GARBAGE To prove it's not a leftover, band releases 4th album

The rock band is preparing for a hectic year of touring, with one stop in Cleveland.
Widely considered a leftover relic from the '90s alt rock explosion, Garbage is somewhat of an afterthought in today's music scene.
It is for that exact reason the Shirley Manson-lead band's latest album "Bleed Like Me" feels like a guilty pleasure, as if it were a Bush or Sponge or some other lost act from a decade ago.
Still, the group's newest release, its fourth, is a solid rock album that stands up against anything else on the radio or recently added to the iPod.
Considering the band averages three years between releases, Garbage guitarist Duke Erikson is familiar with the "Where have you been?" dynamic.
Great fans
"Yeah well, we must have the most loyal fans in the world, it's unbelievable," Erikson said calling from Detroit.
"We take too long to make records, there is no doubt about it. Nobody works like us. Thank God or there would be very little music in the world. But when we make a record, we write everything in the studio and we try a lot of different approaches to songs and we mess with the formula a bit and that takes time. And then we tour anywhere from 18 months to two years, so that's just the way it works."
While protracted recording sessions have been Garbage's modus operandi since its inception, this time out the band hit a rough patch creatively speaking and nearly called it quits.
After reconvening a few years ago in Madison, Wis., to write and record its next disc, the group quickly wrote "Bleed Like Me" track "Right Between the Eyes."
Things appeared positive until opinions varied as to how to produce the track, thus cracking the band dynamic.
Eventually Garbage relocated to California and began working with Dust Brother John King. Rough roads continued for the group until Foo Fighter and drummer extraordinaire Dave Grohl played on the decidedly rock sounding "Bad Boyfriend" and the band's creative path was obvious.
"Just his playing and the excitement he brought to that track kind of got us excited about making a more kind of stripped down, kind of rock 'n' roll record," Erikson said. "So, that had a profound effect on us too."
Almost hung it up
And exactly how close did the band come to breaking up for good?
"When we kind of all went our separate ways, I think at that point none of us really cared whether it continued or not," Erikson said. "But once the dust cleared and we listened to some of the songs, we saw that there was a start of a good record there and then I think we all agreed it would be a shame not to finish it."
With the album out and its lead single "Why Do You Love Me" garnering radio and video outlet airplay, the members of Garbage are gearing up for a busy touring year, including a show Tuesday at the Cleveland Agora.
Currently touring with the group is former Jane's Addiction bassist Eric Avery, who Erikson said "has a real kind of rock approach that has given the rhythm section a bit of a push. It's a great rock show."
As for future projects, nothing is certain but it appears diehard fans won't have to wait nearly as long next time.
"We've been discussing a greatest hits for a while," Erikson said. "We've been discussing a B-sides collection for a long time and a live record. So those are all things coming down the pike, but to talk about any future projects right now is just almost too much to bear. We're just glad to be out of the studio and out on the road. We feel like we've been released from captivity."