Garbage
Version 2.0

THE REVIEW

"Version 2.0" is the second studio album by Garbage, released in 1998 and still unanimously recognized by fans as their best record, an opinion I agree with 100%, having in my hands a true gem from the late '90s.

Many know this band primarily for the singles from the third album "Beautifulgarbage", certainly the one that had the greatest commercial success, but even though it's a good album, it has nothing to do with the pearl that preceded it; "Version 2.0", we're talking about an album of excellent production, rich in influences and above all VARIED (as one would expect from one of the most eclectic and experimental bands of recent years), indeed it ranges from tracks like "Temptation Waits" and "Hammering In My Head" in which we find a great musical blend of various genres and influences, to the easy and "playful" pop of "When I Grow Up", moving to slowbeat masterpieces such as "The Trick Is To Keep Breathing" and "You Look So Fine" (certainly the most impactful track of this album).

In short, if you're hesitant about "categorizing at all costs", this is the band for you. It is worth briefly mentioning the formation of the band in question: Garbage is a rock/alternative music group created in 1994 by Butch Vig (producer, drummer), Steve Marker (guitarist), Duke Erikson (bassist, synth, keyboardist), and of course the charismatic Shirley Manson (singer, author, composer, guitarist, backing vocals).

Enough talk, let's get to the point and the description of the tracks on this album, which I assure you you will appreciate greatly. 

It starts off light with "Temptation Waits", let's be honest, it's not among the highest points of this album, but it's still easy to appreciate; it features a catchy vocal by a Shirley who doesn't show all her vocal potential (which you will appreciate later); the backdrop consists of distortions, bells, guitars, bridges with an excellent Shirley whispering, an outro fading in tone (a particular arrangement style you will find in much of Garbage's production), the effects of this track should be noted: strange spatial effects, panning everywhere, filters, reverse, sweep, confirming a meticulously curated production of this group never banal, never predictable; the track in question was also included on the soundtrack of the famous '90s TV show "Buffy" (detractors consider Garbage a commercially driven band due to the numerous songs that ended up in adverts or TV shows, nothing could be more wrong, we are talking about a truly deserving and capable band that unfortunately has been greatly underrated (especially in Italy), just think of the quasi-flop of the last 2 records (Bleed Like Me and the compilation Absolute Garbage").

Next is "I Think I'm Paranoid", the most famous track by this group, and objectively one of the best, a track built around a multicolored vocal by the usual chameleonic Shirley moving on an ever-evolving sonic carpet, starting calm in the verses, melodic in the bridges, aggressive and agitated in the chorus, aided by the heavy use of effects by Butch and company (distortions, compressions, reverb, scratch, glitch elements, reverse, all standard for Garbage's productions). The epic closure sees an angrier Shirley than ever, accompanied by distorted guitars that accentuate the aggressive and -paranoid- moment, then pass to the last 20 seconds where everything calms down with a suddenly calmed, enveloping, and sweet Shirley. To better understand the whirlwind of moods and emotions of this track, it's highly recommended to watch the video (if you want to feast your eyes on a sexier than ever Shirley I recommend it even to those who are not fans of the band ;D).

It seems to return to the beginning of the album when the player rolls to "When I Grow Up", another carefree and sunny track easily traceable to the first track of the album, it too released as a single with a video alternating shots of Manson dancing with scenes from the movie Big Daddy "Un papà speciale" (relating to the preface, this track too was used as a soundtrack).

"When I Grow Up" comes with the "usual" brief introduction that precedes the actual track, a calm and synthesized riff accompanied by the usual strange effects our band enjoys placing in various intros, then it takes shape with the easy pop-friendly chorus accompanied by distorted guitars, unlikely panning accompaniments, extensive use of electronics, and the inevitable change of scenery, exactly the usual stylistic choices already encountered before, that is starting with a calm atmosphere, then "chaotic, bridge rising, chorus with more present voice and instruments, and calm closure again with Shirley's backgrounds following the vocals (here's another of this woman's peculiarities, nobody does backing vocals like her!).

Okay, after the "sugary" When I Grow Up, which will not be remembered as a masterpiece, we move on to a song to listen to and listen to again multiple times, I am talking about Medication, one of the most successful tracks of this band, that in my opinion, always works better on these "ballads."

A ballad, even though not 100% since we find here too the continuous transitions from calm to angry, which by now you must have understood is a trademark of the group, but also dreamy, calm, indisputably a beautiful atmosphere (some time ago when I happened to read some comments about this song online I often came across the term "reflective"; well, never was an adjective more fitting for "Medication", hear to believe: opening with piano, acoustic guitar, electronic beat, and a melancholic Shirley introducing the track which then rises to an almost anxious and liberating chorus, only to dive back into a melancholic and relaxing verse again; let's bet you won't be able to help traveling on the melodic bridge halfway through the song (2:12 to be exact); at first listen, out of place, at the second, genius, by the third you can already anticipate it!) a track to listen to and listen to again, perhaps wrapped in the darkness of your room/car.

"Special": does it need any presentation? Every self-respecting Garbage fan can’t help but adore this track... what? you’re not a Garbage fan? Well, then it’s time to listen to this track! The melody of this piece is truly beautiful and catchy, very cheerful overall, but what immediately stands out to the listener's ears is the exquisite beauty of the backing vocals, Shirley outdoes herself, almost to reaffirm her incredible talent for these always impactful backing vocals! A track with a guaranteed repeat, released also as a single, it's accompanied by an excellent video where the 4 band members chase each other in helicopters in a sky full of obstacles and... well watch it ;).

The journey continues with "Hammering In My Head", a song that deviates a bit from the previous ones, it is not a poor track, but after the highs of the tracks that precede it, it surely takes a backseat, however, it is a very varied and well-done song in which we can find disco, rock, break, guitars, distortions, trip hop pauses, and of course lots and lots of electronics, as Garbage has accustomed us well over the years, all with Shirley's voice as a frame, now aggressive, now sweet and subtle, almost as if to underline how a single Garbage track can seem like multiple tracks by other bands combined, a sort of musical collage!

Track no.7: "Push It", another great high for the band, a piece also known to the general public for the radio success it had at the time, it was released as a single in 1998 and has one of the best videos by the band, directed by Andrea Giacobbe, a disturbing and troubled video that reflects in every way the musical traits of the following single, at times dark, gloomy, nervous: the usual Garbage spiral where the arrangement continually varies from calm points to points where the piece literally explodes in anger, aggressiveness, and obsessive riffs, - this is one of the features I prefer about the Garbage sound, and I could never get tired of these particular arrangements -, great chorus, noteworthy glitch/industrial electronic beat.

The journey proceeds with a masterpiece, "The Trick Is To Keep Breathing", high-quality trip hop. I've already written that these are the tracks I prefer by Garbage, synthesized and calm ballads ("Milk" from the first album is the progenitor of the tracks in this vein that will be present in all the band's albums). It is precisely these that I recommend listening to those who want to delve deeper into the band, or to those who haven't had the chance to listen to them yet.

Calm, "slow", ethereal, ever-present and always fitting Shirleyian backing vocals, an electronic beat barely perceptible, a trip-hop bass in the beat accompanying Manson's whispered voice, and to finish pads, strings: here is "The Trick Is To Keep Breathing"; remember "Frozen" by Madonna or "Joga" by "Bjork"? This is the style, a journey, highly recommended! 10 out of 10.

The journey of "Version 2.0" continues with "Dumb", an electro-rock track at first listen very anonymous, neither hot nor cold could be your first impression, effectively it was mine too the first time I listened to it :-) but fortunately the track wakes up at the excellent, lively, and catchy chorus, guitars, scale changes, electronics in spades are the order of the day... it's a track easily skippable, I personally don't consider it on par with the other album tracks, sufficient but could have been discarded to make way for one of the many b-sides released on singles taken from this album.

Almost to reiterate that this is an Album with a capital A, and that the 6-rated tracks will be replaced by great hits, here comes "Sleep Together", another major player of this album, never released as a single, but the flavor of a super hit you can well note from the first listen! The piece opens with the classic calm intro full of effects, then gains power with a Shirley now determined and concrete in the vocals, now calm and whispering, excellent arrangements, and especially the mastering. The piece sounds really good, although there are many parts and instruments everything is blended in the best possible way, and with these sounds, I assure you it isn't easy, I repeat in my opinion it would have been a very potential Single. 

We now reach the penultimate track of Version 2.0, which is "Wicked Ways" a triplet piece that sounds very much like "Tainted Love". At times funky and vintage, at times pop/rock, at times retro, at times modern: you may like it or not, I let it flow willingly.

This album is nearing its end, and the last song is conveniently the most beautiful of the album, released as a single and accompanied by a lovely intimate and passionate video set on a distant planet, in my opinion, their best track ever.

This is another Trip Hop ballad, similar to "The Trick Is To Keep Breathing", sounds that as mentioned perfectly match the unique voice of Shirley Manson, the strings, the piano, a deliberately "dirty" beat accompany a successful sad and dark-toned vocal, Shirley is no newcomer and it shows, there is no equal to the vocal interpretation of this piece, if we then add the spectacular backing vocals on the chorus and a spatially synthetic closure, the word MASTERPIECE is quickly said, a piece that exceeds all expectations, and that makes you realize (if there was ever any need) that we are facing 4 geniuses.

My advice is to get this masterpiece album as soon as possible, if you like experimentation and the desire to explore multiple genres, this product is a must-have!