Strange Little Birds
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Strange Little Birds is the upcoming sixth studio album by American-Scottish alternative rock band Garbage.[3] It is scheduled to be released on June 10, 2016 through the band's own record label, Stunvolume.[4] It is their second independent album release,[5] and follows 2012's Not Your Kind of People.[6] The album press release describes Strange Little Birds as "a sweeping, cinematic record of a unified mood: darkness".[5]
The album's title references fan letters the band members received as well as the music they listened to growing up.[7] Strange Little Birds will be preceded by lead single "Empty"[8] and supported by an international tour.[9]
Composition and style
Singer Shirley Manson said, "the guiding principle was keeping it fresh, and relying on instinct both lyrically and musically";[7] "To me, this record, funnily enough, has the most to do with the first record than any of the previous records. It’s getting back to that beginner’s headspace."[6] Manson described Strange Little Birds as a "romantic" record.[10] Manson clarified later, "What I mean by romance, really, is vulnerability. I used to feel so scared, and I think that was why I was so aggressive — but I’m much more willing to admit weaknesses than I was before.”[5] Each song, she says, addresses “different points in my life between me and a person I’ve loved. They’re hot spots in my life, when I was afraid, or vulnerable, or didn’t behave at my best.”[5] Drummer Butch Vig said that that the album is a departure for the band, darker and more "cinematic and atmospheric".[11]
Manson's approach to lyrical subject matter came from her perception of an absence of darkness in current pop cultural trends. "I feel like the musical landscape of late has been incredibly happy and shiny and poppy. Everybody’s fronting all the time, dancing as fast as they can, smiling as hard as they can, working on their brand. Nobody ever says, ‘Actually, I’m lost and I don’t have a fucking clue what I’m doing with the rest of my life and I'm frightened.’[5] "There aren't really any upbeat pop songs,” says Vig. “Even "Empty", which has a big, anthemic guitar sound, has pretty dark lyrics".[5]
Recording
Writing and recording for Strange Little Birds took over two years, beginning in early 2013.[5] Garbage recorded over twenty tracks during the sessions.[12] The band recorded the album in Vig's basement[5] and at engineer Billy Bush's Red Razor Sounds studio in Los Angeles.[6] Vig stated, "we mixed it so it’s kind of confessional, almost confrontational. On a lot of songs, Shirley’s voice sounds really loud, in your face, and really dry. There are not a lot of effects. There are some moments on the record that get really huge, but a lot of it is really intimate."[11] Two of the songs written during the sessions, "The Chemicals" and "On Fire", were given a vinyl release on Record Store Day the previous year.[13]
Track listing
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Sometimes" | 2:52 |
2. | "Empty" | 3:54 |
3. | "Blackout" | 6:32 |
4. | "If I Lost You" | 4:11 |
5. | "Night Drive Loneliness" | 5:24 |
6. | "Even Though Our Love Is Doomed" | 5:26 |
7. | "Magnetized" | 3:54 |
8. | "We Never Tell" | 4:25 |
9. | "So We Can Stay Alive" | 6:01 |
10. | "Teaching Little Fingers to Play" | 3:58 |
11. | "Amends" | 6:04 |
Early online store listings have offered up "Warriors of the World" and "Atmosphere"[14] or "FWY" ("Fucking With You" initialised[12]) as bonus tracks.[15]
Release history
Date | Region | Label | Distributor | Format(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|
June 10, 2016 | Australia and New Zealand | Stunvolume | Liberator Music[16][5] | Vinyl, CD, digital download[17][2][18] |
Asia, Europe, and South America | PIAS/Cooperative Music[19][14] | |||
United States, Canada | BMG/INgrooves[20][21] | |||
Japan | Hostess Entertainment[15] |
References
- ^ "BILLY BUSH; SELECTED PRODUCER, ENGINEER & MIXER CREDITS" (PDF). GPS Services. Retrieved April 17, 2016.
- ^ a b "GARBAGE RELEASE NEW SINGLE "EMPTY"". Murray Chalmers PR. April 20, 2016. Retrieved April 20, 2016.
- ^ Kickham, Dylan (March 10, 2016). "Garbage Reveal Release Sate for New Album Strange Little Birds". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved March 10, 2016.
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(help) - ^ Camp, Zoe (March 10, 2016). "Garbage Announce New Album Strange Little Birds, Plot Tour". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved March 11, 2016.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "ALBUM BIO: GARBAGE – STRANGE LITTLE BIRDS [LIBERATOR MUSIC/STUNVOLUME] (OUT FRIDAY, 10 JUNE 2016)". Liberator Music via Mushroom Promotions. April 18, 2016. Retrieved April 19, 2016.
- ^ a b c Blistein, Jon (March 10, 2015). "Garbage Prep New Album 'Strange Little Birds'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved March 10, 2015.
- ^ a b Hendicott, James (March 10, 2016). "Garbage Announce Sixth Album 'Strange Little Birds'". NME. Retrieved March 10, 2016.
- ^ "Garbage on Twitter". April 16, 2016. Retrieved April 17, 2016.
Ok it's official. This week you will finally hear the first single off our new record.It's called EMPTY. And it's what you want. Trust Me.🐾
- ^ "Garbage To Support New Album 'Strange Little Birds' With European Summer Tour". Stereoboard. March 10, 2016. Retrieved April 17, 2016.
- ^ Trendell, Andrew (March 1, 2015). "Garbage Speak Out On Progress Of 'romantic' New Album". Gigwise. Retrieved March 10, 2015.
- ^ a b Stern, Marlow (March 22, 2016). "Butch Vig on the 25th Anniversary of Nirvana's 'Nevermind' and the 'Mediocre' State of Music". The Daily Beast. Retrieved April 4, 2016.
- ^ a b "TWO MORE GARBAGE SONG TITLES REVEALED IN STUDIO PICTURES". Hidden Jams. Retrieved April 17, 2016.
- ^ Carley, Brennan (April 16, 2015). "Hear Garbage's Record Store Day Collaboration With Silversun Pickups' Brian Aubert". Spin. Retrieved March 10, 2016.
- ^ a b "Garbage - Strange Little Birds". Record Pusher. Retrieved April 5, 2016.
- ^ a b "Garbage - Strange Little Birds". Tower Records Japan. Retrieved April 17, 2016.
- ^ "GARBAGE REVEAL 'STRANGE LITTLE BIRDS' ALBUM DETAILS". Mushroom Publications. Retrieved April 17, 2016.
- ^ "Garbage have released a photo of their forthcoming LP and it appears to be laser etched". Garbage Disco. April 1, 2016. Retrieved April 17, 2016.
- ^ "Strange Little Birds (iTunes pre-order)". April 20, 2016.
- ^ "Garbage; Strange Little Birds". April 24, 2016.
- ^ "Garbage; Strange Little Birds". April 24, 2016.
- ^ "Garbage; Strange Little Birds". April 24, 2016.