Album Review // Garbage // Let All That We Imagine Be The Light
4/5 stars
Popular '90s alternative rock band Garbage celebrates 30 years together with their eighth studio album Let All That We Imagine Be The Light. Their mix of electronic sounds with rock instrumentation is similar to Gary Numan, while Shirley Manson's vocals show influences of Patti Smith and Siouxsie Sioux. Garbage has managed to continue sounding fresh without becoming a nostalgia act. The group has carried on over the past few decades while serving a dedicated underground fan base – especially in the LGBTQIA+ community – where songs like "Queer" and "Cherry Lips (Go Baby Go)" are anthems. With their latest release, the focus is on the current state of the world, with the theme of love on the brink of extinction permeating tracks like "There's No Future In Optimism," "Hold," "Radical," and "The Day That I Met God." The darkly grooving "R U Happy Now" holds back no disdain for our current administration. Additional standouts include "Chinese Fire Horse" and "Get Out Of My Face AKA Bad Kitty," surefire bets for future set lists with their driving rhythms and catchy choruses. Let All That We Imagine Be The Light shows that Garbage is still as relevant as ever and that they can still create danceable songs while maintaining a message.
