When the electric ensemble of Shirley Manson, Butch Vig, Duke Erikson and Steve Marker set out to record the follow-up to their breakthrough eponymous 1995 debut album Garbage, anticipation was sky high. Thankfully, for them and for their legion of loyal listeners, 1998’s Version 2.0 transcended all expectations and solidified their status as a band with staying power and a penchant for crafting songs that stick.
Propelled by the initial trio of memorable singles “Push It,” “I Think I’m Paranoid,” and “Special,” Version 2.0 was both a critical and commercial success, debuting at #1 and #13 on the UK and US Billboard 200 album charts respectively, and garnering GRAMMY nominations in the highly coveted Album of the Year and Best Rock Album categories. “We were under so much pressure, but we knew we had to try something new,” Manson told Spin back in 2012. “We’d all become obsessed with the breakthroughs in those early years of the technological revolution, we were determined to bring this new thinking to the fore. Of all our past records, [Version 2.0] is the one I have the deepest affection for—we had so much fun making and promoting it. Really, a magical time in my life.”
In conjunction with the album’s 20th anniversary milestone which arrived a few weeks ago, the band is slated to release a special deluxe edition via 3LP vinyl, 2CD and digital formats June 22nd, courtesy of via Stunvolume/PIAS. In addition to the original 12-track album, the package includes a second disc comprised of ten B-sides including the acoustic version of “Medication” and the group’s cover version of Big Star’s “Thirteen.”
Garbage is also hitting the road later this year for an anniversary tour that commences at Ireland’s Electric Picnic festival August 31st through September 2nd and concludes October 27th at Brooklyn’s Kings Theatre, with a complete list of scheduled dates listed here.
"Version 2.0 is the sound of a band growing up, evolving, and more than anything, gaining confidence, Vig explains in an official statement. “When we started recording, we made a conscious decision to not re-invent ourselves, but rather take everything we learned from our debut album and filter it through the new digital technology we were grappling with. Sonically, the album has moments of razor sharp clarity and soft beauty. Indeed, it's possibly our best album.”
Reserve your copy of the deluxe reissue, have a listen to “Lick The Pavement” and “Medication” (Acoustic Version), and revisit a handful of the music videos that accompanied the album’s release below.
LISTEN/WATCH: