Review GARBAGE “Let All That We Imagine Be The Light”

In 2021, Garbage released their seventh album, “No Gods, No Masters”, and now it is their newest effort, “Let All That We Imagine Be the Light”, which will hit the shelves. The four-piece band played an important role in defining alternative rock in the ’90s, releasing their debut album the same year as Skunk Anansie, who recently launched their latest record, “The Painful Truth”.

“Let All That We Imagine Be the Light” is a dark album with a constant yearning for light. Compared with their previous release, which was spot-on and intense, the new album is more atmospheric, with songs like “Radical,” which remains calm yet intense. The theme of Sisyphus echoes in “Radical” with the key line in the chorus, “All you have to do is save a life.” The song is about not getting overwhelmed by sad situations, but trying to be a better version of yourself.

I mentioned “Sisyphus,” the song previous to “Radical.” Like most of the lyrics, this one is a personal reflection of Shirley Manson as well. It’s about recovering when you’re down and having to move the boulder of life up the hill again. It’s about everybody’s need for protection in a selfish world. The music effectively portrays this message as it is a dark, synth-based track that creates an atmosphere of hope in a dark world.

Compared to these emotional, touching moments, the opener is a rather upbeat tune, though not when you dive into the lyrics. “There’s No Future in Optimism” is about a couple who need to escape their situation. Based on personal experiences, the song is about the opposite of its provocative title. It’s about embracing hope to give optimism a future. This hope echoes in the song’s upbeat parts, making it a great opener.

“Chinese Fire Horse” is a complex song that follows the opener and shares its upbeat vibe. It is an energetic tune about taking back the power to steer one’s personal narrative.

“Hold” is a mesmerizing rock song that emphasizes the importance of friends. It is followed by the eerie “Have We Met (The Void).” The dystopian-sounding “R U Happy Now” is lyrically connected to the current state of the world, and specifically, the US. The somber, synth-driven “The Day I Met God” marks the end of the album, delivering a gloomy finale.

“Let All That We Imagine Be the Light” is a very personal album, with a dark vibe serving as the foundation for these ten songs. At the same time, there is always a ray of light and hope embedded in these tunes, making Garbage’s new album an emotional journey where words and sounds unite to create something bigger than the sum of its parts.