Garbage

Beautifulgarbage

Third time's a charm

Review Score:

(8/10)
Thus far, as far as I'm concerned, Garbage is what one might call a "singles act". Meaning, obviously, that they produce catchy singles -- "Stupid Girl", "Only Happy When It Rains", "I Think I'm Paranoid", "When I grow Up" -- but not much else. Their first two albums, "Garbage" and "Version 2.0", were true testaments to this; uneven yet not entirely without their charms.

Their third try, however, proves to be an unexpected departure from this pattern. A more mainstream, less self-(AND image) concious effort, it nods nicely to the usual suspects (Blondie, Spector, Pretenders) yet with less of the hi-tech hickory dickory which all too often has drowned out some of Garbage's more promosing melodic leanings. In short: less filler, more of a meat.

That is not to say this album isn't, ah-hemm, produced; it is. Garbage will never be lo-fi, that's for sure. But this time around they seem more relaxed, and having allowed the songs to "flow" more. "Can't Cry These Tears" is as shining exapmle as any of this new-found "freedom". Don't lose it, kids.

I guess third time's a charm :-)

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