Critical Reception
Upon its release, "Vow" received a positive response from music critics. The Times described it as "the missing link between Courtney Love and PJ Harvey" while Paul Yates of Q magazine said "Garbage's signature lies in songs like 'Vow', good pop tunes dealt a rough treatment and brazen vocals". NME's Emma Morgan wrote "it's the simplicity of the lyrics that strikes the winning goal", while earlier in the year NME had made "Vow" its Single of the Week, writing " a shape-shifting squalling epic. It shimmers like Siouxsie's 'Christine'. It's a credit to the band's producing skills that such an ambitious thing is lashed together at all" Melody Maker also named "Vow" as Single of the Week, describing the song as "surreal pop heaven mixed with industrial nightmares". and later saying the song "has classic written all over it". Kerrang! magazine's Paul Rees described "Vow" as "edgy dislocated pop with a sparkling chorus" and "the most brilliant pop song of 1995". Select's Ian Harrison liked the song, but felt that it "pilfers from The Smiths 'How Soon Is Now?'". In a review for Billboard, Larry Flick rated "Vow" his Critic's Choice and wrote, "Move over Courtney Love. Garbage combine the tough-headed hooks of Hole with an unforgettable vocal prowl which rivals 'Miss World'. A numbed female vocal cries before a raging guitar riff begins to shatter a pain-filled pop texture. Commit to it." Dan Dinello, of Alternative Press, described "Vow" as "menacing tale of violence and revenge sounds like Patti Smith fronting The Clash while quoting the Beatles "No Reply"." Spin's Charles Aaron likened the band to "Bunnymen wannabes doing '90s reverb angst" and compared Erikson's guitar to Aldo Nova, but ultimately considered that "even though they sound totally prefab, the singer hints at a pleasantly pissed personality".
"Vow" also appeared in a number of year-end lists: #45 in John Peel's Festive Fifty, #15 in Triple J's "Hottest 100 of 1995", and #66 in KROQ's "Top 106.7 of 1995".
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