Garbage scored a major hit with their 1995 self-titled debut album, blending grinding guitar and bass riffs, synthesizer sampling and Shirley Manson?s sultry vocals. The second album, 1998?s “Version 2.0,” continued in the same vein, trading some of the hard edge of the first album for an even more radio-friendly pop sound. On their third album, “Beautifulgarbage,” Garbage?s sound has softened even more, but still keeps enough of an edge to avoid slipping into the territory of worthless, syrupy pop. This is largely thanks to singer Manson, whose throaty timbre can turn into a sly whisper or a little girl?s sing-song lilt with no warning.

While the lyrical tilt of the previous albums was toward cynical observation, depressive ruminations and implied threat, the words on this album are more introspective and pensive. This doesn?t mean there isn?t any sharpness to them, however; for example, in the smugly taunting “Can?t Cry These Tears,” Manson sings to an ex-lover: “There?s no way she can kiss you/ the way that I do/ I heard that you miss me/ oh you should be careful of who you keep talking to.”

Other songs tend toward the lighter side (“Cherry Lips (Go Baby Go)”), and some toward the darker (“Nobody Loves You”). There are even laments (“Cup of Coffee”) and ballads (“Drive You Home”). For a change of pace, “Untouchable” matches a happy, bubbly teeny-pop soundtrack to threatening lyrics: “This is nothing new to me/ it takes more than what you got/ to frighten me/ I?m not scared of you.”

“Beautifulgarbage” is a grown-up and mature album, strengthened by the band?s experience and hindsight to create a work that is much different than the previous two while still being, unmistakably, Garbage.