Metallica Album: “Garage, Inc. [Clean]”

Many of these reviews are obviously biased to one of the two CD's as preferred. I'd like to say that I've been a huge Metallica fan since the beginning (and along with most of you, lost faith with Load/Reload...) and I think both discs rule in their own respects. I bought the CD set originally because I wanted a digital copy of the EP (my vinyl is showing the wear). All of these tracks are classic Metallica. The Prince is one of the most blistering hard-core Metallica tracks ever- check out the solo's. They don't make em like that anymore... It took me several months before I even tried disc one, which is now a favorite as much as disc two. Disc one really demonstrates Hetfields incredible vocal power and range that is not as apparent on some of the noisy stuff. While disc 2 is an incredible adrenalin rush a la early Metallica, disc 1 really sticks with you long after the listen if you give it a chance... (My faves: Whiskey, Astronomy, Die Die Die My Darling, and Loverman).

For many years, Metallica's 1987 EP Garage Days Re-Revisited was the most sought-after item in their catalog; it was constantly bootlegged in the '90s, and often supplemented by a host of covers Metallica had released on singles and compilations throughout the years. By 1998, the band had understandably grown frustrated with this situation and decided to confront the problem head-on by reissuing all these rarities. Savvy businessmen that they are, they also realized they needed to give hardcore fans who already owned all the covers a reason to purchase the new set - hence, the expansion of the Garage Days EP to the double-disc blowout Garage Inc. The second disc's rarities are balanced by the first disc's new covers, the bulk of which were recorded following the Re-Load tour. It shouldn't come as a surprise that these covers recall the blooze'n'boogie heavy rock of the Loads, but what is a surprise is that Metallica seems to have found their footing in this style through other people's songs. Whether it's Bob Seger, Blue Öyster Cult, Thin Lizzy, Nick Cave, or the all-star jam on Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Tuesday's Gone," the band effortlessly makes the songs seem like their own, through a bizarre mix of respect and ballsy irreverence. Sure, it may not be nearly as raw as early Metallica, but it is a better listen than either of the Load records. And if raw is what you want, the equally diverse disc two provides all the thrills you could hope for. At one time, it might have seemed a little odd that Metallica would cover Budgie, Diamond Head, the Misfits, and Queen, but if Garage Inc. proves anything, it's that the group's musical instincts, risks, and sense of humor have made them the greatest metal band of the '80s and '90s.

Metallica's Load and Reload were not very good compared to old Metallica sounds but although some of the covers here were recorded during that era, i love it. There are a lot of heavy punk and metal covers on this album that Metallica literally make it sounds like it was originally by them an they wrote the song! they practially own the songs here! and metallica cover things cannot be completed without covers of diamond head and misfits and motorhead as well. i like disc 2 the best because it's from the 80s metallica mostly and early 90s which was the metallica that i loved more than the new "polished" metallica without hair and extremeness in their concerts. but garage inc is still worthy of fitting into your heavy metal collection and metallica cd collecion!

I bought this about 5 years ago and still have it. Great compilation of all the covers Metallica did on their biggest influences. On disc 1 you got the newest covers by metallica (1998, 11 new covers). Disc 2 is all the older covers recorded from 1984-1995(16 covers).

favorite tracks include:

Disc 1: Free Speech For The Dumb, Its Electric, Sabbra Cadabra, Die Die My Darling, Mercyful Fate, Astronomy, Whiskey In The Jar, and The More I See.

Disc 2: Everything

If youre a fan of Metallica you need to go buy this now, highly recommended!

To those of us who enjoy Metallica's deep musicianship, insightful lyrical journeys and embrace the musical directions the band has explored recently, this album is a great look at a different side of the band. On the other hand, to the more closed minded of you who think that "modern" Metallica is nothing but a sellout mainstream band (despite being very rarely mentioned on MTV or VH1) and that their new music is no good... you will still enjoy this album.

Garage Inc. is a collection of cover songs. No original Metallica songs here. This album is basically a tribute album to their multitude of influences, from the Danish band Mercyful Fate, to Black Sabbath, to Motorhead, to Bob Seger and the Blue Oyster Cult. That said, the familiar songs will have your head banging all over again, and the more obscure songs will have you going to the used cd store looking for the original recordings.

The first disc are the new recordings. I won't go into too much detail here, others have already done so before me, but I will say that on most of these songs Metallica not only accurately captures the feel of the songs, but surpass the original recordings from the original bands in every way. Most notably here are Astronomy (originally recorded by the Blue Oyster Cult-one of my favorite songs by them. Hearing Metallica do the song makes the original Astronomy sound stupid in comparison) and Seger's Turn The Page, a radio-friendly classic rock song with much vocal depth and great musical craftsmanship. Also, we Skynyrd fans are treated to a live studio recording of "Tuesday's Gone" with many special guests, including Jerry Cantrell.

Disc two is a trip to the past for Metallica fans. Those of us longtime fans who already have Garage Days Revisited (and the hard-to-find "re-revisited" EP) will find both recordings intact on this disc. The quality of songs on here is second to none. All their Diamond Head covers are intact, and the Motorhead covers are simply amazing. And the incredibly funny and obscene "Last Caress" and "Who Cares" songs are a shocker to those who haven't seen a live metallica (83-92) show.

I recommend this disc to any Metallica fan who hasn't picked it up yet, and to those people who are becoming interested in Metallica. This diverse cd shows both sides of the band, even though the songs aren't their own original songs. A definite must-have for Metallica fans.