Garbage - 'Bleed Like Me' (Warner Bros) Released 11/04/05

Garbage�s first record in four years also marks the ten-year anniversary for the band, which has a high-profile slot at this year�s Download Festival.  Talking about the album�s recording, vocalist Shirley Manson says �the boys went in and set up amps and made it super loud and just played.  I think you can feel that.� Sounds interesting, then.

Crunching guitars introduce �Bad Boyfriend�, which features Dave Grohl on drums, and any fears that the band have changed are immediately removed � it's trademark Garbage.  Manson sounds sexy singing �I�ve got something special for my bad boyfriend�; and it makes for a solid opening. Then, �Run Baby Run� ups the tempo, but unfortunately doesn�t build much on the promising start, whilst �Right Between The Eyes� suffers from the lack of an actual chorus. Lead single �Why Do You Love Me� is a highlight and sees the band get into top gear with a rasping riff, bass driven verses, and a frantically catchy chorus. Title track �Bleed Like Me� is calmer and shows restraint, which judging on this, doesn�t play to the band�s strengths.

Elsewhere, �Metal Heart� is impressive and employs the use of strings; as well we having a thumping drum beat when finally kicking into life.  �Sex Is Not The Enemy� features seductive �ooh ooh� backing vocals with a catchy and simple chorus, all built on a driving bass riff, which contrasts greatly to �It�s All Over But The Crying�, an engaging and mournful piano ballad.  �Why Don�t You Come Over� is a high-octane track, before the epic �Happy Home�.  A dark intro gradually builds with guitar and piano, before a rousing chorus.  It�s ending is unnecessarily long, bringing to a close an album which is safe if unspectacular.