The Smashing Pumpkins, "MACHINA II/The Friends and Enemies of Modern Music" (4/5)

Back in the year 2000, it seemed that the Smashing Pumpkins had simply disappeared off the face of the map. They released two mediocre albums, "Adore" and "MACHINA/The Machines of God", on which we heard one of the most prolific hard rock bands of recent decades experimenting with whiney acoustic balladry, mild doses of electronica, 80's style new wave, pretentious and overproduced industrial-metal, and other tangents that would have been better left to solo albums and side projects. These albums, although not all bad, weren't well recieved by the fans. The Pumpkins, seemingly in a state of defeat, disbanded and faded from existance.

Not quite. Although unbeknownst to the vast majority of Pumpkins fans, MACHINA/The Machines of God was not the final Smashing Pumpkins album. Immediately after MACHINA bombed, the Pumpkins got to work on finishing up it's companion disc, "MACHINA II/The Friends and Enemies of Modern Music", which was supposed to be the second chapter in a two-disc concept album about a rockstar going mad. However, they recieved no support from their record label, which refused to put any money into a new album so soon after their most recent one failed. So, in one of the coolest gestures that a band of their status has ever made, the Pumpkins basically said "fuck you" to the label, recorded the new album out of their own pockets, and released it over the internet where it is now available to be downloaded for free from a variety of completely legitimate download sites.

Now, the Pumpkins have always been an overproductive band, and I was initially skeptical when I heard about this new album, as it could easily have been a collection of b-sides and fillers that never made it onto the last album. However, that theory was thrown out the window as soon as I actually heard these songs. While "The Machines of God", their anticipated "return to rock", ended up being a pompous quagmire of lifeless industrial metal, "Friends and Enemies of Modern Music" features some of the most ambitious, passionate rock'n'roll that they have recorded since their 1993 classic "Siamese Dream". Acoustic lullabies, techno, new wave, and industrial are out, and back-to-basics Pumpkins-style guitar rock is in. The raw production and free-flowing musical energy gives them the sound of a band that is starting a new beginning, not one that is about to fade off into obscurity (but more about that later).

"Cash Car Star" is a classic Pumpkins tune, and would have made a fine first single. It features a wall of swirling, distorted guitars, brilliant solos, and Jimmy Chamberlin's trademark frenetic powerhouse drumming. "Dross", another potential classic, is reminiscent of their 1995 alt-rock anthem "Bullet with Butterfly Wings". "Vanity" and "Speed Kills" are anthemic throwbacks to the dream-pop/arena-rock sound that made them famous in the first place, but with an evolved sense of skill and maturity. "Home" is the closest thing to a ballad on this album. It is a gorgeous song with soaring melodies that reminds me of everything I always loved about the Smashing Pumpkins. With proper production, it could be a classic Pumpkins song (if it were ever officially released, that is).

Although this album lacks the clear focus and crisp production of their classic albums from the early 90's, these songs set the framework for an exciting new musical direction for the newly reunited Smashing Pumpkins, who are currently in the studio recording a new album and have confirmed that they will be picking up exactly where they left off as an "extremely heavy and progressive unit". There may be a fair bit of filler on this album, but its good songs are quality, which can also be said about about any of their classic albums from the early 90's. I wouldn't be at all surprised if a few of these songs ended up on the new album, as they have never been officially released.

Billy Corgan, the architect of the Smashing Pumpkins, is no fool, and he certainly doesnt "suck" as many ex-Pumpkins fans have suggested; "Friends and Enemies of Modern Music" is proof that he can make a damn good Smashing Pumpkins album if he wants to. This album is a must-hear for both old and new fans alike, and I think we should all expect great things from the Pumpkins in the very near future.

It's availiable to download for free at this site, among others.

Favorite Song - Vanity



Reviewed By: Rich