•
Rating:
"Go Baby Go Go!
We're right behind you
Go baby Go Go!
Yeah we're looking at yo."
Fortunately, not everything was like this dreadful single from Beautifulgarbage (2001), an album that marks the return of the Garbage after 3 years of silence.
Riding on the excellent reception of their electrifying self-titled debut and the subsequent Version 2.0, Shirley & co. are making another attempt, this time with a product that will divide critics and fans like never before. This product sees a drastic change in artistic intentions and beyond: electronic influences become more pronounced , which only occasionally accompanied the previous works, (could it be a coincidence that at this time, the charts are dominated by "Exciter" by Depeche Mode, the self-titled by Gorillaz, and "Blowback" by Tricky?). The melodies become more lively and radio-friendly, the sounds softer, the videos less studied compared to the past. The Pop Rock component of unforgettable episodes like "Vow" and "I Think I'm Paranoid" disappears almost entirely (only to reappear, more present than ever, on the next "Bleed Like Me"), which contributed so much to the project of the guru Butch Vig, who, from the venerable mind behind hits like "Nevermind", "Siamese Dream", as well as producer for Garbage, Sonic Youth, and other large projects, is currently found wallowing in recording studios with Green Day and Jimmy Eat World. If we then look at Shirley who divides her time between appearances on Terminator and B-series TV shows, the worrying decline of the band that began with the half flop (in terms of sales) of "Bleed Like Me", is quite visible!
Change on the horizon? Clearly, even the look is affected, with the now 35-year-old Manson in an unprecedented and glossy version, blonde, a bit retro, a bit floozy, which seems to completely mimic the grandma Minogue of Fever, who, in the meantime, is causing a sales sensation with her second artistic youth (debatable as it may be, beauty remains beauty). Butch, Steve, and Duke, on the other hand, abandon the vaguely grungy-alternative pose of their beginnings, making way for a more sober and serious image, specifically the classic solemn black, à la U2 and Radiohead, which so attract the middle-aged female audience. The same goes, graphically speaking, for the sophisticated cover, housing a red rose that almost clashes with the already contrasting title (beautiful garbage), [also curious is the limited edition that opens like a rose]. The booklet is not very rich, with lyrics and the customary thanks.
From the premises, it might seem like a mediocre work, too calculated by the "sly" Vig, to have a strong commercial impact, (not that the sound of "Nevermind" aimed for anything else), and the sinister-cryptic-nihilistic review already present in the database is just one of many criticisms arrived on the web and print media, for an album that did very well even in Italy; criticisms that almost always point to this excessive (undeniable, to be fair) commercial factor. However, I will try to analyze and break down better an album that, while not reaching the charm of the magnificent 95's, still has a lot to offer.
"Shut Your Mouth" kicks off the proceedings more than decently, the arrangement, especially the beat, is much more refined than usual, (Vig will abandon the drumsticks to focus more on keyboards/drumbeats/production), the combination of electric guitars, scratches, and dark synths is quite intriguing. Indulgent and chic "Androgyny", which, although mainly having its strength in the lyrics (the title is a whole program), does not lack excellent production ideas. Out of place is the "Christmas" (?!) "Can't Cry These Tears", hard to digest due to its overly saccharine melody and those irritating bells, where even veiled 60s references appear. Shirley's excellent interpretation on the interesting "Til The Day I Die" where among a multitude of scratches, synthesized choirs, and backing vocals, the incisive artificial beats of Vig (a guarantee) still stand out.
The atmosphere becomes melancholic, a piano introduces us to the splendid "Cup Of Coffee", a ballad with intense and mature lyrics (a rarity, since songwriting is the Achilles heel of Garbage), just as intense is the unusually downcast and pained vocal of Manson in "version 2.0" (hard not to find similarities with the Trip Hop full of strings and low frequencies of You Look So Fine). "Silence Is Golden" presents solutions already explored in the past but still effective, like the Seattle-influenced (Butch's experience is always useful) alternation of "calm" ballad-style verses and powerful choruses with sharp riffs that lead to scream-worthy choruses. The dancey "Cherry Lips", however, as already mentioned at the outset, doesn’t have in the power mentioned above its peculiarity: in fact, it is a useless overly sweet song, which to this day represents the lowest point of the reviewed's career; slightly better in live performance!
Then I systematically remember the skip button, and the energetic "Parade" ("Oh let's bomb the factory / That makes all the wannabes / Let's burst all the bubbles / That brainwash the masses" certainly deserves a mention), and "Breaking Up Girl" with their delightful refrains lift the album's fortunes, certainly among the most pleasant episodes of this, once again enriched by the convincing performance of the Scottish frontwoman. There's also room for two more ballads, (and here the redhead always knows how to shine), in this case, the sensual "Drive You Home", and the engaging "Nobody Loves You", (with very inspired accompaniments) only confirm this thesis. 100% electronic instead is "Untouchable" which picks up the stylistic features pursued on Androgyny, where the brief bridges of dreamlike structure (by now a trademark) are not missing, seemingly out of place but truly incredibly blended with the rest! The lounge disguised as pop of the closer track "So Like A Rose" doesn’t leave a mark; much more was expected, considering that precisely on the final track, our guys always gave their best, regularly daring with high-quality pieces, with a sound always distant from what was already heard in the rest of the album, consider Milk on Garbage, You Look So Fine on Version 2.0, and Happy Home on Bleed Like Me.
Interesting also is the multimedia content offered by the four: by inserting the CD into a computer, besides being able to listen to the tracks in a player designed in the style of the artwork, an interface with some sound fragments, loops, samples, and a cappella vocals used in the album will also be available, allowing various slots to be assigned, to deconstruct and revolutionize the album’s songs, just like a small sampler!
Bonus content or not, it’s certainly not an unmissable album, and for anyone curious about getting to know the band, the usual recommendation of the first two works is practically obvious, yet it remains something fresh and well-done, and as usual, in a Garbage CD, many genres and influences follow one another, always maintaining, however, a non-negligible homogeneity, never tiring the listener. This is precisely a fundamental factor for those who appreciate this band, which may delight all those listeners with eclectic and open tastes, often looking for this peculiarity in what they listen to. Sure, eclecticism is a big word for this work... as creative as Vig & co’s operation is (the amount of work in production is notable), weak points remain, like those 2-3 overly banal tracks, the poppish ones, the questionable context, etc. (we're still talking about singles in high rotation, and it couldn't be otherwise), which certainly contributed to going in with preconceived notions about this, let's be honest, more than decent album.
Going back to 2001, staying within the commercial realm, very interesting releases were coming out: think of Parachutes by Coldplay, Origin Of Symmetry by Muse, Gorillaz, which did extremely well on a global scale, but by maintaining a significant underlying quality, helping to overshadow any minimal prejudice about commerciality, authenticity (and various mental fixations) of the work in question. A quality that Beautifulgarbage does not lack, whatever they say!
To be re-evaluated.
Tracklist Lyrics Samples and Videos
01 Shut Your Mouth (03:25)
Welcome
We love you
We hate you
We love you
We want you
We need you
We wish we were like you
They say you're a saint
You're a whore
You're a sinner
That he had you
He made you
He can't live without you
Would you confess if we asked
That you nurture the urge
To declare that it's time
To settle down
With a man of your own
You want a baby
A family
A piece of security
Shut your mouth
Try not to panic
Just shut your mouth
If you can do it
Shut your mouth
Try not to panic
Just shut your mouth
If you can do it
Just shut your mouth
What's your opinion of the dire situation
In our land here
Our guest here
Of course you'll be nice here
How do you feel about God and religion
Are you good people
Bad people
Guess it doesn't matter people
Your place
My place
Make her bring that famous face
You got some
You want some
You wanna let me get you some
We know your music but of course we'd never buy it
It's too fake man
Right man!
(We don't give a fucking damn)
Shut your mouth
Try not to panic
Just shut your mouth
If you can do it
Shut your mouth
Try not to panic
Just shut your mouth
If you can do it
I hear you say it
Play it smart girl
Win the game love
Give'em what they want
What they want to see and you could be a big star
You could go far
Make a landmark
What have you been reading you smart girl?
Win the game love
Give'em what they want
What they want to see and you could be a big star
You could go far
Make a landmark
Make a shitload
And the world spins by
With everybody moaning
Pissing, bitching and everyone is shitting
On their friends
On their love
On their oaths
On their honor
On their graves
On their mouths
And their words say nothing
Shut your mouth
Try not to panic
Just shut your mouth
If you can do it
Shut your mouth
Try not to panic
Just shut your mouth
If you can do it
Just shut your mouth
I wanted to say something
Oh shut your mouth
I wanted to say something
Just shut your mouth
I wanted to say something
Oh shut your mouth
I wanted to be something
Just shut your mouth
02 Androgyny (03:09)
When everything is going wrong
And you can't see the point of going on
Nothing in life is set in stone
There's nothing that can't be turned around
Nobody wants to be alone
Everybody wants to love someone
Out of the tree go pick a plum
Why can't we all just get along?
Boys
Boys in the girl's room
Girls
Girls in the men's room
You free your mind in your androgyny
Boys
Boys in the parlor
Girls
They're getting harder
I'll free your mind in your androgyny
No sweeter a taste that you could find
Than fruit hanging ripe upon the vine
There's never been an oyster so divine
A river deep that never runs dry
What you need (11 X)
The birds and the bees they hum along
Like treasures they twinkle in the sun
Get on board and have some fun
Take what you need to turn you on
Boys
Boys in the girl's room
Girls
Girls in the men's room
You free your mind in your androgyny
Boys
Boys in the parlor
Girls
They're getting harder
I'll free your mind
I'll free your mind
I'll free your mind
I'll free your
Boys
Behind closed doors and under stars
Girls
It doesn't matter where you are
Boys
Collecting jewels that catch your eye
Girls
Don't let a soulmate pass you by
Boys in the girl's room
Girls in the men's room
You free your mind in your androgyny
Boys in the parlor
They're getting harder
I'll free your mind
I'll free your mind
Boys in the girl's room
Girls in the men's room
You free your mind in your androgyny
Boys in the parlor
They're getting harder
I'll free your mind
I'll free your mind
I'll free your mind
I'll free your
Boys
Girls
Boys
Girls
03 Can't Cry These Tears (04:16)
I just don't care anymore
I've reached the end of the road
I just don't care anymore
Won't cry these tears anymore
Can't find it in the bible
Can't find it on t.v.
Can't find it in diamonds
There's something inside me that just won't allow me to
Find it in music
Can't find it in my soul
Can't find it in chocolate
Oh babe I can't hide it I can't even find it in you
I just don't care anymore
I've reached the end of the road
I just don't care anymore
Won't cry these tears anymore
There's no way she can kiss you the way that I do
I heard that you miss me
Oh you should be careful of who you've been talking to
Long nights without you have taught me to be strong
I've cut all of my losses
Think no more about it because I couldn't find it in you
I just don't care anymore
I've reached the end of the road
I just don't care anymore
Won't cry these tears anymore
There was a time I thought I'd die
If you should ever leave me high and dry
And you don't want me anymore
It's time to settle the score
I just don't care anymore
I've reached the end of my tether
I've torn all the letters up
I just don't care anymore
Won't cry these tears anymore
I just don't care anymore
I've reached the end of my rope and it's time that I told you so
I just don't care anymore
Won't cry these tears anymore
It's time to settle the score
04 Til the Day I Die (03:27)
I will love you till the day that I die
I will love you till the day that I die
You walked into the room
The sun hit my eyes
The force you struck me down caught me by surprise
You sprung the mojo and it worked like a charm
I felt invincible with you in my arms
I must confess it can feel good to feel pain
Like breaking waves or getting caught in the rain
Playing those games cause we had nothing to do
I was oblivious I was losing to you
I will love you till the day that I die
I will love you till the day that I die
I will love you till the day that I die
I will love you till the day that I die
Holy Jesus
Holy rock �n roll
The more I gave to you the more you grew bored
And making love became the waging of war
No peace
No tenderness
No fun anymore
I will love you till the day that I die
I will love you till the day that I die
I will love you till the day that I die
I will love you till the day that I die
I dreamt that I called out your name
You turned your face to me and started to say
Something so beautiful it hurt deep inside
So I will love you till the day that I die
Farewell
Farewell
I'm sure gonna leave you (I will love you till the day that I die)
Farewell
Farewell
I'm sure gonna leave you (I will love you till the day that I die)
Farewell
Farewell (I will love you till the day that I die)
I'm sure gonna leave you (I will love you till the day that I die)
Farewell
Farewell (I will love you till the day that I die)
I'm sure gonna leave you (I will love you till the day that I die)
Farewell
Farewell (I will love you till the day that I die)
I'm sure gonna leave you (I will love you till the day that I die)
Farewell
Farewell (I will love you till the day that I die)
05 Cup of Coffee (04:30)
You told me you don't love me
Over a cup of coffee
And I just have to look away
A million miles between us
Planets crash into dust
I just let it fade away
I'm walking empty streets
Hoping we might meet
I see your car parked on the road
The light on at your window
I know for sure that you're home
But I just have to pass on by
So no, of course we can't be friends
Not while I'm still this obsessed
I guess I always knew the score
This is how our story ends
I smoke your brand of cigarettes
And pray that you might give me a call
I lie around in bed all day just staring at the walls
Hanging round the bars at night, wishing I had never been born
Give myself to anyone who wants to take me home
So no, of course we can't be friends
Not while I still feel like this
I guess I always knew the score
This is where our story ends
You left behind some clothes
My belly somersaults
When I pick them off the floor
My friends all say they're worried
I'm looking far too skinny
I've stopped returning all their calls
And no of course we can't be friends
Not while I'm still this obsessed
I want to ask where I went wrong
But don't say anything at all
It took a cup of coffee
To prove that you don't love me
06 Silence Is Golden (03:48)
If I am silent
Then I am not real
If I speak up then
No one will hear
If I wear a mask there's
Somewhere to hide
Silence is golden
I have been broken
Safe in my own skin
So nobody wins
If I raise my voice
Will someone get hurt?
And if I can't feel
Then I won't get touched
If no truth is spoken
Then no lies can hide
Silence is golden
I have been broken
Safe in my own skin
So nobody wins
Silence is golden
Nobody gets in
Safe in my own skin
So nobody wins
Did you hear me speak
Do you understand
Did you hear my voice
Will you hold my hand
Do you understand me
Won't someone listen?
Nobody gets in
My body's a temple
But nothing is simple
Silence is golden
I have been broken
Something was stolen
Safe in my own skin
Safe in my own skin
Won't someone listen?
My body's a temple
But nothing is simple
My body's a temple
But nothing is simple
Something was stolen
I have been broken
I have been broken
Silence is golden
I have been broken
Safe in my own skin
07 Cherry Lips (Go Baby Go!) (03:12)
She gave you everything she had,
But she was young and dumb, she'd just turned twenty-one
She didn't care to hang around,
So when the shit came down why she was nowhere to be found
This life can turn a good girl bad
She was the sweetest thing that you had ever seen
You're such a delicate boy,
In the hysterical realm,
Of an emotional landslide,
In physical terms
With your cherry lips and golden curls,
You could make grown men gasp when you'd go walking past
And in your hotpants and high-heels,
They could not believe that such a body was for real
It seemed like rainbows would appear,
Whenever you came near the clouds would disappear,
Because you looked just like a girl,
Your baby blues would flash and suddenly a spell was cast
You're such a delicate boy,
In the hysterical realm,
Of an emotional landslide,
In physical terms
You hold a candle in your heart,
You shine a light on head and heart,
You make the whole world wanna dance,
You've bought yourself a second chance
Go baby, go go, we're right behind you,
Go baby, go go, yeah we're looking at you,
Go baby, go go, oh we're right behind you,
Go baby, go baby, yeah we're right behind you
Go baby, go baby, oh we're right behind you
Go baby, go baby, yeah we're looking at you
Go baby, go baby, oh we're right behind you
Go baby, go baby, yeah we're looking at you
You hold a candle in your heart
(Go baby, go go)
You shine a light on head and heart
(Go baby, go go)
You make the whole world wanna dance
(Go baby, go go)
You've bought yourself a second chance
(Go, baby, go baby, go)
10 Parade (04:06)
Parade
KABOOM
Get it right
Get it right now
Get it right
Do it good
Get it right now
KABOOM
Get it right
Get it right now
Get it right
Do it good
Get it right now
Oh let's bomb the factory
That makes all the wannabes
Let's burst all the bubbles
That brainwash the masses
(Chorus)
As far as I can tell
It doesn't matter who you are
If you can believe there's something worth fighting for
The color of an eye
The glory of a sudden view
The baby in your arms
The smile he always shoots at you
Believing (believing) in nothing (in nothing)
Makes life (makes life) so boring (so boring)
So let's pray (so let's pray) for something (for something)
To feel good (to feel good) in the morning (in the morning)
(Chorus)
KABOOM
Get it right
Get it right now
Get it right
Do it good
Get it right now
KABOOM
Get it right
Get it right now
Get it right
Do it good
Get it right now
Oh doctor we're dying
There's no use in crying
So live for tomorrow
And do what you have to
(Chorus)
So let's pray (so let's pray) for something (for something)
To feel good (to feel good) in the morning (in the morning)
11 Nobody Loves You (05:07)
Watching the days slip by so fast
Knowing our fate has long been cast
Working our fingers to the bone
Cause nobody loves you when you're gone
Coughing up feeling just for you
To find something real to hold on to
But there is a hole inside my heart
Where all of my love comes pouring out.
You know you'll always be my man
But grab yourself sweetness where you can
Cause sooner or later we're going to die
Left to the dogs under the sky
I cracked a piece of broken glass
Coughing up feeling just for you
To find something real to hold on to
But there is a hole inside my heart
Where waves of my love come tumbling out.
You say that all the good is gone
That I have forgotten who I am
Free as a bird, Wild as the wind
But somehow I cannot let you in
12 Untouchable (04:02)
This is nothing new to me
It takes more than what you've got
To frighten me
I'm not scared of you
There's nothing you can do
Or take from me
CHORUS:
Untouchable
You think you're untouchable
You know
No one's untouchable
You're bound to lose the game
There's no one else to blame
You play so safe
And you're not risking enough
You are doomed to be undone
I swear I'll be the one
To bring you down
It's all your fault
Cause you got caught
CHORUS:
It must be nice
To be so sure
And never feel insecure
It must feel good to believe
You're always right
And you're never wrong
You've got something to say
You say it to my face
And be a man about it
You got a problem with me
Don't go behind my back
Just like a baby
Untouchable (pride comes before)
You think you're untouchable (you take a fall)
You know (you best beware)
No one's untouchable (your woman's gone)
Untouchable (pride comes before)
You think you're untouchable (you take a fall)
You know (you best beware)
No one's untouchable (your woman's gone)
No one's untouchable
You think you're untouchable
You know, no one's untouchable
No one's untouchable (4 X)
13 So Like a Rose (06:17)
Baby thinks he's dying
Lost inside his bedroom
Mommy won't stop crying
And daddy's always working
There's no going back
There's no going back
There's no going back
On this one
Baby wakes up with the sun
While everyone is sleeping
He thinks he's going crazy
But this could be the big one
There's no going back
There's no going back
There's no going back
Sleeping with ghosts
It's such a lonely experience
The stars are out tonight
Only they can hear you breathing
You're so like a rose
You're so like a rose
You're so like a rose
I wish you could stay here
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By Rivo
It’s a bad record, there’s no denying it, full of so many typical Garbage trademarks such as peculiar sampling, numerous useless percussion noises, melodic pieces, and then the big guitar comes in.
Billy Corgan’s theory is confirmed: after the third album, a band has little to add.
