Control (Garbage song)

Last updated
"Control"
Garbage Control 7" vinyl sleeve.png
Single by Garbage
from the album Not Your Kind of People
ReleasedOctober 2012
Recorded2010–2011
Studio Red Razor Sounds;
King Size North Studios
California, US
Genre Alternative rock
Length4:13
Label Stunvolume
Songwriter(s) Garbage
Producer(s) Garbage
Garbage singles chronology
"Big Bright World"
(2012)		"Control"
(2012)		"Automatic Systematic Habit"
(2012)

"Control" is the second North American and fourth overall single released from alternative rock band Garbage's fifth studio album, Not Your Kind of People , and was sent to radio stations across the United States in October 2012.

Contents

Background and composition

"Control" was written and recorded during the 2010–2011 sessions for Not Your Kind of People in Los Angeles and is one of the examples of the "guerrilla style" approach the band took with the sound on the album. [1]

"Control" was mostly composed by drummer Butch Vig, [2] who also plays harmonica on the track. Vig explained "[m]y six-year-old daughter has a harmonica and she left it in my home studio. We were working on the song one morning and I picked it up and started blowing on it. I can’t really play harmonica, the part is dead simple, anyone could figure it out. I didn’t think we would actually use it and then we left it in the song, we mixed it. [1] The band were inspired by the song "When the Levee Breaks" by Led Zeppelin and used it as a reference point to bring guitars into the mix and seeing how far they could push their sound and channel the groove. [3] Guitarist Duke Erikson came up with the bridge idea and added "we wanted to make the last chorus totally chaotic, so I opened up the gate and ran a pulse through it. The whole song sounded like it was out of control." Erikson recalls playing a Fender Telecaster on the verses and a Stratocaster on the second chorus, although "there might have been a SG involved". [2]

Lyrically, "Control" is about giving up any control in your life, surrendering yourself to whatever is going on," explained singer Shirley Manson, "...and committing yourself to it in that moment." [3] Manson added that "Control" is about "facing the fact that we are all ultimately gonna die and why are we holding on to these weird, fixed ideas of who we are, what we are, what we’re capable of. It’s about urgency. It’s about vigor, about life and letting things move through you instead of holding on tight." [4]

The single cover designed by the band's graphic artist Ryan Corey features a cat's skull.

Release and promotion

The song was first teased ahead of its release on August 30, 2011, when the band posted a video of Vig recording drums on their Facebook page. [5] A second teaser of the song was posted on February 1, 2012. [6]

"Control" was released as second North American and fourth overall single from Garbage's fifth studio album, Not Your Kind of People. [7] The band mastered a radio version of the song for airplay featuring a third chorus in place of the breakdown that marks the album version of the song. Garbage later pressed a limited edition 7" vinyl single for "Control" and released it through their website. It was backed with a remix of the lead single "Blood for Poppies". [8]

On October 3, 2012, "Control" was performed on Jimmy Kimmel Live! [7] The song was also performed heavily during the Not Your Kind of People World Tour and was used to open concerts in the band's 2019 headline tour.

In 2022, the song was remastered by Heba Kadry and included in Garbage's third greatest hits album Anthology , out October 28. [9]

Reception

Reception to the song was greatly positive, with critics often praising the track as a highlight on Not Your Kind of People.

Carl Williott of Idolator described the song as "a ferocious, fuzzed-out rocker with a driving bass line and a harmonica-on-steroids train whistle effect that demands your listening attention." [7] Tom Hocknell in his review for BBC Music compared the song to "The Smiths on steroids" and complimented it for demonstrating "the joyful abandonment in surrendering yourself to sing-along industrial pop angst." [10] In his 4/5 stars review of Not Your Kind of People, Dave Simpson of The Guardian commended the song's "[s]tadium-sized hooks". [11] Emma Smith of The Line of Best Fit was also positive, praising the song as "immediately arresting and anthemic". [12] In his review for Consequence of Sound, Adam Kivel picked "Control" as one of the essential tracks of the album, writing that "the twinkling waves of piano that open “Control” is pure production mastery, and the sludgy bass and dark, relationship-based lyrics [...] are vintage Garbage." Despite giving the album a lukewarm review and calling it "dated", Jonathan Keefe of Slant picked "Control" as one of the few "standout tracks" on Not Your Kind of People. [13] Similarly, Jason Heller of The AV Club gave the album a C+ review but praised "Control" as one of "the bright spots", describing it as "a propulsive slab of clattering, industrial melancholia in which Manson morphs from chanteuse to tsunami at the drop of a beat." Q Magazine also praised the track for its Garbage signature sound. [14]

On a negative note, in his review for Drowned in Sound , Sean Thomas criticized the lyrics of the chorus for their "faux-angst content". [15]

In other media

On June 26, 2012, "Control" was used in the 2012 video game The Amazing Spider-Man and featured in the launch trailer of the game. [16] [17] "Control" featured in episode 16 of season 4 of The Vampire Diaries and was also used as the promo song for the episode, broadcast on March 14, 2013. [18] [19]

Track listing

  1. "Control"
  2. "Blood for Poppies" (Blaqk Audio Remix)

Release history

Release history and formats for "Control"
RegionRelease dateRecord labelFormat
United StatesAugust 27, 2012Stunvolume Airplay
DTCOctober 2012 7" vinyl, via band website [20]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Butch Vig</span> American musician and record producer

Bryan David "Butch" Vig is an American musician, record producer, and songwriter who is the drummer and co-producer of the rock band Garbage. Vig has produced for several alternative rock acts of the 1990s, including Nirvana, the Smashing Pumpkins, L7, and Sonic Youth. Vig is best known for producing the diamond-selling Nirvana album Nevermind (1991). His work on the latter earned him the nickname the Nevermind Man. Other notable production credits of Vig include L7's Bricks are Heavy (1992) and the Smashing Pumpkins' Siamese Dream (1993).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Garbage (band)</span> American rock band

Garbage is an American rock band formed in 1993 in Madison, Wisconsin. The band's line-up—consisting of Scottish singer Shirley Manson (vocals) and American musicians Duke Erikson, Steve Marker, and Butch Vig —has remained unchanged since its inception. All four members are involved in the songwriting and production process. Garbage has sold over 17 million albums worldwide.

<i>Garbage</i> (album) 1995 studio album by Garbage

Garbage is the debut studio album by American rock band Garbage. It was released on August 15, 1995, by Almo Sounds. The album was met with critical acclaim upon its release, being viewed by some as an innovative recording for its time. It reached number 20 on the US Billboard 200 and number six on the UK Albums Chart, while charting inside the top 20 and receiving multi-platinum certifications in several territories. The album's success was helped by the band promoting it on a year-long tour, including playing on the European festival circuit and supporting the Smashing Pumpkins throughout 1996, as well as by a run of increasingly successful singles culminating with "Stupid Girl", which received Grammy Award nominations for Best Rock Song and Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group in 1997.

<i>Beautiful Garbage</i> 2001 studio album by Garbage

Beautiful Garbage is the third studio album by American rock band Garbage. It was released on October 1, 2001, on Mushroom Records worldwide, with the North American release on Interscope Records the following day. Marking a departure from the sound the band had established on their first two releases, the album was written and recorded over the course of a year, when lead singer Shirley Manson chronicled their efforts weekly online, becoming one of the first high-profile musicians to keep an Internet blog. The album expanded on the band's musical variety, with stronger melodies, more direct lyrics, and sounds mixing rock with electronica, new wave, hip hop, and girl groups.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shirley Manson</span> Scottish musician

Shirley Ann Manson is a Scottish musician and actress. She is the lead singer of the American alternative rock band Garbage, and host of The Jump with Shirley Manson (2019–2021). Manson gained media attention for her forthright style, rebellious attitude, and distinctive deep voice. For the majority of her career, Manson commuted between her home city of Edinburgh and the U.S. to record with Garbage, which originally formed in Madison, Wisconsin; she now lives and works primarily in Los Angeles, while maintaining a second home in Edinburgh.

<i>Bleed Like Me</i> 2005 studio album by Garbage

Bleed Like Me is the fourth studio album by American rock band Garbage. It was released worldwide on April 11, 2005, through Warner Music imprint A&E Records, with a North American release on Geffen Records the following day. For this album, the band chose a straight rock sound reminiscent of their live performances instead of the electronica that permeated their previous album Beautiful Garbage (2001). The first recording sessions took place in March 2003, but were mostly unproductive due to passive aggression between band members and a general lack of direction. As they struggled to record the album, Garbage quietly split for four months starting in October 2003. They reunited under producer John King in Los Angeles and, following a guest appearance by Dave Grohl on "Bad Boyfriend", they found a renewed focus on production. Garbage recruited drummer Matt Walker and bassist Justin Meldal-Johnsen for new recording sessions and completed the album by late 2004.

"Supervixen" is an alternative rock song written and performed by alternative rock band Garbage and is the opening track on their self-titled debut studio album (1995). The song was titled after Russ Meyer's 1975 sexploitation film Supervixens but was influenced by Pier Paolo Pasolini's period horror art film Salò, or the 120 Days of Sodom, which had been playing on a monitor above the soundboard at Smart Studios when the band were working on it.

<i>Not Your Kind of People</i> 2012 studio album by Garbage

Not Your Kind of People is the fifth studio album by American rock band Garbage. It was released on May 11, 2012, through the band's own record label, Stunvolume. The album marks the return of the band after a seven-year hiatus that started with previous album Bleed Like Me. Guitarist Duke Erikson said at the launch of the record that "working with Garbage again was very instinctual. Like getting on a bicycle...with three other people." The band emphasized that they did not want to reinvent themselves, but embrace their sonic identity, reflecting their classic sound whilst updating it for 2012. Although Shirley Manson's morose dispositions have a presence on the record, many of the songs share a more optimistic outlook on life, influenced by some of Manson's personal experiences during their hiatus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blood for Poppies</span> 2012 single by Garbage

"Blood for Poppies" is the 2012 lead single from alternative rock band Garbage's fifth studio album Not Your Kind of People, released to radio worldwide and as the band's Record Store Day single in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Battle in Me</span> 2012 single by Garbage

"Battle in Me" is a song from rock band Garbage's fifth studio album Not Your Kind of People. It was released as the lead single to promote the album in United Kingdom. "Battle in Me" preceded the band's underplayed headliner concert in London, and served as the band's Record Store Day 2012 release in Europe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Big Bright World</span> 2012 single by Garbage

"Big Bright World" is the second worldwide single released from alternative rock band Garbage's fifth studio album, Not Your Kind of People. The single was issued as a digital download in Australia and New Zealand in June 2012, and was sent to radio stations across United Kingdom and Europe the following month.

<i>One Mile High... Live</i> 2013 video by Garbage

One Mile High... Live is the 2013 live Blu-ray and DVD released by alternative rock group Garbage through Eagle Rock Entertainment. The recording took place in October 2012, at the Ogden Theatre in Denver, Colorado and was initially broadcast live on AXS TV. The show took place approximately mid-way through the bands year-long world tour in support of their fifth album, Not Your Kind of People and features the entire group present, with bass provided by Eric Avery.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Girls Talk (Garbage song)</span> 2014 single by Garbage

"Girls Talk" is a stand-alone single released by alternative rock band Garbage for Record Store Day 2014, backed with the b-side "Time Will Destroy Everything". Both tracks would be remastered and included on Garbage's seventh studio album No Gods No Masters in 2021.

<i>Strange Little Birds</i> 2016 studio album by Garbage

Strange Little Birds is the sixth studio album by American rock band Garbage. It was released on June 10, 2016, through the band's own record label, Stunvolume. It is their second independent album release, and follows 2012's Not Your Kind of People. The album's press release describes Strange Little Birds as "a sweeping, cinematic record of a unified mood: darkness".

"Empty" is a song by American-Scottish alternative rock band Garbage. It was released as the lead single from their sixth studio album Strange Little Birds (2016) on April 20, 2016 by their independent label Stunvolume.

"Even Though Our Love Is Doomed" is a song by American alternative rock band Garbage. It was released as the second single from the band's sixth studio album Strange Little Birds on May 27, 2016, by their independent label Stunvolume.

"Magnetized" is a song by American alternative rock band Garbage. It was released as the third single from the band's sixth studio album Strange Little Birds on October 4, 2016 by their independent label Stunvolume.

<i>No Gods No Masters</i> 2021 studio album by Garbage

No Gods No Masters is the seventh studio album by American rock band Garbage. It was released on June 11, 2021, through the band's own label Stunvolume. The album was distributed worldwide by Infectious Music and BMG and preceded by the singles "The Men Who Rule the World", "No Gods No Masters" and "Wolves".

<i>Anthology</i> (Garbage album) 2022 greatest hits album by Garbage

Anthology is a greatest hits album by American rock band Garbage, released on October 28, 2022, through Stunvolume and BMG. It is the band's third overall and second international greatest hits album. The album includes remastered versions of 35 tracks, among hit singles and fan favourites, as well as rare track "Witness to Your Love", a song recorded in 2008 for inclusion in the Give Listen Help charity compilation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Men Who Rule the World</span> 2021 single by Garbage

"The Men Who Rule the World" is a song by American alternative rock band Garbage. It was released as the lead single from their seventh studio album No Gods No Masters on March 30, 2021, by Stunvolume and BMG.

References

  1. 1 2 Kevin & Bean (May 7, 2012). "Butch Vig KROQ interview". garbage disco.
  2. 1 2 Joe Bosso (2012-06-04). "Interview: Garbage talk Not Your Kind Of People track-by-track". MusicRadar. Retrieved 2022-09-23.
  3. 1 2 Garbage (May 7, 2012). ""Control" Mini-film". youtube.com. Retrieved 2013-02-03.
  4. ↑ Faceculture. Garbage interview - Shirley Manson and Steve Marker (part 4) , retrieved 2022-09-23
  5. ↑ BV at work... | BV at work... | By Garbage | Facebook , retrieved 2022-09-23
  6. ↑ We made something pretty for our new album title to wear...... | By Garbage | Facebook , retrieved 2022-09-23
  7. 1 2 3 "Garbage Take "Control" & "Blood For Poppies" To 'Kimmel': Watch". idolator. 2012-10-04. Retrieved 2022-09-23.
  8. 1 2 "Garbage - Control (Discography)". Garbage Disco. Retrieved 2013-02-09.
  9. ↑ Skinner, Tom (2022-09-21). "Garbage announce new 'Anthology' compilation: "It's testimony to almost three decades of creative work"". NME. Retrieved 2022-09-21.
  10. ↑ Hocknell, Tom. "BBC - Music - Review of Garbage - Not Your Kind of People". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2022-09-23.
  11. ↑ "Garbage: Not Your Kind of People – review". the Guardian. 2012-05-10. Retrieved 2022-09-23.
  12. ↑ "Garbage – Not Your Kind of People". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 2022-09-23.
  13. ↑ Keefe, Jonathan (2012-05-21). "Review: Garbage, Not Your Kind of People". Slant Magazine. Retrieved 2022-09-23.
  14. ↑ "Not Your Kind of People album review". Q Magazine . June 2012. p. 114.
  15. ↑ "Album Review: Garbage - Not Your Kind of People". DrownedInSound. Archived from the original on 2022-09-28. Retrieved 2022-09-23.
  16. ↑ "Our song "Control" is featured in the trailer for the new Amazing Spider-Man video game". Garbage Facebook. 27 June 2012. Retrieved 26 November 2014.
  17. ↑ "The Amazing Spider-Man launch trailer". Beefjack. Archived from the original on 2013-04-17. Retrieved 2013-05-25.
  18. ↑ Raines, Leigh (2013-02-22), The Vampire Diaries Season 4 Episode 16: "Bring It On" Music , retrieved 2022-09-23
  19. ↑ "The Vampire Diaries Soundtrack - S4E16 (Bring It On)". www.whatsong.org. Retrieved 2022-09-23.
  20. ↑ "Control 7". Garbage.com. Archived from the original on 2013-01-27. Retrieved 2013-02-09.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.