Strange Little Birds | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | June 10, 2016 | |||
Recorded | 2013–2015 | |||
Studio |
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Genre | ||||
Length | 52:41 | |||
Label | Stunvolume | |||
Producer |
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Garbage chronology | ||||
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Singles from Strange Little Birds | ||||
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Strange Little Birds is the sixth studio album by American rock band Garbage. [5] It was released on June 10, 2016, through the band's own record label, Stunvolume. [6] It is their second independent album release, [7] and follows 2012's Not Your Kind of People . [8] The album's press release describes Strange Little Birds as "a sweeping, cinematic record of a unified mood: darkness". [7]
Strange Little Birds was preceded by a lead single, "Empty", [9] and supported by an international tour. [10]
Singer Shirley Manson said, "the guiding principle was keeping it fresh, and relying on instinct both lyrically and musically"; [11] "To me, this record, funnily enough, has the most to do with the first record than any of the previous records. It’s getting back to that beginner’s headspace." [8] Manson described Strange Little Birds as a "romantic" record. [12] Manson clarified later, "What I mean by romance, really, is vulnerability. I used to feel so scared, and I think that was why I was so aggressive — but I’m much more willing to admit weaknesses than I was before.” [7] Each song, she says, addresses “different points in my life between me and a person I’ve loved. They’re hot spots in my life, when I was afraid, or vulnerable, or didn’t behave at my best.” [7] Drummer Butch Vig said that the album is a departure for the band, darker and more "cinematic and atmospheric". [13]
Manson's approach to lyrical subject matter came from her perception of an absence of darkness in current pop cultural trends. "I feel like the musical landscape of late has been incredibly happy and shiny and poppy. Everybody’s fronting all the time, dancing as fast as they can, smiling as hard as they can, working on their brand. Nobody ever says, ‘Actually, I’m lost and I don’t have a fucking clue what I’m doing with the rest of my life and I'm frightened.’ [7] "There aren't really any upbeat pop songs,” says Vig. “Even "Empty", which has a big, anthemic guitar sound, has pretty dark lyrics". [7]
Writing and recording for Strange Little Birds took over two years, beginning in early 2013. [7] Garbage recorded over twenty tracks during the sessions. [14] The band recorded the album in Vig's basement [7] and at engineer Billy Bush's Red Razor Sounds studio in Los Angeles. [8] Vig stated, "we mixed it so it’s kind of confessional, almost confrontational. On a lot of songs, Shirley’s voice sounds really loud, in your face, and really dry. There are not a lot of effects. There are some moments on the record that get really huge, but a lot of it is really intimate." [13] Two of the songs written during the sessions, "The Chemicals" and "On Fire", were given a vinyl release on Record Store Day the previous year. [15]
Aggregate scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
AnyDecentMusic? | 7.0/10 [16] |
Metacritic | 75/100 [17] |
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [18] |
The A.V. Club | A− [19] |
Clash | 7/10 [20] |
NME | 4/5 [21] |
The Observer | [22] |
Pitchfork | 7.0/10 [23] |
PopMatters | [24] |
Rolling Stone | [25] |
Slant Magazine | [26] |
Spin | 8/10 [1] |
Strange Little Birds received generally positive reviews from music critics. At AnyDecentMusic?, which collects critical reviews from more than 50 media sources, the album scored 7.0 points out of 10, based on 25 reviews. [16] At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, the album received an average score of 75, based on 26 reviews. [17]
Annie Zaleski of The A.V. Club wrote, "20-plus years after forming, each band member is still fired up to mine new sounds and approaches for inspiration. That willingness to be uncomfortable and look beneath the surface makes Strange Little Birds a rousing success." [19] Rhian Daly of NME noted that "Strange Little Birds is a record that's human to its very core, revelling in flaws and failures, but never losing hope. And in that way, it's the perfect mirror for its creators' 22-year career." [21] AllMusic's Stephen Thomas Erlewine found that "the impressive thing about Strange Little Birds is how it feels simultaneously familiar and fresh, a record that echoes the past without being trapped by it." [18] Rolling Stone 's Jon Dolan commented that "singer Shirley Manson's brooding edge and producer-drummer Butch Vig's mix of sheer guitar buzz and moody industrial texture stake their claim as forebears to artists like Sky Ferreira and even Lana Del Rey." [25] Theon Weber of Spin viewed Strange Little Birds as the band's "strongest set of songs since Version 2.0 " and stated that despite not being "innovative", the album "successfully excavates old and gorgeous Garbage: digs it up, dusts it off, reassembles it, and lovingly crafts replacements, piece by vivid piece, for the strange little sounds that have rotted away." [1]
Zoe Camp of Pitchfork dubbed the album Garbage's "strongest effort in 15 years", adding, "Despite these superficial similarities [to the band's self-titled debut album], repeat spins of Strange Little Birds ultimately belie an older, wiser reincarnation of that youthful rage, not just a cheap retrospective." [23] Jordan Blum of PopMatters opined, "Though the LP isn't as varied or experimental as its predecessor, 2012's Not Your Kind of People , it is more cohesive and alluring, resulting in a superior collection overall and a strong addition to the Garbage catalog." [24] Slant Magazine 's Sal Cinquemani expressed that aside from "Empty" and "We Never Tell", which he characterized as "gratifying but superfluous detours into the well-trodden", Strange Little Birds "emerges as the band's most compelling, adventurous album in 15 years." [26] Luke Winstanley of Clash praised the album as "a thrilling synthesis of the band's most endearing features; quasi metal riffing, with Shirley Manson's devilishly seductive croon and huge industrial pop hooks", concluding, "There are a few moments that feel oddly dated or too by-the-numbers, but otherwise, this is an engaging return from the gothic dance-rock four-piece." [20] In a less enthusiastic review, Emily Mackay of The Observer called the album a "sluggish comeback" and felt that "[t]here's plenty of build [...] but little release, and a lack of those big, punchy choruses that were [the band's] strongest suit." [22]
Strange Little Birds debuted at number 17 on the UK Albums Chart with 5,293 copies sold on its first week, becoming Garbage's first studio album to miss the top 10 in the United Kingdom. [27] It dropped out of the top 100 the following week, [28] making it the band's lowest-charting album in the UK. [29] In the United States, the album sold 20,000 (21,000 with TEA and SEA units) copies to debut at number one on both the Top Rock Albums and Alternative Albums charts, [30] and at number 14 on the Billboard 200. [31] The album also peaked at number nine on the Australian Albums Chart, earning the band their sixth consecutive top 10 studio album in that country. [32]
All tracks are written by Garbage
No. | Title | Length |
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1. | "Sometimes" | 2:52 |
2. | "Empty" | 3:54 |
3. | "Blackout" | 6:32 |
4. | "If I Lost You" | 4:11 |
5. | "Night Drive Loneliness" | 5:24 |
6. | "Even Though Our Love Is Doomed" | 5:26 |
7. | "Magnetized" | 3:54 |
8. | "We Never Tell" | 4:25 |
9. | "So We Can Stay Alive" | 6:01 |
10. | "Teaching Little Fingers to Play" | 3:58 |
11. | "Amends" | 6:04 |
Total length: | 52:41 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
12. | "FWY (Fucking with You)" | 4:44 |
Credits adapted from the liner notes of Strange Little Birds. [34]
Chart (2016) | Peak position |
---|---|
Australian Albums (ARIA) [35] | 9 |
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria) [36] | 17 |
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders) [37] | 33 |
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia) [38] | 16 |
Canadian Albums (Billboard) [39] | 69 |
Czech Albums (ČNS IFPI) [40] | 21 |
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100) [41] | 66 |
French Albums (SNEP) [42] | 23 |
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) [43] | 22 |
Irish Albums (IRMA) [44] | 45 |
Irish Independent Albums (IRMA) [45] | 4 |
Italian Albums (FIMI) [46] | 33 |
Japanese Albums (Oricon) [47] | 161 |
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ) [48] | 18 |
Russian Albums (Russian Music Charts) | 4 |
Scottish Albums (OCC) [49] | 11 |
Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE) [50] | 23 |
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade) [51] | 16 |
UK Albums (OCC) [52] | 17 |
UK Independent Albums (OCC) [53] | 5 |
US Billboard 200 [54] | 14 |
US Independent Albums (Billboard) [55] | 1 |
US Top Alternative Albums (Billboard) [56] | 1 |
US Top Rock Albums (Billboard) [57] | 1 |
Region | Date | Label | Distributor | Format(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Australia and New Zealand | June 10, 2016 | Stunvolume | Liberator Music [7] [58] | |
Asia, Europe, and South America | ||||
United States, Canada | ||||
Japan | Hostess [65] |
Bryan David "Butch" Vig is an American musician, record producer, and songwriter who is the drummer and co-producer of the rock band Garbage. Known for producing the diamond-selling Nirvana album Nevermind (1991), Vig also produced for several other alternative rock acts of the 1990s, including the Smashing Pumpkins, L7, and Sonic Youth. Some notable production credits of Vig include L7's Bricks are Heavy (1992) and the Smashing Pumpkins' Siamese Dream (1993).
Garbage is a Scottish and 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.
Garbage is the debut studio album by Scottish/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.
Beautiful Garbage is the third studio album by American rock band Garbage. It was released on October 1, 2001, by Mushroom Records worldwide, with the North American release by 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.
Version 2.0 is the second studio album by Scottish/American rock band Garbage. It was released on May 11, 1998, by Mushroom Records worldwide, with the North American release on Almo Sounds the following day. With this album, the band aimed to improve and expand upon the style of their 1995 eponymous debut rather than reinventing their sound. Lead singer Shirley Manson wrote dark, introspective lyrics, which she felt complemented the songs' melodies.
Lest We Forget: The Best Of is a greatest hits album by American rock band Marilyn Manson. It was released on September 28, 2004, by Interscope Records. The album was conceived by the band's eponymous vocalist as a "farewell compilation", and was originally going to feature a duet with Shirley Manson of Garbage. Upon its completion, neither singer was satisfied with the duet, and it remains unreleased. Instead, the band recorded a cover of Depeche Mode's "Personal Jesus" (1989), which became the only new track on the album and was released as a single. The deluxe version of the album included a bonus DVD containing sixteen music videos, one of which was the previously unreleased uncensored version of the music video for "Saint" (2004).
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.
Steven W. Marker is an American musician, songwriter, and record producer, best known as the co–founder and guitarist of the alternative rock band Garbage.
"Why Do You Love Me" is a song by alternative rock band Garbage, released as the lead single from their fourth studio album, Bleed Like Me (2005).
"Bleed Like Me" is a song by American rock band Garbage and the title-track of their fourth studio album (2005). It was released as the album's second single in North America by Geffen Records imprint Almo Sounds on May 9, 2005. It reached number 27 on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart. Club mixes of the track sent the remix package into the top ten of the Billboard dance chart. The song received positive reviews from critics, who highlighted it as the centrepiece of the album.
"Queer" is a song by American rock band Garbage from their self-titled debut studio album (1995). The song started as a demo during sessions between band members Butch Vig, Duke Erikson, and Steve Marker, and finished after singer Shirley Manson joined the band. Manson rewrote the sexualized lyrics to be more ambiguous, and rearranged the song into a subdued trip hop and rock crossover composition.
Absolute Garbage is a greatest hits album by American rock band Garbage. It was released worldwide on July 23, 2007 through Warner Music imprint A&E Records with a North American release through Almo Sounds, Geffen Records, and Universal Music Enterprises the following day. The compilation was issued while the band was on hiatus following a one-off reformation to perform at a benefit concert early in the year.
Garbage is a Scottish and American rock band formed in Madison, Wisconsin, in 1993. The group's discography consists of seven studio albums, three compilation albums, one remix album, one extended play, 37 singles, four promotional singles, three video albums, and 38 music videos. The line-up consists of Scottish vocalist Shirley Manson and Americans Duke Erikson, Steve Marker, and Butch Vig. They have amassed worldwide album sales of over 17 million units.
This is a list of the discography of Scottish recording artist Shirley Manson, who has performed as the lead singer of American rock band Garbage since 1993. Prior to joining Garbage, she was a backing vocalist and keyboard player for Goodbye Mr Mackenzie from 1981–1992. The band had one UK Top 40 single, "The Rattler", and a string of UK Top 100 singles – "Goodbye Mr. Mackenzie", "Love Child", "Blacker Than Black" and "Now We Are Married".
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.
"The Chemicals" is a single released by rock band Garbage for Record Store Day 2015. It features Brian Aubert on co-vocals. The song was the first track recorded by the band during sessions for their sixth album, Strange Little Birds. Drummer Butch Vig described "The Chemicals" as "a very dense Garbage track".
"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.
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".
Ok it's official. This week you will finally hear the first single off our new record.It's called EMPTY. And it's what you want. Trust Me.🐾
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