Garbage - Garbage [20th Anniversary]

The 20th Anniversary Edition of Garbage's 1995 self-titled debut, released in 2015, features the original album remastered from analog tapes, along with a "G-Sides" collection of period-appropriate B-sides. It commemorates their influential debut, which spawned hits "Stupid Girl" and "Only Happy When It Rains". 

The 20th-anniversary reissues of Garbage's early albums, particularly the self-titled debut (2015) and Version 2.0 (2018), received high praise for showcasing the band's forward-thinking, genre-blending sound that has aged well. Reviewers highlighted the remastering for enhancing the, crisp, electronic-rock, and industrial-pop textures, often labeling the releases as essential for fans. Critics lauded the debut for its mix of grunge, industrial, and pop, with Consequence of Sound noting its "complex legacy" as both a 90s staple and a Trip-hop experiment. Stereogum argued that while the singles remain iconic, some album tracks felt less timeless, though the overall, remastered experience was praised for its intensity. The reissues are generally described as "essential" for their high-quality remastered sound, including B-sides and remixes. The 20th-anniversary, live, performances were also highly, acclaimed for, showcasing the band's, enduring,, energy.

Review by Tony Cannella

It is hard to believe that it’s been 20 years since Garbage released their debut masterpiece on an unsuspecting populace.  In celebration of said 20th anniversary Garbage has released a deluxe version of their debut with a ton of bonus material.  In addition, Garbage also introduced us to the extremely talented and super cool vocalist Shirley Manson (she had previously fronted the band Angelfish, but Garbage brought her to a whole new level of popularity and notoriety).  In addition to Manson, Garbage features producer Butch Vig on drums – up to this point he was known more for producing some album called “Nevermind” by some band from Seattle called Nirvana. Not a bad track record there. Steve Markers (bass) and Duke Erickson (guitars) rounds out the band. Where to start? Well, at the beginning might be a good idea and the opening tune “Supervixen” really gets the ball rolling with a cool start/stop riff that carries the track. Next is the more laid back and deliberately paced “Queer”.  The next track was my introduction to Garbage and still one of my favorite songs, “I’m Only Happy When It Rains” is simply fabulous. Song like “Not My Idea”, “Vow”, “Stupid Girl” and “Fix Me Now” are all tremendous.

In addition to the regular debut album, the 20th anniversary edition comes with a bonus disc called “G Sides”. This disc features b-sides (or G-sides?) and rare tracks from the band, including “#1 Crush” which is another all-time favorite from the band. Other highlights include: “Subhuman”, “Girl Don’t Come”, “Trip My Wire” and “Kick My Ass”.  As I mentioned, these songs are primarily b-sides, rarities and soundtrack songs but many of them hold up quite well next to the songs that made the album. They are not just throw away songs, I point to “#1 Crush” as a perfect example of a song that could have easily found a home on any Garbage record.

The debut album from Garbage is just a fantastic album and arguably their best (although I would put “Version 2.0” and “Not Your Kind of People” in the conversation as well).  This re-issue just reinforces the greatness of the album and added bonus material is just another perk to buy this album. 20 years on and “Garbage” still holds up as a great album.

Garbage - Bleed Like Me (Remastered)

Garbage's 2005 album Bleed Like Me is generally reviewed as a guitar-heavy, "back-to-basics" rock record that, while featuring strong singles like "Why Do You Love Me" and the title track, feels inconsistent and less innovative than their previous work. Critics praised Shirley Manson’s vocals and the darker, angst-ridden tone but noted the album sometimes feels formulaic. The album shifts away from the electronic pop of BeautifulGarbage toward a louder, crunchier guitar sound, often featuring Dave Grohl on drums for several tracks. "Why Do You Love Me," "Bleed Like Me," "Run Baby Run," and "Metal Heart" are frequently cited as standouts. The lyrics delve into dark, voyeuristic themes of addiction and self-harm, with Manson delivering a powerful, albeit sometimes "shouty" vocal performance. Critics generally agree that Bleed Like Me is a solid, albeit uneven, effort that serves as a solid entry in their discography, particularly for fans of their 90s sound. 

Garbage - Version 2.0 (20th Anniversary)

The 20th-anniversary reissue of Garbage’s Version 2.0 (2018) is highly acclaimed for its remastered, crystal-clear audio quality, bringing new life to the 1998 alternative rock classic. Fans praise the comprehensive collection of b-sides on the second disc and the beautifully presented, vibrant, colored vinyl, making it a must-have for collectors. Remastering is frequently described as "sparkling clear," allowing listeners to hear every sonic element of the electronic-influenced, densely produced tracks. The reissue includes the original, acclaimed 12-track album, often cited as a timeless, "perfected" follow-up to their debut, alongside a second disc featuring excellent, rare b-sides. The 20th-anniversary release solidified the album's reputation as a high-water mark of '90s pop-rock, featuring hit singles like "Push It," "Special," and "I Think I'm Paranoid". 

When you come out with a debut album that so clearly defines your sound, and that instantly puts you in the spotlight, it can be tough to put out a sophomore album on the same level, especially without majorly reinventing your sound. 20 years ago, Garbage became an exception to this trend. Their 1995 self-titled debut was one of those debuts, and its 1998 followup Version 2.0 (which gets an expanded reissue today) was a refinement, not a reinvention, but it was also bigger and better in every way. Shirley Manson called it “the quintessential Garbage record” and it’s tough to disagree with her. It’s one of those albums that feels like it doubles as a greatest hits collection. Seven of its twelve songs were literally released as singles in some form, and the five others all sound like they could have been. (How was “Sleep Together” never a single??) Listening to the album now, 20 years later, it doesn’t sound a day old. It’s got traits that were characteristic of the ’90s alternative rock scene that Garbage came from, but Version 2.0 is timeless.

Garbage - Stupid Girl

A rough demo of “Stupid Girl” was ready long before Shirley Manson joined the rock band Garbage. But it is quite possible that the composition would not have become a hit without her participation, because she not only brilliantly performed it in an inimitable style, but also made a significant contribution to the work on the text. It was one of the first joint works of the team. Subsequently, the musicians often spoke about the story of creation and the meaning of the song. In February 1996, the song was released as the fourth single from Garbage, the band’s debut LP. On the UK Singles Chart, “Stupid Girl” climbed to number four, and on the Billboard Hot 100 it remained outside the top twenty.

“Stupid Girl” received two Grammy nominations, as well as an MTV Europe Music Award, but did not win any. The music video for “Stupid Girl” was directed by Samuel Bayer, who was inspired by David Fincher’s Seven. He shot it in a few hours in a regular warehouse and specially applied minor damage and fingerprints to the film. The clip was nominated for an MTV Video Music Award, but was also not awarded.

Garbage - Garbage

I’m not going to bore you with an introduction to Garbage, we all know that Garbage was the brainchild of producers Butch Vig, Duke Erikson, and Steve Marker. In search of a lead singer, the trio caught wind of Scottish vocalist Shirley Manson. Yadda Yadda, job done. What is interesting is that there are no bad or mediocre songs. Garbage's self-titled debut has all the trappings of alternative rock; off-kilter arrangements, occasional bursts of noise, a female singer with a thin, airy voice, but it manages to come off as pop, thanks to the glossy production. But not only is the sound of the record slick and professional, all the tracks are well-crafted trashy alternative pop gems. 

 

Garbage's 1995 self-titled debut is widely hailed as a groundbreaking, genre-blending masterpiece that fused dark electronic pop, industrial rock, and grunge, defying 90s conventions. Produced by Butch Vig, the album is noted for its polished yet gritty sound, Shirley Manson’s intense vocals, and hits like "Stupid Girl" and "Only Happy When It Rains". The album is often described as "electro-grunge-goth-pop," blending dance-pop sensibilities with industrial grit. It successfully combined elements of Portishead, Massive Attack, Nine Inch Nails, and Smashing Pumpkins. 20th-anniversary editions highlighted that the album remains a "fascinating" blend of industrial and pop, cementing the band's place as innovators in blending genres. Garbage established a unique, dark, and intimate sonic landscape that felt both mechanical and emotional. It is considered a cornerstone of 90s alternative music.