The Smashing Pumpkins
Virgin Records
FIVE STARS
by Chas J. Hartman
THE POST
The Smashing
Pumpkins are back from the pits of neo-electronica hell to recapture the
rock crown. MACHINA/the machines of God is the best rock album
released during the first quarter of 2000, and it's the best Pumpkins
album yet.
With rock-and-roll currently in a decadent state, there are a handful
of mainstream bands still producing remarkable music. The return of original
drummer Jimmy Chamberlin helps erase the programmed sound of ••Adore••,
while still retaining the magnificent beauty of ••Mellon Collie
and the Infinite Sadness••. Where ••MACHINA••
succeeds best is with the tunes that have the almost surreal rock sound
of the early classic Pumpkins albums.
"You know I'm not dead," songwriter Billy Corgan proclaims on the
album's leadoff track and first single from the album, "The Everlasting
Gaze." Corgan may be the most talented songwriter rock music's seen since
John Lennon. He assumes total control of the songwriting process in ••MACHINA••,
as he penned the lyrics and music for all 15 songs.
Another remarkable feature of this landmark Pumpkins album is that
it's the last collaboration with the four original members. The original
bassist known simply by her first name, D'arcy, left after completing
her parts. Without her vibrant bass parts, this album would have mirrored
the weakness of ••Adore••.
The Pumpkins always have utilized the best pop hooks of bands like
The Cure and The Cars. Amazingly poppy tunes like "Stand Inside Your Love"
and "I, Of The Mourning" are guaranteed to intrigue even the most anti-Pumpkin
people out there. Without a doubt, ••MACHINA•• is
the best summer cruising music released in a long, long time.
Even the most hardcore Pumpkins fans will find much delight with
this album. "Heavy Metal Machine" is the epitome of what's left in the
Pumpkins' hard rock vault. It mixes neo-grunge distortion with pop hooks
and some of the most enduring, strong vocals ever put to tape by Corgan.
The genius of this album lies completely in the brain of Corgan,
as he proves his ability to craft a well-written pop album. Despite the
15 gems on ••MACHINA••, dissenters will still complain
about Corgan's nasal-influenced singing style. If your hang-up is Corgan's
voice, then you've probably never bought a Pumpkins album before and that's
unfortunate.
What makes ••MACHINA•• the best album of 2000
thus far is its originality. Last year saw bands like Creed, Korn and
Limp Bizkit release albums that could have easily been mistaken as albums
from Pearl Jam, Rage Against The Machine and the Beastie Boys, respectively.
With the Pumpkins, you get classic guitar-driven rock tunes and the kind
of vocals you won't hear anywhere else.
"I've got to move it on/I've got to sing my song/While I still can,"
Corgan sings on "This Time." Corgan is never one to restrain his views
on pop culture, and in this instance that doesn't change. Corgan knows
that rock and roll needs a rebirth and that the Pumpkins are one of the
only true innovators left.
|
