{{Infobox song | name = The Chemicals | cover = Garbage The Chemicals RSD.png | alt = | type = single | artist = Garbage | album = | released = {{Start date|2015|4|18}} | recorded = 2015<br />California, US | studio = | genre = * Alternative rock * electronica | length = 4:20 | label = Stunvolume | writer = Garbage | producer = Garbage | prev_title = Girls Talk | prev_year = 2014 | next_title = Empty | next_year = 2016 }}

"'''The Chemicals'''" is a single released by rock band Garbage for Record Store Day 2015.<ref name="USA"/> It features Brian Aubert (of Silversun Pickups) on co-vocals.<ref name="mash"/> The song was the first track recorded by the band during sessions for their sixth album, ''Strange Little Birds''. Drummer Butch Vig described "The Chemicals" as "a very dense Garbage track".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pensadosplace.tv/2015/01/30/episode-197-butch-vig/|title=Producer Butch Vig - Pensado's Place #197|date=2015-01-29|publisher=Pensado's Place|accessdate=2015-04-17}}</ref>

In 2021, both "The Chemicals" and "On Fire" would be included on the deluxe edition bonus disc of Garbage's seventh album, ''No Gods No Masters''.<ref name="SPIN">{{cite web|url=https://www.spin.com/2021/03/garbage-share-the-men-who-rule-the-world-announce-no-gods-no-masters-album/|title=Garbage Share 'The Men Who Rule The World,' Announce No Gods No Masters Album|publisher=SPIN|date=March 30, 2021|first=Katherine|last=Turman|accessdate=April 3, 2021}}</ref>

==Release== For Record Store Day 2015, the single was pressed onto 10" fluorescent orange vinyl<ref name="USA"/> and backed with a new cut titled "On Fire".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://diffuser.fm/garbage-new-song-the-chemicals-record-store-day/|title=Watch Garbage's Music Video for Record Store Day Release, 'The Chemicals'|publisher=Diffuser|first=Derrick|last=Rossignol|date=2015-04-15|accessdate=2015-04-17}}</ref> The sleeve art was designed by Ryan Corey for Smog Design, from a traditional 19th century Mexican retablo depicting the Catholic church iconography of the "anima sola", or lonely soul in purgatory.

In the United States, "The Chemicals" was listed as a Record Store Day Exclusive release, and limited to 4,000 units.<ref name="USA"/> The single was the number 46 biggest selling Record Store Day (RSD) release of that year.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://recordstoreday.com/NewsItem/5164|title=Record Store Day 2015 Top 100 Best-Selling Titles|publisher=Buzz/Ingle MUSIC|accessdate=2015-04-21}}</ref> In the United Kingdom, the pressing was limited to 500 copies,<ref name="RSDUK"/> and debuted at number 49 on the Physical Singles chart.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.officialcharts.com/charts/physical-singles-chart/20150419/1|title=Official Physical Singles Chart Top 100: 19 April 2015 – 25 April 2015|publisher=The Official Charts Company|accessdate=2015-04-21}}</ref> The following week, the single rose to number 33,<ref name="physical"/> and debuted at number 32 on the Vinyl Singles chart.<ref name="vinylchart"/> A worldwide digital release of the two tracks followed on June 2,<ref name="digital">{{cite news|url=http://www.gigwise.com/news/100689/garbage-announce-digital-release-of-brian-aubert-collaboration|title=Garbage Announce Digital Release of Brian Aubert Collaboration|work=Gigwise|first=Jasmine|last=Cowler|date=2015-05-21|accessdate=2015-05-29}}</ref> under the title "The Chemicals / On Fire".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/the-chemicals-on-fire-single/id995197518?ign-mpt=uo%3D8|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150529155425/https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/the-chemicals-on-fire-single/id995197518?ign-mpt=uo%3D8|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 29, 2015|title=The Chemicals / On Fire - Single|publisher=Stunvolume|accessdate=2015-05-20|date=2015-06-02}}</ref>

"The Chemicals" is the third consecutive single release recorded by Garbage for Record Store Day, following 2014's "Girls Talk", and their 2013's cover version of "Because the Night".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.app.com/article/20130416/NJENT/304160068/Screaming-Females-cover-Patti-Smith-Record-Store-Day?nclick_check=1|title=Screaming Females cover Patti Smith for Record Store Day New Brunswick band teams with Garbage for new single|newspaper=Asbury Park Press|accessdate=2014-04-15}}</ref> In 2012, there were also RSD pressings of ''Not Your Kind of People'' singles "Blood for Poppies""<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.garbagediscobox.com/2012/03/record-store-day-2012/|title=Record Store Day 2012|first=Rob|last=Watson|publisher=Garbagediscobox|date=2012-03-15|accessdate=2014-04-15}}</ref> and "Battle In Me".<ref name="BIM?">{{cite web|url=http://www.garbagediscobox.com/2012/03/battle-in-me-out-may-7th/|title=Press Release: Battle In Me out May 7?|first=Rob|last=Watson|date=20 March 2012 |publisher=Garbagediscobox|accessdate=2014-04-15}}</ref>

==Music video== Director Sophie Muller created a visual clip for "The Chemicals" by editing footage of her family and friends that was filmed at a London nightclub with the audio track.<ref name="mash">{{cite web|url=http://mashable.com/2015/04/15/garbage-premieres-music-video/?hc_location=ufi|title=Garbage premieres 'The Chemicals' music video for Record Store Day |first=Corinne|last=Bagish|date=2015-04-15|publisher=Mashable|accessdate=2015-04-15}}</ref> Manson and Muller had discussed the aesthetics of small punk rock clubs, and their demise over the past thirty or so years. Both women had experienced such concerts in their formative years: "sweaty excitement... the sensuality that comes when you cram people in such a tiny space." Muller offered to cut the footage she had to "The Chemicals".<ref name="mash"/>

The music video premiered on the Mashable website on April 15, 2015.<ref name="mash"/> KROQ commended the use of underground rave imagery, and of the European/Berlin club scene that the visuals evoke, as well as Muller's shots and editing.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://kroq.cbslocal.com/2015/04/16/garbages-the-chemicals-video-introduces-a-new-kind-of-gazing-watch/|title=Garbage's 'The Chemicals' Video Introduces a New Kind of Gazing|publisher=KROQ|date=2015-04-16|accessdate=2015-04-17}}</ref>

==Reception== ''Nylon'' magazine gave a positive write-up to "The Chemicals", declaring that the song "flaunts Shirley Manson's signature sultry vocals in a simple, building chorus that teems with anticipation, ready to erupt into a burst of head-banging bass and percussion."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nylon.com/articles/garbage-the-chemicals|title=garbage goes punk for record store day|first=Rebecca|last=Deczynski|date=16 April 2015 |publisher=NYLON|accessdate=2015-04-16}}</ref>

==Track listing== *'''10" single STNVOL011 (Record Store Day release)'''<ref name="USA">{{cite web|url=http://www.recordstoreday.com/SpecialRelease/8079|title=Special Release; Garbage; The Chemicals|accessdate=2015-03-11|publisher=Record Store Day}}</ref><ref name="Germany">{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.de/The-Chemicals-Fire-Vinyl-LP/dp/B00TP8A4F4|title=The Chemicals / on Fire [Vinyl LP]|publisher=Amazon.com Germany|accessdate=2015-03-12}}</ref> *'''Digital single''' (titled "The Chemicals / On Fire")

# "The Chemicals" – 4:20 # "On Fire" – 5:07

==Charts== {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" |+Chart performance for "The Chemicals" !scope="col"|Chart (2015) !scope="col"|Peak<br />position |- !scope="row"|UK Physical Singles (Official Charts Company)<ref name="physical">{{cite web| url=http://www.officialcharts.com/charts/physical-singles-chart|title=Official Physical Singles Chart Top 100: 26 April 2015 - 02 May 2015|publisher=The Official Charts Company|accessdate=2015-04-27}}</ref> |align="center"|33 |- !scope="row"|UK Vinyl Singles (Official Charts Company)<ref name="vinylchart">{{cite web| url=http://www.officialcharts.com/charts/vinyl-singles-chart/|title=Official Vinyl Singles Chart Top 40 : 26 April 2015 - 02 May 2015|publisher=The Official Charts Company|accessdate=2015-04-27}}</ref> |align="center"|32 |}

==Release history== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" |+Release history and formats for "The Chemicals" !scope="col"|Region !scope="col"|Release date !scope="col"|Record label !scope="col"|Format |- !scope="row"|United States,<ref name="USA"/><br />United Kingdom<ref name="RSDUK">{{cite web |url=http://www.recordstoreday.co.uk/exclusive-products/real-rsd-2015/ |title=Record Store Day 2015 Exclusive Products |work=Record Store Day |publisher=RSD UK |accessdate=2014-03-11 |last1=Day |first1=Record Store |archive-date=2021-04-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210419131841/https://recordstoreday.co.uk/exclusive-products/real-rsd-2015/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> |April 18, 2015 |rowspan="2"|Stunvolume |10" vinyl |- !scope="row"|Various<ref name="digital"/> |June 2, 2015 |Digital release |}

==References== {{Reflist}}

{{Garbage}} {{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Chemicals (section)}} Category:Garbage (band) songs Category:2015 singles Category:2015 songs Category:Music videos directed by Sophie Muller Category:Songs written by Shirley Manson Category:Songs written by Duke Erikson Category:Songs written by Steve Marker Category:Songs written by Butch Vig