I have been a huge Garbage fan since the beginning (and when Shirley was in Angelfish)and have followed their work up to present. Absolute Garbage (not too crazy about the title)tracks the band from their first hit singles (and the best)to the somewhat commercially rocky '00s material. Their timing was dead on in 1995 when their debut hit stores and Shirley and the boys got heavy airplay on radio and MTV. Their music was a strange brew of glossy alt-electro rock often sampling other artists who seemed to be their inspirations. "Stupid Girl" updates The Clash's "Train in Vain" and later on their second record, "Special" relies on Chryssie Hynde. "Vow" is an exquisite stinger as "Only Happy When it Rains" sounds like a sunny pop song except that it's not. "Milk", the last track the debut began a trend with Garbage; each album they have released have always closed with a bittersweet ballad that is usually dark, sexy, and pleading. The best example is "Milk" with it's desperate "I'm waiting for you" hook. Gorgeous, and so different from other music of that time. In Between the debut and Version 2.0, was the Romeo and Juliet Soundtrack which featured Garbage's ode to obsession "#1 Crush". Version 2.0 set well with critics and fans alike and became a year end favorite on many magazine lists. Lead single "Push It" twisted Salt N' Pepa into a multi-layered techno-rock gem. Check for the Beach Boys influence when Shirley purrs "Don't Worry Baby" like it was the 60's all over again. This will come up again on the third record. "I Think I'm Paranoid" ressurects "Bend Me, Shake Me" and makes for another Garbage classic. "When I Grow Up" was a great single and a track from the Big Daddy soundtrack during that time. It was a lighter cut, and made way for Garbage's slightly looser, poppier sound. Of course, there are no words for the awesome ballad that is "You Look so Fine". It contains one of my favorite lines from a song: "You Look so fine, I want to break your heart and give you mine". I mean, what's not to love? "The World is Not Enough" was from the James Bond Soundtrack and wisely included among the best cuts. The third record Beautiful Garbage received mixed reviews, mostly for Garbage's transition into a lighter sound that mixed their signature styles with 60's girl group harmonies. At times the tracks seem a bit forced and not so cohesive. Even still, Beautiful contained some great songs. "Cherry Lips(Go Baby Go)is among them. On a collection like this, it seems to stand out just a bit but really it is the best example of how flexible Garbage's sound can be. It's a track that is hard to categorize or pin down, and maybe that was the point. It's mostly sparkle and pop, but at the same time casts a wicked new wave spell behind Shirley's nearly unrecognizable high and perky voice. Also from that album is "Shut Your Mouth", one of the tracks that sounds more like Garbage's mid-late '90s offerings. A few people complain about the omitted "Androgyny", "Breaking up the Girl", and "Sex is the Not the Enemy". People will always disagree with best of collections. I for one am glad that "Androgyny" was left off. That track has to be the weakest of all and would throw off a nice collection like this. Obviously I am not the only one. As for the others left off, I like them but not the strongest material. Overall, I'm pretty happy with the selection of the singles and wouldn't change a thing. The fourth record, Bleed Like Me, was a bit more on track with critics and the buying public. I was so glad that "Why Do You Love Me" got the airplay it deserved. It's an excellent single about insecurity and empowerment and a nice comeback hit for Garbage. The title track is a good old fashioned blistering Garbage track, although not quite as classic as say, "Queer" or "Stupid Girl". A nice remix of "It's All Over But the Crying", Bleed Like Me's album closing torch song, and the new track "Tell Me Where It Hurts" which sounds like part of the Beautiful Garbage era, is also included. It's a good song but not the strongest of statements on the future of Garbage. All in all, it's nice to have whether you're a fan or a casual listener since most of the good stuff is on here. Most are under the impression Garbage is a singles band and that's not true at all. The debut and Version 2.0 are essential listening and two of the best records of the 1990s. Includes nice booklet with great photos, lyrics to all songs and a nice little history of the band. Buy it now!