When Garbage fans think of Version 2.0, one word tends to come to mind: iconic. 1998 saw the release of the band’s ambitious sophomore effort – a forward-thinking follow-up to the band’s alternative-tinged 1995 self-titled debut that turned heads and allowed creative minds to think outside of the box, or better yet, to eliminate that damn box completely.
While it’s no secret that Version 2.0 gave Garbage a boost in the industry, its legacy continues to live on. Despite a rather slow start, Version 2.0 went on to equal the band’s predecessor, earning platinum certifications in many territories, and later earning the band a GRAMMY nomination in 1999 for Album of the Year and Best Rock Album. “Special” was also nominated the following year for Best Rock Song and Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group.
Version 2.0 wasn’t a means to reinvent their sound but to expand on their already-massive style. Adding in more electronic elements, noisier guitars, dark introspective lyrical content mixed with pop-driven melodies and a strong penchant for belonging and camaraderie among listeners – a notion that has not been lost twenty years later – the band bench-marked themselves as being way ahead of the curve, experimenting with new technology and fundamentals we still hear in music today.
The biggest thing Garbage fans have always bonded over is lyrical content, something singer Shirley Manson felt she had to hone when she joined up with Butch Vig, Duke Erikson, and Steve Marker in the early 1990’s. Now, Manson’s words are embedded in our hearts. They are mantras for when the world becomes too much to bear, or for when we need to stand up for ourselves and show some fiery courage.
Lyrics from tracks like “Medication” and the Janice Galloway-inspired track from the novel of the same name, “The Trick Is To Keep Breathing,” have been tattooed, drawn on notebooks, etched on canvases, and posted all over social media to express ourselves with words we once couldn’t find on our own; a reminder that all is safe and taken care of if we just breathe and press play.
From the pulsing force that is “Push It” to the highly underrated fuck-you anthem that is “Special” to the incredibly self-aware “I Think I’m Paranoid,” Version 2.0 gave some of Garbage’s best material a home, further proving that exceptional music created from a genuine place has staying power.
This fall, the band will embark on their 20 Years Paranoid Tour – a celebration of the anniversary of Version 2.0 with the album and selected b-sides played in its entirety. The tour will be a limited run of the UK, US, Germany, France, The Netherlands, and more to possibly be added. If you caught the band on their 2015 anniversary tour, 20 Years Queer, a celebration of their debut album, you know full well this isn’t one to miss, and being that dates are limited, we advise you to act fast!
For tour dates and tickets, click here.
