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The Smashing Pumpkins - Machina: The Machines of God

Four stars out of a possible five stars

After falling short of satisfying Pumpkins fans with 1998's over-commercialized Adore, Billy Corgan makes a triumphant return with his band's fifth studio album, Machina: The Machines of God.

Focusing on themes of spirituality, redemption, everlasting love and commercial success, Machina moves away from the electronic sounds of Adore. Instead it masterfully mixes the rock driven sounds of Siamese Dream and the transcendent symphonies of Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness.

The result is an exciting rock album, one that bursts forth with passion and power. Corgan takes the musical sounds of the Pumpkins to another level, orchestrating intense rock pop melodies, characterized by Jimmy Chamberlin's forceful drumming and the warm, fuzzy tones of James Iha's guitar.

The Smashing Pumpkins, in collaboration with Flood (who also produced Mellon Collie), produce bold, fresh music throughout the album, providing harmonies with an edge worthy of Corgan's beautifully articulated feelings.

Machina's opening track, "The Everlasting Gaze," hits Corgan's audience at full force, with a hard-driven guitar riff and the unmatched intensity of Corgan's nasally, tortured voice. "You know I'm not dead/Forever waiting/Forever waiting on cruel death," Billy Corgan scowls repeatedly, letting his fans know that the Pumpkins of the past are back.

On the song "This Time," Corgan sings "For every chemical/You trade a piece of your soul," a bold statement reflecting his stance on drug use - something he cannot tolerate.

Corgan also mocks his newly found status as rock god in "Heavy Metal Machine," a track that both exemplifies and ridicules the traditional genre of rock music. Backed by a thundering, heavy guitar lick, Corgan sings "If I were dead/Would my records sell/Could you even tell/Is it just as well?"

Machina: The Machines of God is a powerful, emotional album that redeems Corgan and the rest of the Smashing Pumpkins - once again establishing the group as an important, creative musical force.

- Barry McGuire