Garbage Absoulute Garbage Grade: B-

Alternative-dance rockers Garbage hit the mainstream airwaves in 1995 with their strong self-titled debut, featuring the lower-register vocals of goth-starlet Shirley Manson. Also a band of producers (namely famed Nirvana Nevermind producer Butch Vig on drums), Garbage released a polished pop sound that contrasted dark lyrics. Absolute Garbage does a good job reminding listeners what an indulgence Garbage was during the mid-'90s.\nAbsolute Garbage takes off early with some of Garbage's strongest work from their 1995 debut. The opening lyric "I can't use what I can't abuse" on opener "Vow" sets the album's tone and immediately treats listeners to the first of many perverted Shirley Manson lyrics. "Queer" calmly bounces into your head with its trip-hop feel and acidic guitar melodies. "Only Happy When It Rains" still explodes as an alternative-dance anthem for those enamored with the darker side of life. The calm yet funky beat and ambient pre-chorus of "Stupid Girl" remain effective, and the haunting, slow-burning "#1 Crush" is still incredibly hypnotic and seducing.\nBut somewhere around the middle of the album, the songs begin to feel repetitive. Even though Garbage was a talented act that released dark material, it was also a band of producers who knew how to construct good pop songs. The songs of the middle third of the album aren't necessarily bad, but they feel bland placed in the middle of this compilation. \nThis makes the sweeping orchestrations of Bond-track "The World Is Not Enough" all the more welcome, while ushering in a more satisfying direction for the final third of the album. Although the hits aren't as renowned, numbers like "Cherry Lips," where bubblegum sound is juxtaposed with Manson's dark lyrics, make for an intriguing listen. "Shut Your Mouth" shows Garbage reveling in the sound they established, while the Lou Reed-esque "Bleed Like Me" serves as a nice change in dynamic and instrumentation.\nWhile maybe not a collection of the ages, the stronger material on Absolute Garbage makes it a worthwhile listen.