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| COUCH POTATO CONFESSIONS In With The Garbage, Out With The New (Order) by Vinnie Blesi | |||
| CREATURE'S CORNER Andy Lalino's Departure .... The Omac Project .... The Day of Vengeance" by John Lewis | |||
| MATT'S RAIL The Exodus of Andy....Buccos Score Huge....King Kong News....King Kong '31 by Matt Drinnenberg | |||
| MIKE'S RANT The Man of Steel....Great Americans....Agree With....No Way!...Jaws: The Story, Part 16 by Mike Smith | |||
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In with the Garbage, out with the New (Order)
Over the course of those 10 years their output has only been 4 CDs,
including their new release, "Bleed Like Me". With a rawer sound than their
previous 2 releases, "Bleed Like Me" harkens back to their original CD.
At the time their first CD was released Garbage was relatively unknown. I
saw them in a small venue in St. Petersburg Fl., The State Theatre, as they
played to small crowd. At the time they were touring in vans. Later, Top 40
radio would pick up the track "Stupid Girl" and Garbage began their
meteorite rise to fame. No more touring in a van.
Garbage's second CD, the not-so-cleverly named Version 2.0, had good songs
but suffered from overproduction. Just because you can record a gazillion
tracks doesn't mean you have to. Some of the classic recordings of our time
were recorded to just 4 tracks! They followed up Version 2.0 with the
pompous "Beautiful Garbage" which reflected how much they had gotten away
from the original vision of their first CD.
Now after a hiatus and a breakup the band is back with a strong release that
puts the trash back into the garbage. The cd has plenty of classic Garbage
sounds such as "Bad Boyfriend", "Run Baby Run", and the first single "Why Do
You Love Me". The best and most surprising song on the cd is the title
track, "Bleed Like Me", with its desperate lyrics and down tempo style. The
final track "Happy Home" is also one of my favorites with a dirge anthemic
ending and poignant lyrics. The only downside to this cd is the ballad, "It's
All Over But the Crying" and the senseless "Boys Wanna Fight".
Of course, there would be no Garbage without the diva herself, Shirley Manson
on vocals and lyrics. With a toughness and sexiness that I can only compare
to Chrissie Hynde of the Pretenders, it is ultimately her edginess and raw
sensual prow that propels this CD.
New Order Most of the remaining tracks try to sound hip and contemporary by
incorporating elements of current electronic music. And then the female
backup singers start and that was about all I could take.
While I am sure this will be a big hit for New Order in Europe, overall it
is another disappointing, somewhat boring release from a group that should
probably have hung it up already. If the CD was just the first 4 tracks I
would call it brilliant, but instead I would have to say it is tedious and
best taken in small doses, like English biscuits and tea.
Links: Order New Order from Amazon.com
Catch new Garbage tracks on Strange agent Radio
Once in a while I will hear a new song and know right away that I love it.
While most music takes repeated listening, this was not the case the first
time I heard the song "Queer" from a new group called Garbage back in 1995.
Yes, it is hard to believe that the first CD from this group was 10 years
ago.
Also out this month is a new CD from the group, New Order, "Waiting for The
Sirens Call". Probably needing some beer money, this essential new wave
group continues to put out CDs. I was initially excited when I heard the
first single, "Krafty", as I heard a catchy electronic pop song that hinted
at New Order's sound when they were good. Upon listening to the CD I became
more excited as the first 4 tracks, including "Krafty", all share their same
signature sound and have more energy than anything I have heard in recent
years from New Order. Unfortunately, after that it quickly deteriorates.
http://www.garbage.com/home.php
"Couch Potato Confessions" is ©2005 by Vinnie B. Couch Potato main graphic by Vin Blesi and Nolan Canova. Webpage design and all graphics herein (except where otherwise noted) are creations of Nolan B. Canova. All contents of Nolan's Pop Culture Review are ©2005 by Nolan B. Canova.