Garbage

Version 2.0

Sleek, Seductive, and Sexy

Review Score:

(8/10)
Version 2.0 is easily one of the best albums of the past decade. The electronic rhythms blend seamlessly with Shirley Manson's voice. Possessing one of the sexiest voices in music today, Manson is a calculating seductress. In fact, Manson's vocals are the only thing that remains consistent from the band's self-titled debut. The sonic assault of the rest of Garbage is noticeably shiny and polished. This doesn't mean that they've lost their edge though. The songs on Version 2.0 are better than those of the debut, whereas the debut's seemed incomplete and inrealized, Verison 2.0's are complete and competent.

The album's best tracks happen to be the slower songs. "The Trick is to Keep Breathing" and "You Look So Fine" showcase Manson's voice at its most wistful, and quietly sexy. Somehow though, the listener gets the impression that she's hiding her freaky side on "You Look So Fine." For Garbage, the arrangement on "Medication" is relatively sparse, giving it a barren, desolate feel that suits Garbage well. Manson accents "Medication" with gut-wrenching vocals.

The faster numbers are absolute stunners. "Sleep Together" resonates with an intoxicating mix of electronic bleeps and guitars, but it still can't compete with the album's opener, "Temptation Waits," which starts with a wintery aura, and features a blisteringly cold chorus. One of the album's surprise highlights is "Hammering in My Head," with its whirlwind of sonic flourishes and breakneck pace, it also has an unrelenting and memorable guitar riff.

It goes without saying that the four singles from this album combine Garbage's rock-meets-electronic formula with fantastic results. All of their songs combine aggression, sleek sexiness, and sonic polish. Their intricate soundscapes are magnificently assembled collages of sound. Not many bands can pull off such a stunning album in their careers, but Garbage already have a perfect 2.0 record.

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