Bleed Like Me#Critical reception

Garbage's third album Beautiful Garbage had been promoted by a fourteen-month world tour, which culminated in a run of North American shows co-headlined with No Doubt and supported by The Distillers in October and November 2002.{{cite magazine |last=Devenish |first=Colin |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/news/newsarticle.asp?nid=18284 |title=Fresh Garbage in the works |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=June 26, 2003 |access-date=June 21, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030811084403/http://www.rollingstone.com/news/newsarticle.asp?nid=18284 |archive-date=August 11, 2003}} Before the tour started, the band spent two weeks at Smart Studios—their recording studio in Madison, Wisconsin—to write new material for their upcoming album.{{cite web |last=Spera |first=Keith |url=http://rehage.com/v5/press_view-voodoo.php?id=377 |title=Garbage |work=The Times-Picayune |date=November 1, 2002 |access-date=June 21, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131020194825/http://rehage.com/v5/press_view-voodoo.php?id=377 |archive-date=October 20, 2013 |via=Rehage Entertainment}} Upon completion of the tour in December 2002, the group took some time off; Shirley Manson returned to her native Scotland, while Butch Vig completed production work on albums by AFI and Jessy Moss. The band regrouped in February 2003 to perform "Pride (In the Name of Love)" at a MusiCares tribute to U2 frontman Bono. Immediately after the event, they returned to Madison to continue working on their follow-up record.{{cite web |last=Moss |first=Corey |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1499967/garbage-work-on-issues-get-inspired-by-loud-rock-and-a-breast/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141231043550/http://www.mtv.com/news/1499967/garbage-work-on-issues-get-inspired-by-loud-rock-and-a-breast/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 31, 2014 |title=Garbage Work On Issues, Get Inspired By Loud Rock ... And A Breast |publisher=MTV News |date=April 12, 2005 |access-date=February 1, 2019}}

On the first day in the studio, Garbage composed a new track, "Right Between the Eyes", in 30 minutes.{{cite press release |url=http://www.geffen.com/garbage |title=Garbage |publisher=Geffen Records |access-date=June 21, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930160910/http://www.geffen.com/garbage |archive-date=September 30, 2007}} Other tracks written during the early sessions were "Hangin' with the Bitches" and "Never Be Free" (with John 5).{{cite news |url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/marilyn-manson-guitarist-to-guest-on-new-garbage-album/ |title=Marilyn Manson Guitarist To Guest On New Garbage Album? |work=Blabbermouth.net |date=June 6, 2003 |access-date=February 1, 2019}} Vig said that the quick start made the band feel optimistic and gave the impression that the album would be completed as rapidly as in six months, but "[the album] took a slow spiral downhill". Recording for the album was halted during the summer when Manson underwent surgery to remove a cyst on her right vocal cord, forcing her to recuperate until August 2003.{{cite web |last=Manson |first=Shirley |author-link=Shirley Manson |url=http://www.garbage.com/news/journal.php?uid=157 |title=08.04.03 Studio Diary |publisher=Garbage.com |date=August 4, 2003 |access-date=June 21, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050508004119/http://www.garbage.com/news/journal.php?uid=157 |archive-date=May 8, 2005}} On September 10, a backhoe careened into the outer walls of Smart Studios, causing extensive damage. Both Garbage and the band Paris, Texas had been working on their albums in the studio.{{cite web |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/garbage-75-1383829 |title=Nirvana Studios Now Complete Garbage! |work=NME |date=September 25, 2003 |access-date=February 1, 2019}} The sessions were permeated by passive-aggressive tensions and an overall lack of artistic focus. According to Vig, "there were a lot of personal arguments and we couldn't agree on songs". Manson suffered writer's block and had trouble writing lyrics, and Vig did not like the way the songs sounded.{{cite web |last=Baltin |first=Steve |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2005-apr-07-wk-pop7-story.html |title=Garbage sticks together |work=Los Angeles Times |date=April 7, 2005 |access-date=January 26, 2013}} The drummer said that the group frequently argued during production, and that the entire band almost quit.{{cite web |first=Peter |last=Murphy |url=http://www.hotpress.com/music/interviews/Blood-On-The-Tracks/2793931.html |title=Blood On The Tracks |work=Hot Press |date=April 19, 2005 |access-date=January 29, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304095753/http://www.hotpress.com/music/interviews/Blood-On-The-Tracks/2793931.html |archive-date=March 4, 2016}} Duke Erikson said that nobody could agree about the music's direction, and the band was on the verge of breaking up. He said, "When you lose that common bond of the music, you've got nothing". Eventually, the group suffered "a complete and utter band meltdown" in October, leading the band members splitting and taking a break from the sessions.{{cite web |last=Manson |first=Shirley |url=http://www.garbage.com/news/journal.php?id=20031017 |title=10.17.03 Studio Diary #10 |publisher=Garbage.com |date=October 17, 2003 |access-date=June 21, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090202040125/http://www.garbage.com/news/journal.php?id=20031017 |archive-date=February 2, 2009}}

Vig left the studio and returned to Los Angeles. Over the Christmas period, he encountered excited Garbage fans eager to hear about the album's progress. Not wanting to disappoint them, he disclosed some song titles to them; after this encounter, he realized that the band still had a future. During the break, Vig met Dave Grohl of Foo Fighters in a party, and casually asked if he would perform drums on a Garbage track, "Bad Boyfriend", as Vig had been frustrated with the song's existing drum track.{{cite web |url=https://www.musicradar.com/news/guitars/6-career-defining-records-of-butch-vig-211529 |title=6 career-defining records of Butch Vig |work=Rhythm |date=July 1, 2009 |access-date=February 1, 2019 |via=MusicRadar}}

File:Dave-Grohl drums.jpg, who played drums in "Bad Boyfriend", as a motivator in getting the album finished.]]

At the beginning of 2004, the band decided to try to salvage the album, taking their management's suggestion to work with an external producer for the first time. The musicians also decided that neutral territory would be beneficial, and went to Los Angeles. John King, one half of the production duo Dust Brothers, was enlisted to produce "Bad Boyfriend". Drummer Matt Chamberlain and bassist Justin Meldal-Johnsen were hired to perform on the songs.{{cite web |last=Manson |first=Shirley |url=http://www.garbage.com/news/journal.php?uid=152 |title=01.26.04 Studio Diary #13 |publisher=Garbage.com |date=January 26, 2004 |access-date=June 21, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090202044201/http://www.garbage.com/news/journal.php?uid=152 |archive-date=February 2, 2009}} The recordings were completed in King's studio The Boat and Sound City in Los Angeles.{{cite web |url=http://gc.guitarcenter.com/interview/garbage/ |title=An Interview with Butch Vig of Garbage |publisher=Guitar Center |date=April 2005 |access-date=February 5, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130115013341/http://gc.guitarcenter.com/interview/garbage/ |archive-date=January 15, 2013}} Towards the end of the recording sessions, Grohl spent a day performing on drums for "Bad Boyfriend".{{cite web |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/garbage-61-1368768 |title=Garbage Drumming! |work=NME |date=February 11, 2004 |access-date=February 1, 2019}} The band said his performance was "raising the bar" for the record, and Vig said that Grohl "brought a different energy level to the song", which Erikson and Steve Marker tried to follow with their guitar playing. This influenced most of the songs that followed; the musicians wanted the songs to be "scrappy and primal sounding".

The experience with King, despite only resulting in the completion of one track, "Bad Boyfriend", gave the band perspective and direction. Manson said that because the band members still had problems speaking to each other, King could not get much work out of the band, so they realized that they needed to work out their differences and was the catalyst for the band getting back together and working harmoniously. Vig said that the tensions led the band members to become "burned out on each other", and that reuniting made them feel able to play "fast and furious—as if our lives depended on it".{{cite magazine |last=Paoletta |first=Michael |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sRQEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA11 |title=For The Love Of Garbage |magazine=Billboard |volume=117 |issue=16 |date=April 16, 2005 |pages=11, 14 |issn=0006-2510 |access-date=February 20, 2012 |via=Google Books}} Manson overcame her writer's block and began to inject political slants into her lyrics, matching them with some new material the band wrote immediately after the King sessions; both "Metal Heart" and "Boys Wanna Fight" referenced the 2003 Invasion of Iraq. Despite a plan to record some material with producer Tony Hoffer,{{cite web |last=Manson |first=Shirley |url=http://www.garbage.com/news/journal.php?uid=149 |title=02.16.04 Studio Diary #16 |publisher=Garbage.com |date=February 16, 2004 |access-date=June 21, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090203062824/http://www.garbage.com/news/journal.php?uid=149 |archive-date=February 3, 2009}} the band decided to complete the rest of the album themselves. Erikson later said, "It was kind of seductive to think that maybe someone else [would] solve all of our problems, but in the end you gotta do it yourself".{{cite web |last=Moss |first=Corey |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1497359/garbage-breakup-ends-with-new-lp-if-they-did-actually-break-up/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150309224319/http://www.mtv.com/news/1497359/garbage-breakup-ends-with-new-lp-if-they-did-actually-break-up/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 9, 2015 |title=Garbage Breakup Ends With New LP — If They Did Actually Break Up |publisher=MTV News |date=February 22, 2005 |access-date=February 1, 2019}}

Feeling that previous album Beautiful Garbage seemed fractured, the band decided to use their live sound; Vig said that he wanted "the pumping energy that all the best raw rock records have".{{cite magazine |last=McLachlan |first=Jordan |url=http://www.garbage.suite.dk/articles/rhythm/index.html | title=The Trick Is To Keep Breathing |magazine=Rhythm |date=June 2005 |issn=0957-6592 |access-date=June 21, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070611202542/http://www.garbage.suite.dk/articles/rhythm/index.html |archive-date=June 11, 2007 |via=Butch Vig Productions}} The band decided that their fourth album would have a straightforward rock sound, instead of a reliance upon electronica and computer interventions. The musicians composed separately at their home studios, sending each other tracks through e-mail and couriers, and the band returned to Wisconsin to finish the album. Bleed Like Me emerged from a collage of samples and loops, and this time the sound was simpler. Erikson said that rather than production, they depended on the songs. Vig opted to focus on the production duties and leave the drums to guest musicians such as Grohl, whom he considered better at the instrument than him. He also played more guitars on the album, which he found liberating. As a result, drummer Matt Walker also played on several tracks on the album,{{cite web |last=Manson |first=Shirley |url=http://www.garbage.com/news/journal.php?id=20041018 |title=10.18.04 Studio Diary #29 |publisher=Garbage.com |date=October 18, 2004 |access-date=June 21, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081211145616/http://www.garbage.com/news/journal.php?id=20041018 |archive-date=December 11, 2008}} while Meldal-Johnsen played bass guitar.{{cite web |last=Manson |first=Shirley |url=http://www.garbage.com/news/journal.php?id=20040906 |title=09.06.04 Studio Diary #24 |publisher=Garbage.com |date=September 6, 2004 |access-date=June 21, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071112004944/http://www.garbage.com/news/journal.php?id=20040906 |archive-date=November 12, 2007}} Most of Manson's vocals were recorded at Vig's home studio, GrungeIsDead.{{cite web |url=https://www.gearslutz.com/board/q-a-with-butch-vig/400062-your-home-studio.html#post4318082 |title=Q+A with Butch Vig: Your home studio |publisher=Gearslutz |date=June 25, 2009 |access-date=February 1, 2019}}

On October 18, the band began mixing the album. Some songs were mixed several times; "Sex Is Not the Enemy" was re-recorded three times during the mixing process, "Right Between the Eyes" was recalled from mastering twice,{{cite web |last=Manson |first=Shirley |url=http://www.garbage.com/news/journal.php?id=20041115 |title=11.15.04 Studio Diary #33 |publisher=Garbage.com |date=November 15, 2004 |access-date=June 21, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090202172429/http://www.garbage.com/news/journal.php?id=20041115 |archive-date=February 2, 2009}} and the band included live strings at the last minute on "Happy Home".{{cite web |url=http://garbage.gffn.com/downloads/ |title=Garbage : Bleed Like Me : Track by Track |publisher=Geffen Records |access-date=August 17, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080609090841/http://garbage.gffn.com/downloads/?track=4&t=&rate=#selected |archive-date=June 9, 2008}} While the project's working title was Hands on a Hard Body, after the 1997 documentary of the same name,{{cite web |last=Manson |first=Shirley |url=http://www.garbage.com/news/journal.php?id=20030915 |title=09.15.03 Studio Diary #7 |publisher=Garbage.com |date=September 15, 2003 |access-date=June 21, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090202172711/http://www.garbage.com/news/journal.php?id=20030915 |archive-date=February 2, 2009}} when Manson announced the album's release in November 2004, she confirmed that it would be titled Bleed Like Me.{{cite web |url=http://www.garbage.com/ |title=Bleed Like Me – New Album From Garbage |publisher=Garbage.com |date=November 19, 2004 |access-date=January 30, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050101041613/http://www.garbage.com/ |archive-date=January 1, 2005}} By December 6, 2004, the album was officially completed.{{cite web |last=Manson |first=Shirley |url=http://www.garbage.com/news/journal.php?id=20041129 |title=11.29.04 Studio Diary #35 |publisher=Garbage.com |date=November 29, 2004 |access-date=June 21, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090203062758/http://www.garbage.com/news/journal.php?id=20041129 |archive-date=February 3, 2009}} It was mastered in New York City; the initial mastering was completed on December 15, 2004, and the final master was ready for January 6, 2005.

{{quote box|quote="We've almost gone backward in this album. It's getting us back to a more primal sound—guitars, bass, drums and Shirley's voice".| —Butch Vig on the sound of Bleed Like Me| width = 27%}}

Bleed Like Me is a departure from the heavily electronic music of previous albums Version 2.0 and Beautiful Garbage in favor of a basic alternative rock sound. Vig said that while the band tried to figure out a new sound for the record, they "went back to getting great sounds from guitars". The band tried a more spontaneous approach; Manson did most of her singing in the first take and the drums were recorded in a way "that everything was not perfectly balanced—and not so electronic". The band members tried to translate the energy of the band's live performances onto the album; Marker said that the album showed that above all, Garbage is "a loud rock band". Vig still thought that some of the songs resembled the band's earlier material, such as "Metal Heart", with "a lot of weird electronics that Steve and Duke did, as well as some pretty gnarly guitar."{{cite web |first=Corey |last=Moss |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1497733/shirley-manson-gets-ready-to-sing-and-type-on-garbage-tour/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141220053306/http://www.mtv.com/news/1497733/shirley-manson-gets-ready-to-sing-and-type-on-garbage-tour/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 20, 2014 |title=Shirley Manson Gets Ready To Sing And Type On Garbage Tour |publisher=MTV News |date=March 3, 2005 |access-date=February 28, 2013}}

{{Listen|filename=WhyDoYouLoveMe.ogg |title="Why Do You Love Me"|description=Sample of lead single "Why Do You Love Me", described as "a melodic Phil Spector girl group sped-up-fast kind of song" based around a metal riff.|pos=left}}

The lyrics of Bleed Like Me talk about relationships and political themes; Manson said, "the last few years ... have been very worrying and you'd have to be dead to not have some kind of political view at the moment",{{cite magazine |url=http://www.garbage.com/news/news.php?id=20050220 |title=New Blood: Make Way For The Return Of Garbage |magazine=Kerrang! |date=February 22, 2005 |issn=0262-6624 |access-date=June 21, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071112005020/http://www.garbage.com/news/news.php?id=20050220 |archive-date=November 12, 2007 |via=Garbage.com}} and that after many years being insecure about articulating her feelings writing lyrics, she found herself confident that she could express her ideas and sentiment of being "very out of kilter with a lot of the common thoughts of today" in her music. "Boys Wanna Fight" criticizes world affairs and "Sex Is Not the Enemy" is about moral guardians, inspired by the outcry caused by Janet Jackson's wardrobe malfunction at the 2004 Super Bowl.{{cite web |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/garbage-62-1355327 |title='Sex' Talk |work=NME |date=May 17, 2005 |access-date=February 1, 2019}} The songs about relationships follow Manson's tendency to discuss dark topics and emotions; "Bleed Like Me" discusses problems with empathy and "Bad Boyfriend" is about "a predatory female meeting a predatory man".{{cite magazine |last=Sharp |first=Johnny |url=http://www.garbage.com/news/news.php?uid=107 |title=Pretty Hate Machine |magazine=Kerrang! |date=March 26, 2005 |issn=0262-6624 |access-date=January 30, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061019225427/http://www.garbage.com/news/news.php?uid=107 |archive-date=October 19, 2006}} The album closer "Happy Home" is about conflict within the band and in the wider world during production, the search of forgiveness, peace and coming to terms with one's place in a chaotic world.

File:Garbage-2005-Copenhagen-1.jpg in Copenhagen on June 1, 2005|alt=Garbage performing in a stage.]]

{{main|Bleed Like Me World Tour}}

Garbage launched the Bleed Like Me World Tour promoting the record on March 29, 2005, with a concert in Paris. The tour visited North America, Europe and Australia, and encompassed headline performances, rock festivals, and television and radio shows. Former Jane's Addiction bassist Eric Avery left Alanis Morissette's backing band to perform with Garbage for the tour.{{cite web |last=Harris |first=Chris |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1578544/janes-addiction-ex-bassist-eric-avery-recovers-with-solo-lp-calls-billy-corgan-inspiring/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150529042009/http://www.mtv.com/news/1578544/janes-addiction-ex-bassist-eric-avery-recovers-with-solo-lp-calls-billy-corgan-inspiring/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 29, 2015 |title=Jane's Addiction Ex-Bassist Eric Avery Recovers With Solo LP, Calls Billy Corgan 'Inspiring' |publisher=MTV News |date=December 26, 2007 |access-date=February 1, 2019}} Matt Walker played drums in the August 22 concert in Chicago because Vig had to depart for his mother's funeral.{{cite web |last=Kot |first=Greg |author-link=Greg Kot |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2005-08-24-0508230185-story.html |title=Incomplete Garbage is still a thrill |work=Chicago Tribune |date=August 24, 2005 |access-date=February 1, 2019}} After being initially organized low-key, the tour was moved into large venues when Bleed Like Me and its lead single "Why Do You Love Me" became surprise hits outside the United States. In September, the band canceled concerts planned for the following month in Europe,{{cite web |last=Moss |first=Corey |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1510121/shirley-manson-on-garbage-hiatus-im-burnt-im-done-im-toast/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150309224322/http://www.mtv.com/news/1510121/shirley-manson-on-garbage-hiatus-im-burnt-im-done-im-toast/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 9, 2015 |title=Shirley Manson On Garbage Hiatus: 'I'm Burnt, I'm Done, I'm Toast' |publisher=MTV News |date=September 22, 2005 |access-date=February 1, 2019}} and released a press statement saying that the band members had overextended themselves.{{cite web |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/garbage-64-1357116 |title=Garbage pull tour |work=NME |date=August 29, 2005 |access-date=February 1, 2019}} The tour concluded with a concert in Perth, Australia, on October 1, after six months of concerts.{{cite web |first=Scott |last=Kara |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501119&objectid=10804370 |title=Garbage clean up their act for comeback (+video) |work=The New Zealand Herald |date=May 11, 2012 |access-date=February 6, 2013}}

In 2012, Manson recalled, "The making of this record was very sad for me. Being the only girl in a gang of four can get pretty lonely. We were all struggling to find our chemistry together, and as a result, the experience of making and promoting this was tense and unenjoyable. Ironically, our shows were selling out every night. But after a while, we decided that we needed to go home to lick our wounds."{{cite web |last=Martins |first=Chris |url=https://www.spin.com/2012/05/shirley-manson-talks-through-garbages-discography/ |title=Shirley Manson Talks Through Garbage's Discography |work=Spin |date=May 8, 2012 |access-date=January 7, 2015}}

The album was preceded by the lead single "Why Do You Love Me",{{cite web |url=http://www.garbage.com/news/news.php?uid=61 |title=Why Do You Love Me |publisher=Garbage.com |date=February 23, 2005 |access-date=June 21, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081211145702/http://www.garbage.com/news/news.php?uid=61 |archive-date=December 11, 2008}} which peaked at number seven on the UK Singles Chart—Garbage's highest-charting single since 1996's "Stupid Girl"{{cite web |url=http://www.musicweek.com/news/read/tony-christie-holds-in-pole-position-on-uk-charts/027875 |title=Tony Christie holds in pole position on UK charts |work=Music Week |date=April 11, 2005 |access-date=June 21, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141210075105/http://www.musicweek.com/news/read/tony-christie-holds-in-pole-position-on-uk-charts/027875 |archive-date=December 10, 2014}}—while reaching number eight on Billboard{{'}}s Modern Rock Tracks chart in the United States,{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/garbage/chart-history/mrt/ |title=Garbage Chart History – Alternative Songs |magazine=Billboard |access-date=February 1, 2019}} and becoming the band's first single since 1999's "Special" to enter the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 97.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/garbage/chart-history/hsi/ |title=Garbage Chart History – Hot 100 |magazine=Billboard |access-date=February 1, 2019}}

The title track was released as the album's second single in the US, reaching number 27 on the Modern Rock Tracks chart and number six on the Hot Dance Club Play chart.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/garbage/chart-history/dsi/ |title=Garbage Chart History – Dance Club Songs |magazine=Billboard |access-date=February 1, 2019}} "Sex Is Not the Enemy", the album's second international single and third single overall, peaked at number 24 on the UK Singles Chart.{{cite web |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/26065/garbage/ |title=Garbage |publisher=Official Charts Company |access-date=February 1, 2019}} The final single, "Run Baby Run", charted at number 47 in Australia and at number 97 in Germany.{{cite web |url=https://australian-charts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Garbage&titel=Run+Baby+Run&cat=s |title=Garbage – Run Baby Run |publisher=australian-charts.com |access-date=February 1, 2019}}{{cite web |url=https://www.offiziellecharts.de/titel-details-102593 |title=Garbage – Run Baby Run |language=de |publisher=Offizielle Deutsche Charts |access-date=February 1, 2019}}

{{Album ratings

| MC = 56/100

| rev1 = AllMusic

| rev1Score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}

| rev2 = Entertainment Weekly

| rev2Score = B+

| rev3 = The Guardian

| rev3Score = {{Rating|3|5}}

| rev4 = Kerrang!

| rev4Score = {{Rating|4|5}}

| rev5 = PopMatters

| rev5Score = 4/10

| rev6 = Robert Christgau

| rev6Score = {{Rating-Christgau|cut}}{{cite web |last=Christgau |first=Robert |author-link=Robert Christgau |url=http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?name=garbage |title=Consumer Guide Reviews: Garbage |publisher=RobertChristgau.com |access-date=October 24, 2012}}

| rev7 = Rolling Stone

| rev7Score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}

| rev8 = Slant Magazine

| rev8Score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}

| rev9 = USA Today

| rev9Score = {{Rating|3|4}}{{cite web |last=Gundersen |first=Edna |url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/music/reviews/2005-04-11-listen-up_x.htm |title=Mariah rebounds, Garbage is sweet, Will Smith gets lost |work=USA Today |date=April 11, 2005 |access-date=April 17, 2013}}

| rev10 = Yahoo! Music UK

| rev10Score = {{Rating|6|10}}

}}

Bleed Like Me received mixed reviews from music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, the album received an average score of 56, based on 18 reviews.{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/bleed-like-me/garbage/critic-reviews |title=Bleed Like Me by Garbage Critic Reviews|website=Metacritic |access-date=February 1, 2019}} Entertainment Weekly{{'}}s Tom Sinclair complimented the "humongous hooks",{{cite magazine |last=Sinclair |first=Tom |url=https://ew.com/article/2005/04/11/bleed-me/ |title=Bleed Like Me |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |date=April 11, 2005 |access-date=February 1, 2019 |archive-date=June 28, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210628142303/https://ew.com/article/2005/04/11/bleed-me/ |url-status=dead }} and Kerrang! described it as the "most exciting, touching, and most painfully human material they've put out in years".{{cite magazine |title=Garbage – Bleed Like Me (Warner Bros) |magazine=Kerrang! |issue=1051 |date=April 9, 2005 |issn=0262-6624}} Rolling Stone{{'}}s David Fricke commented that "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", but that the final tracks had "a sameness—a feeling of roaring in circles".{{cite magazine |last=Fricke |first=David |author-link=David Fricke |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/artists/garbage/albums/album/7237632/rid/7234703/ |title=Garbage: Bleed Like Me |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=April 21, 2005 |access-date=October 24, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060509120715/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/garbage/albums/album/7237632/rid/7234703/ |archive-date=May 9, 2006}} Sal Cinquemani of Slant Magazine praised the new sound and wrote that "a few of the songs ("Run Baby Run" and "Right Between the Eyes" in particular) have all the right ingredients but lack the venom present on the group's first two releases".{{cite web |last=Cinquemani |first=Sal |url=https://www.slantmagazine.com/music/garbage-bleed-like-me/ |title=Review: Garbage, Bleed Like Me |work=Slant Magazine |date=March 17, 2005 |access-date=2012-10-24}} Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic wrote that the album was enjoyable if outdated in its musical approach "as if the band doesn't quite know how to do anything else but sound like it's the heyday of post-grunge alt-rock."{{cite web |last=Erlewine |first=Stephen Thomas |author-link=Stephen Thomas Erlewine |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/bleed-like-me-mw0000141773 |title=Bleed Like Me – Garbage |website=AllMusic |access-date=June 16, 2021}} This opinion was shared by Yahoo! Music's Sharon O'Connell, who wrote that despite the intelligent songs with expertise in "muscly, alt. rock lick or the bubblegum pop hook", Bleed Like Me "strikes a depressingly dated note".{{cite web |last=O'Connell |first=Sharon |url=http://uk.launch.yahoo.com/050420/33/1xkmm.html |title=Garbage – 'Bleed Like Me' |publisher=Yahoo! Music UK |date=April 20, 2005 |access-date=October 24, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050421065542/http://uk.launch.yahoo.com/050420/33/1xkmm.html |archive-date=April 21, 2005}}

Writing for The A.V. Club, Nathan Rabin said the album's lyrics lacked an emotional punch. He wrote stating that it "approaches a kind of shimmering technical perfection, but remains strangely, stubbornly uninvolving".{{cite web |last=Rabin |first=Nathan |url=https://www.avclub.com/garbage-bleed-like-me-1798200574 |title=Garbage: Bleed Like Me |work=The A.V. Club |date=April 12, 2005 |access-date=February 1, 2019}} Betty Clarke of The Guardian wrote, "while Manson's changeling vocals are always worth listening to, Garbage's songs often aren't."{{cite web |last=Clarke |first=Betty |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2005/apr/08/popandrock.shopping5 |title=Garbage, Bleed Like Me |work=The Guardian |date=April 8, 2005 |access-date=February 1, 2019}} Philip Robertson of PopMatters stated the music sounds manufactured in its too-polished manner, and that "much of what is brought to the fore on this latest musical foray is an earnest attempt at building on the marginal success of their previous power-pop/rock submissions."{{cite web |last=Robertson |first=Philip |url=http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/garbage-bleedlikeme/ |title=Garbage: Bleed Like Me |work=PopMatters |date=April 11, 2005 |access-date=October 24, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120527172638/http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/garbage-bleedlikeme/ |archive-date=May 27, 2012}}

Bleed Like Me debuted at number four on the Billboard 200 with 73,000 copies sold in its first week, becoming the band's first top-10 album on the chart.{{cite magazine |last=Whitmire |first=Margo |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/63203/careys-comeback-album-opens-at-no-1 |title=Carey's Comeback Album Opens At No. 1 |magazine=Billboard |date=April 20, 2005 |access-date=December 6, 2015}} It fell to number 24 the following week, selling 32,000 copies.{{cite magazine |last=Mar |first=Alex |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/rob-thomas-bumps-mariah-carey-from-number-one-247740/ |title=Rob Thomas Bumps Mariah Carey From Number One |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=April 27, 2005 |access-date=February 1, 2019}} By October 2011, the album had sold 284,000 copies in the United States.{{cite magazine |last=Mapes |first=Jillian |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/465664/butch-vig-garbages-hiatus-cleared-members-baggage |title=Butch Vig: Garbage's Hiatus Cleared Members' 'Baggage' |magazine=Billboard |date=October 19, 2011 |access-date=October 20, 2011}} Bleed Like Me debuted at number four on the UK Albums Chart, selling 27,375 copies in its first week.{{cite web |last=Jones |first=Alan |url=http://www.musicweek.com/news/read/christie-leads-chart-into-new-era/033874 |title=Christie leads chart into new era |work=Music Week |date=April 17, 2005 |access-date=July 13, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120826103851/http://www.musicweek.com/news/read/christie-leads-chart-into-new-era/033874 |archive-date=August 26, 2012}} The album had sold 84,339 copies in the United Kingdom as of July 2007,{{cite web |url=http://www.musicweek.com/news/read/timbaland-ends-rihannas-chart-reign/035900 |title=Timbaland ends Rihanna's chart reign |work=Music Week |date=July 30, 2007 |access-date=May 20, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130606101110/http://www.musicweek.com/news/read/timbaland-ends-rihannas-chart-reign/035900 |archive-date=June 6, 2013}} and on July 22, 2013, it was certified silver by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI). Bleed Like Me also charted within the top 10 in Australia, Belgium, Canada, Finland, France, Mexico, and Sweden.

{{Track listing

| all_writing = Garbage, except where noted

| headline = Bleed Like Me track listing

| title1 = Bad Boyfriend

| length1 = 3:46

| title2 = Run Baby Run

| length2 = 3:58

| title3 = Right Between the Eyes

| length3 = 3:56

| title4 = Why Do You Love Me

| length4 = 3:54

| title5 = Bleed Like Me

| length5 = 4:01

| title6 = Metal Heart

| length6 = 3:59

| title7 = Sex Is Not the Enemy

| length7 = 3:06

| title8 = It's All Over But the Crying

| length8 = 4:39

| title9 = Boys Wanna Fight

| length9 = 4:16

| title10 = Why Don't You Come Over

| length10 = 3:25

| title11 = Happy Home

| length11 = 6:00

| total_length = 44:54

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = US and Canadian enhanced CD bonus material

| title12 = Why Do You Love Me

| note12 = video

| length12 = 3:52

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Japanese edition bonus track

| title12 = I Just Wanna Have Something to Do

| writer12 = {{hlist|Colvin|Cummings|Hyman}}

| total_length = 47:20

| length12 = 2:26

}}

{{Tracklist

| headline = Australian Tour Edition bonus DVD

| title1 = Sex Is Not the Enemy

| note1 = video

| length1 = 3:52

| title2 = Making of Sex Is Not the Enemy

| note2 = video

| length2 = 5:05

| title3 = Bleed Like Me interview

| note3 = Electronic Press Kit

| length3 = 30:01

| title4 = Cherry Lips

| note4 = Live in Mexico – audio

| length4 = 3:20

| title5 = Image gallery

}}

{{Tracklist

| headline = 2024 expanded reissue

| extra_column = First released on

| title12 = Space Can Come Through Anyone

| length12 = 3:13

| extra12 = "Why Do You Love Me" single

| title13 = Nobody Can Win

| length13 = 2:55

| extra13 = "Why Do You Love Me" single

| title14 = I Just Wanna Have Something To Do

| length14 = 2:25

| writer14 = {{hlist|Colvin|Cummings|Hyman}}

| extra14 = "Why Do You Love Me" single

| title15 = Honeybee

| length15 = 4:02

| extra15 = "Sex Is Not the Enemy" and "Run Baby Run" singles

| title16 = Never Be Free

| length16 = 4:25

| extra16 = "Sex Is Not the Enemy" and "Run Baby Run" singles

| title17 = Badass (2003 Ruff Demo)

| length17 = 3:15

| extra17 = "Run Baby Run" single

| title18 = Tell Me Where It Hurts

| length18 = 4:10

| extra18 = Standalone single

| title19 = Betcha

| length19 = 4:41

| extra19 = "Tell Me Where It Hurts" single

| title20 = All the Good In This Life

| length20 = 4:21

| extra20 = "Tell Me Where It Hurts" single

| total_length = 1:56:36

| title21 = Witness To Your Love

| extra21 = Give Listen Help: Volume 5 compilation

| title22 = Bad Boyfriend (Sting Like a Bee Remix)

| extra22 = "Tell Me Where It Hurts" single

| title23 = Bleed Like Me (Kuppers Klub Radio Edit)

| extra23 = "Bleed Like Me" single

| title24 = Sex Is Not the Enemy (IL's Vocal Mix)

| extra24 = "Sex Is Not the Enemy" single

| title25 = Sex Is Not the Enemy (Devil's Gun Circuit Sex Remix)

| extra25 = "Sex Is Not the Enemy" single

| title26 = Never Be Free (Goth Mix)

| extra26 = Facebook release, 2010

| title27 = Tell Me Where It Hurts (Belle de Jour Mix)

| extra27 = "Tell Me Where It Hurts" single

| title28 = Witness To Your Love (Acoustic)

| extra28 = Facebook release, 2010

| length21 = 3:39

| length22 = 5:03

| length23 = 4:04

| length24 = 5:43

| length25 = 6:06

| length26 = 5:29

| length27 = 3:49

| length28 = 4:14

}}

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Bleed Like Me.{{cite AV media |title=Bleed Like Me |type=liner notes |others=Garbage |publisher=Geffen Records |date=2005 |id=B0004195-12}}

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

Garbage

• Shirley Manson – vocals, electric guitar
• Steve Marker – electric guitar, acoustic guitar, synthesizers, programming, noises {{small|(all tracks)}}; bass overdubs {{small|(tracks 1, 6)}}
• Duke Erikson – electric guitar, acoustic guitar, synthesizers, programming, atmospherics {{small|(all tracks)}}; Mellotron, piano {{small|(tracks 8, 11)}}
• Butch Vig – electric guitar, drums, EFX, programming {{small|(all tracks)}}; bass {{small|(track 5)}}

Additional musicians

• Justin Meldal-Johnsen – bass
• Matt Walker – drums {{small|(tracks 2–4, 6, 9–11)}}
• Dave Grohl – drums {{small|(track 1)}}

Artwork

• Big Active – art direction
• Mat Maitland – design, montage
• Frank W. Ockenfels III – band photography

{{col-2}}

Technical

• Garbage – production, recording
• Billy Bush – engineering
• Butch Vig – mixing
• Emily Lazar – mastering
• Sarah Register – mastering assistance
• John King – production {{small|(track 1)}}
• Beau Sorenson – engineering assistance
• Jay Arnold – engineering assistance
• Pete Martinez – engineering assistance
• Danny Kalb – engineering assistance
• Mark Branch – engineering assistance
• Mike Laza – engineering assistance
• Ryan Macmillan – drum tech
• Chris Heuer – drum tech

{{col-end}}

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

{{col-2}}

{{col-end}}

{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications and sales for Bleed Like Me}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|artist=Garbage|title=Bleed Like Me|award=Gold|type=album|certyear=2005|access-date=February 3, 2011}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|artist=Garbage|title=Bleed Like Me|award=Silver|type=album|date=July 22, 2013|access-date=December 6, 2015|salesamount=84,339|salesref=|refname="BPI"|id=11524-1301-2}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|artist=Garbage|title=Bleed Like Me|nocert=yes|type=album|salesamount=284,000|salesref=}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true}}

{{reflist}}

{{Wikiquote}}

• [http://www.garbage.com/ Official Garbage website]

{{Good article}}

{{Garbage (band)}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:2005 albums

Category:A&M Records albums

Category:Albums produced by Butch Vig

Category:Albums produced by John King (record producer)

Category:Albums recorded at Smart Studios

Category:Albums recorded at Sound City Studios

Category:Almo Sounds albums

Category:Garbage (band) albums

Category:Geffen Records albums

Category:Warner Records albums