Automatic Systematic Habit

"Automatic Systematic Habit" is the third and final European radio airplay (fifth overall) single released from alternative rock band Garbage's fifth studio album, Not Your Kind of People. Copies were sent to radio stations across Europe in November 2012.^{[1][unreliable source?]}

"Automatic Systematic Habit"
Single by Garbage
from the album Not Your Kind of People
Released	November 2012
Recorded	2010–2011
Studio	Red Razor Sounds; King Size North Studios California, US
Genre	Alternative rock post-punk revival electronica
Length	3:18
Label	Stunvolume
Songwriter(s)	Garbage
Producer(s)	Garbage
Garbage singles chronology
"Control" (2012) "Automatic Systematic Habit" (2012) "Because the Night" (2013)

Earlier in the year, Garbage released "Automatic Systematic Habit" as a free digital download via iTunes in the United States on May 8, 2012 — a week before the album was released.^[2] Garbage later pressed a limited edition 7" vinyl single for "Big Bright World" and released it through their website. It was backed with "Automatic Systematic Habit" on the B-side.^{[3][unreliable source?]}

Background

The inspiration for "Automatic Systematic Habit" came from a general idea of people messing others around: "I'm a very flawed individual, but I'm very forthright and I don't play games with people", Shirley Manson explained. "At the same time, I know people aren't always so straight with me. That's been a been a real frustration for me my whole life. I find it exhausting trying to figure out what people are trying to say — or sometimes, what they're trying not to say."^[4] Musically, the synth-European vibe of the instrumental led to the track being referred to as "Electro" as a working title ("A dance song that was concocted just as sort of a lark, really," multi-instrumentalist Duke Erikson revealed).^[2] Manson recorded her first vocal take with a German accent: "There was a pause after I finished and I said, 'Well, that's the idea. What do you think?' and I remember Steve Marker and Duke looking at each other going, 'We like it. We like it. I think you should drop the German accent.'"^[2]

Critical reception

Critical response to "Automatic Systematic Habit" was fairly positive upon the release of Not Your Kind of People. Theo Spielberg of Spinner described the song as "razor-sharp [and] electro-roughed".^[2]

Track listings

• Digital single

1. "Automatic Systematic Habit" – 3:18

• Beatport remix single^[5]

1. "Automatic Systematic Habit" (Costa Cadeu remix) – 4:38

Release history

Release history and formats for "Automatic Systematic Habit"

Region	Release date	Record label	Format
United States	May 8, 2012	Stunvolume	Digital download[2]
Europe	November 11, 2012		Airplay[1]
Various	February 1, 2013		Beatport remix single[5]