Absolutely epic album. It was actually nominated for Best Album at The Grammys when it came out. Of course The Grammys don’t give top honors to Rock artists or any album that truly deserves it except once every 20 years or so. Something interesting about many of the tracks is that they sampled lines from artists that inspired them musically. In “Special”, they sampled “Talk Of The Town” from The Pretenders and in “Push It”, they sampled “Don’t Worry Baby” from The Beach Boys, among others. Obviously this was not a traditional rock album as there was multiple trip hop elements, working with Nellie Hooper, a popular producer at the time (who also did tracks with Bjork, Madonna and others) that made this album one of a kind
Just saw them live one week ago, for the fourth time. They played Push it and Hammering in my head, my favorite ones from this album, and I was blown away. Everyone was jumping on Push it! Shirley Manson is such a charismatic smart queen! PS: the music video of Push it is the weirdest MV I've ever seen!
so glad you continued your journey with Garbage! I understand your thoughts of this album being a bit too overcomplicated and it's definitely the one you gotta have the right mood and time to listen to fully, not the average pop album, so I hope you'll get back and re-listen the tracks you liked the most, you'll keep finding new layers in them with each listen. What I love about Version 2 is that even though they had a blast with debut, they didn't stop evolving, erased all the genre borders and made a record where such songs as totally pop When I grow up (which actually was in ost for a movie with Adam Sandler) can be next to the most bizzare electronic Hammering In my head, and then goes a bittersweet lovesong with strings. They literally said "we can do anything and we do it good". If you decide to continue, their next album is the most controversial and most "pop" album of all, but still there's so much experimentation there, you won't be disappointed! Also, if you ever wanna watch just 1 of their music videos - it's gotta be Push It, it'll blow your mind
One of four fantastic albums from 98, along with Madonna's Ray of Light, Hole's Celebrity Skin and Sheryl Crow's The Globe Sessions. In fact, I think it was this one that finally tore me away from Ray of Light.
Wow, so happy you’re reacting to Garbage! Can’t wait for you to react to Beautiful Garbage! SO AHEAD OF ITS TIME! They were strongly supportive of LGBTQ+ before everyone else was! You should definitely check out the music videos during that album also! Androgyny, Cherry Lips (Go Baby Go)
One of the albums that shaped my adolescence, I used to listen to it over and over with a CD player in bed just taking it in. I agree that Dumb and Sleep Together are the weak links lol. I used to skip those two regularly. The rest is genius. I’m kind of surprised you singled out Special as a weaker one too though. That was actually one of the hit singles from the album. Special, Paranoid, and Push It all got a ton of airplay at the time. I think When I Grow Up was a modest hit as well.
SO HAPPY to see you listen to this album, my personal all time favourite album of all time!! It was huge in my life in 1999, when I was 17. Give it another few listens in full. I promise Special and Sleep Together will make more sense, and while extremely heavy, it is an album you must listen to from start to finish without skips or shuffles. You Look So Fine has my favourite lyric "You look so fine, I want to take you home, we'll waste some time.... YOU'RE THE ONLY ONE FOR ME"
This album was absolutely ground-breaking and one of the first true DAW/pro tools albums. If you go back and read interviews back at the time, all the tech magazines were blown away by the fact that songs like Hammering in My Head had over 100 tracks (not all at once obviously). Nowadays, that's the norm, but this kind of production was the first of its kind and arguably, one of the most influential albums ever made, despite the fact that it's never treated that way. Also, "You Look So Fine" might be one of the most heart-breaking tracks of all time.
Shirley was my grunge goddess in the 90's. Really opened my ears to a variety of different sounds and incredible songwriting! Thank you for showing us your reaction!
Loved your comment on how heavy and 'draining' a lot of 90s music feels. I think some 90s music was a direct rebuttal of the indulgences and brightness of 80s music. I think in the 90s (before labels largely destroyed the momentum of the alternative scene) people just wanted to sit in those dark vibes and feel something intense.
Hm I guess the late 90's were about some trance and trip hop, right? I didn't know this album before but I hear familarities to Ray of Light and Impossible Princess...
Garbage is one of my favorite bands of all time. That first album helped me through understanding myself as a gay man. Definitely connected to so much. Also, sigh, I am lo-key totally in love with you.😍😍😍. You’re reactions are honest and emotional. Btw, are you still doing Madonna? My favorite era is the one that started with Ray of Light and ended with MDNA. Are you going to continue? Thanks for the vids, you’re my fave music reactor. Peace!
