Single Review: ‘Empty’ by Garbage

Photographer Joseph Cultice

Garbage, one of the pioneers of Alternative Rock in the 90’s, is back with “Empty”, the band’s brand new single taken from their soon to be released sixth studio-album entitled “Strange Little Birds” from the band’s own record label, STUNVOLUME. “Strange Little Birds” is scheduled for release in different formats on June 10.

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What is the production value of “Empty” ?

Let’s get straight to it. Not a lot of people know that Garbage’s drummer Butch Vig is the primary producer of all the past studio-releases of this band. However, since ‘Strange Little Birds’ was released under their own record label, the whole band itself has now become the producers for their latest studio-release. What a brilliant move this one is for the band members that they take fuller control of their own music career.

What better way, indeed, to ensure that the end result of the music they make will truly sound like themselves than for them to be completely “hands on” for the entire recording process of their latest studio-release. Everything–from the composing, arranging, mixing and mastering of the tracks–the members of Garbage did all these by themselves.

In “Empty”, Shirley Manson’s signature vocal style rightfully becomes the main focus here. While it is obviously not the best her voice has sounded when compared to that of previous years’, it still possesses that very distinct vocal quality that made the music of Garbage stand out to begin with. The way lead vocalist Shirley Manson delivers her lyrics with that unique droning attribute in her voice is what makes a “classic Garbage” to any longtime fan of the band.

That she can still sing this way after approximately two decades is beyond impressive to me. Not a lot of people know that so many female-led rock bands post- 90’s patterned their singing style after Shirley Manson’s. This is a little known fact.

While listening to “Empty”–even upon first hearing it–I noticed that the electronic drumbeat is almost identical to one of Garbage’s older and most well-known tracks, “Special.”

And I certainly do see why that specific electronic drumbeat–although tweaked–was used again. It serves to give a dose of nostalgia to loyal fans of Garbage. By incorporating bits and pieces of “Special” (one of their greatest hits) into their brand new single “Empty,” it was made certain that it would remind people who might have forgotten them that Garbage have been making music for a long time already and, indeed, they have some songs that have remained stored in our memory banks and all that was needed was a little reminding.

All in all, I found listening to “Empty” to be an enjoyable experience and it surpassed my expectations.

Welcome back, Garbage.

Thumbs up!