Most Popular

National Features >

  • Houston Press

    A Dirty Picture

    What mainstream publishers don't want you to know about door-to-door magazine sales.

    By Craig Malisow

  • Riverfront Times

    Welcome to Cougar Heaven

    When these huntresses on are on the prowl, the prey very much wants to be caught.

    By Unreal

  • Broward-Palm Beach New Times

    Sweet Deal

    How rumored McCain veep choice Charlie Crist wants to bail out Big Sugar.

    By Bob Norman

  • SF Weekly

    All-American Girls

    Are Asian women getting their jawbones cut to look whiter?

    By Lauren Smiley

Garbage

Absolute Garbage (Deluxe Edition)

By Linda Leseman

Published on August 09, 2007

Thirteen years ago, Garbage created a rock-electronica hybrid and proclaimed, "I can't use what I can't abuse" — the opening lyric of "Vow," the first song on this two-disc singles compilation. As always, the songs are rife with residual, mid-'90s, post-Nirvana nihilism and glossed with a Phil Spector-like wall of sound. Shirley Manson, ever the goth Debbie Harry, delivers her dark, cheeky vocals over "Stupid Girl," "Only Happy When It Rains" and "Push It," among other radio hits and scattered lesser-known picks. Disc Two of this special edition offers remixes by top electronic artists: Massive Attack adds a haunting, ethereal string section to "Milk," while Rabbit in the Moon heightens the sensuality of "Queer" with a thumping house mix. Fun Lovin' Criminals revamp "You Look So Fine" into a bluesy ballad. Garbage's style has remained consistent over the years, but these songs lend themselves to reinvention as though they were always intended to pound the walls of clubs and raves. That the original versions sound as modern as the remixes only proves just how innovative this band has been from the beginning.

Show Pages

Houston Press Insiders

  • Local food, music and news blasts
  • Free Stuff
Backpage.com