Album Review: Garbage – Let All That We Imagine Be The Light
3 min read
I can still vividly recall the impact Garbage’s self-titled debut had back in 1995—raw, edgy, and brilliantly ahead of its time. Fast forward three decades and the band, still led by the indomitable Shirley Manson, is still creating music with purpose and bite. Known for their fusion of alternative rock, electronica, and industrial tones, Garbage never shy away from confronting social and political issues head-on. Their latest release, Let All That We Imagine Be the Light, marks their eighth studio album, and it arrives via BMG. The album features tracks inspired by real-world unrest and personal reflection, and by clocking in at just under 50 minutes, it’s a more concise offering than some recent works, but no less powerful… So let’s get into it….
Kicking off with the lead single, There’s No Future in Optimism you’re hit with synths and distorted electric guitars, and Shirley’s vocals, in a track that for me has an unpolished quality, and lyrics that feel forced into the instrumentation. Chinese Fire Horse continues on the same lines, though lyrically feels better suited to the track (especially the spoken vocals), whilst Hold is the strongest of the opening three tracks – Shirley’s high notes and the beat and tempo that fits the instrumentation far better. A darker, moodier introduction to Have We Met (The Void) follows, and runs all through the track, in what would be one of my favourite two tracks on the album (the other you will find out in the fullness of time).
Sisyphus takes a dark electronic dance turn to begin the second part of the album, in a track where again the vocals don’t match the track (for me), and this contrasts with the more nostalgic Radical which feels like it has come straight out of the 1990’s (I’m thinking Sneaker Pimps). Love to Give starts as much of the album with the gothic synth, but turns into a more heavy rock track, which frankly is a nice change up, though I’m feeling increasingly wanting on Shirley’s vocals which are lacking the punch of yesteryear, whilst second single release Get Out My Face AKA Bad Kitty follows suit with the nostalgia feels which is just lacking… something. Penultimate track R U Happy Now follows suit with the set-up of the previous few tracks, though is largely unforgettable, whilst the album is rounded off by The Day That I Met God – my other favourite track on the album – which feels less like a badly assembled studio synth session, and more like classic Garbage.
Honestly, I was thrilled to be covering this album. I loved Garbage in the 1990’s and I’d not heard anything since. I feel that Let All That We Imagine Be the Light is a great indicator as to why I’ve not heard much since. The tracks felt like they were (with the exception of one or two) put together on the cheap – the synth set up and quality felt dated, and largely put together with a sequencer. Shirley Manson still can carry a tune, but I wasn’t a fan of her actual lyrics half the time, and you can tell the vocal power has gone. Not going to lie, I felt a little flat from disappointment after this review, because I wanted late 1990’s Garbage, and I think this was, in retrospect, an unlikely want. I might add the final track to my 2025 favourites… but I have a feeling it will be removed upon review.
