Garbage has always been the band to be on the outside looking in. They know what it's like to be outsiders, misfits, what have you. They even label themselves as "weirdos". And they're pretty comfortable about it. A lot has changed since 1995 for Garbage. At the time, Shirley Manson was in her late 20's, breaking up with her former bands Angelfish and Goodbye Mr. Mackenzie. Butch Vig had famously recorded some of the 90's best albums; "Nevermind" by Nirvana, "Dirty" by Sonic Youth, and "Siamese Dream" by The Smashing Pumpkins. What started out as a filthy garage band, turned into a collaborative effort and from there, made fame with their first two albums "Garbage" in 1995 and the Grammy nominated "Version 2.0" in 1998. Now that the band members are no longer spring chickens and pretty much know the ropes around the music biz, they were extremely tired of mainstream record labels. Preferably, the one they were with when they recorded "Bleed Like Me". The record company, had high expectations for the record and only cared if the record reached number 1 on the Billboard Charts and sold millions of copies. Even though "Bleed Like Me" peaked at Number 4 on the Billboard 200, the label was still not satisfied with their efforts. And as Shirley said in an interview with AVClub:
After a while, we really got beaten down by corporate expectations, and as a result, I think we all just wanted to buck against that. It was like a creative straitjacket. Because when you’re signed to a record label, you have to run all your music through them, and they decide whether they will release it or not. After a while, you just want to scream, and hand them some really obscure, weird, obtuse, unmarketable music, but then of course they’d never release it. I think taking a hiatus was our reaction against that. We wanted to free ourselves of that straitjacket. Then, of course, years passed, and you start to feel creative again, and get excited about the notion of getting into a room with people you love, and making music. That’s basically what happened. I think we were all surprised by the record that we made. It wasn’t the record we thought we’d make. I think we thought we would make the kind of record we’ve talked about doing for years, what we call our bummer record—it’s all bummer songs. But we were excited to be together, and you can’t control what comes out. This is the record that came out.
As a result, Garbage fought against the mainstream and created their own independent label, Stunvolume. Which essentially broke the boundaries they once had. They were free to put out the songs they liked the most and put them on the record. Which, I personally, applaud them for that. They took the right step in their career.
So how exactly does NYKOP sound and does it reflect the Garbage we know and love? It sounds great, and yes, it does reflect the "Garbage sound". It sounds amazing. This is a great record; on up there with their first two albums! "beautifulgarbage" and "Bleed Like Me" are great albums, but NYKOP seems like an updated "Version 2.0" to me. And that's great! Because I love "Version 2.0"! "Automatic Systematic Habit", "I Hate Love", and "Sugar" sound like "Version 2.0" if it was released in 2012, instead of 1998. "Blood For Poppies" and "Man on a Wire" sound a lot like the "Bleed Like Me" sound. Guitar driven, not much electronic frills in it but enough to make it a great song! "Battle In Me" gives me a "Supervixen" feel to it when it jumps into the chorus with the "stop start" guitar riff. It sounds familiar, it sounds modern but still sounds grungy!
After all these years, Shirley Manson still sounds as gorgeous today as she did in 1995. Shirley Manson is one of the few musicians who actually has different tones, moods, and vibes in her voice. Her voice alone can make a song sound depressing, happy, revengeful, and lonesome. She's still a badass at heart, but she's grown up a little; she's aged gracefully. She still has a voice of an angel, looks that can kill, and a personality that can make anyone's heart melt.
Butch Vig still has those stellar drumming capabilities that are on up there with Dave Grohl! Hits it right on the money!
Steve Marker and Duke Erikson play the guitars as lively and as hardcore as possible. Especially in "Blood For Poppies", "Battle In Me", and "Man on a Wire". "Battle In Me" has a guitar riff that just forces you to bang your head back and forth!
Some of the highlights of this record is "Sugar", "Not Your Kind of People", "I Hate Love", a gripping and creative song that touches on something that no one has ever dreamed of discussing out loud. "Beloved Freak" is another tune that'll stick in your head. As I've said before, Garbage is outsiders. And "Beloved..." touches on being on the outside looking in. But at the same time, being proud you are on the outside and "Let it shine" as Shirley proclaims in the song!
The deluxe edition and vinyl editions include 4 additional songs; "The One", "What Girls Are Made Of", "Bright Tonight", and "The One", which is worth the few extra dollars! Some people are skeptical on these songs but I personally enjoyed them and they're just as good as anything Garbage has done!
This album is definitely for the ones who feel neglected, isolated, and confused. It's got lots of grungy lyrics. It hits you like a Mack truck; which is what Garbage is famous for! According to the members, it's okay to feel like an outsider; you can create some spectacular songs if you are.
Garbage still has that 1990's appeal. And yet they continue to make it sound modern at the same time as well. Garbage has done it again!
It's a wild roller coaster of emotions. Garbage is back in their A-game! And I have a good feeling, they're not going anywhere, anytime soon. Let's just pray that we don't have to wait another 7 years for another Garbage album!
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