BabyGirl
04-10-2005, 02:06 PM
After Long Hiatus, Garbage Reconvenes for 4th Album
After recording and touring together since 1995, the four members of Garbage nearly called it quits two years ago.
"We were on the verge of collapse," Garbage drummer and noted producer Butch Vig says.
He says that when the band began recording its fourth album in early 2003, the process quickly spiraled into a black hole. Months later, "we bottomed out, with me walking out of the studio," he adds. "Any kind of optimism ran out, and we took a long hiatus."
In hindsight, Vig believes the band should have taken more time off after its 16-month "beautifulgarbage" tour.
"We lost our personal lives," Vig notes. "We also lost any sense of a common ground. We were burned out on each other. So, each one of us looked in the mirror to see what we needed to do. And thoughts of losing the band made us realize that we loved it too much."
Fast-forward to March 2004. Vig and his bandmates -- Shirley Manson, Steve Marker and Duke Erikson -- returned to the studio. "We felt a desperation. So we played fast and furious -- as if our lives depended on it," Vig recalls.
And perhaps, in a way, they did.
FANS CHOOSE 'LOVE'
Fans will get to experience the result April 12 (one day earlier internationally) when Geffen issues Garbage's fourth studio album, "Bleed Like Me," an enhanced CD. Garbage enthusiasts already have rallied around the album's lead single, "Why Do You Love Me," which recently entered the top 10 on the Modern Rock Tracks chart.
Written and produced by the band, the album eschews much of the electronic-leaning production of "beautifulgarbage" and "Version 2.0" for guitar-drenched rock.
Infused with the fierce energy of the band's live shows, "Bleed Like Me" recalls Garbage's 10-year-old self-titled debut. (Dave Grohl guests on opening track "Bad Boyfriend.")
"We've almost gone backward with this album," Vig offers. "It's us getting back to a more primal sound -- guitars, drums, bass and Shirley's voice."
But before deciding on this approach, Vig attempted to come up with something completely new and fresh for the project. "I was beating myself up trying to figure out a new sound for the album," he says. "And then I simply went back to getting great sounds from guitars."
In the process, the band recorded its most spontaneous album, Vig notes. "There is more first-take singing from Shirley. And there was a conscious decision to turn up room mics on drums so that everything was not perfectly balanced -- and not so electronic."
BUILDING BUZZ
"There is a definite buzz surrounding this album," says David Shebiro, owner of specialty retail shop Rebel Rebel in New York. "People, especially the group's hardcore fans, are really anticipating its release."
That's good news indeed, particularly after the lackluster sales of "beautifulgarbage." According to Nielsen SoundScan, the 4-year-old album has sold 384,000 copies -- compared with 1.7 million and 2.3 million for "Version 2.0" (1998) and "Garbage," respectively.
Shebiro credits the excitement over the new release to the album's guitar-enhanced sound. "With other rock bands currently looking to electronic beats and studio technology for inspiration, Garbage appears to have done the opposite," Shebiro explains. "It's like, 'Been there, done that, let's make a rock record again."'
On March 19, Garbage embarked on a three-week promotional tour of Europe, which included shows in Paris and London.
After its European visit, Garbage commences a brief North U.S. tour April 8 at the Paramount Theatre in Seattle. It wraps May 10 at the Agora in Cleveland. Then it's back to Europe for the band.
According to Vig, the band is primed for the workout. "Because we were on the verge of losing it all, we made the album of our career," he says. "We feel completely rejuvenated."
After recording and touring together since 1995, the four members of Garbage nearly called it quits two years ago.
"We were on the verge of collapse," Garbage drummer and noted producer Butch Vig says.
He says that when the band began recording its fourth album in early 2003, the process quickly spiraled into a black hole. Months later, "we bottomed out, with me walking out of the studio," he adds. "Any kind of optimism ran out, and we took a long hiatus."
In hindsight, Vig believes the band should have taken more time off after its 16-month "beautifulgarbage" tour.
"We lost our personal lives," Vig notes. "We also lost any sense of a common ground. We were burned out on each other. So, each one of us looked in the mirror to see what we needed to do. And thoughts of losing the band made us realize that we loved it too much."
Fast-forward to March 2004. Vig and his bandmates -- Shirley Manson, Steve Marker and Duke Erikson -- returned to the studio. "We felt a desperation. So we played fast and furious -- as if our lives depended on it," Vig recalls.
And perhaps, in a way, they did.
FANS CHOOSE 'LOVE'
Fans will get to experience the result April 12 (one day earlier internationally) when Geffen issues Garbage's fourth studio album, "Bleed Like Me," an enhanced CD. Garbage enthusiasts already have rallied around the album's lead single, "Why Do You Love Me," which recently entered the top 10 on the Modern Rock Tracks chart.
Written and produced by the band, the album eschews much of the electronic-leaning production of "beautifulgarbage" and "Version 2.0" for guitar-drenched rock.
Infused with the fierce energy of the band's live shows, "Bleed Like Me" recalls Garbage's 10-year-old self-titled debut. (Dave Grohl guests on opening track "Bad Boyfriend.")
"We've almost gone backward with this album," Vig offers. "It's us getting back to a more primal sound -- guitars, drums, bass and Shirley's voice."
But before deciding on this approach, Vig attempted to come up with something completely new and fresh for the project. "I was beating myself up trying to figure out a new sound for the album," he says. "And then I simply went back to getting great sounds from guitars."
In the process, the band recorded its most spontaneous album, Vig notes. "There is more first-take singing from Shirley. And there was a conscious decision to turn up room mics on drums so that everything was not perfectly balanced -- and not so electronic."
BUILDING BUZZ
"There is a definite buzz surrounding this album," says David Shebiro, owner of specialty retail shop Rebel Rebel in New York. "People, especially the group's hardcore fans, are really anticipating its release."
That's good news indeed, particularly after the lackluster sales of "beautifulgarbage." According to Nielsen SoundScan, the 4-year-old album has sold 384,000 copies -- compared with 1.7 million and 2.3 million for "Version 2.0" (1998) and "Garbage," respectively.
Shebiro credits the excitement over the new release to the album's guitar-enhanced sound. "With other rock bands currently looking to electronic beats and studio technology for inspiration, Garbage appears to have done the opposite," Shebiro explains. "It's like, 'Been there, done that, let's make a rock record again."'
On March 19, Garbage embarked on a three-week promotional tour of Europe, which included shows in Paris and London.
After its European visit, Garbage commences a brief North U.S. tour April 8 at the Paramount Theatre in Seattle. It wraps May 10 at the Agora in Cleveland. Then it's back to Europe for the band.
According to Vig, the band is primed for the workout. "Because we were on the verge of losing it all, we made the album of our career," he says. "We feel completely rejuvenated."