Garbage

wilder Shit fav track only Happens WhEn it rains

Great 90's grunge rock. It is extremely well produced, which might be to its detriment - feels a bit slick? Garbage was popular, but also kind of lost in the push of similarly marketed bands. I was happy for the opportunity to give it another listen, because it really is a good record.

Pozitivno iznenađenje. Ne samo da singlovi nisu jedine odlične pjesme, nego možda ima i nekih sporednih podjednako dobrih ili boljih. Izuzetno ujednačen i kvalitetan album.

Listens: 4 or 5 Standout tracks: Queer, Only Happy When It Rains, Milk Added to Library: TRUE Honestly, a lot better than I thought it was going to be. It's not Smashing Pumpkins good, but its been a lot better than a lot of the other grunge that's come my way as part of the 1001 albums list. 3.5 stars. Edit: Increased to 4. Listening to this more and more.

Amazing album, so many hits in one place.

First listen - Never heard of them This shit is straight fire. Feels like its straight out of a persona game, so much groove in every track. That bass line in 'only happy when it rains' is killer.

I miss the women with heavy mascara and combat boots ..

Bout to get NOSTALGIC AF...

Pretty solid overall. Stupid girl and only happens when it rains. What a debut

Definitely not garbage

Back in the ‘90s, Garbage had a fresh, innovative sound, especially as one of the early bands to find commercial success by blending electronic music with alternative rock. Revisiting this album was fun, but I have to admit, it feels a bit dated now. Some of the tracks, in particular, I’ve heard so many times that they’ve lost their impact. Despite that, I’d still say the album holds up better than a lot of other popular records from that era, even if it doesn’t feel as groundbreaking as it once did.

It's not as good aa Version 2.0 with less top top songs, but overall still a great album. Never get tired of Shirley's approach and the fuzz bass.

Potential without fang. Pop dip with no extra spice.

A really good alt rock banger

Storytime: I was hanging out with my grandmother at the mall in the 90s and I mentioned to her I wanted to buy this cd. She said "I'm not letting you buy that! It's garbage!" Needless to say, this album was very good. Grammaw got this one wrong. Miss you!

Classic

It just gets a bit repetitive after a while

Loved this!! Only knew a couple tracks from them prior but definitely want this album after listening. Epitome of 90’s.

"Garbage" is the debut album by American rock band Garbage. Alternative rock, dance-rock and power pop are the Wiki-listed genres. Yeah, they all fit. Founding member Butch Vig (drums, loops, noise) got burnt out producing large albums and got together with future bandmembers Duke Erickson (guitars, keyboards, bass) and Steve Marker (guitar, bass, samples, loops) to start producing remixes for acts such as U2, Nine Inch Nails and Depeche Mode. This inspired them to form a band. The pursued and successfully got their lead singer, Shirley Manson, after seeing her on MTV's 120 Minutes while she was performing with Angelfish. Commercially, the album reached #6 in the UK and #20 in the US and was critically acclaimed. "Supervixen" opens the album. Tinny pounding drums. Layered distorted guitars and feedback. Manson singing softly. They get the loud-soft-loud dynamic. The song's theme is about obsession and worship. "Queer" is softer with a trip-hop vibe. Manson is more seductive and a fuzz guitar solo. It's about tolerance. The band brings the power pop in "It Only Happens When It Rains." Catchy chorus. Rock beat. They are parodying the typically angst-filled themes of mid-90's alternative rock. A wobbly guitar begins "Vow." Snarly and angry Manson vocals. Ringing guitars. There's an edge to this song about revenge and retaliation. My favorite Garbage song. If you're going to sample anyone, The Clash is a good place to start. Ask M.I.A. And, that's exactly what they did sampling the drum from "Train In Vain" in "Stupid Girl." More of a dance beat. A lot going on with noises and grinding sounds. A young woman's ambivalence. The album closes with "Milk." Dreamy, slower beat, softer vocals, synths strings, dramatic. Loss and the fear of loss. I have to admit to not being the biggest Garbage fan at the time. I didn't dislike them but nothing really grabbed me. That was my loss cause this album is excellent. There's different styles in trip hop, power pop, alternative rock, dance, electronic and even go a little industrial. No fillers here. As one would expect reading their background, there's excellent production, lots of layers and different beats. For 1995, it sounds ahead of its time. I always like it when I get surprised in a good way with these albums and this is one of those times.

3.5

Not perfect, but certainly ahead of its time

FINALLY some good fuckin' 90s nostalgia bombs. I'm too young for the 80s! album's actually a lot better than I remember

I had this on cassette back in the 90s and it was one of the soundtracks to my A-levels. Haven't listened to it much since but it's very nostalgic for me. Listening this time, from the first note it struck me how this is basically a more accessible Nine Inch Nails facsiimile which could fit on American rock radio formats. I don't see that as a bad thing, I think NIN are a bit grubby and atonal so I like a more polished version. Also props to Shirley Manson for being a great frontwoman, take her out of the equation and it's basically three studio guys doing a grunge with trip-hop elements record. She makes this better than it has any right to be.

Fun stuff

A classic in my collection. Love it.

Super cool album. I love garbage! My favourite tracks were only happy when it rains, a stroke of luck, and milk. I deff plan on owning this album on cd

Solid.

This album is fun. It was really easy to listen to while doing something else. I've always enjoyed Garbage as a band, but have never taken the time to listen to an album all the way through. Similar to Aladdin Sane in a dissonance of styles, but this is more cohesive. Definitely not an album to sit and listen to, but enjoyable none the less.

Something of a bridge between pop and grunge. Amazing sound, great songs.

This was a surprising one. I’m of the right age to know Garbage and be obsessed with them. Except I never listened to them in my teens. Now, fully an adult, really loved this. Would probably remove two songs to make it perfect. 4.5/5

It’s absolutely my kind of music. I wish I could have listened a little more closely to pick out songs I liked best, but overall it’s the type of album I would put on just to enjoy a drive on a nice day. I’ll try to get back to it at some point and give it a listen with a more focused ear.

all pop rock should sound this good!!! fav tracks: not my idea; stupid girl; #1 crush; driving lesson; sleep

I like this album a lot. Some of the songs I didn’t know as well started to blend together but I get the sense that relistening enough times would make that go away. Fav tracks: Trip My Wire, Only Happy When It Rains, Milk, Queer, A Stroke of Luck

If Smashing Pumpins had a female lead singer

This album is way better than I remember it being.

Solid 90’s album. Makes me yearn for some Red Dog Beers or a bottle of Boons Farm and a heavy dose of second hand Marlboro smoke….maybe a game of hacky sack

Random thoughts: * No other band really sounds like Garbage. I forgot how unique their sound is/was. Female vocals, 90s alternative guitars, and then to have a drum track/electronic beats. Such a weird but satisfying combo. * The hits really stand out on this one (Only Happy When It Rains and Stupid Girl). * This album would have been better if #1 Crush had been on this album but it went to the Romeo and Juliet soundtrack. * I saw them live once in 2002. I don't really remember much from them. They were the opener for No Doubt. * Fun throwback listen.

This album really feels like it has such a coolness to it. The mysterious sounding vocals along with the somewhat shoegaze leaning sound really give it a unique vibe that's quite hard to describe.

Turns out Garbage isn’t actually garbage. Who knew? If my trash bin sounded this good, I'd never take it out.

Garbage's eponymous debut has one foot in the door and one foot out. There's the buzzing crunch of 90s guitar/bass/drum instrumentation and the commanding voice of Shirley Manson and there's the flirtation of what was to come later on with the elements of electronic and industrial music seeping through to make one curiously engaging package. This supposedly fluffy material certainly isn't garbage to me at all. Favorites: Supervixen, Queer, Only Happy When It Rains, As Heaven is Wide, Not My Idea, Stupid Girl, Dog New Tricks, My Lover's Box, Milk.

Fabulous album. I had forgotten just how good it is. Really enjoyed listening to this again 🖤

This is a corker! I forgot how much I like their sound and all the tracks are good up to and including 'Stupid Girl'. Production is brilliant, Butch Vig. Then it dips a bit until 'Milk' which is a good closer. I'm off to listen to Goodbye Mr Mackenzie and Curve now. 3 bands with a link, glad I saw them all.

there's something about garbage that is fun in a nostalgic way. their music is very quintessentially 90s and i kind of love that about it. that being said, there wasn't a ton here that stood out to me. there's nothing bad, but nothing that elevated it to the level of amazing for me either. good, not great.

Garbage (the album) is a rare occurrence of a record sounding at the same time outdated and stuck in a specific decade, but also incredibly fresh. The singles carry it a bit, and if they had cut about 3 tracks, this would have been a 5/5.

very good album. Several great songs. Almost a 5 but a little too long. Could have trimmed 5-6 songs and this would have been no brainer 5. Really its a 4.5 for me.

Fun 90s grunge-y lady led band. This brought me back to Junior High and every dude including myself hating this band but thinking Shirley Manson was hot. Oh man - misogyny is a real thing. Sorry for being a shithead Shirley! Anyways, I digress. This is a solid debut with some great tunes.

My 90s nostalgia glasses are strong with this one. I probably like it a bit more just because of my memories of listening to this album. It still holds up pretty well, but it does lose steam a bit at the end. But the singles are so good, as are most of the other songs. Garbage is a great band, and Shirley Manson has such a unique voice. I might have put Version 2.0 on the list over this, but this is still a great album and worthy edition to the list.

Best leuk Soort fifa muziek, beetje Indie Zou wel aanraden

Rockin’

I heard Stupid Girl on the radio about an hour ago, so getting this album right now is kinda funny. This is a pretty cool album.

I'm not immune to the appeal of poppy pleasures and I thought Shirley Manson was pretty cool back in the day; I like her voice and delivery. With the perspective of the intervening years I realize this album is a lighter-weight than I remember. Still a fun listen.

Really enjoyed this. Good mix of styles and influences with nice lyrics too. Surprised me.

I've never give this band a chance before and I don't know why, not disappointed at all.. I'll keep listening to them

rocking

I appreciate how interesting this sounds without sacrificing great hooks. It’s a cool mix of alt rock, electronic, and pop that works. My favorite album from this project so far that I hadn't heard before.

good! 4/5

An album that makes me want to play Melee and down a Mountain Dew Code Red, right before watching Evangelion

Good album

This album was enjoyable. Full of energy. Some good tracks on here. The lead singers voice was mad. 90s poppy, grungy goodness.

Liked it. Kinda cliché. But in a nice way. The female vocals where nice.

3.5*

Really enjoyed this record. It felt like an soft introduction to a hard rock/punk sound. Shirley Manson's vocals really carry the day here, highlights are Stupid Girl, Supervixen, Only Happy When It Rains, Milk. The softer songs I liked better. All of it rocked, though. Very good record.

Solid 90s classic

Okay stuff probably revolutionary in their time.

Як я вже казав, Garbage, я не слухав вже дуже довгий час. А у той час коли слухав їх вперше, мене цікавила зовсім інша, та набагато важча музика. Лише трохи згодом, почалося моє знайомство із альтернативною музикою 90-х, але навіть тоді, Garbage я чомусь завжди оминав. І відбувалось так, бо у моїй голові цей гурт, чомусь, завжди асоціювався із, помилко навішеним на нього, ярликом «типовий поп рок». Але переслухавши його зараз, я впевнено можу сказати, що він став для мене одним із найулюбленіших альбомів 90-х. Цей багатошаровий мікс різних семплів у поєднанні із шумним звуком гітари та «звабливим» вокалом Шерлі Менсон, на мою думку, є квінтесенцією музики 90-х. Адже тут поєдналися альтернативні жанри, що «розквітали» у ті часи та фактично «живили» найкращу музику того періоду - #noisepop та #alternativerock. І все це подавалось із темною #industrial атмосферою, що ніби прийшла напряму із Nine Inch Nails. Хоча насправді, це не те щоб було дуже унікальним в ті часи, адже багато гуртів 90-х намагались робити щось подібне. Проте так органічно, вайбово та «чіпляюче» як на цьому альбомі Garbage - не вийшло не в кого.

Это уже привычное моему уху альтернатива - легкая, понятная, приятная. Ставлю четверку за два хита, хоть самый популярный я в избранное себе и не добавила

Prettyyy, pretty good.

Piękny edgy shit. To nie jest skomplikowana muzyka, w żadnym wypadku. Ale w jej absolutnej prostocie tkwi cały jej urok. Wystarczy minuta słuchania, żeby mieć pewność, że to powstało w latach dziewięćdziesiątych, ma w sobie całą kiczowatość i optymizm tego okresu. I to mimo tych edgy tekstów. Momentami mam w ogóle jakieś luźne skojarzenia z The Prodigy i Matrixem, tak mi się to trochę kojarzy. Plus brzmi trochę jak soft wersja zespołu Guano Apes, który bardzo lubię. Przy drugim przesłuchaniu, po paru dniach, już tak nie siada jak za pierwszym, ale ocenię po pierwszym wrażeniu i tym, że dobrze się bawiłem słuchając tego na siłowni.

In my head, this is what the 90s sounded like.

A striking debut. In 1995, Garbage made a powerful entrance with an explosive mix of grunge, metal, punk, shoegaze, pop, and electro. Led by Shirley Manson’s magnetic voice and Butch Vig’s sharp production (Nevermind by Nirvana), the album stands out for its incredibly precise mixing. An album worth to be in an audiophile's discography. Vig masterfully layers saturated guitars (Supervixen), electronic and funky textures (Queer), and moody urban vibes (Stupid Girl), crafting a dense, hard-hitting sound. A post-grunge essential, perfectly in tune with its era. (By the way, I totally used AI to help me to write this because I was too lazy to do it myself.) 😆

I wasn’t expecting to enjoy this one so much. I always felt like their popular songs were a little dull. But the album explores a lot of genres and there are less popular gems to be heard.

fun rock n roll. not sure how much of this I'll come back to but I could see on the right day this being like an 11/10

This is better than I recall.

Not bad. I forgot these songs.

Favorite Track: Queer

why'd they name themselves garbage when they're anything but garbage, i can think of at least 50 bands who fit this name better xx there's a lot of songs that are great but unfortunately there are some that are rather lackluster, so the overall sound gets a little flawed, but it's still a great album by all means xx

I enjoyed this one a lot, it’s very grungy and the vocals were very nice with some depth to the lyricism, well made album.

I liked the vibe! Very fun.

#477. A couple of big hits, surrounded by the rest of the album which is just as good. Also, As Heaven is Wide is the second song from the same video game I've heard on this list that I previously had no idea who performed it. 4/5: fantastic

This is strong. Quality 90s fare. Powerful voice and some catchy riffs. Stupid Girl weirdly can on the radio on the way home from work today too, which is a top track.

273/1001 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑

never heard anything from garbage, but damn that one really slaps!!

Have always loved Supervixen, Queer, and Vow. The rest suffered from some radio overplay, but it's still overall good. Good example of 90s alt rock.

Actually really good

I hit play and like 10 seconds in I said to myself, "this sounds like that Hole album I got way back on here." I still feel that way, but I think this one is better (though Celebrity Skin has grown on me a bit as I've listened to the songs more since the first listen). Something about these '90s rock albums feels really distinct to me, and not always in a way that feels good. I've speculated before, but my thinking is that older stuff than this feels distinctly before my time, but '90s music was still lingering around a bit in my early days which makes it feel dated but not nostalgic for me, which often hurts my impression a bit. I get that at times here, and there's things that don't always work. Enough meta analysis though, I think this album is really solid overall. The first half is definitely a bit stronger than the back half, but these guys rock, there's plenty of catchy hooks, and I love a woman-fronted band. I mentioned Hole already, but this is also naturally leading me to compare it with Sleater-Kinney's debut (which came out in the same year, also the year that I was born). Sleater-Kinney hit me a bit harder than this one did, but this has a bit more of a smooth poppy-angsty thing going on that I like a lot. I've said a lot of words, but overall it just works well. Very solid album. Favorite song: Stupid Girl Other: Supervixen, Queer, Only Happy When It Rains, A Stroke of Luck, Vow, Fix Me Now, Milk 1/17/25

I love how this album is stretching towards something it couldn't quite achieve. These beautiful, dramatic songs, full of melancholy, angst and rage, each have a distinct emotive voice - but even with every trick thhey threw at it in production, the late grunge era guitars, bass and drums are foregrounded and bury the rest of it, making it hard to differentiate between tracks if you focus on anything but Shirley's voice. When the other instrumental elements do break through, it's sublime. You can see why they were moved to lean into digital production in 2.0, trying to channel that energy to the foreground. Even failing to hit its target, it remains an all time great.

give me everything from this era! This is around the time I really started getting into music and Garbage was right there with what I was listening to.

Liked this more than I thought I would. Pretty unique sound, good songs, a few bangers and 50 minutes long. Very good.

classic 90s Alt Rock album!

I remember hearing Garbage on the radio all the time back in middle school but I don't think I ever heard this whole album. So although I was pretty familiar with a lot of this, a lot of it was also brand new to me. This record really holds up well. It's sort of hard to categorize - it's fairly solid 90s alt but there's a lot of trip hop, grunge, and even some pop in there. I think if I didn't know I would still guess that this was from mid 90s but I wouldn't be surprised if it was a new album by a new band. I'm not sure if that says more about Garbage or the music industry now, but either way, it's still a great album and although it might sound a little dated, its datedness is not to its detriment. 4/5

enjoying it far better than expected, but its the grunge that i grew up on. the themes of sexuality and religion and feminism are interesting to listen to. wont make it into my regular rotation but glad i listened to it.

I forgot about this band. Interesting to listen to, I like the music, but the album as a concept is lost on me. Not a lot of variety.

I once saw Butch Vig at a movie theatre in vancouver but was too chicken to say hello after the flick. Anyways, this album rules. A lot of different influences but never confusing.

Classic 90’s with great hits, a little patchy though.

Luckily it is not garbage, I enjoyed it enough. It just didnt blew me away as I suppose it did to others. Felt very samey very quickly. Good background music, though.

Actually really enjoyed this album, I love the drama of Vow and 90s grunge in general

This was my first time listening to Garbage, and I can say that this album was good to listen to. I really liked how the vocals of the singer were altered, and the overall sound of the album is great. Since this is their debut album, the feel and vibe of it were really impressive, and I was surprised by how much I liked it. I need to listen to it again, but based on my first listen, it's very good. I also want to check out their other music.

🤘🏾🤘🏾 Freaky Friday's Anna Coleman definitely loves Garbage

I’d say that after not having listened to this for a very long time some of it sounded a bit dated and of its time. However it’s still a great album.

When producers/writers want to be famous musicians, but lack a front. Well they found someone and they made it lol. Some ~nostalgia~ kicking in.

In before Dom mentions how hot Shirley Manson is. I only know the single, but this was a fun romp through the 90's. The songs are catchy and quick, her vocals are smooth to contrast the grungy sound. I would listen again.

This is #day124 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... believe it or not, last Saturday I ordered a vinyl copy of this album from one of the local record stores here in Ukraine, that is Quals, based in Odesa, one of the most shelled cities by russian invaders these days, hit with drones, missiles, and all sorts of weapons). The record was supposed to arrive today, but the postal service messed up the warehouses, so it’ll finally get to me tomorrow morning instead. But anyway, I was so surprised by the coincidence! As for the album itself, it's a distinctive amalgamation of alternative rock, industrial rock, trip-hop, electronica, and all things 90s, packed with gems like "Queer," "Only Happy When It Rains," "Vow," "Stupid Girl," and the unbelievable jewel that is "Milk." I'm giving this album a strong 4 out of 5. Looking forward to #day125.

this was sick

A bit eclectic in terms of alternative, but I dug this one regardless. 4.5 bumped down to 4.

Queer is so good, love the key changes.

Het begin vind ik super leuk! En ook echt het bekendte nummer is geweldig. Het einde is een beetje saai maar goed album voor achtergrondmuziek

Garbage is great. I didn’t own this album, but somehow I knew all of these songs. Lots of love for this band.

Bastante bueno. Además de los exitazos, que siguen aguantando bien, descubrí un par de canciones que me gustaron mucho. Muy disfrutable.

Very strong. A bit cold.

It takes you back to radio friendly 90s alternative

Music that sounds like 80's dark wave combined with Shirley's distinctive vocals. Yep.

Good stuff!

Knew many of the songs but had never listened to the entire album. Good stuff.

Definitely a favourite record from the 90s for me. Not a bad song on it, and some proper bangers. Slinky, rocking, dark and deep. Surprised many reviews don't like Supervixen, that's a cracker to kick off. Vow is incredible. Album really takes off from that point onwards and doesn't look back.

Reminds me very much of being a teenager in the 90s. This was very popular back then. It has a lot of great songs and I really enjoy it. Sort of a unique type of band, nothing is quite like them. I enjoy it and will listen to it many more times.

Liars

A good listen that reminds me of what I normally listen to, but i felt like it needed something extra to really stand out to me. Still a solid 4!

Shockingly but decidedly not garbage

пару треков зашло

I was surprised by how familiar most of the tracks on this album were considering I had never heard of the band. Maybe it was just growing up in the 90s these songs made it into soundtracks of shows/movies I watched. Regardless of that,

One of my favorite albums of the 90's!

so 90s it feels a bit weird to be listening 25+ years later. Good though, and gets a Scottish bonus point (just)

Surprisingly not garbage.

83% Best: Supervixen; Queer; Only Happy When It Rains; A Stroke Of Luck; Stupid Girl; Milk Must-Hear? Sure

Excellent stuff! Britpop's slightly fuzzier offspring, with some rocking tunes and great guitar work and vocals. Recommended!

Sounds like a grungier Björk. I dig it.

I really like this album, but it's not perfect. It has lulls and some odd tracks that could have been made better. The best songs on the album are incredible and classics, for me, but I can't quite give it 5 stars. This is still an album I go back to from time to time ever since it was released.

Garbage shoulda had a better career. I mean, I know they were a solid little band in the 90s but this is good!!! Real good!!

this one started out pretty unassuming, but a few songs in, it totally had me hooked. by the time I got to "Vow" I fully got it: "grunge" music, but through a studio pop lens! kind of a cool angle that I hadn't really considered. it makes for a listen that's pretty easy-going and slick (this is a Butch Vig production, after all), but which still maintains a genuinely sinister undertone throughout. it won't weigh as heavily on your brain as a Live Through This or a Dirt, but there's definitely something slightly morbid going on here. like all the best "grunge" (kind of a crappy term, but you know what I mean), strong hooks, melodies and riffs abound here. but plenty of this album's best elements—Shirley Manson's somewhat understated presence as a lead vocalist, the prominence of loops and synths and non-diegetic noises of all sorts, the overall Wall of Sound quality of the production—make this a really unique listen compared to most of the other music I think about from this scene and this era. the sound palette here does a great job at synthesizing various nineties trends together. reading up a bit on Garbage's origins as a remix group also helped the material here come into focus; i can imagine the straightforward rock versions of pretty much all of these songs, and they're all much less interesting than these final products! decent 8/10.

Never heard this before but I like it very much!

I liked garbage for a while and only recently appreciated that they've taken an industrial driven beat to the mainstream.

Fun trip back to the mid-'90s for me. This is a solid album with a few really outstanding tracks. Only downside was closing on what is arguably the weakest song of the album. Forgot how many of these got radio play when it was new!

Excellent, I’d forgotten how great this album is and how much I’d listened to it in the past…

Iconic from my teen years, I actually danced in the club to this.

I'm learning as I go through this list, I like stuff that a little different. This album is a mixture of arty punk, grunge and some poppy bits thrown in. Lots of nice musical elements and experimental and a bit sexy. Really enjoyed it.

Not garbage from Garbage, not at all. Good, rocky dtuff well performed. I liked this quite a bit.

Óharðnaði unglinga-ég var á fullu að mótast tónlistarlega þegar þessi Shirley Manson of félagar gáfu þessa plötu út. Mikið rosalega hlustaði ég mikið á þetta dramarokk og ég verð að segja að platan eldist mjög vel. Fjórar stjörnur frá nostalgíu-mér

I feel like most of the not-new-to-me albums I've been served by this, I first heard when I was deliberately seeking out 'important music' or whatever to listen to, to develop myself in my teens. Reading lists, RYM and things of this nature. Not this one, baby! Personally speaking, this is an ancient text Also rewatching the X-Files rn and just passed 'Terms of Endearment' so nice. Week of Garbage

Was not expecting to like this at all but actually did in the end. Portugal the Man x Gorillas x Radiohead. Nice.

I am a Garbage fan now. Stupid Girl is such a mastertrack.

Good 90s rock/grunge with a hint of electronic/industrial.

Really enjoyable despite the name. Great vocalist and looks of good instrumental work and production. Added to favorites b

A Stroke of Luck, Vow, Milk are too slow

Back in the ‘90s, Garbage had a fresh, innovative sound, especially as one of the early bands to find commercial success by blending electronic music with alternative rock. Revisiting this album was fun, but I have to admit, it feels a bit dated now. Some of the tracks, in particular, I’ve heard so many times that they’ve lost their impact. Despite that, I’d still say the album holds up better than a lot of other popular records from that era, even if it doesn’t feel as groundbreaking as it once did.

Never gave these guys a chance and I really enjoyed this record. I expected it to be dark, monotone, boring. Had some catchy stuff, parts I wanted to listen to again. Not an average record - I’ll give it a four.

For no apparent reason, I’d always written Garbage off as a singles band. This album, with no really weak tracks, proves me wrong. There are some really strong songs on here, not only the singles Happy When it Rains and Stupid Girl. And the run between those two songs is simoly excellent. On the shadow side of things, the three tracks after Stupid Girl are a letdown, and the opening pair leaves a little to be desired. Supervixen is a poor choice for opening

Solid and a fun listen which I'm bumping up to 4 because of, but I can't shake the slick almost over produced quality. The songs kind of pass right by me, very pop heavy.

"Garbage" is an ironic name for this album and the band itself. I enjoyed most of the songs to a high degree. "Vow" is probably the best one. (very underrated) All tracks after "Stupid Girl" are dull in comparison to the songs that came before. But that doesn't stop this album from being great. 4 stars for "Self Titled".

Good pop album taking inspiration from indie rock, shoegaze, electronics... Sufficiently diverse and efficient, well served by Manson voice. It succeeds in not being too tawdry to be enjoyable despite its mainstream leanings.

Full of catchy tunes 4/5

Bello bello. Uno dei primi che ho sentito, ormai è un classico

finalmente un album di questo genere anni 90 che mi convince davvero. grazie amici immondizia, il vostro nome non vi si addice. bravi bravi.

Solid album. I marked 4 tracks: Supervixen, Queer, Only Happy When It Rains, and Vow. I'm less into Stupid Girl, maybe because it was overplayed. But the whole album is quality.

Hadn’t heard this in a while. Was good to hear it again.

Favourite tracks: super vixen; only happy when it rains; vow; stupid girl; milk

Amazing, really full of energy, banger album from start to finish!

Remember having a crush on Shirley Manson back in the day. Only happy when it rains was pretty much my vibe for a while. Album was much better than I expected. Figured the hits would be good and not much else, but overall good

**"Garbage" by Garbage: An In-Depth Review** Released in August 1995, Garbage's self-titled debut album marked a seismic shift in the mid-90s rock landscape, blending grunge, electronica, and alternative rock. The album features a compelling mix of styles and production techniques that made it both an immediate hit and an enduring influence on rock and alternative music. ### **Lyrics** The lyrics on "Garbage" are dark, introspective, and often ironic. Frontwoman Shirley Manson's delivery adds an emotional depth and complexity to the lyrics, which explore themes of alienation, self-doubt, desire, and disillusionment. Songs like "Only Happy When It Rains" showcase a sense of nihilistic irony; Manson sings about embracing misery with a sardonic edge, effectively capturing the disaffected ethos of Generation X. "Stupid Girl" offers a sharp critique of superficiality and self-destructive behavior, while "Vow" deals with betrayal and vengeance, with Manson's vocals oscillating between vulnerability and menace. The lyrics frequently employ a stream-of-consciousness style, and Manson's ability to oscillate between confession and confrontation gives the album its raw emotional resonance. The use of repetition in lines such as "I’m only happy when it rains" reinforces the obsessive, cyclical nature of emotional turmoil. This lyricism positions Garbage not just as a band channeling the angst of the era, but as one interrogating the complexities of those feelings. ### **Music** Musically, "Garbage" is a fusion of different genres, an alchemical blend of rock, pop, trip-hop, and electronica. The album is heavily characterized by its layered, dense soundscapes, which blend traditional rock instrumentation with loops, samples, and electronic effects. Butch Vig, one of the band's founding members and a renowned producer, employed a meticulous approach to layering guitar riffs, drum loops, and synthesizer textures. This innovative production creates a distinctive sound that feels both expansive and claustrophobic, a sonic representation of the themes of confinement and release explored in the lyrics. Songs like "Queer" and "Milk" lean towards a trip-hop influence with their brooding bass lines, hypnotic beats, and atmospheric effects. "Vow" and "Only Happy When It Rains" feature a grunge-inspired guitar crunch that nods to the Seattle sound Vig helped shape with his production work on Nirvana's "Nevermind." However, unlike typical grunge, Garbage’s songs often break down into unexpected electronic textures or synth-heavy bridges, keeping the listener on edge and engaged. The album also showcases impressive dynamic range. "A Stroke of Luck" starts with a subdued, eerie atmosphere, before exploding into a powerful chorus, whereas "Not My Idea" maintains a high energy level with its punchy guitar riffs and driving beats. The track "Milk" closes the album with a hauntingly sparse arrangement that lets Manson's voice take center stage, contrasting the otherwise lush production of the preceding tracks. ### **Production** The production on "Garbage" is one of its most defining elements, contributing significantly to its unique sound. As a producer, Butch Vig is known for his attention to detail and experimental approach, and this is evident throughout the album. Each track is meticulously crafted, with layers of sound meticulously pieced together to create a polished but complex musical landscape. The use of samples, loops, and studio effects like phasing, flanging, and delay, often blur the lines between the organic and synthetic. For example, "Supervixen" features looped and reversed drum tracks that give it a disorienting yet catchy feel. Meanwhile, "Fix Me Now" uses reverse delay on the guitar to create a swirling, otherworldly atmosphere. These production techniques create a sense of depth and space, making the album feel immersive and multi-dimensional. However, the production's heavy reliance on studio wizardry can sometimes feel over-engineered. While the complexity of the arrangements is impressive, it occasionally borders on cluttered, with certain tracks feeling overly busy or lacking a clear sonic focus. This can make the album feel dense to the point of being inaccessible, especially to listeners accustomed to more straightforward rock or pop production. ### **Themes** Thematically, "Garbage" is a study in contradictions, delving into the dualities of human emotion. The album explores themes of love and hate, joy and despair, self-assurance and insecurity. This tension is present in almost every song. "Only Happy When It Rains" captures a kind of existential irony, where misery is embraced rather than avoided. "Vow," with its tale of betrayal and revenge, oscillates between vulnerability and aggression. "Stupid Girl" touches on themes of self-deception and the emptiness of shallow pursuits, a critique of consumer culture and the pressures of image consciousness. The album's emotional core lies in its exploration of identity and self-perception. Tracks like "Queer" and "As Heaven Is Wide" delve into the feeling of being an outsider, of not fitting into societal norms or expectations. "Milk," the final track, is a haunting meditation on loss and longing, capturing the fragility of human connections. These recurring themes of alienation, disaffection, and introspection resonate deeply with listeners, particularly within the context of the 90s, where disillusionment with mainstream culture was widespread. ### **Influence** "Garbage" was both a critical and commercial success, reaching the Top 20 in the UK and US and spawning several hit singles. Its impact extended beyond its immediate success; the album played a crucial role in shaping the sound of alternative rock in the late 90s. Garbage’s blend of electronic elements with rock laid the groundwork for a new wave of artists who would further explore and hybridize genres. The album's production techniques, particularly its use of sampling and electronic manipulation, influenced the rise of "electronica" as a viable mainstream genre in the late 90s. Bands like The Cardigans, Republica, and even No Doubt incorporated similar electronic and studio effects into their music, drawing inspiration from the polished yet edgy sound Garbage pioneered. Moreover, Shirley Manson's presence as a strong, unapologetic female frontwoman with a distinctive style and voice became a template for many female artists in rock and alternative music. Her confident, sometimes confrontational lyrics and persona influenced a generation of female musicians and added to the diversification of the rock genre, which had been largely male-dominated. ### **Pros** 1. **Innovative Production:** The album's production is a standout feature, with its rich layering and use of studio techniques setting it apart from many contemporaneous releases. 2. **Unique Sound:** A successful blend of rock, pop, grunge, and electronic music gives "Garbage" a distinctive, genre-defying sound that remains influential. 3. **Strong Vocal Performance:** Shirley Manson's vocals are both emotive and powerful, bringing a unique blend of vulnerability and strength to the songs. 4. **Lyrical Depth:** The lyrics explore complex emotional landscapes, offering introspective and sometimes confrontational takes on themes like alienation, love, and disillusionment. 5. **Cohesive Themes:** The album maintains a consistent mood and theme throughout, making it a unified body of work rather than a collection of disparate tracks. ### **Cons** 1. **Overproduction at Times:** Some tracks may feel overly busy or cluttered due to the heavy reliance on production effects and layers, potentially alienating listeners who prefer a more straightforward sound. 2. **Dated Sound Elements:** While innovative at the time, some of the electronic elements and production techniques now sound dated, reflecting the specific technological limitations and trends of the 90s. 3. **Lack of Sonic Variety:** Despite the genre fusion, the album can feel sonically homogenous at times, with similar tempos and moods dominating many of the tracks. 4. **Ambiguity in Lyrics:** The abstract, stream-of-consciousness style of the lyrics can sometimes feel opaque or impenetrable, making it challenging for some listeners to connect with the songs on a deeper level. 5. **Dark Tone Throughout:** The consistent dark and moody atmosphere might feel oppressive or one-dimensional to listeners looking for more dynamic emotional shifts. ### **Conclusion** Garbage's debut album is a bold and innovative work that successfully merges a range of musical influences to create a unique sound. Its themes of alienation, introspection, and disillusionment, coupled with its distinctive production style, make it a compelling snapshot of mid-90s alternative rock. While it has its drawbacks, such as occasionally dense production and a somewhat uniform tone, these are outweighed by its strengths in vocal performance, lyrical depth, and genre innovation. The album remains a significant milestone in rock music, influential in both its sound and its attitude.

Very good. Still sounds fresh. Saw them a few weeks ago still sound the same. Shirley has a great voice.

I really enjoyed relistening to this album. I love their sound.

Solidna 90s nostalgija

An album I loved in my college years. Holds up pretty well for me today... At least the first ⅔ of it. The opening three songs really kick! Kind get a bit fillery at the end. But it closes nicely with "Milk" which has a nice James Bond theme sound, which would prove advantageous a few years later. (8.8) ★★★★

Solid noisy alt-rock! I prefer the more noisy, shiegazy parts, over the triphop-adjacent parts

I loved this album as a teenager and guess what? I still love it now! It still holds up. Love Shirley’s attitude. She’s a badass. 4.5 stars 9.2 out of 10

I like it a lot. The album cover is one that is pleasantly seared into my memory

This garbage was anything but a dumpster fire

This was super weird, but there's something about it I really liked. Probably wouldn't play it repeatedly but I'm glad it was on this list since I never would have listened to it otherwise

like the punk rock vibes. its a good kick and a good energy. definitely will listen to again, but no song is particularly memorable

The better of the Garbage catalogue.

The type of energy I want for my life right now.

I wasn’t that interested in this album as a teen but it is a great album for me as an adult. It really holds up

Lots of underrated classics on the album that I was too scared of at the time.

Very much not what the name implies. Shirley Manson is the perfect singer for these songs: defiant and world weary, but with a playful edge.

Well wasn't Shirley Manson, a former Glasgow prostitute, a bvreath of fresh air when she launched onto the scene in the 1990s? Absolutley not a stupid girl... Excellent singles, excleent balance between grunge, rock and electronic. Overall just excellent. They didn't maintain this standard after the debut though.

Garbage

This one feels like the poster child of 90s grunge-inflected pop/rock. The album's techno-minded sound and Manson's alluring persona complemented and countered the grunge sound Vig had helped pioneer after producing Nirvana's 1991 album Nevermind. The musical techniques used on Garbage felt radical at the time and had a clear influence on subsequent popular music, pairing distorted heavy guitar sounds with dark, sultry, sometimes angry female vocals. Normally I would list the songs I liked on the album, but on this one there are no bad tracks. 4⭐️

Quintessential 90s alt rock. Lots of nostalgia here, and the sound still holds up even if the album might get a bit long.

I liked this! It was nostalgic in some way to me.

A pretty good album. I think their most popular songs are actually some of the weakest and some of the less known songs are really different and enjoyable. Unique and thoughtful lyrics.

Idk mane sounds like a good time to me.

Mason's voice is incredible and they have a perfect balance of 90s alternative and that ethereal vibe. Great lyrics and incredible riffs. My only regret is I didn't know of them sooner - they would be huge if released now

I was surprised at how much I liked this record. I had never listened to it, but was familiar with a hit or two.

Really great alt-rock album with some almost breakbeat-type drum programming on many of the songs. Reminds me of what Bowie was doing around the same time with Earthlings. Some strong hooks and some really impressive vocals. I especially love that opener, easily one of my favorites of all time, though it was the one song i knew before going into this, so maybe I’m a lil biased.

I love this era of 90s rock

Had no idea what to expect from the name but I'm here for it

Really good overall. I saw Garbage back in 2005 and really enjoyed their set, but never really listened to their albums, which was clearly a mistake.

Bien. No sé pq no le doy un cinco.

Really good! ugly ass album cover though 4/5

Underrated group in my opinion. It's angsty and well-executed.

A Lot of recognisible tunes here!

Felt like being back in the 90s!!

Seminal 90s Grunge Punk

Bro, I love the 90s so much! I always end up discovering things like this. I really liked the dynamics between the songs that vary between different emotions from one to another. It has 2 real hits ("Stupid Girl" and "I'm Only Happy When It Rains"). In other words: This is definitely not garbage! Despite the name hahaha

One man's therapy is another man's strip club soundtrack.

It's all Garbage. Not in a bad way. It's just a sound that is familiar across the album. Solid and enjoyable without really knocking my socks off.

Garbage was one of the first bands with a female singer that I liked. In the time of kooties I really couldn't risk liking girl bands, but they were cool. Then it was a slippery slope to Alanis, No Doubt, and others. 1995 was a crazy year for female bands. While Garbage may have opened that door for me, I apparently don't really ever return to them. It has been a long time since I heard most of this album and it still is pretty cool with the electronics and lyrics. I'll definitely add a couple more to my playlists and try to check up on their newer stuff. Favorite track "Only Happy when it rains" 3.5/5

i love this album, i hate how it’s mixed

Wow, this sounded just like high school. I actually liked it better today than I did back then. Solid all the way through.

Enjoyable, although not outstanding. Even though I liked it, I am not sure why this is a 'must listen'. There's nothing particularly ground-breaking in there, although there's some decent music and well-put together songs.

Very interesting sound and catchy songs. Alt rock combined with other genres.

Big surprise on how much I liked it. Really disliked the hits from this album, but I supposed it suffered from over exposure. 4/5

I quite liked this Original and fresh They do themselves down with their name.

I was not initially expecting to like this album. But I thought it was a fun and sunny offering that felt edgy and self aware, but also had some maturity as well. Would have been better as an EP, as a lot of the second half starts to feel like filler. But definitely good overall. Top tracks: Queer, As Heaven Is Wide, Milk

That ain't garbage

Ado je n'étais pas de la team Garbage. C'était pas mon truc, ça me semblait trop "emo". Et bien force est de constater que j'avais tort sur toute la ligne ! On peut dire que j'ai vraiment découvert à la réécoute et que j'y ai pris beaucoup de plaisir. Les rythmes sont entraînants, les riffs entêtants, la voix très cool. Du rock à la sauce 90's comme on aime : une noirceur énergique avec supplément féminin : on aime !

This album definitely sounds of its time, but it's a great blend of pop and rock with some catchy singles. Not quite as good as the follow-up though

This is very 90s, some nostalgia on the singles for me. Garbage to me always felt very manufactured for radio friendly music, ignoring those feelings and giving it a fresh listen here. Good album, deserved all the accolades

grungy, cool, melodic, tough, gentle. great stuff

Solid, more enjoyable than expected!

This is my style!

Is it early indie? Is it depressed pop rock? Is it just three guys making weird sounds with a girl singing whatever she wants on top? I'm not sure, but they found a way to make grunge sexy and that is crazy to think about. It's haunting, confusing, complicated, sad, lustful... the list goes on. A bit specific for general listening but an impressive album

The production is brilliant, as to be expected. Though I wouldn't revisit, I get why this is a popular album.

This album fucked

I was surprised by how fresh this sounded. They have finally grown on me

Great mid 90’s alt rock album.

I liked it! Grungy without being too aggressive or raw, indie enough not to be pop, skillful enough to warrant future listening, no doubt

I like it better now than I did in the 90s, but with more experience under by belt I can hear a lot of influences. This is a no brainer, but Butch Vig's production is a masterpiece, some of the lyrics are just okay enough to cost it a star.

I was a big fan of PJ Harvey and Liz Phair in the 90s, but somehow Garbage is a blind spot for me. Enjoyed this album very much and it fits right into that cool rocker chick spot of that era.

hell ya!

Love Garbage. Love Shirley but on re listening this doesn’t quite make it to a 5 for me. Still want to look like her though

Love Shirley Manson's voice, Milk was the surprise hit for me.

Fantastic debut album. Extra 1/2 star for that alone. Well aware of the band before but didn’t know how much I like their music until now.

Was expecting a bit less from this, and frankly expecting it to sound quite dated. It didn't to my ears, and hell you can't argue with the hits!

Trainspotting (Titelsong des gleichnamigen Films) kannte ich, der Rest wsr neu. Star, Medication sind tolle ruhige Songs. Mir gefällt der Sound, der Dub-Groove, und der Stil-Mix des Albums. Trotzdem nicht DIE Kaufempfehlung.

Still a good album.

At some point I heard something about Garbage and thought I should listen to it more closely. It fell into oblivion. It's nice that this has changed. I find the music on the album very interesting. Manson has a great voice, the sound takes me away. It certainly wasn't the last time I listened to this album. 4/5

I'd totally listen again. Decent stuff. I'll round up to four stars.

One of my favorite 90s bands and albums.

Rating: 8.5/10 Great album overall. Really enjoyed the combination of alternative rock, dance, and electronic music. Most of the songs are incredibly catchy vocally and instrumentally, the production is great and the singer matches this style so well. Favorite songs: Supervixen, Queer, Only Happy When It Rains, A Stroke Of Luck, Vow, Stupid Girl, Dog New Tricks, My Lover's Box, Fix Me Now. Worst song: As Heaven Is Wide.

Queer Only Happy When It Rains Stupid Girl Vow My Lover's Box Milk

I liked this album when it came out, and it's held up really well.

Yeah, nice trip down memory lane.

Garbage is so great!

Incredible album. Mostly bangers

Even though this is part of a tradition I usually actively dislike (cynical Gen X bands who spent more time figuring out their image than their music), I can not deny that this is both clearly influential and pretty listenable.

Very fun album, I liked it start to finish. My favorite from this album generator in a while. "Only Happy When It Rains" is definitely a jam, and my favorite from the album.

Initially I said “Oh great, another generic 90s noise pop album with an ugly cover”. I’ve heard a few of these so far, and I have yet to be shown one I’m very fond of. Except after doing a little bit of digging, I realized this probably had the potential to be something better. And after hearing the first song, I figured I was probably right. This is the band that Butch Vig helped create, and that definitely gave me confidence in the material here. That dude is a legend no doubt. If we are speaking about purely noise pop, this maybe isn’t the best album ever. It feels like it takes the most inspiration from that debut The Jesus and Mary Chain album. But I prefer this WAY over that. What really makes this album shine is its combination with dance music. Not a fusion I ever thought I needed to hear, but when the thumping distorted guitars are backed up by electronic drums, courtesy of Butch himself, it just reaches a certain part of my brain. And honestly this album surprised me with how creative it is. It really pushes the boundaries of what I knew to be possible in what is often a rather simple genre. I’m gonna bring it up a lot, but like many 90s bands, there is most definitely some Pixies influence going on here. Especially with that loud-quiet format they go for on the opening track. And I really like the lead singer’s voice. She gives me a lot of Kim Gordon vibes. Except this is what I imagined Sonic Youth would sound like before I heard Daydream Nation. As much as I like this, I’m willing to admit there are parts that don’t reach the potential they could have. Queer is no doubt a strange song, and probably one that could’ve been left off of the record. But I’m still impressed by this. This really is proof of the magic of Butch Vig. Rating: 8/10

I really enjoyed it. Nice discovery!

I liked it! Only knew Stupid Boy going in. Loved the genre-bending mess of it. Preferred the grungier elements to the poppier parts

This system brought up the 20th anniversary deluxe edition, I'm assuming the original was NOT 5 hours 4 minutes long. Therefore I listened to the first 45 minutes. And apart from Super Vixen it wasn't bad. Really wasn't impressed by that track. It embodies everything that this genre means to be and it was just plain hard to listen to. A tuneless, cacophanistic mess. The rest was actually quite good (bordering on the very good) which puts me in a bit of a quandary. Because for my own personal ratings of would or wouldn't I buy it, no I wouldn't. But I feel that it deserves a 4, and that is reserved for albums I would buy.

Another album I own but rarely listen to. Giving it a couple of plays this weekend makes me wonder why it doesn’t get more spins? I obviously have too much music annd anlways reach for, and still keep finding new good stuff to dominate the amount of hours I dedicate to my music. But this is a great album. Superb vocals. Moody. Great bass lines. What’s not to love? A solid 4.

Quite liked this, gave it a few listens.

This album might be garbage but it certainly wasn't rubbish. Really enjoy hearing some of these tunes again.  Only happy when it rains seemed to resonate with me Will probably whack a few of these on to my listening playlist

I don't like Bayonetta as a game but this album sounds like Bayonetta looks and that is a vibe I can get behind! Favourite track: As Heaven is Wide.

Pretty solid. Rating: 4.0

Nice grooves and hooks. Fits with the grunge times well. 4 stars for me

It was ok

This album was so innovative and fresh when it came out. It's been quite a while since I heard it though. I knew a couple of people who adored this band (and probably still do) due to songs about queer sexuality and depression. But now it's time to put away the nostalgia goggles, stop reminiscing about playing Vampire The Masquerade and see if it still holds up. Honestly it does sound a bit dated now. Also a couple of the tracks don't quite hit the mark. With that said this is still a great album that deserves its place on the list.

Great grunge-era album with a couple of solid hits. I've always liked the way Shirley Manon's voice fit in with the rest of the band.

I think calling it “garbage” is a bit of an exaggeration. Generally liked it and thought the little songs were fun enough before the big ones.

Really good album and worthy of the acclaim it got upon its release. Good sounds, good vocals. All round a very cleverly put together album. 👍

Second listen. I like Garbage in general and really love the first three songs from this album. I think the lyrics can be pretty cheesy at times, though, and I don’t love the other songs, so it’s still a 4 instead of a 5.

Good album

pretty decent grungy-pop

The youth yearn for Garbage. 4/5

Was great music.

Very good album. Never actually heard of Garbage… go on, destroy me. But this was a great album! #63

Faktisk ret fint, men kom dog til at kede mig ca halvvejs igennem albummet. Men stadig et par kæmpe sange som jeg vender tilbage til en anden dag.

I went into this thinking that there was no way that this was as good as my memory of it. It felt like a perfect example of nostalgia - something that is far better remembered than reexperienced. In actuality, it was the rare thing that stands up to the scrutiny of the cynicism of age. Shirley Manson's voice is eternal. Butch Vig's production - especially for an album from the mid 90s - largely holds up. The singles are iconic; the album cuts largely rip. I'm not sure I've ever really listened to another Garbage song or another Garbage album, but I also don't think I need to. This is that satisfying.

Kinda funny to see comments here that say it's very of its time, I really disagree. I listen and immediately hear the long tail influence this had on so much vaguely electronic-inspired alt rock/pop from the 2000s on, from Metric to Rina Sawayama. The use of samples/other weird production techniques isn't so clever to draw attention to itself, Shirley Manson sounds sexy and tough as shit, and the rhythm section really grooves along the way! A delight all the way through.

Excellent excellent album

Garbage. Absolute Garbage.

honestly an enjoyed this album on the rainy commute to Etobicoke. Stupid Girl has held up.

i wish gay people were real

pretty catchy, supervixen is my favorite track. 7/10

Surprisingly not garbage. 3.5★

Elektronische Elemente mit Rockmusik. Ich liebe Garbage.

Rocky and well put together. I love this album.

Another great album!

Seminal 90's album. Strong songs. Big debit album. Great memories.

Good sound, hard edge with a great singer. Not worthy of its name at all.

Groovy alt goodness

Skemmtilegt sound. 3.5

Good album. It doesn't quite call to me, but there are some standout songs.

The good kind of garbage.

great album, great band led by a solid female vocalist

interesting grunge pop album

4.5

Garbage was one of my favourite bands during my teenage years, so it is impossible for me to listen to this one without the whole nostalgia factor coming into play. It's still very, very good.

Wish I'd listened to this full album sooner. Stupid Girl is one of my favorites from that era, and the rest of the album sounded great.

Nice

It wasn't enjoyable enough to notice in playing in the background while I work, but it wasn't so bad that I wanted to change it. I don't think it deserves a 3, but also not a 4. Time to flip a coin.

Good but kind of repetitive

I thought there were only a few good songs on this album that I've heard previously. Having listened to it fully this time, I'm actually surprised to hear many more good songs on it.

One of the defining records of the 90s, it's a pop record that borrows from alt rock, grunge, industrial, and trip hop. The vocalist Shirley Manson is cool and slick, versatile enough to create dark deep cuts or loud catchy bops, comparable to the vocals of Courtney Love, PJ Harvey, or Alanis Morissette. Going over the genres I hear: shoegaze (Supervixen), trip hop (Queer), grunge (Only Happens When It Rains), gothic (As Heaven Is Wide), punk (Not My Idea), disco / synth-pop (Stupid Girl), to name a few... Compared to Version 2.0, you can hear how they'll mature in songwriting. The effects here are innovative but often clustered and abrasive, which makes it a bit exhausting to listen despite how pop-structured and diverse the musical style is. That said, it is an excellent debut. Innovative, memorable, fun, and diverse with plenty to offer. The last third is a bit less impactful but they're all great songs. "Milk" is an appropriate closer.

Some seriously good 90s rock - a little too polished to be garage-style, but also too rough and wild to not be. Still, the band is fairly tight, with precise instrumentation and musical ideas that work very effectively. The abrupt pauses in Supervixen are just fantastic, emphasising how silence can be an integral element of music. The mixes throughout the album are dense and heavy, mostly because of the distorted lead and bass guitars that occasionally overpower the band – but then, I think that's kind of the point (exhibit A: the incredible build-up in My Lover's Box). The vocalist is noticeably stronger in higher registers, though her lower voice does play a kind of mysterious, foreboding role in some tracks. Do I have time to talk about Stupid Girl? No? Well, I'll keep it brief then. Stupid Girl is absolutely the best track here, at least upon a first listen, though some other tracks do come close. It's catchy, has a good chord progression, and remains true to the band's style. Key tracks: Supervixen, Only Happy When It Rains, Stupid Girl, Dog New Tricks

Garbage is a testament to the collaborative genius of Butch Vig, who not only guided the production of the album but also played a pivotal role as the drummer within the band. Alongside Vig's multifaceted contributions, the album features Shirley Manson, the iconic frontwoman whose powerful vocals and captivating stage presence are central to Garbage's identity. Under Vig's guidance, the album achieves a slick and polished production quality that enhances its overall appeal. Tracks like the standout hit Queer showcases the band's potential, with Manson's distinctive voice leading the charge. However, amidst the album's successes, there are moments where certain tracks fail to resonate as strongly with listeners. An album made from killer singles and the rest being filler tracks Garbage, serves as a testament to Vig and Manson's collaborative prowess, cementing their status as iconic figures in alternative rock. NUMBER OF BANGERS - 5 STAND OUT TRACK - Queer

Didn’t love this in the day. I actually gave this an honest listen. I liked it better now than I did when it was released. Maybe nostalgia, maybe it’s just good. Going with “B”.

Good stuff. Never listened to it much but it's solid.

Very grungy, a couple of hitsand a cool listen overall, a very light 7/10

Great

A great debut album

They have an extremely unique and innovative sound. Love every bit of it. Thanks dad

An effortlessly cool alt-rock record to really kick off the post-grunge era. Some of the production is a bit clean for my liking and took away some of the impact, but I’m aware this may be limited to the 20th anniversary remaster I listened to so I don’t want to be too harsh on the record because of that - the songwriting and Manson’s vocal performances are great, and that opening run of three tracks in particular is such a strong way to burst onto the scene

Still sounds fresh. Moody, edgy, nice mood-setter.

Really liked this album. Very good grunge album. Love the guitar and the vocals.

Solide 3,5

- Bin mit null Erwartung reingegangen, hat mich dann aber größtenteils echt abgeholt! - Kannte nur den Drummer Butch Vig als Produzent von Nirvana, Foo Fighters, Smashing Pumpkins, Sonic Youth etc. - Direkt der Opener "Supervixen" mit diesem super coolen und schrägen Riff setzt schon wunderbar den Ton für das gesamte Album. Geiler female fronted Alternativ Rock mit poppigen Elementen aber zugleich auch irgendwie anders. - Mit Queer geht es ähnlich cool weiter. - Der vermeintliche Hit "Only Happy When It Rains" hat mich wiederum nicht so abgeholt, ich fand der klingt in weiten Teilen wie ein Beispielsong/Hörbeispiel, wenn man sich bei Thomann ein neues Mikrofon bestellen möchte... - Danach insgesamt mehr stärkere als schwächere Tracks, "Not My Idea", "Vow", "Dog New Tricks", "Fix Me Now" und der Hit "Stupid Girl" (wobei der noch am wenigsten) haben dabei für mich nochmal sehr positiv rausgestochen - Butch Vig hat hier auf jeden Fall viele schöne produktionelle Ideen einfließen lassen - Insgesamt sehr stringenter und eigener Sound, die Gitarren haben mir alle sehr gut gefallen. Rating: 3,75/5

Didn't know this band and that Butch Vig is part of it, but it was a good start. Very nice album.

Bien. No sé pq no le doy un cinco.