Garbage In, Garbage Out
Written: Jun 08 '05 (Updated Jun 17 '05)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Four decent (errr, good) songs...
Cons: Lots of filler, little inspiration, little energy...
The Bottom Line: What happened to Garbage? Bleed Like Me is a hollow, emotionless album.
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| lambchops's Full Review: Bleed Like Me [ECD] [PA] - Garbage |
The factor that really turned me on to Garbage had less to do with the music and more to do with Shirley Mansons swagger. Her fire-engine red hair, short skirts, tall boots, and brogue made Manson one of the most interesting figures in late 1990s rock n roll, but it was her voice and the bands music that made Garbage something really special.
It was with that first eponymous album (1995) that I was exposed to the band. Stupid Girl and Im Only Happy When it Rains were just the beginning. Garbage released single after singleall of which further added to the bands popularity and success. I couldnt help but be drawn into the enchanting musical web. Both 1995s Garbage and 1998s Version 2.0 were pretty outstanding. There were moments of weakness on both, but the truly excellent electronic-infused-rock outweighed the yawn-worthy tracks.
Manson along with her multi-talented collaborators Steve Marker (guitars, synths, programming), Butch Vig (guitars, bass, drums, programming), and Duke Erikson (guitars, keys, programming, synths) have been making music now for over a decade. 2001s Beautiful Garbage was something of a disappointment, but 2005s Bleed Like Me offered up a chance for redemption. Would Garbage reclaim their glory? Would the music live up to the hype? Would the album improve on the flawed prior release? Bleed Like Me had a lot riding on it, and I had some doubts going into my first listen but did so out of faith in the band.
Unfortunately, Bleed Like Me tests my faith. I want to enjoy every bite, but some are undercooked (at best). There is a wide gorge between the best and the worst of this Garbage album. This differences in quality are what make this album a challenge to enjoy in one sitting. The brevity of the outing is at least a good point and helps to teeter-totter my opinion toward the positive, but what about the music?
First off, dont expect to find something so outrageously brash as Stupid Girl, I Think Im Paranoid or Push It. Bleed Like Me is a straight-forward album that is on the whole tamer and more mature (which actually translates as less dynamic and more boring). Garbage took a massive chill pill and made an album that is pretty, easy on the ears, but not particularly creative. Im left wondering if the band has run out of inspiration. I mean, theres only so much of the same thing over the course of ten years a band can do before they get run out of town.
Bad Boyfriend and continuing through both Run Baby Run and Right Between the Eyes kick Bleed Like Me off on a sour note. Not dont get me wrongthe songs sound fine enough but they could have been performed by anybody. Theres nothing that sets this song apart or makes it distinctly Garbage. The first hint of the kinetic rock Ive enjoyed in the past comes on the fourth song, Why Do You Love Me. Mansons impatient vocals mesh nicely with the echoing guitars and tidily arranged melody.
Turning their backs on rock n roll, Garbages title track is rather alternative. Its a modest, mid-paced thing with a nostalgic feel. It oozes 1990s sentiment in the form of broken relationships, sex, and general sour feelings. I enjoy the fact that the song is so different than anything else on the album. Garbage should really consult their crystal ball as they may discover Bleed Like Me would be a good direction to head. Unfortunately, the album spirals into generic territories with Metal Heart. Seriously, Garbage, I appreciate the fact that you can rock but must you always ruin the rocking-est moment with inappropriate noise and overwhelming synths? It really is frustrating.
Bleed Like Me makes a reprieve with the electro-rock goodness of Sex is Not the Enemy. While not as immediate or catchy as earlier Garbage hits it is still one of the best offerings of this mediocre album. The pace is slowed with the piano-driven Its All Over But the Crying. Once again I like the fact that it changes things up for a moment but unlike Bleed Like Me it doesnt stay with me. It sounds nice at the time but fades into nothing the moment it finishes. In a way, I think the song is just too sweet. I mean, when did Garbage go adult contemporary? Boys Wanna Fight begins with a upbeat, loud, and distinctly electronic feel but it quickly disintegrates into yet another milquetoast song. I really, honestly dont care about getting hammered, toasted, or sh*t faced. Its a tired theme.
Two unremarkable songs wrap things up. Why Dont You Come Over lacks direction. It is a musically schizophrenic thing complete with droning guitars and a crazy pace. Its so ridiculous and out of control I cant get a grip on anything about it outside of the fact its impossible to listen to. Its the only officially horrible song on Bleed Like Me. The eleventh and final song is Happy Home. While not perfect, it is still an okay listen. Its another slow, but this time mediocre, song.
Bleed Like Me is by no means perfect. Heck, its barely mediocre. The problem I see with it is that it has no identity. I dont feel the bands energy or cooperation. It just seems as if they got together and slapped eleven songs together. Theres no real chemistry as there was on the bands first two albums. The only real good parts about this disc are Why Do You Love Me, Bleed Like Me, and Sex is Not the Enemy. The only awful track is Why Dont You Come Over. The remaining seven songs fall somewhere between the two poles. If youre looking to discover Garbage do it with either their self-titled debut or Version 2.0 and skip this.
Rating: 2.5/5 stars
Track Listing:
01. Bad Boyfriend
02. Run Baby Run
03. Right Between the Eyes
04. Why Do You Love Me
05. Bleed Like Me
06. Metal Heart
07. Sex is Not the Enemy
08. Its All Over But the Crying
09. Boys Wanna Fight
10. Why Dont You Come Over
11. Happy Home
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Related Reviews:
Version 2.0 (1998)
http://www.epinions.com/content_62651993732
Recommended:
No
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