Cons: Many sound alike songs, at times too-slick production
The Bottom Line: Manson's vocals mixed with rock attitude and electronica is overall no better than just average. Version 2.0 could have been more entertaining and more diverse.
Garbage rocks my world. Since the first time I heard Only Happy When It Rains through an occasional track on their most recent less popular release, the band led by Scottish fireball Shirley Manson has continued to impress me with their rock and roll.
Mixing rock and roll with pop has helped to keep Garbage on top of the musical heap for the past few years. The band officially formed in 1993 in Madison, Wisconsin when Butch Vig (drums), Duke Erikson (bass, guitar), and Steve Marker (bass, guitar) joined forces. A year later, Garbage’s lineup was complete with the addition of Manson (whom the trio had seen on MTV as a member of Angelfish).
Garbage was awarded some early momentum thanks to Vig, a sought after alternative producer in the early 1990s who worked on albums like Nirvana – Nevermind and Smashing Pumpkins – Siamese Dream among many others before forming his own band.
Debuting with critical and fan support, Garbage debuted on Almo Sounds in early 1995. Immediately upon release, the album spawned hits like Queer, Stupid Girl, and Only Happy When It Rains. During the mid part of the decade, these songs were on heavy rotation on rock radio stations and proved to be a refreshing alternative to the dour, depressing bands of the early 1990’s.
After breaking briefly, the band commenced work on their second album aptly titled Version 2.0. This sophomore effort marked a bit of a turning point for the band that at times seemed brilliant and at others seemed contrived. But, overall I find myself entertained by Garbage’s second outing.
Of the twelve tracks on Version 2.0, I most enjoy songs like I Think I’m Paranoid and Push It. Also getting some airplay and attention after the album’s release were Special, When I Grow Up, Dumb and The Trick Is To Keep Breathing. As a whole the album suffers from one major problem. The fact that the production is very slick and very electronic ends up causing many of the songs to sound similar in a very mediocre way.
As I’ve already mentioned, a few of the tracks are impressive examples of what I like most about rock and roll. Push It is a definite standout with the whirling electronic elements mixed with rock guitars and drums and Manson’s divinely apathetic vocals. The song really winds up at the chorus that explodes in anger and in volume. Push It is definitely one of the bets songs on the album.
Also of note and another of my favorites is I Think I’m Paranoid. Efficiently produced again with effortless vocals and an ultimately catchy chorus and featuring Manson’s vocal talents above all other musical elements, the track was certainly an easy sell to both radio and MTV. Fortunately, it’s not crap rock. Garbage seems to have mastered the knack of making rock accessible. Another thing I really enjoy about this track is the intense yet entertaining lyrics:
You can look, but you can't touch
I don't think I like you much
Heaven knows what a girl can do
Heaven knows what you've got to prove
Dumb is a strange, yet welcome, blend of techno music and that is at times rewarding yet at nothing seems thrown together an pointless. The same thing applies in general to the video hit Special. What annoy me most about this track is the light pop-rock feel and the mid-tempo speed. Aside from that problem, Manson sounds great…it’s just the song is boring.
Leading the entire album off is the slightly hip-hop, slightly electronic feeling Temptation Waits. The track begins innocently enough, but as it continues more and more elements are added until the track sounds like some bizarre rock dance track. The song really would be better if the keyboards were a bit less obvious and a bit less New Wave.
Finally, When I Grow Up is a very commercial sounding track yet ends up in the end being one of this album’s more impressive offerings. The words are at times racy, referring to strange sex acts while hiding innocently behind a chorus that consists of nothing more than La la-la, la la la la la la....
I do enjoy Version 2.0. The major problem with the album, as I’ve already stated, has more to do with the too-slick production than a lack of musical ability. Garbage is at their best when they play rock music. Despite being electronically-driven at times, I still think that Push It and I Think I’m Paranoid are two of the most distinctive and driving rock tracks of the late 1990’s.
Version 2.0 really ends up a bit pale in comparison to the band’s 1995 debut. But, it does manage to be on the same level as 2001’s Beautiful Garbage. I do recommend this Garbage album, although I will do so with some reservations. First and foremost, go pick up the self-titled debut. From there, if you still enjoy Garbage purchase this album. Overall, just average is the best way to describe Version 2.0. 3/5 stars.
Track Listing:
1. Temptation Waits
2. I Think I’m Paranoid
3. When I Grow Up
4. Medication
5. Special
6. Hammering in My Head
7. Push It
8. The Trick Is to Keep Breathing
9. Dumb
10. Sleep Together
11. Wicked Ways
12. You Look So Fine
GARBAGE: Shirley Manson, Duke Erikson, Steve Marker, Butch Vig,; When Garbage first appeared in 1995, no one could have foreseen what could become of ...More at Buy.com Marketplaces
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