Search - Garbage :: Version 2.0

Still good after all these years

Clarissa | Ontario, California | 11/01/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I may not be as passionate about this group as I once was but they're still, and always will be, one of my all-time favorite rock bands. I've seen them in concert twice now and they're just as good, if not better, live, and I absolutely love listening to Shirley Manson breathlessly speak to the hyped up crowd with her heavy English accent after jumping around the stage while singing a familiar tune. The self-titled debut album by Garbage was my first actual record (the "Queer" video beckoned me to follow) and I've been hooked ever since. Despite the less-than-cheery lyrics, their music helped me through some tough times in my life and kept me sane as my parents moved me from place to place in my early teens. I'm older now and can easily account for the fact that my tastes have broadened over the years (I've got a huge CD collection to prove it) but I always return to 'Version 2.0' when everything else becomes yesterday's news, so to speak. Their sophomore release passed the tragic curse so many groups befall after a successful beginning (or so I should think with all these 5 star reviews), and while their journey forward looks humble indeed, I'm certainly not the only one to think that they deserved the Grammy over Sheryl Crow for best Rock album a few years back. I'm still bitter over that undeserved loss but I'm grateful they were at least nominated for the prestigious award. I do not wish to dwell on the past though. I'm just so impressed with this record and believe it to be their best work to date. Not only did they dodge the possibility of failure their second time around but they also shut the bashful critics up for a while who claimed that Butch Vig was the real genius keeping Garbage together and that Shirley was holding the group back from their true abilities, which is ridiculous because Garbage wouldn't be the same without her special touch. Growth in all corners is evident on 'Version 2.0' and the songs are more refined here. Their hypnotic blend of rock and electronica - not to mention Manson's punk-like attitude - quickly sucks the listener in and keeps them coming back for more. When I first saw them perform live, I couldn't help but notice what an eclectic array of people they draw in, and that's likely the reason for their international fame because so many individuals can identify with their preferred style. I've been putting off writing a review on this for quite some time now because I've always found it difficult to put words together to give this album justice but 'Version 2.0' should be in everyone's collection. This will be with me forever. I even had to replace it once because I wore it out from excessive playing."

Sleek, Seductive, and Sexy

Brent Larson | My Chair | 04/17/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"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."

Rock isn't dead yet!

C. Arellano | Denver, CO | 12/28/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I've had this cd for 2 years and I've never grown tired of it. Here's a short synopsis of each song:Temptation Waits - Didn't think I was going to like the song the first time I heard the beginning. Boy was I wrong! It picks up when the bass comes in! There are a lot of great vibrating sounds and riffs in the background.I Think I'm Paranoid - Sounds really nice and poppy until those killer Garbage guitars come in. I especially like the scratch part after the second time the chorus is sung. Great song!When I Grow Up - An okay song. Pretty catchy and upbeat. It's a little too poppy for me, though.Medication - The music of this song fits the context perfectly. I can just imagine an insane asylum (or hospital) whenever that chorus plays. Great song!Special - Upbeat, catchy, a lot like When I Grow Up but better! There are some really cool vocal stacking effects in this song.Hammering in my Head - A cool fast-paced sex rant with strange lyrics. I really like the part in the middle where it slows down and sounds like a 30's night club song. Filled with random riffs and loops!Push It - A very complex and catchy song. Second best track on the CD.The Trick is to Keep Breathing - BEST TRACK! I love this song! It's absolutely perfect! The soothing lyrics and the mellow strings combine to make the most relaxing and beautiful song EVER! This is my favorite song of all time!Dumb - A great song with angry lyrics and heavy guitar riffs.Sleep Together - I really don't like the lyrics in this song. Too X-rated. But I like the techno-like feel to the song.Wicked Ways - Love this song! Great heavy metal like chorus and end-of-the-world lyrics! I just don't like the shuffle/swing beginning to the song.You Look So Fine - Kinda like The Trick is To Keep Breathing, but less soothing. This one's more haunting and eery. My favorite part is at the very end with the piano and drums come back in after that string break."