This US band, founded in 1994, was immediately heralded in the press as a producers' supergroup. In addition to several other notable bands (Smashing Pumpkins, U2), Butch Vig had previously produced Nirvana's influential Nevermind. He formed Garbage with the help of his long-standing remixing partners Steve Marker and Duke Erikson, with whom he had been involved in the bands Spooner and Firetown. To this core trio was added singer Shirley Manson (b. Edinburgh, Scotland), recruited after the members saw her fronting her former unit, Angel Fish, on a video shown on MTV (she had previously sung with the unheralded Goodbye Mr Mackenzie). Garbage's debut single, "Vow", issued in a metal sleeve, was widely acclaimed, as was the follow-up, "Subhuman". Both borrowed from various traditions, notably punk, glam rock and art rock, with Vig commenting: "We want to use all these different elements like techno, punk and noise, ambient, jazz and rock, and mix them all up around a pop song."
This eclecticism was further explored on their self-titled debut album, a dark collection of songs with the main emotions being fear, lust and envy. Symptomatic of these concerns was "Only Happy When It Rains", which also reached the charts when issued as a single. Further chart success came with a remix of "Milk" (featuring Tricky as guest vocalist) and "Stupid Girl". The band's unexpected global success (especially in America) delayed the recording of their follow-up as they committed themselves to a relentless touring schedule. When Version 2.0 finally appeared the band gained further praise for their compelling blend of slick electronic pop featuring Manson's emotive vocals. The album topped the UK charts in May 1998. The following year the band was commissioned to write the theme tune to the new James Bond movie, The World Is Not Enough.
|
