Machina II/The Friends & Enemies of Modern Music
The Smashing Pumpkins · 2000
93 min · 25 tracks · alternative rock
A sprawling collection of raw, experimental tracks that embrace vulnerability and introspection amidst alternative rock's chaotic backdrop.
Why this album works
This album is notable for its unconventional release strategy, being distributed for free via the internet, which highlighted the band's response to the changing music industry landscape. It received mixed critical reception but has since gained recognition for its experimental sound and thematic depth, influencing discussions around artist autonomy in music distribution.
- Best for
- wave-like pacing with peaks introspective moments of vulnerability dynamic progression through contrasts
- Context
- Released on August 5, 2000, 'Machina II/The Friends & Enemies of Modern Music' was The Smashing Pumpkins' follow-up to the ambitious but commercially underwhelming 'Machina/The Machines of God'. At this point in their career, the band was navigating significant internal strife and lineup changes, with frontman Billy Corgan taking more creative control as they moved towards a more independent approach.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Moby· Green Day· Beck· Linkin Park· Lana Del Rey· Tori Amos· Nine Inch Nails· Sonic Youth
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
Disc 1
- 1 Slow Dawn 3:16
- 2 Vanity 4:10
- 3 Saturnine Standout 4:13
- 4 Glass (alternate version) 2:57
Disc 2
- 1 Soul Power Standout 3:04
- 2 Cash Car Star (version 1) 3:43
- 3 Lucky 13 3:07
- 4 Speed Kills (But Beauty Lives Forever) 4:53
Disc 3
- 1 If There Is a God (piano and voice) 2:36
- 2 Try (version 1) 4:25
- 3 Heavy Metal Machine (version 1 alternate mix) 6:49
Disc 4
- 1 Glass 1:56
- 2 Cash Car Star 3:20
- 3 Dross Standout 3:28
- 4 Real Love 4:18
- 5 Go 3:49
- 6 Let Me Give the World to You 4:12
- 7 Innosense 2:35
- 8 Home 4:31
Disc 5
- 1 Blue Skies (version electrique) 3:20
- 2 White Spyder 3:39
- 3 In My Body 6:52
- 4 If There Is a God 2:10
- 5 Le Deux Machina 1:56
- 6 Atom Bomb 3:51
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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