In the mid 90's grunge was waning and the alternative music scene was in need of new sound. After producing and performing in many bands three super musicians grouped together to create that new sound. Butch Vig, famed producer of Nirvana and Smashing Pumpkins, his cohort Duke Erickson and all around good guy Steve Marker plotted for a music revolution. All they needed was a strong front person. Enter Scottish siren Shirley Manson, sexy, strong, sassy and ready to take on the world. Garbage was far from rubbish. They were a crisp, clean, welcomed sound. Garbage took the "college" or "alternative" music scene by storm and soon crossed over to the pop, adult oriented rock airwaves. They weren't sell outs they were just that good.
Absolute Garbage is the greatest hits compilation the fans have been waiting for, a double CD with all the hits and then some. Absolute contains one new single "Tell Me Where It Hurts", sure to be hit with its classic Garbage sound. "Vow", "Queer", "Stupid Girl", "I Think I'm Paranoid", "Milk", "Why Do You Love Me" and the theme from the James Bond movie "The World Is Not Enough" are just a few of the 18 tracks on disc one. Disc two contains remixes by everyone from Crystal Method to UNKLE. If you like remixes and/or you like Garbage this is a great disc. Starting the disc with UNKLE's mix of the James Bond theme gets the listener hooked a subtle mix that stays true to the vocals. "When I Grow Up" remixed by Jagz Kooner is destined to be a dance-floor hit, bumps up the tempo and sets the mood for "Special" well done by Brothers in Rhythm. Thank goodness for the Timo Mass version of "Breaking Up the Girl", this single is strangely missing from disc one and this remix makes up for the omission. Of course "Milk" made the cut, probably one of the most remixed songs in history, with the ever so talented Massive Attack version. "Bad Boyfriend" self mixed and "I Think I'm Paranoid" by Crystal Method are my favorites, although the Todd Terry "Stupid Girl" REM "Orange Crush" smashup is pretty genius.
If you don't own any Garbage music go out and get this. It's all you really need, the hits and the mixes. If you are a Garbage enthusiast then this is worth it for the mixes alone. The DVD will be the completion of the collection. |