Garbage’s New Single ‘Empty’ Sounds Like 1993

by Meghan Sara

 

Garbage’s first single off their upcoming album Strange Little Birds (dropping June 10th) sounds like Garbage.

That’s a good thing, too, because the band’s ability to stay true to their heady, hard-rockin’ sound all the way up to this, their sixth studio album may just be the key to maintaining their devoted fan base.  Maybe it’s intentional:  Rolling Stone quoted the band’s frontwoman, Shirley Manson, from a statement where she admitted “To me, this record, funnily enough, has the most to do with the first record than any of the previous records.”

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“Empty” is a rather stripped-back verion of the band’s sound, and the video reflects that simple spirit. Is Shirley Manson (with bubblegum pink hair! Everybody, quick! Get pink!) chanelling Debbie Harry in the “Heart of Glass” video? There’s a nifty spin on this concept: the camera rotates around at a dizzying, choppy speeds. Do not adjust your TV set! Garbage is known for visually stunning videos (“The World Is Not Enough” “Androgyny“). “Empty” teases your eyes with bright colours (THAT COAT!) and shadows — it does not disappoint.

Manson grips the microphone aggressively as she sings “I’m so empty/you’re all I’m thinking about,” because nobody sings about being mushy in lurve like Garbage does (“#1 Crush,” “Tell Me Where It Hurts”). Check out the video below — warning! You may find yourself singing it in your head for the rest of the day!

 

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