Arriving only five years since greatest hits compilation Absolute Garbage, comes Garbage: The Absolute Collection, released locally to coincide with the band’s forthcoming Australian sojourn.
With only a handful of differences between the two compilations, the newest inclusions are “Blood For Poppies” and “Big Bright World” from 2012’s Not Your Kind of People.
But Garbage’s back catalogue will not be denied.
Their extensive career is well represented on both compilations, a testament to the authenticity and maturity of their beginnings that the most represented album on the disc is debut LP, Garbage.
“Milk”, “Stupid Girl” and “Only Happy When It Rains” are reminders of how the band rocked the mid-nineties.
They’ve also managed to transcend the decade, emerging into the 21st century with some of their most adored and accomplished material yet, punctuated by “Breaking Up The Girl”, “Androgyny” (which was strangely absent from the preceding greatest hits) and the ever-so-threatening “Shut Your Mouth”.
Missing this time are “You Look So Fine” and the orchestral “The World Is Not Enough”.
The stunning “Bleed Like Me” holds it’s own, showcasing lead singer Shirley Manson’s sexy and picturesque voice against a tableau of disturbing pathology.
While newer songs serve as strong additions to the band’s pantheon, they’re probably not the songs that will entice the casual Garbage listener.
Never fear though because that role can be left to nearly any other song on this stellar collection.
Garbage 2013 Australian Sidewaves
TICKETS ON SALE THURSDAY 13 DECEMBER, 9AM
MONDAY 25 FEBRUARY
SYDNEY, METRO THEATRE – Licensed All Ages
www.ticketek.com.au
WEDNESDAY 27 FEBRUARY
MELBOURNE, FORUM THEATRE – 18+
www.ticketmaster.com.au
