Garbage Heaps It On

As the title suggests, the follow-up to Garbage’s Grammy-nominated debut refines the quartet’s trademark post-techno rock sound. But it’s tough to identify any new features in “Version 2.0.” These 12 tunes are rendered much as their predecessors were: dense layers of guitars, samples, percussion, noise and unearthly vocals swirled into sublimely dark industrial-pop bonbons.

The main difference this time is that singer-songwriter Shirley Manson and bandmates and co-producers Butch Vig, Duke Erikson and Steve Marker have copped hooks and borrowed lyrics from a wider range of pop eras. They dip a little more deeply into ‘60s California pop, ‘70s glitter rock and ‘80s synth-pop, but most of these songs shimmy and clang like good old Garbage, with the first single, “Push It,” recalling such hits as “Only Happy When It Rains.”

Echoes of “Supervixen” may reverberate in the droning “Medication,” but Garbage isn’t cheeky (or clueless) enough to steal from itself by, say, attempting another riveting total dropout in the middle of a song. Still, since the players are exploring new ground within the same territory, this album probably won’t blow as many minds as the debut.

“Version 2.0” is no less enjoyable, however, which is as surprising as the group’s endless sonic tricks. The careful compositions and conscious swiping from innumerable sources could easily turn gimmicky--especially the second time around. Instead, Garbage--which headlines at the Palace on May 21--lands squarely among the rare acts that have turned their love and understanding of pop into an art form.

*

Albums are rated on a scale of one star (poor) to four (excellent).

*

Hear the Music

* Excerpts from these albums and other recent releases are available on The Times’ World Wide Web site. Point your browser to: https://www.latimes.com/soundclips