‘Strange Little Birds’ By Garbage Album Review: Their Darkest and Most Meditative Album Yet

Strange Little Birds is the title of alt-rock band Garbage’s most recent album after four years away from the music scene. Shirley Manson and co. cast a glance to their earlier work, making a conscious effort to bridge the band’s early sound on their self-titled debut, released 21 years ago, and their latest creation.

‘Strange Little Birds’ by Garbage Album Review

Right off the bat, Strange Little Birds submerges us in the dark, resonating soundscape. Manson’s voice is at the forefront of elegant opener “Sometimes.” Touching upon industrial rock elements, the balladic track is still quiet and haunting, which is its most captivating quality. Elsewhere on the record too digitally distorted guitars complement string sections and piano, adding a rich cinematic quality to the sound.

On lead single “Empty” Garbage erupt in the grungy pop-rock that is the band’s signature mode. Manson prolongs the syllables in her vocalization, as jagged guitars and quick-paced drums propel the track. It is energetic and invigorating – a taste of the Garbage’s best. “So We Can Stay Alive” is another notable exploration of the band’s past. Their classic grunge sound here is laced with electronica and sawing synthy distortions — a meek foray into something more eclectic and innovative, which despite the lush waves in the soundscape fails to make a memorable impression.

“If I Lost You” takes a more distinct step into guitar-driven electronica, which contains peculiar upbeat pop moments, especially on the chorus. The warped instrumentation gives the song an almost otherworldly dream feature. It is at such quieter moments that Strange Little Birds is at its strongest. It is not just the hypnotic music style that makes Strange Little Birds a highly meditative experience. The predominant themes are those of love, isolation, jealousy and self-doubt, shaping the personal philosophy of the band members, specifically the lead singer. “Magnetized” is a case in point of what the missing link is in the Garbage’s music. This jolting track is a starkly honest confession, driven by a subtle ebb and flow of complex instrumentation and electronic ornaments. Manson’s vocals are as haunting as ever, and the track strikes a spot that feels bothe familiar and new.

Ultimately, though Strange Little Birds has many strong moments, it seems to lack a certain thrilling element. This problematizes the position of bands who became prominent in the mid-90s, highlighting both their inability to reach their former glory and difficulty to break new ground.At certain rare moments, it seems they may be onto something in terms of finding a balance between ingenuity and familiarity. In the end, the record sounds timeless, which is not necessarily a shortcoming, but it fails to be firmly grounded in today’s music tastes and resonate with the modern listener.

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