THE SMASHING PUMPKINS
MACHINA/THE MACHINES OF GOD
ALBUM VIRGIN RELEASE: FEBRUARY 28, 2000 REVIEW: MARCH 3, 2000



The Smashing Pumpkins have had a fairly consequent career. Deviations from their melodic post-grunge oeuvre have been minimal and if such discontinuance do occur, it does in a rather gothic form. This is not least evident in their visual approach.
And on the current album surprises are as rare as ever. The typical Pumpkin-sound is this time mixed with traces of The Cure's melodic structures and some pretty cool Sabbath-riffs. But above these features everything stays within the boundaries of the all-American form of college rock. And that is something that has never really got me going.
But "Machina/the machines of God" is of course very competent and impeccably produced (by Flood). And although the music leaves me rather indifferent, I eagerly applaud their strong predilection for expressionistic silent movies. This is most evident in their always remarkable videos. So when it comes to the artistic abilities of The Smashing Pumpkins I guess I listen with my eyes…

ERIK ALMGREN