Version 2.0

No Reason to be Paranoid
by: bill aicher

Not only is Shirley Manson hot, but so is Version 2.0 from Madison, WI's own Garbage.  Normally in my reviews I will go to point out the problems in the disc, but here I struggle to find even one.  Basically, this has taken over as my favorite cd for now - even kicking out Radiohead's OK Computer.  So, what I am going to do is talk about just why this album kicks so much ass.

Anyone who is familiar with Garbage from their first, self-titled, album knows what kind of music Garbage puts out.  It is kind of hard to define, but it is pretty much a mixture of rock and techno.  When the first album came out, I was not the biggest fan, but I eventually grew to love it.  With this new album this was not the case.  I loved it from first play.

First - the engery.   While Manson's vocals are perfect as per usual, the band really shows off, as does Butch Vig's musical expertise.  (Butch produced the first couple Smashing Pumpkins albums as well as Nirvana's Nevermind among others)  The added drum beats and techno clips make this album one of the greatest available right now.  This album sounds much more professionally produced than does their first effort, and it makes quite a difference.  (That is not to say they are only a good studio band, I have heard a few tracks of their live stuff from this cd and it kicks just as much).  Shirley Manson sounds sexy on this album, and the reverb and doubling up of her vocals really adds a lot to the vocal tracks.

If I had to pick a worst and best track off of the cd they would be as follows.  The opening track "Tempation Waits" would get my vote for least favorite.  This is not because it sucks though.  The next track is just more powerful.  My favorite would have to be "Special" because of the lyrics and driving drum beats behind the track.  "Do you have an opinion, a mind of your own" - the way Manson sets across the lyrics in this track show the mood and meaning behind it.

Almost any song on this cd could be released as a single, so it is hard to guess what the next released track will be.  However, for now you can hear the first single "Push It" on the radio and the video on MTV.  My guess as to the next single will be either "Medication" or "Hammering in my Head" but that is just my guess.  The track "I Think I'm Paranoid" is another likely candidate just because of all the paranoia hype right now with the popularity of the X-Files and other conspiracy theories.  However, Garbage has no reason to be paranoid.  This disc should set them up as one of the bands on the forefront of music once again. 1998