Milk (Garbage song)

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"Milk"
Tricky
singles chronology
"Stupid Girl"
(1996) 		"Milk"
(1996) 		"#1 Crush"
(1997)

"Milk" is a song written and produced by American

Tricky on a new version of "Milk" for single release. Much media comment was made regarding a rumoured fall-out over the sessions, when it became known that Garbage produced a further mix of "Milk" that only incorporated Tricky's vocals from that session.[2]

After an acclaimed live performance of the new recording of "Milk" at the

UK Singles Chart,[3] outselling the previous single "Stupid Girl".[4] A mix that deleted Tricky's vocal, "Milk (The Siren mix)", charted in Germany, Australia and New Zealand.[5]

In North America, "Milk" was released alongside album cut "

#1 Crush" instead.[7]

Background

"Milk" was written and recorded by the band at

overdubs) was recorded in a single take facing the control room speakers.[9] The main body of the song was recorded in 45 minutes.[9] At a later point, Garbage recorded some ambient textures for the track, and even had a clarinet part recorded, but these were ultimately removed in favour of keeping the production simple. "It just had a really beautiful kind of feeling to it", explained Manson, "We tried to recreate it in the booth, but it just sounded flat."[9] Vig elaborated: "When it came to mix, we just left it the way we had [originally] recorded it".[9]

Manson had told the rest of the band [when she joined Garbage] that she was a songwriter, but the truth was that she had little input in the songwriting team that formed the core of her previous band: "As the lead singer, I was left most of the time with coming up with the melody and the licks," Manson remembered, ""Milk" was obviously augmented by the rest of Garbage, but the melody and the words are mine".[10] She was inspired by a line in Michael Ondaatje's The Collected Works of Billy the Kid ("her throat is a kitchen") and alluded to it in her lyrics for the song.[11] Manson later described the composition was "a seduction, almost like a siren song",[12] "I really like the vulnerable and sinister side of "Milk". It sounds like it's an innocuous love song and it's not"[9] and again elaborated further: "It's been dismissed by people as the ballad at the end of the album. To me "Milk" is the darkest, most hopeless of the songs. People say "Oh, it's lovey-dovey, so therefore it's a love song". But it's a very bleak song, it's about loss and the fear of loss; about things you can't have and things you will forever wait for."[13]

Remix collaboration

After Garbage's fifth single "

tape machine and a mixing console caught fire.[2] Manson found the experience of working with a male vocalist "enchanting and illuminating".[15] Tricky turned off all the lights in the vocal booth and pressed his mic against Manson's as they performed their parts.[16]

Internet rumors abounded that the session had been a disaster, with the band's audio engineer claiming the results were not as expected, and that Tricky himself had been difficult to work with.[2] The band's manager disputed the reported events, placing blame on problems at the recording studio. The band eventually put out a press statement to deny the rumours stating that the session had in fact gone well, the rework of "Milk" was still a work in progress and that further production by both Tricky and Garbage was required.[2] Tricky finished his duet version of "Milk" in New York's Platinum Island Studios; Garbage completed their own guitar-led version of "Milk" in Madison during a break in their world tour.[17] Garbage's rework was finished in two versions; the first was titled the Siren mix and featured only Manson's vocal; the second also incorporated Tricky's vocal and was titled the Wicked mix.[18] Tricky took exception to Garbage releasing their own version as a single instead of his, and complained about the situation to the press.

Release

"Milk" was first released as a single in Australia and New Zealand by

Rabbit In the Moon, Todd Terry and Danny Saber respectively.[22] "Milk" debuted at number 48 on the Australian Singles Chart in early November 1996; the single then re-entered the chart in December and peaked at number 44.[23] In New Zealand, "Milk" spent a single week at number 50.[24]

The Wicked remix of "Milk" featuring Tricky impacted UK radio stations in mid-October 1996 and was A-listed by both

Top of The Pops. "Milk" spent eight weeks on the UK charts, and sold over 135,000 copies.[4]

Across Europe, "Milk" received heavy support from radio, peaking at number three on Music & Media's Alternative Rock chart in December[26] and climbing to number 24 on the European Top 50 airplay chart by January.[27] Bertelsmann Music Group released two CD singles for "Milk", backed with remixes, to record stores. In Germany, modest sales of "Milk" led to a seven-week run on their singles chart, peaking at number 84.[28]

In North America,

Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart, which ranks the most popular songs in the United States that have yet to enter the Hot 100.[33]

The chart impact of both singles was curtailed by the late October impact of a new remix of "

alternative charts in both the United States and Canada;[36][37] and gain modest traction at Top 40 radio.[38] Despite not gaining much traction at radio, commercial sales of "Milk" enabled the single to re-enter the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart at number 15 and peak a week later at number six[39] and hanging on until at the end of February.[40]

Music video

The music video for "Milk" was shot in London by director Stéphane Sednaoui. Originally scheduled to shoot in Paris while the band were in France on tour, it was more-cost effective to relocate the shoot to the UK and fly the band over and back. Two edits were completed: a single-take version for the album mix and a second version with some extra shots of Shirley for the Wicked/Siren mix.

In the United States,

MTV Europe certified the video a Buzz Bin clip.[43]

The single-take album version "Milk" video was first commercially released on 1996's

Video-CD.[44] A remastered version (a hybrid of the footage from the remix dubbed with the album version) was included on Garbage's 2007 greatest hits DVD Absolute Garbage.[45]

Remixes

David Christophere, who produced under the name of Rabbit in the Moon, was solicited to remix Garbage by Butch Vig himself, through DJ

Madonna, Plastikman, Portishead and musical cues from Monty Python and Halloween
in his mixes.

"Milk" was the first major remix project undertaken by Massive Attack in four years. One of their mixes, the "D Mix" featured a 22-piece live orchestra.[18]

In the three weeks before the commercial release of "Milk", Mushroom distributed to

record stores
in plain black card sleeves. The first "Milk" 12-inch featured three remixes by Massive Attack and the second featured the two Goldie mixes.

In 2007, "Milk" was

remastered and included on Garbage's greatest hits album Absolute Garbage.[45] In 2015, "Milk", the Tricky remix, both Wicked and Siren mixes, and nine club remixes were remastered and released on Garbage (20th Anniversary Super Deluxe Edition). The digital bundle also included the previously unreleased "Primal mix" by Massive Attack.[46]

Critical reception

In a review of the debut album for

Confide In Me" that soars ever upward in its frosty majesty".[50] In their album review, The Guardian wrote, "Manson gives her dreamy all on this one, an unbearably lovely, lush ballad.[51] "A divinely spooked, penumbral beauty", wrote Sharon O'Connell in her Melody Maker album write-up, "["Milk" recalls] Julee Cruise's work with Angelo Badalamenti".[52] "Depeche Mode in a pensive mood" wrote Emma Morgan in her NME review,[53] while her colleague M.B.'s write-up for their sister-title Vox described "Milk" as "a stoners midnight Manhattan taxi tour".[54] Pippa Lang, in a review for Metal Hammer, referred to the subtle strain of sadness within songs such as "A Stroke of Luck" and "Milk", describing them as "beautifully melancholic pieces of trancey tragedy".[55]

Track listings

Credits and personnel

Charts

Release history

Region Date Format Label
Australia October 7, 1996
White
United States October 22, 1996 Airplay: Triple A Almo Sounds
November 5, 1996 Airplay: Top 40 radio[62]
United Kingdom November 11, 1996
  • 2-CD single set
  • 7-inch single
Mushroom
Europe 2-CD maxi single set BMG
United States November 12, 1996 Cassette single Almo Sounds
November 19, 1996 CD single
United Kingdom May 5, 1997 2-12-inch single set (as Milk Remixes) Mushroom

References

  1. ^ McLean, Craig (April 29, 2012). "Shirley Manson interview: Breaking up the garbage girl". The Observer. Retrieved August 26, 2014.
  2. ^ a b c d e Abbott, Ian. "Garbage News - May 1996 News". Cafemomo.com. Archived from the original on October 3, 1999. Retrieved July 11, 2011.
  3. ^ a b c "Garbage: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 1, 2021.
  4. ^ a b Jones, Stephen (March 28, 1998). A+R; Garbage. Music Week.
  5. ^ a b c d Davis, Andy (January 1, 1997). Three Men and A Babe; Welcome to Spooner Town; Goodbye Angelfish (#209 ed.). London: Record Collector.
  6. ^ Abbot, Ian. "Garbage – August 1996 News". Cafemomo.com. Archived from the original on October 4, 1999. Retrieved July 16, 2011.
  7. ^
    ISBN 978-1-61775-550-7
    .
  8. ^ Trendell, Andrew (August 20, 2015). "The rock icon talks to Gigwise about the Garbage classic 'Milk'". Gigwise.
  9. ^ a b c d e GARBAGE. Making Music. June 1, 1996.
  10. ^ LeDonne, Rob (September 13, 2019). "Shirley Manson Says Her Podcast The Jump Is 'A Revelation In My Life'". Billboard.
  11. ^ My Life in Books: Musician Shirley Manson on the literature that has shaped her life. Archived from the original on March 27, 2012. Retrieved July 1, 2011. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  12. ^ "Garbage O-Zone interview (November 1996)". BBC. Retrieved July 17, 2011.[dead YouTube link]
  13. ^ Double, Steve (October 26, 1996). Koala Shaker. NME.
  14. ^ Abbot, Ian (April 24, 1996). "Garbage News - April 1996 - Garbage and Tricky to collaborate". Cafemomo.com. Archived from the original on October 3, 1999. Retrieved July 16, 2011.
  15. ^ Daly, Steven (September 1, 1996). "Modern Life is Rubbish". The Face. Archived from the original on October 13, 2006. Retrieved October 10, 2006.
  16. ^ Williams, Simon (December 1, 1996). Bin There, Done That!. Vox.
  17. ^ Milk (press release page 2). Mushroom Records. 1996.
  18. ^ a b Milk (Press release page 1). Mushroom. 1996.
  19. ^ Rob, Watson. "Milk OZ CD1". Archived from the original on September 15, 2007. Retrieved July 17, 2011.
  20. ^ "Garbage - Garbage (Album)". Australian-charts.com. Retrieved July 16, 2011.
  21. ^ "Garbage - Garbage (album)". charts.nz. Retrieved July 16, 2011.
  22. ^ Watson, Rob. "Milk OZ CD2". Garbage-Discography. Archived from the original on May 8, 2005. Retrieved July 17, 2011.
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  24. ^ a b "Garbage – Milk". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved January 12, 2017.
  25. ^ a b Garbage Album Campaign History. Mushroom Records (NCM Group). 2001. Retrieved February 3, 2008.
  26. ^ M&M Charts; Sales/Airplay; European Alternative Rock Radio Top 25 (PDF). Music & Media. December 14, 1996. p. 15.
  27. ^ EHR Top 50; Week 3/97 (PDF). Music & Media. January 18, 1997. p. 30.
  28. ^ "GARBAGE; MILK SINGLE; Chartentry: 16.12.1996 (95)". Offiziellen Deutschen Charts.
  29. ^ Almo Sounds Garbage: Home Video retail sheets, published October 1996
  30. ^ "Milk / Garbage". United States Copyright Office. November 12, 1996. Retrieved July 27, 2011. SR0000227767; Milk / Garbage; AMSDS 89007; 4 versions; ℗ Almo Sounds, Inc.
  31. ^ Watson, Rob. "Milk (USA CD1)". Garbage-Discography. Archived from the original on September 15, 2007. Retrieved July 16, 2011.
  32. ^ "Milk ; Queer / Garbage". United States Copyright Office. November 18, 1996. Retrieved July 27, 2007. SR0000231063; Milk; Queer / Garbage; 33 1/3 rpm; 12 in; ℗ Almo Sounds, Inc.
  33. ^ Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles. Billboard. December 7, 1996.
  34. ^ Mayfield, Geoff (1996). Between the Bullets. Billboard.
  35. ^ R&R Alternative Top 50; November 22, 1996 (Airplay from November 11-17) (PDF). R&R, Inc. November 8, 1996. p. 77.
  36. ^ Hot Modern Rock Tracks. Billboard. January 11, 1997. Retrieved February 8, 2011.
  37. ^ "Rock/Alternative - Volume 64, No. 20, January 20, 1997". RPM. Archived from the original on August 15, 2011. Retrieved January 18, 2011.
  38. ^ Billboard Hot 100 Airplay. Billboard. January 11, 1997. Retrieved February 8, 2011.
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  40. ^ Bubbling Under Hot 100. Billboard. February 22, 1997.
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  43. ^ M&M Airplay; Station Reports; MTV Europe: Buzz Bin (PDF). Music & Media. December 14, 1996. p. 18.
  44. ^ The Screens Are Full of Garbage. UK: Melody Maker. December 7, 1996.
  45. ^ a b "New Best Of Album". Garbage.com. Archived from the original on June 20, 2009. Retrieved February 5, 2008.
  46. ^ Brodsky, Rachel. "Garbage Announces Release Date, Track List for 20th Anniversary Edition of Debut Album". Spin. Retrieved September 2, 2015.
  47. ^ Rees, Paul (September 30, 1995). Albumz; Litter, Sweet and Twisted!. Kerrang!.
  48. ^ Singles; Garbage: Milk; KKKK. Kerrang!. November 9, 1996.
  49. ^ Hayden, Jackie (October 1, 1995). Dump It Up!. Hot Press.
  50. ^ Albums: Garbage - Garbage (Mushroom). RASP!. October 1, 1995.
  51. ^ CD Releases; Garbage; 4/5. October 2, 1995. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  52. ^ O'Connell, Shannon (September 30, 1995). What A Waste!. Melody Maker.
  53. ^ Morgan, Emma (September 23, 1995). Natty Dregs. NME.
  54. ^ B., M. (October 1, 1995). Album Review; Garbage (Garbage). Vox.
  55. ^ Lang, Pippa (October 1, 1995). Album review: Garbage (Garbage). Metal Hammer.
  56. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles". Music & Media. Vol. 13, no. 48. November 30, 1996. p. 13.
  57. ^ "Garbage – Milk" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved January 12, 2017.
  58. ^ "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (19.12. – 25.12. '96)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). December 20, 1996. p. 20. Retrieved October 2, 2019.
  59. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 2, 2015.
  60. ^ "Garbage Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved January 12, 2017.
  61. ^ "Árslistinn 1997 – Íslenski Listinn – 100 Vinsælustu Lögin". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). January 2, 1998. p. 25. Retrieved February 16, 2020.
  62. ^ R&R CHR/Pop; New Releases (Adds: November 5) (PDF). R&R, Inc. November 1, 1996. p. 36.

External links

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