Reviews (page 7 of 14)
Some standout tracks for sure, but Version 2.0 is a more consistently solid and well-produced album.
Good ole straight ahead rock w an attitude
Not garbage!
Not garbage at all
Alright, bit emo
Favorites: Supervixen, Queer, Only Happy When It Rains, As Heaven Is Wide, A Stroke of Luck, My Lover's Box, Milk
Blending 90s pop with 90s alternative in such a accessible way is what made this album a breakthrough in the 90s and it's still what keeps it fresh to this day. -Germ Never listened to the album in full, but it's just banger after banger. Singer is amazing, and the band manages to blend so many genres and makes each one their own. - mitona
Excellent album
Not for me. However I can appreciate how iconic this album must have been when it was released and the impact it had on future generations of indie and rock artists
Great!
Very 90s rock. It was pretty good but doesn't really stand out. Stupid Girl and Only Happy When It Rains are the best of the bunch.
Laser-accurate self-loathing, misanthropy and iconoclasm. Too polished and mid-90s for its own good.
This was disappointing. I remember a few of the songs, but they really don’t hold up very well. It’s probably a 2.5, but it was kind of crap. There’s nothing special about this album, and I honestly cannot fathom why it was chosen.
- Felt as if all the songs sounded similar. - Enjoyed the first song a lot but the rest were not my favorite. - Enjoyed hearing something different that I've never heard before.
🗑️
I had always enjoyed singles from Garbage, but had never listened to a full album. I was hoping to hear some more dimensions of their songwriting and musicianship, but it was just okay. All the parts are there - Shirley Manson’s lead vocals in particular - but it failed to coalesce into anything more than good parts for me.
Had never heard this one beyond "Stupid Girl" and "Only Happy When It Rains." Really enjoyed it, from the production, to the guitar/band work, to Shirly Manson's snarling vocals. The whole psycho-sexual angle on many of the songs gets old but this is a damn good album which makes me want to delve more deeply into their other stuff.
Only had heard a few tracks from this band, was not expecting to enjoy the album as much as I did. I love Shirley Manson's vocal style where you're hanging on every word, and the washed out, almost shoegazy tone of the guitars. My favorites here are As Heaven is Wide and Vow, which is kinda funny because they're probably the most melodramatic lyrically, but it works for me. Not everything feels essential, but a great album nonetheless
Garbage – Garbage (1995) | Alternative Rock / Electronica | Avg: 8.54 | Favorite Song: “Only Happy When It Rains” Garbage is one of those debuts that lands with a fully formed identity. From the first track, it’s clear this band wasn’t interested in following trends—they were here to bend them. “Only Happy When It Rains” is the obvious centerpiece for me. It captures the album’s ironic melancholy, pairing alt-rock angst with a sleek, almost industrial shimmer. But what really surprised me is how consistently strong the rest of the album is. Nearly every track lands in the 8 to 10 range, and that kind of consistency is rare. What makes this album special is how it blends darkness and polish without compromising either. Shirley Manson’s vocals are commanding but never overbearing, and the production—layered with fuzz, loops, and distortion—is ahead of its time. There’s a lot going on here: grunge attitude, trip-hop aesthetics, pop sensibility. Yet somehow it all works. Garbage doesn’t just hold up—it still sounds modern. For a debut, it’s remarkably self-assured, and from a reviewer’s standpoint, it’s one of the most well-balanced records of the alt-rock era.
3.49999999 Perfectly encapsulates the ‘90s sounds of my childhood. I had never heard of Garbage before, really fun listening to this album and hit my nostalgia for the era hard.
The name says it all…..GARBAGE!!!
Dando volteretas. Uno de los albumes más sólidos que he escuchado en mi vida. Flechazo instantáneo desde la primera canción. Es un espectáculo hacer 12 temas y que ninguno baje del 8. Estaba aplaudiendo y me levanté a cagar literalmente. Estaré los próximos días obsesionado con esto, muchas gracias. 9.3/10->5/5
Menudo discazo, no tiene una sola canción no disfrutable literalmente. Uno d los mejores albums q descubrí con la cosa esta. Le daría como un 9/10 pq tampoco me parece perfecto
Chad
I freakin’ love this record. Possibly the most 90s thing that was ever made. Were they commercially fabricated? Sure. But Shirley Manson at least had genuine talent and heart behind her performances and she was a big part of my adolescent sexual awakening so I guess that biases me.
This album is not Garbage…well it is but it’s not. Good stuff.
This rocks, banger after banger
Strong album and great production, though I personally couldn’t get into it but I wish I could. Definitely had its moments and there’s a lot of creativity in this one.
Misleading title
Como un st. vincent pero fome
Good album. Plenty of catch and hook, power fuzz and punk energy. Still works well today.
Started this album when I was making my breakfast and morning coffee yesterday, and wow! Being smacked in the face with the opening chords of Supervixen made me realise quickly I was gonna like this song. As for the rest of the album, I thought it was pretty fun, however this is a type of music that I just know I wouldn't have come across had I not been doing the 1001 challenge. Other standouts for me were 'Not My Idea', 'Stupid Girl', and 'Milk'. Will definitely listen to these again.
Oh I love this album
I was half in doubt and half in interest when I told my father about this album prior to listen to it and he was like “OH THIS ALBUM IS AWESOME”. Turns out he was right. Damn. Awesome alt rock with insane production like it doesn’t have a bad track in it at all.
Fairly fun and interesting alternative rock album, and certainly not garbage.
Good fun, varied, emblematic of its time
How did I only know one song from this album? I love it. Garbage provides charismatic vocal delivery layered over dark, hazy atmosphere. And the blending of genres stops it from being repetetive. The first half flies by effortlessly, and though the second does drag a bit, I'm willing to ignore it. Also, having Only Happy When It Rains in such a gloomy album is an ironic statement of respectable proportions.
More low key as a whole than I remember, still great.
90s alt pop.
Some really good songs. Stupid girl and only happy when it rains are good
Solid record! Hadn’t listened to it in ages, lots of bangers
I love it
This album had me completely hooked the moment Shirley Manson opened her mouth on the first track. It was sexy, blended genres seamlessly, and had so much diversity that, frankly, it didn't even need to be good. The talent speaks for itself on this one. I would add every song to my playlist (and did actually do so) in a heartbeat, and I want nothing more than to continue listening to this band. This was so phenomenal, and I truly can't believe I've never heard of this band before now. I know this band is not "traditionally rock", but this album made me feel the same way I feel when I listen to my favorite female rock vocalists in modern day music. It's timeless, truly.
An immaculately manufactured product that takes the Nirvana sound and molds it into a somewhat safer pop sheen, sanding down the edges and filling out the production to create an irresistible confection for the time. And it works, with the quick surface appeal of junk food. But something substantial is missing, and while it’s enjoyable it’s not something i feel compelled to ever come back to
overall i liked the album, there’s some songs i’ll definitely chew on again, but some i found muddled and a little samey. i didn’t listen through all of the bonus track, obviously listened to ‘alien sex fiend’ which i think was just too slow of a song for me. really liked the guitar in supervixen. desperately want queer to be on the soundtrack for a lesbian james bond movie. liked kick my ass as well. don’t think i’ll listen to the full thing again but a few songs definitely worth a revisit to me
grandios
This is ok, though it’s pretty standard non-descript mid-90s indie rock. Stupid Girl and Only Happy When It Rains are great though.
Nice
This is the best of what I consider teen movie music of the late 90s and early 2000s. It's such a specific nostalgia for me. Another one that I'm shocked I've never heard, this is RIGHT up my alley. It's exactly what I imagine hearing when I see Bratz dolls. It's very angsty lmao. I feel almost too old to be listening to it, though I do find it very well done. If I was 15 hearing this for the first time I would have lost my mind. This is like.... everything girls wanted to be in the late 90s and aughts. It's the grungy, rock and roll, cool girl vibe. Sleaze before sleaze existed. It's got a great rhythm to all the songs with the apathetic and raspy singing. So cool. I can tell that this influenced an entire generation of girl bands. Which is why it sounds so familiar to me even though it came out way before anything it reminds me of. It's reminding me of Lindsey Lohan's album Rumors. It's also reminding me of her band in Freaky Friday. Take that what you will lmao. If I had heard this when I was younger, I would probably LOVE it for the nostalgia but I don't have that and so it's just good to me. I did add Milk to my monthly playlist though so that's a good find!
Two decent singles can't save this from being an absolute snooze fest. I've no doubt Garbage inspired countless imitators (looking at you beabadoobee, Wolf Alice et al.) but it's pretty bland stuff for me.
[3.00/5] Final impression: Good overall, but nothing great here. Generic sound overall, and the lyrics are really boring. Vocals range from solid to annoying. Listened to on Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/album/5oBySdXAQniFqWOgxPWQSs]. Supervixen - Catchy, good beat. *Queer - Sick instrumentals. Better than the first track. Only Happens When It Rains - Good, but not great. Lyrics are kind of weak. As Heaven Is Wide - Again, good but not great. Vocalist sounds like she's trying to sing low just to sound cool, and it's taking away from the track. Not My Idea - You guys already did doo-doo-do as a lyric, you can't get away with doing it again. A Stroke Of Luck - Just okay. Better than the last two tracks. Instrumentals have some interesting moments. Vow - Strongest track since Queer. Not as good as that one though. Stupid Girl - This one's pretty sick. Dog New Tricks - Just alright. My Lover's Box - Good instrumentals. Just okay otherwise. Fix Me Now - The guitar is good, but it would be better without her vocals. Milk - One of the weakest tracks of the album to round it out, I guess. Overall notes: They lured me in with Queer and then everything started to go downhill. Generally liked it, but most of the tracks were just "good" and not amazing. Queer and Stupid Girl are single handedly carrying this album up.
Nothing particularly stand out, cool sound, very similar songs.
A really good 90’s album that aged really well. A special debut from Garbage, with a very interesting blend, there’s some crunchy dark tones that sometimes dip into shoegaze territory and it plays so well with Shirley’s melodic vocals. I forgot how much I loved Queer, it’s arguably my favourite track, it’s such an awesome song, sultry, haunting, hooky, simply a great piece of music. Just learned that they promoted the debut opening for Smashing Pumpkins on tour, what a great bill that would have been in 1996. I really do like this album a lot, there are a couple tracks that fell a bit flat for me but even Stroke of Luck does give a change of pace and is still decent. Great stuff here 4 stars
3’5
Rock, leaning grungey
Okay, this is the first one I feel I have enough context and familiarity to wonder why it's on this list. I liked it fine in H.S., but even then "Only Hair When it Rains" felt a little disingenuous, or at least like a lyric that's trying too hard and also not hard enough. It brings back some memories, but I don't know that I feel one *must* listen to it.
One of my favorites in the 90s. Great live band.
Another album that hit at the right time in my life to love it well beyond its merit. "Vow," "Stupid Girl," and "Queer" are still in my personal heavy rotation. "Milk" is on a shortlist of my very favorite songs. It was fun revisiting this as a whole, though a lot of this sounds the same. At the time bringing all of these elements together at once felt groundbreaking for mainstream modern rock radio; it was as vibrant as anything in the post-Cobain era. It was fun revisiting this in whole. Bumping it up a star for its personal meaning to me.
This is kinda like stale bread. Like, sure I'll eat it but a well-rounded meal would be way better. There wasn't anything to like or dislike about this album. This is about as average as average 90s music gets. Overall it's just mid, maybe some decent to good songs are in there but none that I can see from my POV. Top 3: ??? Worst: ??? 2.50/5
Buen sonido y alguna buena canción, pero son de consumir y olvidar.
Lyssnade inte på hela albumet (5h långt💀) men den del jag lyssnade på va väldigt mycket höst vibes. Passar alltså inte årstiden nu (sommar). Nellee Hooper mix😀
8.5/10
Dated
Some hits but also fillers and sounds a bit dated nowadays.
Solid emo-pop but not for me
Perfectly solid 90s rock album. Have always loved Shirley Manson's vocals.
This record is probably technically a 3, but I was pretty surprised by how much I enjoyed it beyond the 3-4 singles I'd heard before. Great production, solid songwriting, enough variation and sense of melody to keep things interesting. 4/5
Gaat zeker nog eens geluisterd worden
enjoyable listen but personally i dont see anything too special about it and i cant remember anything so thats why it gets THETHREESTARATRON (i should really stop giving out 4 stars to everything)
This album is garbage -- but every song on here is amazing (ba-dum-tss). The whole vibe doesn't match most of what i listen to, but everything in the album is so good i could listen to it the whole day. (This isn't true for even some of my favourites!) The songs are very catchy - the singing; writing; instrumental and overall vibe are an incredible experience; the raw emotion in the electric guitar and vocals is a big big +. The ONLY downside i've heard about the album is how it sounds like a garbage (get it?) industry plant, "fake" album made specifically to be on the billboards. If you hear this and immediately decide you're not listening to it - fuck you, nerd. The signs *are* there, but if you dont look for them, it sounds like any other maybe-goth-rock-pop?ish album - not like there's many of them close to Garbage's self-titled. Mixing alt-rock and pop looks bad when written down, but Garbage pull it off; they made it sound not-so-Garbage (last one i swear) The whole album sounds like one of those songs on the radio which you start bopping your head to but just can't find later. I might've mentioned it already, but every song is just so damn good.
The album was really good, some songs are corny(disney channel level corny), but still really enjoyable
Not bad, just sortadepressing
I got really into the teenage-angsty vibes of this one…
(39 known/82 new)
What a great start to this journey I've heard a couple garbage songs before like milk it's a good song good album four out of five
Not bad. I think I'd appreciate it in a specific mood, but I still enjoyed it overall. It did get a bit samey at times.
Female-led rock band. Cohesive, edgy, stylish, and sounds amazing. Would listen again and check out their other music. 9/10
This is a classic album from my teenage youth. "Only Happy When It Rains", "Queer" and "Stupid Girl" are phenomenal singles, the opening track "Supervixen" is the perfect start and final song "Milk" is a magnificent come-down. The album is meaty and powerful. Love it as much as I did in my teens.
Loved this album when I was younger, it still stands and is as good as it always has been
Didn't do anything for me. Very cliche and predictable. Production value was good so I give it 3 stars.
This always sounded to me exactly how you would expect a band based around a producer to sound. Not to discredit Butch Vig's obvious talent, of course, but it's polished to the point there is no soul left - it's gritty and grungy with dirty guitars, but there's very little actual grime, grunge, or dirt. The arrangements quite often strike me as being dictated by what bells and whistles they could add in the studio, rather than what served the material best. I can't deny it spawned a string of successful singles, which are all decent enough, but they have not aged as well as other tracks from this era and / or genre. Garbage is one of those albums which is perfectly good within it's own field, and I'm happy to give it two stars on that basis, but I'm pretty sure it (and the band) was hyped way beyond it's worth back in the day, and I fail to see any lasting impact this has had on the greater music world.
Forgot how good this was
Only happy when it rains: definitive.
I have always been a fan of Garbage but this entire album was such a treat. 21 tracks too!
Might have heard this Album too often. Fav: I‘m only happy when it rains
has some bops on it
love this album so much. They were the opener at my 2nd concert. Opened for The Smashing Pumpkins in 1996. The crowd went wild when her mic stand with the pink thing on it came out. It’s just as good now as it was then.
Really quite enjoyed this. Inventive and funk pop punk
This album is most definitely not garbage.
Amor por los 90
an unexpectedly great album. given this sort of garish cover and the band name, I was pretty certain that it would just be some average 90's band that kinda sucks, but this was awesome! I especially liked "Queer," "Only Happy When It Rains," "Not My Idea," and "Vow," but I will defo listen again. :-)
funkily rollicking melancholic psychedelic grunge pop
Best Song: Stupid Girl. What a great, snarky chorus. Worst Song: Fix Me Now. The vocals seemed so turned down and fuzzy that they were barely present. Overall: Good but not great. It has a certain dirty/grungy quality that makes it enjoyable, but it lists too aimlessly between a yearning to be raw punk and a need to be approachable, meaning that it ends up relatively milquetoast.
Couple of really good songs on this album, but overall it’s OK
This is an album that I will keep on repeat! Pop rock from 90s with interesting lyrics an intense rhythmic
This is absolutely incredible. Not a single skip, almost every song is going on my playlist. The instrumentals are CRAZY good. A few songs were a little iffy, but nothing outright bad or even mediocre.
Not bad, as far as garbage goes.
This is a great representation of the 90’s women led bands. Slightly angry, well delivered lyrics. If you grew up in the 90’s, you knew Garbage. The singles carry this album and why shouldn’t they? The other songs can hold the album together but not blow anyone away. This is peak 90’s music. What else can I say. I don’t love it but I’d listen to it Choice cut: #1 Crush
ok
Definitely not garbage
It's amazing how some bands can have music that is such of a specific era yet their music has a timeless quality... like Nirvana's Nevermind, a bunch of Beatles albums, the Postal Service, etc. And then some bands can have music that essentially sounds the same as these timeless albums but they come off as so dated. This album is one of the latter.
This is one of those times where I could use a .5 between rankings. I like the sound of this band a lot, but it’s hard to really judge this album after one listen. I feel like this is the kind of band you need to listen to to really appreciate. Have a great sound. I like drums and guitar and the lead singer. I will be revisiting them.
This album is a very pleasant surprise with several really good songs. 4 stars or B+.
Fantastic album. There was something different about them when they showed up. Great sound, groovy basslines.
Great production, great songs. Only not 5 stars because of the manufactured nature of the band
Feels a little calculated - in parts grunge, goth, industrial, trip-hop - and ends up being a little -lite in all of these. Even the US Band-British singer seems designed to appeal to both sides of the UK v. US thing that had re-appeared around this time - comparing to the recent Banshees, I don't think Shirley is qualified to apply Siouxsie's eyeliner.
Some good songs, some meh songs, some really good production, but Garbage are not really my thing. Too much pop influence for rock band.
Was expecting to give this a 3 or above as I knew a lot of people who loved this Wehrmacht it came out. For some reason it never grabbed me at the time. Listening to it now, it left me cold.
solid, some parts were a tad cringy but nice grunge vibe
Okay album, favorite song was A Stroke of Luck.
As a teen I had a crush on Shirley Manson.
This kicked off a whole afternoon of ‘95/‘96 albums that were great. I forgot that the non-hits on this are sometimes better than the hits.
I remember this album from when I was 15. Loved it then, still love it now.
Classic grunge album, I always thought garbage never got the kudos it deserved but this was definitely a banger if an album!
3.5
Fun garbage
The best kind of garbage
I kind of diggit!
ziemlich fetzig
With so many song I was worried, given the genre, that they’d all start to sound the same. They did not. Kudos to the band for that. Another kudos goes to the fact that any of the songs could have been on a late 90’s/early 2000’s movie soundtrack. The lead singer is very much in the PJ Harvey & Alanis Morrisette category.
Good album
Some hits some bangers. Also some stinkers. Influence is definitely there.
Great
Didn't like her voice but some good guitar
super middle of the line for the genre i think
Was perfectly satisfied with this and would definitely listen again but didn’t find it to be incredibly interesting
Listenable alt rock. Nothing revolutionary but good.
Big album. Interested in listing to this with fresh (old) ears. The first and only sexy grunge record? I liked it a lot more depth than I expected or remembered.
Kjedelig
Midt på
Nittitallet
Helt ok, gick in genom ena örat o ut genom andra men kändes välgjort o ett par grejer som stack ut positivt
Garbage men ändå inte alls. Tänkvärt.
I love the slight noise/industrial sound of this album.
★★½
Total hoax, the product of focus groups and market research. Polishing every rough edge of the production to a sparkle is directly at odds with the attempt to be edgy. Shirley Manson plays the role of dominatrix, ingenue, crazy desperate girlfriend, sex doll. It is engineered for suburban teenage masturbation. You might as well go buy a T-shirt at the mall that says "I'm a rebel."
I love Garbage and Shirley Manson. I have to admit that the album has a lot of fillers and without their great hits will be just another album.
Strong 4. I had heard bits and pieces over the years, but listening to the entire album is new. Wow! Go ahead. Enjoy this!
This really could nearly be a 5-star album. The only thing holding it back is it starts to sorta blur together in the back half, but there is some gooood shit in here.
So much fun. For an album and band called Garbage, this was surprisingly easy listening. You could feel the 90s dripping off of it. Definitely want to return! Favorites: Queer, Only Happy When It Rains
Pretty neat example of some of 90s alternative's more eclectic leanings.
It wasn’t perfect, but it was really, really good. Great guitar, and I love love love Shirley Manson’s voice. Didn’t have to skip any songs, and I loved the overall style that wasn’t really all in your face. Really surprised I hadn’t heard of them before today’s album. It’s Garbage, but it’s definitely not garbage!
Pretty good grungy textures and atmosphere all through the album, contrasted with Shirley Manson's absolutely beautiful voice. I think my one gripe is that at a certain point, all of the tracks start to feel the same. They're all technically good, but even the standouts don't have very memorable moments. Solid experience nonetheless! Standouts: A Stroke Of Luck • Fix Me Now
What a fantastic album! I can see the influence on other bands like Wolf Alice in this album. There is definitely some filler, but the album stays fresh while keeping it cohesive. I think I will listen again and again.
Knew I liked some Garbage, but liked more songs than expected
Classic production by Butch Vig that changed everything. Shirley Manson taught everyone a thing or two about fronting a band. Unfortunately, only the singles ("Queer," "Happy When It Rains," and the Clash-sampling "Stupid Girl") have aged well.
This made me feel nostalgic despite never hearing it before
This was a fun Friday album. I very much dig this vibe, giving big “mall chain that’s not open anymore y2k commercial” vibes
-This is one of those gaslighter albums; that it’s so bad you genuinely gaslight the fuck out of yourself that you must be missing the magnum opus of it and what makes it great. I literally think maybe I don’t know music at all if critics praised this. -I think this is just one of those albums they don’t hold up 30 years later and isn’t timeless, it’s overwhelming the worse parts of 90s music. Like it’s hold music, muddy to a point that I can’t even make out the words -It’s attention grabbing because it feels like it’s a 16th beat off or just slight out of key the entire time. It’s layered in an absolutely messy way. It’s essentially an IPA
Noise
It was fun. Made me nostalgic for a part of the '90s I wasn't old enough to actually remember.
Catchy choruses and well tempered effects. I wasn't blown away by anything but an enjoyable listen overall
Honest a really solid mid 90's alternative album here
A7, HDH - AA, Deutschland Ganz okay, aber blieb nicht viel hängen.
New Artist. Nothing outstanding. Liked hearing female singer. Stupid girl ok.
2 stars. I still like I’m only happy when it rains and stupid girl, but nothing else is very catchy. Shirley Manson is a cool grunge girl, but I guess my grunge phase is past…
#1 CRUSH always takes me back to Baz Luhrman’s Romeo + Juliet and high school. Pure teen angst nostalgia.
Love this album. Five count en five stars
6,5/10
Better than I remembered. Definitely brought me back to being a kid and listening to this on my walkman. Ahead of its time. Some great tracks, but not something that I would revisit often.
An actually good 90's pop rock album, what a miracle. The singles are the standouts, but this is really listenable all the way through. 4 stars.
I've liked this album since it dropped & caught them when they supported Smashing Pumpkins on the Mellon Collie tour, so I'm good with it being included. Always happy for an excuse to listen to it again. Favorite song: "Not My Idea"
Absolute banger. What they mean when they say all killer no filler. Their most famous hits are on here but don't sleep on the other songs on this album. It's all greatness.
Kahta kappaletta voi ehkä kuunnella toistekin, muuten ei mitään sellaista, mikä olisi oman huomion jaksanut kiinnittää.
This was fantastic. Such a different sound.
I was not aware of this artist at all. Never heard of garbage but despite the obvious puns, this album is definitely not garbage. Bah dum tssh! But seriously I loved this album. It’s super melancholy and mildly depressing but in a good way. Definitely an album I’m gunna try and find a copy of in the future. The only small problem I have with this album is there are a few tracks that are slower that I don’t click with as much. But this is another case of getting as close to a 5 as you can possibly get. But I can’t stress enough that this album is worth your time, it may not have been my favorite album of all time but this is a HIGH 4.
Aight
Hard rocking.
I'm actually really digging the vibes midway through the album. This is pretty cool psyche/grunge/rock with that 90s acid-rock kind of sound.
Compared to predecessors such as Sonic Youth and My Bloody Valentine Garbage is a boring droning mess. It possesses no memorable hooks and is buttressed by the well worn alternative music standby, fuzzy grinding guitars. You’re better served by listening to The Bends, Different Class by Pulp, or Bjork’s Post.
Garbage’s self-titled album is a solid slice of classic '90s alternative. I didn’t hate it at all — in fact, that gritty, moody sound brought back some serious nostalgia. It just didn’t do quite enough to make me want to come back for another listen. I definitely recognized “Only Happy When It Rains” and “Stupid Girl” from back in the day — they still hold up and were the clear highlights for me. The rest of the album had its moments but kind of blended together after a while. If you're into that era and sound, it’s worth a listen.
Great music. Don’t know what happened to them. Thought there would be more.
Great and iconic 90’s album.
Queer
Das Debütalbum ist ein faszinierender Mix aus Alternative Rock, Grunge und elektronischen Einflüssen. Shirley Mansons charismatische Vocals, kombiniert mit düsterem, eingängigem Sound und ausgeklügelter Produktion, machen jeden Track einzigartig. Hits wie "Stupid Girl" und "Only Happy When It Rains" zeigen die Vielschichtigkeit der Band, von melancholischer Melodie bis hin zu pulsierenden Beats. Ein prägendes Album der 90er, das auch heute noch frisch klingt. Gerne mal wieder.
A Classic. Loved it since 1998.
There were a couple of cool things going on with this album but not enough to save the overwhelming amount of droning, pop grunge garbage that is the middle of this album.
Garbage is right
Didn't think it was my thing at the start; Supervixen and Queer did nothing for me, but I liked it the more I listened. I liked the tune and harmonies in the 'pour my misery down' middle bit of Only Happy When It Rains. Cool intro to As Heaven Is Wide also. Sweet tune to the verses of Not My Idea. Vague Twin Peaks sound to riff in A Stroke of Luck. Pretty good. Vow, Stupid Girl, and Dog New Tricks are fun. My Lover's Box is pretty dull. Sweet tune to the chorus of Fix Me Now. Milk is pretty dull too - yet AGAIN a disappointment album-ender!
Great
This was decent. I knew a few of the hits.
Butch Vig Pro Tools All-Stars These songs were very MTV and alternative radio-ready tunes. Garbage had very commercial-sounding production and the just right image for the time. Before pop stars were called "industry plants" we had Garbage. I'm listening to this for the first time since tenth grade. It's good nostalgia trip but it might be another thirty years before I listen again.
Dad- 7 Mom- 8.5 Mike- NA Lori- 5 Michael- 6 Miles- NA Cole- NA Avg- 6.63
It's all medium. Fave:vow
Garbage. Beautiful Garbage. Absolute Garbage.
This album is a total banger! I can't believe these guys were never bigger than they actually got.
Surprisingly good. Hooky. Strong. Probably derivative but of what I'm not sure. Pretty good, we'll see if it sticks in the mind and gets another listen. Prediction: No.
Never listened before and quite enjoyed
I liked it a lot
Very good.
🐦
Solid album. Garbage has always been a band I enjoy.
I really enjoyed this.
A really cool album I’m surprised I haven’t heard before based off listening to so much grunge and alt rock from the 90s. Really solid album that’s catchy, great drums and vocals.
fun in parts, but definitely repetitive over all. I really respect the band's ability to try new things and stretch out into other genres, but you can see where every song is going ahead of time.
grungey, not unwelcome, SO 90s
I'm mildly familiar with this band, as in I know the name and vaguely the style of music they create. Can't say I know if I've ever heard a song from them though. Hoping to hear something with a bit of energy to it. Looking forward to seeing what this is about. Going in with no real expectations. Supervixen Didn't expect it to sound so noisy. Great fuzz and distortion. Love the prominent bass. The instrumental pauses make it stick out from the crowd. I like the almost call and response dynamic between the guitars at points. Solid start. Good. 4/5 Queer Sounds pretty slick. I quite like the vocal delivery on the chorus. The subtle background guitar on the bridge is a great piece of texture adding an uneasiness to the moment. Catchy and fun. Great. 4.5/5 Only Happy When It Rains Crunchy and cool. The lyrics are unapologetically edgy, I struggle to take them seriously, but the ridiculousness kinda works. Love the backing vocals. Fun track. Good. 4/5 As Heaven Is Wide Was not expecting something quite so electronic. Sounds really moody. Has some slight industrial qualities to it. The vocals are a bit hard to hear on the verses. Really like the atmosphere of this track. Sounds alluring, dark and dangerous. Great. 4.5/5 Not My Idea I like the instrumental on the verses. The chorus sounds a bit abrasive, not too sure if I like it or not. Love the electric guitar in the background. Possesses some industrial elements vaguely similar to the previous track. Love the contrast between the serene melodic moments and the harshness of the chorus. Creative track. Good. 4/5 A Stroke of Luck There's a really spacey sort of atmosphere to the instrumental. Love the subtle distorted effects in the background as well as the sparse synth. The chorus feels too large, kinda kills the interesting spaciousness of the track. Wish there was a bit more subtlety to it. It's a well constructed chorus, though I'm not quite sure it fits. Fine. 3/5 Vow The panning effect is a bit obnoxious. Really like how dense and loud it is. Has a great drive to it. The vocals have some great attitude behind them. The guitar tuning the instrumental bridge us really satisfying to listen to. Infectious energy, great chorus, really catchy. All the worries I had about this track disappeared after the first minute passed. Fantastic. 5/5 Stupid Girl Has a bit of a groove to it, especially with that bassline. Love the production on the pre chorus. Catchy and fun. Doesn't need to do much else to succeed at what it's trying to do. Great. 4.5/5 Dog New Tricks Crunchy with a good groove and some decent drive. Really like the melodic moments here, especially how they contrast with the thick instrumental. Another great chorus. A good continuation of the sound from the previous track. Good. 4/5 My Lover's Box Most of the reasons this song works for me have already been laid out in my reactions to previous tracks. It just sounds really crisp, love the chrous and the synergy between instrumental and vocals here. Simple reasons to like a song, but sometimes it just works that way. Fantastic. 5/5 Fix Me Now Layered sound. Love the production on the vocals. Simple but effective solo. It's another great chorus over a pretty cool instrumental. I guess I'm repeating myself at this point. Good. 4/5 Milk I like that it's a bit more slowed down and calm aftert the pretty loud and bombastic last few tracks. Almost has a trip hop vibe to it. Sounds spacious and flows well. Not the most spectacular track, but gets the job done. Decent. 3.5/5 Honestly going into this with no expectations at all turned out to be quite the blessing. I was pleasantly surprised at every turn by this. I really appriciate how broad the scope of their sound is, leaning into a solid variety of genres ranging from industrial to trip hop to straight up raging alternative rock. It's an interesting blend of diverse songwriting and consistent performances which in turn allows the listener an unpredictable and stimulating journey. Loud crunchy guitars, groovy basslines, spacious drumbeats and slick and alluring vocals combine to create memorable rock tunes with infectious choruses and unique instrumentals. Add in some electronics and some distorted effects and you get something that feels really thought out and creative. And while my experience with this was extremely positive, there is still a few minor gripes that make it miss out on top marks for me. Namely the lyrics being kinda ridiculous at times, especially with some of the cynisism found in them feeling a bit put on. One track (A Stroke of Luck) is also notably weaker than the rest, where I end up feeling a bit let down by a few creative choices made with that song in particular. Apart from these minor things it is otherwise a great time. A memorable tracklist with plenty of things to return to. 4/5 With room to grow on subsequent listens. Fave track. Vow
nop
This just didn’t do much for me, and I’ve always recoiled from the hit single “Stupid Girl.” (I do like the other single, “I’m Only Happy When It Rains.”) Nineties rock appears to bore me these days. I want to like it, especially with a vicious-sounding female lead and NIN producers. But I give it a big meh.
I don't really like this dark, negative vibe but for some days it can be relatable. The only song I like is I'm only happy when it rains but that's probably cuz I heard it before. The rest is okay.
Fav: Queer; Only Happy When it Rains; Not My Idea; Vow; Dog New Tricks; Fix Me Now
Good songs and beat but not really my style
There were far better albums in 95 to choose from. Equal parts grunge, new wave, and meh. 2/5 Album 60/1001
Want to like it, but it feels insanely dated to my ears.
Garbage (1995) is an easy 5/5 for me. I was 15 when it came out, and it instantly became one of those albums that helped shape my taste and outlook. It was sleek, dark, sarcastic, and seductive, capturing the exact mix of rebellion, emotional intensity, and self-awareness I was beginning to explore. My best friends were obsessed with it too, and we kept it in rotation well into our university years. The production is pristine but gritty, full of layered loops, grunge guitars, and trip-hop textures that made the entire sound feel addictive and slightly dangerous. A huge part of that is Butch Vig. As both producer and drummer, he built the album with obsessive attention to detail, blending grit with polish in a way that gave it lasting edge. Shirley Manson’s presence is magnetic. She moves effortlessly between icy detachment and raw confession. At the time, she was everything: smart, tough, sexy, and completely uninterested in being likable. The lyrics struck a nerve, walking a line between nihilism and vulnerability. Lines like “Do you have an opinion? A mind of your own?” felt like a direct challenge. The sound doesn't stay in one lane either. It pulls from alt-rock, industrial, shoegaze, electronica, and pop, blending them seamlessly. This was moody music you could dance to, scream to, or just get lost in, and that emotional versatility is exactly why it still resonates.
Plenty of solid tracks. The radio songs were a trip down memory lane.
Still slays
Legit one of my favorite albums of all time. When I first saw them in concert I thought I was just taking Jenny to go see a concert that she liked but when I saw them I was blown away. I honestly wasn't sure how they were making all the sounds that they were making on stage. It was amazing. I really enjoy the soft music and then they hit that wall of guitars. You can tell the drummer is an amazing producer as well as a musician. He produced many amazing albums from the 90s including Nevermind.
Still really good all these years later.
This is not too bad. I never got into Garbage, but I never hated them either. Queer and Only Happy When It Rains are pretty good. I bet this is Billie Eilish's favorite album. The album tracks are not as good as the hits, but this is surprisingly better than I anticipated. I misjudged this album when it was popular, this is pretty good. I always liked Stupid Girl. The album tracks are better on the back half of the album, Fix Me Now is particularly good. Milk is a little bit of a let down to end the album, a little bit Depeche Mode-like for my taste. But overall a better album than I would have ever expected.
Not into it.
Not interested.
It rocks, instant 90s rocks and instantly returned to my childhood. For some reason I feel like I'm seeing a Serial Experiments Lain episode with this album maybe because the band reminds me of Bôa. The only problem I have with this album is how the singer sings all the songs almost the same. But I really like the guitars and how it transitions from one song to another.
Uneven but entertaining
YES, GARBAGE! Même si je préfère leur deuxième album, celui-ci met la table à leur rock alternatif mêlé d’électro. Ça reste un de mes groupes favoris!
Garbage
Garbage sort of straddled both mainstream and indie worlds, thanks to Shirley Manson, who brought a big scoop of Riot Grrl to the mainstream. Big, loud, compressed sound and a video friendly look that had just enough bad-girl swagger to hold our attention. Butch Vig and the rest of the band delivered the driving sound. It was all very intentional, but this was a product I enjoyed.
That Shirley Manson and the rest of Garbage ever found each other is a remarkable story. Serendipity, tragedy and perseverance; it’s an origin story that’s located directly atop a great, heaving fault line in 90s culture. For me, personally, this record is a bit of a missing link between two of my first musical loves: Nirvana and Linkin Park. The former represented here by, yes, Butch Vig, but also by the swaggering attack of “I’m only happy…”’s first eight bars and plenty of moody moments besides. The latter by the feeling that this is a record born in and around a studio rather than a practice space; a triumph of studied creative process more than spontaneous creative prowess. As with “Hybrid Theory”, Garbage’s debut packs hooks on top of hooks on top of hooks. And as with Linkin Park, there’s a serious risk that the smell of all that polish would grate and nauseate if not for the rawness and brilliance of the singer in front of it all. It’s a marvellous pop album; seriously clever and self aware but never aloof or unapproachable.
Not quite a no-skip album but one of the best grunge shoegaze 90s efforts I've heard (the bar is pretty low though).
Not garbage - ok and of its time - part of my X-Gen DNA
Good sound
It’s fine. Passed by with a murmur. I’ve never been a Garbage fan, their sound just never sticks with me. “Stupid Girl” is a kick, though the rest of it is mostly… 90s pop.
Excellent album. Easily one of the best rock albums of the 90's.
Heard it before. I dyed my hair ginger back in high school because of Shirley 4/5
Well orchestrated and arranged pop
This is garbage
Just a cool record. Shirley Manson is a treasure. Favorite: Only Happy When It Rains Would I listen to it again: Yes
Not my style. Definitely came in on the back end to capitalize on post grunge Portishead wannabes. Had some ok songs but felt over produced.
I know this album well having owned it for a long time. It's a great piece of indie pop/rock sitting in between The Cranberries and Skunk Anansie in terms of pop and rock.
wilder Shit fav track only Happens WhEn it rains
Not striking enough for a notable mention outside my listening experience. (As per my first album review, I gave it 2-3 listens before I decided...) Okay-ish: *A Stroke of Luck *Dog New Tricks *My Lover's Box *Fix Me Now *Milk I like how confessional the lyrics are but the overall sound is repetitive.
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.
Sounds like what it is, produce of producer Butch Vig. It’s that slick mid nineties rock sound. It was ok at the time and is ok now, not particularly memorable or anything special. Sold a shed load but then so did many similar sounding albums. Passed an hour while checking work emails this Monday morning, 3 Star.
I can see why this was groundbreaking at the time, but there’s just nothing enjoyable about it for me now.
This album went double platinum, but I've never heard of this band
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'm surprised how much it grew on me as the album went on. Didn't grow on me as much as The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars however.
I miss the women with heavy mascara and combat boots ..
Bout to get NOSTALGIC AF...
3.5
Not really my thing but still had some good stuff there. 3 stars
Pretty solid overall. Stupid girl and only happens when it rains. What a debut
Garbage
Not garbage, but not not garbage either.
Alternative rock made specifically to play in Macy’s. Couple of good songs but for the most part nothing too unique. Frequently had some interesting sections within songs but got let down right after (Fix Me Now’s chorus vs the rest of it…) weak 5/10. My Top Tracks: Vow, Not My Idea
Overall, the album was fine. Definitely a great album for young teens in the 90s, but for a 24 year old man in 2025 it did not resonate with me. Only happy when it rains was probably the better song on the album. 5/10, didn’t love it and didn’t hate it.
The album was very ok. No song on the album was terrible but no song on the album was really good either. The mixing didnt sound good as all the vocals felt like background vocals (maybe my earbuds just suck).
Didn't really hate or love this one. I think the music was fine, the lyrics were fine, it came off very 90s grunge and that felt dated in some ways to me. Something about it didn't connect with my personal taste in music so much. Just a fun fact their drummer produced Nirvana's Nevermind and some Smashing Pumpkins albums. 5.5/10
Definitely not garbage
Some undeniably good songs. I personally don’t think Shirley sings with a ton of personality. The instrumentals are not impressive. I don’t think the pushing of grunge to a poppier song really took off in any meaningful way either. Jagged Little Pill is what this album wants to be.
Sure, there are some fine tracks on this.Album and garbage, certainly did tune into the early nineties.Teenage angst. But overall, I just feel like it's a little contrived.You got the female vocalist the band's called garbage.Their big song is talking about how they're only happy when it rains.I mean, it seems a bit dated it.Give me a break
2.5 - not bad but nothing standout
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.
Really not my genre but at least they named their band appropriately. It isn't the worst I've heard, so it doesn't deserve a 1, but the album really wore on. The dramatic mopiness in the female vocalist's voice was too much. 3.5/10 (1.75/5)
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.
Music was fine, I have heard some samples from a couple of these songs before. Not my vibe really.
Didn’t get to finish but enjoyed the vocals and the range of sounds
I really dig the sound. There are hypnotic electronic loops and hooks with a chunky glaze of alt rock guitar work. Singer fits into it all flawlessly. Some neat samples of older songs by other artists given new life and color here. Being born the year this released, I don’t recall what popular music sounded like but I’m sure this was a new and whole different approach and I appreciate that.
This album feels 10 years before its time, as though it fits right in with the edgy alt-rock of the early 2000s. Most of the tracks on this album would be at home in a sleek urban sci-fi/fantasy film along the lines of The Matrix or Underworld.
Mostly decent tunes, but not much that was very memorable.
Pretty solid. Took a few listens. The songs I was most familiar with are among the best.
Nebiju pat dzirdējusi par šo grupu vai tās dziesmām. Lipīgas melodijas. Kat Stratford nooooteikti klausītos šo. Iekāres pilni vārdi, kas šķiet salīdzinoši virspusēji, bet As Heaven Is Wide ir daudz labi citātu (If God’s my witness, God must be blind). Not My Idea arī laba (it īpaši, kad gribas padusmoties). A Stroke of Luck vistuvāk manai gaumei, bet arī vistālāk no pārējās skaņas, diemžēl. Vow muzikālā kompozīcija ir Wow (un izstaro man neizskaidrojamu nostaļğiju). Pamanīju daudz reliğisko vārdu/metaforu izvēli.
3.5/5
A really good alt rock banger
I’m just not a fan of female vocals
typical 90's jam tbh. Not bad but not my fav
"Nice T Shirt" I was at the London Astoria to see the Rapture, it was their first UK show and I was keen to see the after hearing their incredible single, House of Jealous Lovers. They were playing a club night and I arrived with a friend and handed in my jacket to the person who managed the cloakroom. "Thanks", I replied. looking down at my Garbage T Shirt. I wasn't much of a fan, but at the time I worked for their record label and it was a promotional only shirt. I said as much to the pretty girl with the Australian accent who was giving me a raffle ticket so i could claim my coat later. "If you give me your address I'll send you one". She did. And I did. And that is where I met Alicia. The girl who was to become my first girlfriend. She loved Garbage. And I loved her.
All the components feels like something I would really love but somehow it isn't geling together for me. Some tracks are great, some not so much. I bet with the right atmosphere though I would love the whole thing. Only Happens When It Rains and Stupid Girlfeels like they belong in the soundtrack of a 90s film that would have regular cult showings at the Prince Charles Cinema, and I would eat it up
Call me a racoon because I love Garbage. Where has Garbage been all my life? Give me more Garbage.
I thought I would like this. I did not. It felt very dated. It felt like it didn't know whether to be rocky or poppy or industrial or sassy, so it failed at them all.
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!
Garbage has never clicked for me for some reason I can't quite figure out
Hørte halve. Syns det var greit!
Classic
It just gets a bit repetitive after a while
Una cazzo di hit
Loved this!! Only knew a couple tracks from them prior but definitely want this album after listening. Epitome of 90’s.
Handful of great tracks and the rest or ok. Solid 3.
"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
Absolute classic. Loved it throughout my youth already.
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
Maybe the best 90’s alt/grunge album I’ve listened to.
A true gem of the 90s!
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
.75 .5 .5 .5 .5
A classic in my collection. Love it.
Can definitely see the influence this had on tons of other 90s stuff. Too bad it’s the worst of the 90s stuff that they influenced. The songs are all homogenized. They pick one riff and just roll with it for the whole duration of the song.
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
2.5/5 some interesting songs but not really my cup of tea, pretty forgettable
An excellent trip back in time - great riffs and brilliant vocals - enjoyable
I thought I would like this much more, but I guess not. I will say this sounds damn fresh for an album approaching 30 years old
very mid. two good songs on there, the rest very similar sounding
Some great tunes. Epitomises that 90s sound!