summer!**
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