Smashing Pumpkins - Machina: The Machines of God
|
List Price: Our Price: $7.99 You Save: $9.99 (56%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $0.03 (click here) Category: Music CD See more new music releases 
|
|---|
Buy this Music CD at online store in your country
Canadian Music Store
Canadian Music Store
Free Music Notes for Machina: The Machines of God
Free Music Review: Excellent...
Hit: 5 Stars
When I bought this album, I forced my self to promise that no matter what MACHINA sounded like, I would at least listen to it thoroughly with an open mind. Frankly, I didn't expect, and I didn't care if this album sounded or didn't sound like the Pumpkins other brilliant efforts. I basically listened to it for the first time not to compare it to anything else, but to simply discover if I enjoyed the music or not. I loved the music. MACHINA is different from anything else the group has done, which seems to dissapoint some, but enthralls me. It is fine if someone prefers older Pumpkins albums over the new material, but it seems selfish to desire MACHINA to be a duplicate of Siamese Dream. For those who were surprised and bitterly dissapointed that this new album wasn't a greatest hits album: How can you possibly expect that ANY musician will not want, in their entire musical carrer, to expand his/her musical landscape and evolve as an artist? Its ridiculous! MACHINA has a certain addictiveness to it, which maybe credited to its heavy production, which some may call pretentious, but I call ambitious. Good rock music should not be limited to a guitar, bass, and drumset. Of course, I love bands that tend to go the more garage-sounding route, but I have also come to embrace the idea that music is allowed to be as "grand" as it wants ( once again, some people will undoubtedly confuse "grand" with pretentious-a biased conviction which even the GREAT Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness was exposed to ). Some of my favorite songs on this album include "Stand Inside Your Love", "I of the Mourning", "The Crying Tree of Mercury", and "The Age of Innocence"; all are examples of fabulous, and oddly addicting songwriting and arrangements. Of course, these four songs that I have named are not the only tracks of note -- I really liked every track on this 15 track CD. Overall, Pumpkins fans will either love this album or scorn it, and MACHINA interestingly seems like it could have some appeal to people normally not venturing into the world of alternative rock. A must have.Free Music Review: Excellent...
Hit: 5 Stars
When I bought this album, I forced my self to promise that no matter what MACHINA sounded like, I would at least listen to it thoroughly with an open mind. Frankly, I didn't expect, and I didn't care if this album sounded or didn't sound like the Pumpkins other brilliant efforts. I basically listened to it for the first time not to compare it to anything else, but to simply discover if I enjoyed the music or not. I loved the music. MACHINA is different from anything else the group has done, which seems to dissapoint some, but enthralls me. It is fine if someone prefers older Pumpkins albums over the new material, but it seems selfish to desire MACHINA to be a duplicate of Siamese Dream. For those who were surprised and bitterly dissapointed that this new album wasn't a greatest hits album: How can you possibly expect that ANY musician will not want, in their entire musical carrer, to expand his/her musical landscape and evolve as an artist? Its ridiculous! MACHINA has a certain addictiveness to it, which maybe credited to its heavy production, which some may call pretentious, but I call ambitious. Good rock music should not be limited to a guitar, bass, and drumset. Of course, I love bands that tend to go the more garage-sounding route, but I have also come to embrace the idea that music is allowed to be as "grand" as it wants ( once again, some people will undoubtedly confuse "grand" with pretentious-a biased conviction which even the GREAT Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness was exposed to ). Some of my favorite songs on this album include "Stand Inside Your Love", "I of the Mourning", "The Crying Tree of Mercury", and "The Age of Innocence"; all are examples of fabulous, and oddly addicting songwriting and arrangements. Of course, these four songs that I have named are not the only tracks of note -- I really liked every track on this 15 track CD. Overall, Pumpkins fans will either love this album or scorn it, and MACHINA interestingly seems like it could have some appeal to people normally not venturing into the world of alternative rock. A must have.Free Music Review: It's new and old
Hit: 5 Stars
Don't beleive everything you hear. This album is the old sound combined with the new sound. Take "Everlasting Gaze" for example, it's an all out rock song, but if you listen closely, it's a heavy techno song. "Raindrops + Sunshowers" is not exactly "Appels+Oranjes" as everyone says. Jimmy's drumming (thatnk god he's back!) makes the song sound different. "Stand Inside Your Love" is, without a doubt, one of the best songs on the album. "I of the mourning", is, well, okay at best. The song that really took me breath away is "Sacred And Profane". It's like psychedelic, but more rockish, all around hypnotising and amazing. "Try, try, try" is a lighter song, and all around catchy, great piano intro. "Heavy metal machine" is NOT what the title says it is. Rather, it feels like an attempt. But if you listen closely, in a few days it'll be stuck in your head. "This time" is another gem. A must listen. "Imploding Voice" is, uh, I can't really decribe this one, kinda like punkish rock with some techno effects. "Glass + Ghost Children" is AMAZING, it feels like Ozzy at first, and at the end you realize that Corgan is a genius. "Wound" is basically the "1979" and "Perfect" of Machina, not that it's a band thing. "Crying Tree of Mercury" is, uh, yet another one I can't decribe, something like soft gothic. "With Every Light" is kinda boring, but, as usual, in a few days you'll be humming it. "Blue Skys Bring Tears", is just sooo beautiful. My god. Corgan's done it again. "Age of Innocense" is another great song.Machina is half comeback, half old sound, and half new song basically. It's kinda like a sequel to Adore (Adore was awesome, any ***hole who dissed it up are gay). It's heavy in a way. It's not Mellon Collie, Siamese, or Gish for that matter, and it's not Adore. Billy Coran has outdone himself in this one. Don't fall fer Britney's implants, go for quality music like Machina and Oasis' new work.
Free Music Review: The Pumpkins are back in full force!
Hit: 5 Stars
I've been a fan of the Smashing Pumpkins for years, and I've never been disappointed by anything Billy Corgan cranks out. Yes, that means I even liked "Adore," but that doesn't matter. What does matter is that Jimmy Chamberlain is back with the group, and his influence is the most prominent part of this album.Just listen to the second track, "Raindrops + Sunshowers." It starts out like a techno throwaway from "Adore", but then Chamberlain lays on the snare drum to remind you that you don't need to fall asleep yet. Another one is the current single, "Stand Inside Your Love." Chamberlain's drumming adds an interesting base, even though the song could probably be a hit without him. The Pumpkins, at their hardest, need Chamberlain's muscle to keep them going, and this album has it in spades.
Aside from all that, Corgan and company are rocking again. "The Everlasting Gaze" confirms this: the first line is "You know I'm not dead." Other songs deal with more interesting issues. "I of the Mourning" wails about the good times listening to a favorite song on the radio. The lyrics, especially as the album progresses, boil down to just a few messages: "Hi, we're back", "Drugs are bad", and "God is good." Slightly trite, but it's the actual music that shines here.
Once again, the music shows Corgan to be the musical genius/madman that he is. From the almost-punk riff of "Heavy Metal Machine" to the beautiful "Age of Innocence," Corgan is allowed to flex his musical ability almost to the extent of "Mellon Collie."
Unfortunately, like I said the lyrics all boil down to a few messages, and some of the songs roll on for a bit too long. The obligatory epic track, "Glass and the Ghost Children" is amazing, but very very long.
The only true way to enjoy this album is by listening to it repeatedly. Each time another track starts to stick out in your mind, and I've found another 15 favorite songs. It's a worthy purchase for fans and new listeners alike.
Free Music Review: Smashing Pumpkins carry-on into "legendary" status
Hit: 5 Stars
I think I speak for many longtime fans of the Pumpkins, when I say that I loved "Adore" above most of their other albums. Like other great bands before them (U2's "Pop," Midnight Oil's "Breathe," REM's "New Adventures...", etc.) they needed a somewhat experimental album in order to prove to themselves that they have plenty of miles left to go before they even think of putting an end to their amazing 10+ year career. Now with "Machina," the Smashing Pumpkins are once again out to convince old and new fans that they can still rock better than the vast majority of bands out there today. Billy C. always had a need to prove that we was a talented songwriter and performer. It's O.K., we know! Of course, part of their appeal is that they are highly-identifiable misfits, so to speak. Billy C. has often talked about how his most raw or experimental material has revealed the band's true identity. They are shy, rebellious, aggressive, sensitive, sad, joyful, ugly, and beautiful all at once, to paraphrase the man. This album, while similar to their albums prior to "Adore," proves at least two things. First, if there was ever any doubt that James Iha is the backbone of the band, it can be put to rest now. He and Billy are the Smashing Pumpkins, period. Second, as the band continues to record, their music continues to grow. This album might sound like a throwback to "Mellon Collie," but some of the songs on this CD have more complex solos, louder drums, more bass (nothing against Darcy) - in short more depth. They are no longer just another rock band. You can now place the Pumpkins on the same list as Brian Eno, David Bowie, Radiohead, Trent Reznor, Flood (who produced this album) - in short, the great innovators of contemporary music. The USA has been trailing the UK in Rock innovation and greatness since the early 1970's, but with this album, the Smashing Pumpkins prove once and for all that they belong on the worldwide "A" list. In short, get this album ASAP.