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Looking back, there is no band that sums up all the myriad '90s trends better than Garbage. They were led by alt-rock superproducer Butch Vig, the man responsible for the production on Nirvana's Nevermind, but he also helmed classics of the era for Sonic Youth, Smashing Pumpkins, and L7. They were a rock band that indulged in noise and rode a hard backbeat but they were about fluid textures -- a move they learned from shoegazers like My Bloody Valentine and Curve -- so they could ease into trip-hop when rockers started flirting with electronica. They were fronted by Shirley Manson, giving them an entryway not only to the countless Women in Rock pieces, but her Scottish heritage also gave Garbage a tenuous U.K. connection in the days of Brit-pop. They brushed against so many touchstones that they couldn't help but seem a little bit prefabricated, but their music was done with the sharp, crass calculation of a bunch of old studio pros and a singer who had been kicking around since the mid-'80s, when she was in British indie also-rans Goodbye Mr. Mackenzie. Garbage knew how to make records that sounded good and sounded like the times, so when they had their big break they knew how to stay on the charts. And they did, riding the post-grunge wave into the 2000s with albums that charted progressively higher, but not longer, than each previous record, while each new single showed up on many different charts without staying around on the radio as long as those first few hits from their eponymous 1995 debut. In other words, like lots of post-grunge alt-rock bands, they wound up being a one-album wonder with a couple of almost-hits to their credit after the first blockbuster, as the 2007 compilation Absolute Garbage makes clear. Spanning an overly generous 18 tracks -- supplemented on the Deluxe Edition in true '90s fashion with a 13-track bonus remix disc -- Absolute Garbage runs through all the U.S. radio hits and a good selection of international singles, skipping such latter-day singles as "Androgyny," "Breaking Up the Girl," "Run Baby Run," and "Sex Is Not the Enemy." By the time the compilation draws to its close nit-picking over such omissions seems pointless, since it already seems that the comp has lingered far longer than necessary on the last stage of Garbage's career, erasing the memories of sexy, hooky singles "Vow," "Queer," "Only Happy When It Rains," and "Stupid Girl," all arriving on the debut and all still sounding sleek and alluring. Which, of course, is kind of the story of their career: they made a big impact at first, but then their studio professionalism overtook their pop instincts. They were still often gripping at a sheer sonic level -- Shirley Manson was a compelling, dynamic performer and Vig and his cohorts surely could construct a fantastic-sounding record. A few more of those moments could have been captured here.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
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Butch Vig, ComposerLyricist - Steve Marker, ComposerLyricist - Shirley Manson, ComposerLyricist - Duke Erikson, ComposerLyricist - Garbage, Producer, Engineer, MainArtist, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1995 STUNVOLUME
Butch Vig, Drums, Unknown, Other, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Steve Marker, Guitar, Bass Guitar, Sampler, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Shirley Manson, Guitar, Unknown, Vocalist, Other, AssociatedPerformer - Duke Erikson, Guitar, Bass Guitar, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Garbage, Producer, Recording Engineer, MainArtist, StudioPersonnel - Douglas Elwin Erikson, ComposerLyricist - Shirley Ann Manson, ComposerLyricist - Mike Zirkel, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - David Rrangioni, Unknown, Other
℗ 1995 STUNVOLUME
Butch Vig, Drums, Unknown, Other, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Steve Marker, Guitar, Bass Guitar, Sampler, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Shirley Manson, Guitar, Unknown, Vocalist, Other, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Duke Erikson, Guitar, Bass Guitar, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Garbage, Producer, Recording Engineer, MainArtist, StudioPersonnel - Mike Zirkel, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - David Rrangioni, Unknown, Other
℗ 1995 Almo Sounds Inc.
Paul Simonon, ComposerLyricist - Butch Vig, ComposerLyricist - Steve Marker, ComposerLyricist - Shirley Manson, ComposerLyricist - Duke Erikson, ComposerLyricist - Mick Jones, ComposerLyricist - JOE STRUMMER, ComposerLyricist - Topper Headon, ComposerLyricist - Garbage, Producer, Engineer, MainArtist, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1995 Garbage Unlimited
Butch Vig, ComposerLyricist - Steve Marker, Producer, Guitar, Samples, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Shirley Manson, Producer, Guitar, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Duke Erikson, Producer, Guitar, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Garbage, MainArtist - M. Kashou, Producer, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1995 STUNVOLUME
Butch Vig, Producer, Drums, Percussion, Samples, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Steve Marker, Producer, Guitar, Bass Guitar, Samples, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Shirley Manson, Producer, Guitar, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Duke Erikson, Producer, Guitar, Bass Guitar, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Howie Weinberg, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Garbage, MainArtist
℗ 1996 STUNVOLUME
Butch Vig, Producer, Drums, Recording Engineer, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel, ComposerLyricist - Steve Marker, Producer, Guitar, Recording Engineer, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel, ComposerLyricist - Shirley Manson, Producer, Vocals, Recording Engineer, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel, ComposerLyricist - Duke Erikson, Producer, Guitar, Recording Engineer, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel, ComposerLyricist - Howie Weinberg, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Brian Wilson, ComposerLyricist - Billy Bush, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Scott Hull, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Roger Christian, ComposerLyricist - Garbage, MainArtist - Mike Zirkel, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1998 Almo Sounds Inc.
Butch Vig, Producer, Drums, Recording Engineer, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Steve Marker, Producer, Guitar, Recording Engineer, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel, ComposerLyricist - Shirley Manson, Producer, Vocals, Recording Engineer, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel, ComposerLyricist - Duke Erikson, Producer, Guitar, Recording Engineer, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Howie Weinberg, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Billy Bush, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Scott Hull, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Garbage, MainArtist - Douglas Erickson, ComposerLyricist - Bryan Vig, ComposerLyricist - Mike Zirkel, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1998 Almo Sounds Inc.
Butch Vig, Producer, Drums, Recording Engineer, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Steve Marker, Producer, Guitar, Recording Engineer, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel, ComposerLyricist - Shirley Manson, Producer, Vocals, Recording Engineer, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel, ComposerLyricist - Duke Erikson, Producer, Guitar, Recording Engineer, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Howie Weinberg, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Billy Bush, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Scott Hull, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Garbage, MainArtist - Douglas Erickson, ComposerLyricist - Bryan Vig, ComposerLyricist - Mike Zirkel, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1998 Almo Sounds Inc.
Butch Vig, Producer, Drums, Recording Engineer, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Steve Marker, Producer, Guitar, Recording Engineer, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel, ComposerLyricist - Shirley Manson, Producer, Vocals, Recording Engineer, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel, ComposerLyricist - Duke Erikson, Producer, Guitar, Recording Engineer, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Howie Weinberg, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Billy Bush, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Scott Hull, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Garbage, MainArtist - Douglas Erickson, ComposerLyricist - Bryan Vig, ComposerLyricist - Mike Zirkel, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1998 Almo Sounds Inc.
Butch Vig, Producer, Drums, Recording Engineer, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Steve Marker, Producer, Guitar, Recording Engineer, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel, ComposerLyricist - Shirley Manson, Producer, Vocals, Recording Engineer, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel, ComposerLyricist - Duke Erikson, Producer, Guitar, Recording Engineer, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Howie Weinberg, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Billy Bush, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Scott Hull, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Garbage, MainArtist - Douglas Erickson, ComposerLyricist - Bryan Vig, ComposerLyricist - Mike Zirkel, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1998 Almo Sounds Inc.
Billy Bush, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Don Black, Author - David Arnold, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Garbage, Producer, Mixer, MainArtist, StudioPersonnel - Daniel Shulman, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1999 Geffen Records
Steve Marker, ComposerLyricist - Shirley Manson, ComposerLyricist - Billy Bush, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Garbage, Producer, MainArtist - Douglas Erickson, ComposerLyricist - Bryan Vig, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2001 Interscope Geffen (A&M) Records A Division of UMG Recordings Inc.
Butch Vig, ComposerLyricist - Steve Marker, ComposerLyricist - Shirley Manson, ComposerLyricist - Duke Erikson, ComposerLyricist - Billy Bush, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Garbage, Producer, MainArtist - Daniel Shulman, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2001 Interscope Geffen (A&M) Records A Division of UMG Recordings Inc.
Justin Meldal-Johnsen, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Butch Vig, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Steve Marker, ComposerLyricist - Shirley Manson, ComposerLyricist - Billy Bush, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Matt Walker, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Garbage, Producer, MainArtist - Douglas Erickson, ComposerLyricist - Bryan Vig, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2005 Geffen Records
Justin Meldal-Johnsen, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Butch Vig, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Steve Marker, ComposerLyricist - Shirley Manson, ComposerLyricist - Billy Bush, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Garbage, Producer, MainArtist - Douglas Erickson, ComposerLyricist - Bryan Vig, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2005 Geffen Records
Steve Marker, ComposerLyricist - Shirley Manson, ComposerLyricist - Billy Bush, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Garbage, MainArtist - Daniel Shulman, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Douglas Erickson, ComposerLyricist - Bryan Vig, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2007 Geffen Records
Justin Meldal-Johnsen, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Butch Vig, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Steve Marker, ComposerLyricist - Shirley Manson, ComposerLyricist - Duke Erikson, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Brio Taliaferro, Programmer - Jeremy Wheatley, Producer, Additional Producer, Remixer, StudioPersonnel - Richard Edgeler, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Billy Bush, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Garbage, Producer, MainArtist - Douglas Erickson, ComposerLyricist - Bryan Vig, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2007 Geffen Records Inc.
Album review
Looking back, there is no band that sums up all the myriad '90s trends better than Garbage. They were led by alt-rock superproducer Butch Vig, the man responsible for the production on Nirvana's Nevermind, but he also helmed classics of the era for Sonic Youth, Smashing Pumpkins, and L7. They were a rock band that indulged in noise and rode a hard backbeat but they were about fluid textures -- a move they learned from shoegazers like My Bloody Valentine and Curve -- so they could ease into trip-hop when rockers started flirting with electronica. They were fronted by Shirley Manson, giving them an entryway not only to the countless Women in Rock pieces, but her Scottish heritage also gave Garbage a tenuous U.K. connection in the days of Brit-pop. They brushed against so many touchstones that they couldn't help but seem a little bit prefabricated, but their music was done with the sharp, crass calculation of a bunch of old studio pros and a singer who had been kicking around since the mid-'80s, when she was in British indie also-rans Goodbye Mr. Mackenzie. Garbage knew how to make records that sounded good and sounded like the times, so when they had their big break they knew how to stay on the charts. And they did, riding the post-grunge wave into the 2000s with albums that charted progressively higher, but not longer, than each previous record, while each new single showed up on many different charts without staying around on the radio as long as those first few hits from their eponymous 1995 debut. In other words, like lots of post-grunge alt-rock bands, they wound up being a one-album wonder with a couple of almost-hits to their credit after the first blockbuster, as the 2007 compilation Absolute Garbage makes clear. Spanning an overly generous 18 tracks -- supplemented on the Deluxe Edition in true '90s fashion with a 13-track bonus remix disc -- Absolute Garbage runs through all the U.S. radio hits and a good selection of international singles, skipping such latter-day singles as "Androgyny," "Breaking Up the Girl," "Run Baby Run," and "Sex Is Not the Enemy." By the time the compilation draws to its close nit-picking over such omissions seems pointless, since it already seems that the comp has lingered far longer than necessary on the last stage of Garbage's career, erasing the memories of sexy, hooky singles "Vow," "Queer," "Only Happy When It Rains," and "Stupid Girl," all arriving on the debut and all still sounding sleek and alluring. Which, of course, is kind of the story of their career: they made a big impact at first, but then their studio professionalism overtook their pop instincts. They were still often gripping at a sheer sonic level -- Shirley Manson was a compelling, dynamic performer and Vig and his cohorts surely could construct a fantastic-sounding record. A few more of those moments could have been captured here.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 18 track(s)
- Total length: 01:12:13
- Main artists: Garbage
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Almo - Geffen
- Genre: Pop/Rock Rock
© 2007 Almo Sounds, Inc./Geffen Records This Compilation ℗ 2007 Almo Sounds, Inc./Geffen Records
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