Garbage - Version 2.0
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Free Music Notes for Version 2.0
Free Music Review: Shirley's Back and Badder Than Ever!
Hit: 5 Stars
What can I say? It is a truly wonderful thing when a band comes along and puts out an album where the singer's (gorgeous) appearance is one of its more inferior qualities. Therefore, you can only imagine my intense fruition when this band puts out a second album which clashes head-to-head with (maybe even surpasses???) the quality of its first album. Twelve tracks and not one of them dipping down even into the mediocre range. The more I listen to this, the more I want to listen to it.1. TEMPTATION WAITS: Interesting beginning that sounds like one is entering an airport terminal (or is that just me). Very danceable, rather upbeat. Sexy chorus with interesting noise in the background.
2. I THINK I'M PARANOID: The music in the beginning really sounds like paranoia; almost like a dice rolling with knife slashes in the background. Then, when Shirley breaks in with 'I Think I'm Paranoid', you can almost imagine her kicking something (or someone). Another cool, catchy chorus.
3. WHEN I GROW UP: The perfect vow that we all have to our parents, our boy/girlfriends, anyone. It has kind of a childish sound to it, but then almost turns into a mockery of itself. I hear this song was used in the 'Big Daddy Soundtrack'.
4. MEDICATION: This song is perfect for depression. It has slow, melancholy verses and music. The chorus however has this sound like rattling the bars of a cage. And the lyrics: "Somebody get me out of here, I'm tearing at myself..." I think we can all identify with that on some level.
5. SPECIAL: I believe this song was nominated for a grammy. Frankly, it isn't one of my favorites, but it is by no means bad. It has the sort of classic rock style which one finds on 'BeautifulGarbage' in songs like SILENCE IS GOLDEN. A good message though, in the chorus.
6. HAMMERING IN MY HEAD: One of my favorites. This track is visceral and abrasive and very, very fast-paced. It seems to be about primal lust and a desire for pure sex. Then, it morphs into this slow sexy soft rock with the seductive, beckoning warning, "You should be sleeping alone...." After this, there is the scornful declaration, "I knew you were mine for the taking..." Great song, one of the longer ones too.
7. PUSH IT: Another one of my favorites. This song has kind of a club feel to it with interesting sound-effects, hard to describe. I just love the music and the verses, and the chorus from the Beach Boys just fits in so perfectly.
8. THE TRICK IS TO KEEP BREATHING: Yet another one of my favorites! At times (most of them), I feel that this song is like my anthem for life. The lyrics are incredible in their sadness, yet oddly encouraging. When Shirley Manson sings 'I won't be the one who's going to let you down', you almost find yourself picturing someone coming along to help you. It sort of parallel's Dido's DON'T SLIDE.
9. DUMB: As another viewer commented, this song sort of sounds like a video-game. Sometimes it sounds a little like the beginning of HAMMERING IN MY HEAD. The lyrics speak of hard-hitting anger, which in turn, seems to be used to mask insecurities. "I'm feeling small/Climbing a wall/I don't let it show... Very good.
10. SLEEP TOGETHER: (Gasp) Shame on Garbage! For the first time, their palpable sexuality is spelled out. For some reason, the open invitation for sex reminds of that Rolling Stones song "LET'S SPEND THE NIGHT TOGETHER"--which was so shocking when it came out. Still, a good song, with interesting electric noises in the background. ...And heavy breathing (wink! wink!)
11. WICKED WAYS: Yet another favorite. I just love the background noises in this song. It sounds almost jubilant in the relief of throwing off the mantle of expectation. The lyrics and the music culminate to create a perfect tension in this song. "And I tried, and I tried, and I tried, and I tried..."
12. YOU LOOK SO FINE: Alas, it is the only song Garbage has ever written which could be classified as a love-song. At 5 mins. 30 seconds, it is a tad long, but it is still so haunting. In the tradition of MILK, the final Garbage song is always the slowest. In a tradition that carries into BeautifulGarbage, the last song is always the longest.
So there you have it: what is in my opinion an all-around stellar album. I had reservations about buying Garbage's sophomore album due to reviews which stated that it really was 'Version 2.0'--a complete retread of the songs from their debut. I now realize that this is hardly the case. I own all 3 Garbage albums and qualify them as follows: [SELF-TITLED--melancholy grunge; BeautifulGarbage--Poppish; Version 2.0--dance] yet all the time retaining the original flavor which makes them the very antithesis of Garbage. Shame on the band's members for their apprehension about how this album would be received!
Free Music Review: Seriously..This isn't Garbage
Hit: 5 Stars
Ok very cliche title for my review..but it seriously can not be said enough. I bought their 3rd album first "beautifulgarbage" and feel instantly in love with it. Then I heard this one was even better so of course I went out and bought it. And yes it is BETTER! This album is probably one of my favorites of my very large collection. So to say it is one of my favorites is an excellent compliment. Anyways this album has a very danceable electric feel yet they manage to blend in the perfect lyrics to all the songs. Superb really the whole thing. I like every song on here and that usually doesn't happen. Here is what I think of the tracks:
*1. Temptation Waits: This is one of my favorites. Very cool lyrics, and an awesome beat. Not only is it about temptation as the title says, But Shirley lets us know a little about who she is through the lyrics. good stuff.
*2. I think I'm Paraniod: This is a good one. "Bend me, Break me, Anyway you need me." The music almost speaks out "I'm paranoid"
*3. When I Grow Up: Yes we all know this song from Big Daddy. But it is more than just a catchy chorus. I love the begininng of this song.
*4. Medication: Another one of my favorites. This song is slow and sad. The lyrics speak loudly as I'm sure many people can idenify with them in some sort. Shirley opens up her range a little more in this song as well. Thumbs Up!
*5. Special: The first I ever heard Garbage amazingly. I fell in love with this song, the beats, the message, everything. While everyone else was getting drunk on Britney, I played this one over and over. Now that I have listend to the rest of the album, there are alot more songs that are better!
*6. Hammering In my Head: This song is so weird. It is very fast-paced with a book load of lyrics. There really isn't a chorus and it sounds like 3 songs in one. She goes from "Like an animal you're moving over me" to "You should be sleeping alone, tell me what you're dreaming of" to "Sweat it all out Sweat it all out". I like this song all the same even if it is a little on the crazy side.
*7. Push It: Awesome, Awesome, Awesome! The beat and the music in this song is really pumping. Soemtimes out of the blue I can hear Shirley say in my head "Push it you can do it". Motivational in an odd little way.
*8. The Trick is to Keep Breathing: Sort of like a fast paced ballad with depressing lyrics. Sad song but the fast pace of it keeps things up. Very Good.
*9. Dumb: AHH! I love this song. the lyrics are so awesome. This should be peoples anthem. In a way I know it will speak to everyone. Very weird music to, like all this buzzing. Cool stuff!
*10. Sleep Together: I'm sure some of you people are going to get your panties twisted over the blunt sexual message. But looking past the lyrics, The beat is awesome and Shirley sounds great. So Get over it. I personally do not care.
*11. Wicked Ways: My favorite song. It has a sort of rock vibe. And yes the lyrics as always with Garbage totally kick butt. I love how Shirley just sings out I tried and I tried over and over. She definitely tried alright. It sort of pokes fun at religion to, which is pretty awesome how Garbage are always going to say what comes to their minds.
*12. You Look So Fine: Yes, another one of my favorites! This is sort of like a slow love song. I just love how the verse and chorus flow right into each other. It sort of has a melancholy feel. The only compliant is it drags out a little to long at the end. But that is what stop buttons are for.
There you have it folks. A totally mind blowing album from Garbage. Its really ashame this didn't win any grammies. This one is much better the beautifulgarbage. But b.g. is stillw orth checking out, Just like this album. If you don't check this one out, you are really going to regret it. Avoid the mainstream cuz off of it are some awesome hidden things!. Go get this album..I command you..haha. Seriously.
Free Music Review: This version holds up...
Hit: 5 Stars
I love Shirley Manson.
I just wanted to get that out of the way. But I mean, how could you not? She has this amazing sense of sensual wickedness, creating a marvelous persona that is so infectious and so intoxicating. She defined my pre-teen idolizations. I remember becoming instantly enamored with her when I got this album. In fact, this album pretty much sums up my life from about 13-15. The fact that I can still absolutely eat up this entire album (and not merely because of that sense of nostalgia) says a lot for its staying power.
I will admit this; `Version 2.0' does feel dated. You cannot escape that fact. This was one of those albums that helped shape music at the time it was released, and so it immediately recalls that time period. The genre has changed and so this goes feel very `90s' in retrospect, but that doesn't really take away from the genius construction and undeniable liability of the album.
This is still very enjoyable from start to finish.
For me, the best tracks are the ones that utilize Manson's darker energies. I think that is why I never really felt `Special' too much. It was the single that blew up in a big way for them and earned them lots of attention, but it is still my least favorite track on the album. Instead, it is the earthy edginess of songs like `Push It', `Hammering In My Head' and `I Think I'm Paranoid' that remain highlights for me. I love the way they simply pummel the listener with such raw intensity. They also do this on `Dumb', but to lesser effect. This is one of those bands that really understood how to infuse techno with rock and do it gloriously.
Industrial rock has never been the same.
There is a commercial loveliness to songs like `Temptation Waits' and `When I Grow Up', songs that play to a more bouncy vibe but don't lose the industrial edge that Garbage effortlessly creates. `Wicked Ways' is one of the more distinct tracks on the album, for it really stands out as something different, it's almost industrial honky tonk chemistry oozing all over the place.
I love the vulnerability they bring to `Medication'. It is such a soft and subtle track that really adds layers to Manson's artistic persona. There is an eerie captivation that runs through this song.
And then you have the softer side of Garbage. `The Trick Is To Keep Breathing' is the less successful of the efforts, but the remaining two (`Sleep Together' and `You Look So Fine') are utter perfection. I love the silky seductiveness of `Sleep Together', a song that knows how to play the balance between sensual vulnerability and provocative forcefulness. The closing ballad `You Look So Fine' is just all sorts of beautiful. I still get chills listening to it.
`Version 2.0' still holds up eleven years later as a strong sophomore album that redefined a genre of music and still holds its own as one to remember and idolize.
Free Music Review: The Most Excellent CD Ever Made!
Hit: 5 Stars
Garbage is my absolute favorite band in the world! Their music is haunting and amazing and so interesting to listen to. You CANNOT fall asleep to it at all. (i tried and i was up till 4 in the morning and I had listened to the CD 3 1/2 times). There isn't one bad song on it. On top of that Shirley Manson has a great voice and writes gorgeous lyrics. When you start listening to it as much as I do you'll find yourself lip syncing every song on the cd. My favorite song on V2.0 is Medication. It's really sad and I guess I can relate to it. This album is sometimes called Shirley's Autobiography because she wrote all the songs and they're all about her life. It's the most underrated cd ever. No one I know likes Garbage cause they think that they're stupid (after all who would name their band GARBAGE? ) but they don't see how great they are and won't even give them a chance. this is a really awesome cd (better than the last one although that one was great too) and everyone should listen to it. Temptation Waits- The chorus to this song is really cool. It is really interesting and you can hear two people singing for some reason. The effect of the song stays with you all day. I Think I'm Paranoid- Again the chorus is really good. It's another catchy song. When I Grow Up- This song is off the Big Daddy Soundtrack. It's a really cool song. The coolest thing about it is the way they altered Shirley's voice. Medication- This is a slow, sad, haunting song. That's all I can say. It's so hard to describe. You have to listen to it yourself. Special- This is a fun song and very upbeat. It's a song to sing to a guy you're dumping. My friends love it but it's not really my favorite. Hammering In My Head- This is a song that tells you that Shirley is slightly screwed up (but in a good way! who else could write it so well?). Its very fast and very sexy. Shirley's voice is great in this one. It's scary. Push It- Another fast excellent song. It's just so fascinating the sound of it. So hard to describe. The Trick Is To Keep Breathing- Slow, pretty sad song thats very catchy. It makes you think. Dumb- I LOOOOVVVEE when she goes "I've GOT to keep myself together". Its so fast and scary and thats when the beat picks up in the song. Sleep Together- Another extremely haunting song. At the end the song goes crazy and you hear a mix of like 50 different sounds. I think it definately symbolizes the confusion that Shirley's going through in this song and her low self esteem. Wicked Ways- A very catchy song. Not really my favorite but very interesting with a good chorus. You Look So Fine- This is the most interesting, haunting, beautiful song ever. It is really slow and it's romantic, sad and eerie all at the same time. It's really really good.Free Music Review: still good after all these years
Hit: 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.