Bleed Like Me
by Garbage
  • Record Label: Geffen
  • Release Date: Apr 12, 2005
User Score
8.3

Universal acclaim- based on 136 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 111 out of 136
  2. Mixed: 14 out of 136
  3. Negative: 11 out of 136

Review this album

  1. Your Score
    0 out of 10
    Rate this:
    • 10
    • 9
    • 8
    • 7
    • 6
    • 5
    • 4
    • 3
    • 2
    • 1
    • 0
    • 0
  1. Submit
  2. Check Spelling
view
per page
  1. JPTee
    Jun 19, 2005
    5
    Just seems so darn tired, really.
  2. NoahE
    May 10, 2005
    5
    Garbage deserve credit for one thing in particular; remaining true to their roots. However, that may also make it the primary weakness of this record as well. Shirley Manson and Co. have always ventured into the metaphoric dirt under their fingernails and incorporating these themes of heartbreak, betrayal and coping into the songwriting, with the meaty hooks. "Bleed Like Me" continues to Garbage deserve credit for one thing in particular; remaining true to their roots. However, that may also make it the primary weakness of this record as well. Shirley Manson and Co. have always ventured into the metaphoric dirt under their fingernails and incorporating these themes of heartbreak, betrayal and coping into the songwriting, with the meaty hooks. "Bleed Like Me" continues to walk upon that familiar territory, though the production is more polished than ever before. However, many of the songs alone, despite some effort, end up sounding cliched or formulaic, adjectives Garbage have never really been equated with. Garbage remain one of the better Alternative artists out there, but this is their weakest of their four releases to date and if they want to maintain that early integrity from here on, perhaps the advice to them would be to not just dig under the fingernails and write of the dirt, but mature on and write of the learning experience from it.… Expand
  3. JD
    Apr 12, 2005
    4
    Garbage's laziest effort to date. Highly dissapointed in a band that created two of the best albums of the 90s, even garning a Best Album of Year Grammy nomination for "Version 2.0". Surely, this can't be the same band. Even the flop "BeautifulGarbage" was more creative and interesting than this effort.
  4. JustinV
    Apr 20, 2005
    5
    The single's worth listening to but aside from that it's a rather bland boring album.
  5. BrentP
    Apr 22, 2005
    4
    This was a big disappointment. I was looking for Garbage to bounce back from their last poor album and sadly, this didn't do it. A lethargic, uninspired collection of filler in my opinion. Trite lyrics such as "be my bad boyfriend" aren't suddenly clever just because of the role reversal in them. There were a 2-3 songs worthy of putting on the album, but the rest really felt This was a big disappointment. I was looking for Garbage to bounce back from their last poor album and sadly, this didn't do it. A lethargic, uninspired collection of filler in my opinion. Trite lyrics such as "be my bad boyfriend" aren't suddenly clever just because of the role reversal in them. There were a 2-3 songs worthy of putting on the album, but the rest really felt boring to me.… Collapse
  6. StoneF
    Apr 26, 2005
    4
    It is Garbage as usual with hard hits, strong balads and a smooth Shirley. The problem is it sounds an awful like Beautiful Garbage. Perhaps this is the direction they want to go. I thought there best work was Version 2.0 - which still leaves me listening again and again. But that's me.
  7. MikeP
    Apr 18, 2005
    5
    I've loved Garbage since I caught the video for Vow on MTV. I've been a loyal follower since then--and I couldn't be more disappointed with this disc. It's hard to imagine that this is the fruit of four year's labor. The music is bland--to teh point of being virtually indistinguishable from track to track, and the lyrics are absolutely groan-worthy ("life's a I've loved Garbage since I caught the video for Vow on MTV. I've been a loyal follower since then--and I couldn't be more disappointed with this disc. It's hard to imagine that this is the fruit of four year's labor. The music is bland--to teh point of being virtually indistinguishable from track to track, and the lyrics are absolutely groan-worthy ("life's a bitch, then you die"? Come on). Pretty inexplicable, considering how smart, witty, and engaging Shirley is in her tour diary. I think Garbage may have jumped the proverbial shark. I wish they had released their long-talked-about compilation of B-sides instead--there are some gems in there.… Expand
  8. KimK
    Apr 19, 2005
    4
    It can't help but be well produced, but the songs are abrasive and the lyrics have slipped from cruel to petty. Shirley Manson is always a treat vocally, but this is a soulless outing. Too bad Curve just broke up; Garbage could have learned something from Geri and Dean!
  9. mikeh
    Dec 17, 2005
    6
    It sounds dated and when it rocks it sounds more awkward than rocking. The other three albums are more worth it; this was made more for touring's sake.

Awards & Rankings

36
#36 Most Discussed Album of 2005

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
56

Mixed or average reviews - based on 18 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 18
  2. Mixed: 10 out of 18
  3. Negative: 2 out of 18
  1. Entertainment Weekly
    83
    Humongous hooks. [15 Apr 2005, p.77]
  2. Rolling Stone
    70
    The first two-thirds of Bleed Like Me is easily the best sustained run of studio Garbage since the opening half of their 1995 debut.
    Read full review
  3. The Guardian
    60
    While Manson's changeling vocals are always worth listening to, Garbage's songs often aren't.
    Read full review
See all critic reviews »