MACHINA/the machines of God
by The Smashing Pumpkins
  • Record Label: Virgin
  • Release Date: Feb 29, 2000
User Score
8.6

Universal acclaim- based on 50 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 44 out of 50
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 50
  3. Negative: 1 out of 50

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  1. AprilC.
    Aug 9, 2002
    9
    I cross between Mellon Collie and Adore with a little something new thrown in. An excellent way for the band to say goodbye.
  2. adamc
    Oct 11, 2002
    9
    Wall of psychedelic sound
  3. DanS
    Nov 7, 2003
    10
    It's so f*cking great! Just listen to the "hidden" song, the vortex of souls. Wonderful. Hm... You just have to love it.
  4. ChrisT
    Oct 26, 2004
    10
    The critics really seemed to hate this album but I loved it. The Pumpkins next to Nirvana are my fav band and always will be. A band should be allowed to move on and play some different material. Everyone expects a repeat of Mellon Collie And The Infinite Sadness but Billy Corgan is a genious and he is not afraid to try new things. Despite what is said about this album it's still amazing.
  5. genec
    May 21, 2004
    10
    best ever
  6. PierreB
    Feb 27, 2005
    9
    Don't listen to the critics. This is a great album!
  7. Joris
    Jun 25, 2005
    10
    This album really grows on you! The first year i thought it was their worst cd, now 5 years later (:p) I can honestly say this is their best after Siamese D and Mellon Collie. Another SP-album with a new sound uncomparabl to their previous work! Full of classics and so varied! Dream-pop like Wound or This Time Rockers as Heavy Metal Machina, Everlasting Gaze Epic SP tearjerker: Glass+The This album really grows on you! The first year i thought it was their worst cd, now 5 years later (:p) I can honestly say this is their best after Siamese D and Mellon Collie. Another SP-album with a new sound uncomparabl to their previous work! Full of classics and so varied! Dream-pop like Wound or This Time Rockers as Heavy Metal Machina, Everlasting Gaze Epic SP tearjerker: Glass+The Ghost Children, one of their best songs ever, along with I Of The Mourning and then there's that awesome Stand Inside Your Love-bridge/drumsolo/outro starting at about 2:30 I believe… Expand
  8. ChrisW
    Jan 6, 2006
    10
    This album is awesome. Had it for years and, if you listen to it really loud, it really shakes. I had it on in the car and I thought I was going to flip. Owning this album is a must!
  9. PaulK.
    Dec 8, 2001
    10
    An awesome cross between a supernatural experience and a high fever halucination.
  10. JonathanH.
    Jul 18, 2002
    10
    This album Is amazing.....Saying that its lacking creativity is bullshit.....you try coming out with an album that sells out to the world and then trying to live up to it.......
  11. thisname
    Nov 11, 2010
    6
    it's scary how bad some of this stuff is, but it's an ok record as a whole... I wouldn't want to bring this album to an island if I had to make a list but it's a good listen once a year.
  12. Ricko
    May 18, 2012
    9
    The original Smashing Pumpkins 5th records saw the return of drummer Jimmy Chamberlain. It's a got a much heavier and rockier sound than it's overly mellow predecessor "Adore". Some of the tracks on this are up there with some of the greatest music ever produced. This album is very under rated, I don't really understand why. Granted it is a bit on the long side and could have been trimmedThe original Smashing Pumpkins 5th records saw the return of drummer Jimmy Chamberlain. It's a got a much heavier and rockier sound than it's overly mellow predecessor "Adore". Some of the tracks on this are up there with some of the greatest music ever produced. This album is very under rated, I don't really understand why. Granted it is a bit on the long side and could have been trimmed by 2 or 3 tracks (like all Pumpkins records), but lyrically Corgan is at his peak on this record, the tunes and prodction are also top quality. This is a grower of an album - I must have listened to it a thousand times at this stage and it literally took me a few years to really appreciate how great is was. Really looking forward to it's reissue in 2013 when it will be packaged with it's previously unreleased (physically at least) sister album Machina II. The original Pumpkins last album and Billy Corgans last classic album.… Expand
  13. [Anonymous]
    Mar 5, 2006
    7
    A decent album, but spotty. Siamese Dream and Mellon Collie are superior, but this one has some moments of its own to offer, like "The Imploding Voice", "I of the Mourning", and "Stand inside your love". If it wasn't padded with lame stuff like "Heavy Metal Machine", it'd be great rahter than decent of good.
  14. Nick
    Jul 5, 2007
    7
    A solid album with excessive production and a bloated concept. Overall though most of the songs hold up, highlights are "Stand Inside Your Love", "I Of the Mourning", and "Age of Innocense"
  15. LarryD.
    Jul 5, 2001
    8
    I perceived this album to be a little deeper and stronger but somewhat more musical than Mellon Collie. But there are never any doubts this is definitely the work of leader Billy Corgan. I give this cd an 8 out of 10. A lenghty album, but very creative in a strange, special kind of way. I really like this band. Too bad they split up.
  16. PeterB
    Jul 26, 2006
    9
    This must be the definition of an album that grows on you! At first I thought it was alright, than I thought it sucked and now I think it's one of the best albums I own. There are so many great songs on this album. It starts off wtih a bang (The Everlasting Gaze) and than it delves into both electronica (Raindrops + Sunshowers), gorgeous pop-ballads (Stand Inside Your Love, Blue This must be the definition of an album that grows on you! At first I thought it was alright, than I thought it sucked and now I think it's one of the best albums I own. There are so many great songs on this album. It starts off wtih a bang (The Everlasting Gaze) and than it delves into both electronica (Raindrops + Sunshowers), gorgeous pop-ballads (Stand Inside Your Love, Blue Skies Bring Tears), amazing pop-gems (I of the Mourning, Try, Try, Try, This Time), catchy pop-rock (Sacred and Profane, Wound) and also weider experiments like the jazzy "With Every Light" and the industrial "The Imploding Voice". Only a few songs fall flat like the horrible "Heavy Metal Machine" and the too-strange "Crying Tree of Mercury". All in all it's still The Pumpkins' weekest effort, but it's still a great album!… Expand
  17. RandyB
    Jun 14, 2005
    7
    The last album to come of The Smashing Pumpkins begins with a bang: the hard-hitting
  18. jyo_tirmaya
    Feb 21, 2011
    8
    I just got this album, which I did not buy in 2000 when it first came out because by then I was tired of Smashing Pumpkins. I found it at a thrift shop and decided to purchase it for $1.00, and when I listened to it i loved it. Beautiful melodies, riffs, and the combinations of "Mellon Collie" and "Adore" type sounds work well. I will never listen to critics as being the final judgesI just got this album, which I did not buy in 2000 when it first came out because by then I was tired of Smashing Pumpkins. I found it at a thrift shop and decided to purchase it for $1.00, and when I listened to it i loved it. Beautiful melodies, riffs, and the combinations of "Mellon Collie" and "Adore" type sounds work well. I will never listen to critics as being the final judges again until I hear an album for myself. I would have been shocked in 2000 if I had bought this album when it came out because of how good it is. Now I have yet to discover 2 other Smashing Pumpkin albums i blew off...… Expand
  19. 7dogguy
    Apr 13, 2012
    8
    this is one of my favorite albums by them almost every song is heartfelt and has deep meaning with diverse songs and different sounds making this album truly unique and a great purchase if you like hard rock and alternative music
  20. CalR
    Feb 19, 2012
    6
    Arguably one of their weaker releases, Machina suffered because of its convoluted concept, lack of inspiration half-way through the album, and far too much filler. Irregardless, 'The Imploding Voice', 'Everlasting Gaze' and 'Sacred and the Profane' hold this album up above arguably my least favourite SP song of all time...Stand Inside Your Love -_-

Awards & Rankings

29
#29 Most Discussed Album of 2000
21
#21 Most Shared Album of 2000

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
66

Generally favorable reviews - based on 15 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 15
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 15
  3. Negative: 1 out of 15
  1. New Musical Express (NME)
    60
    Producing an album that distorts time so each second is the temporal equivalent of War And Peace is almost a perverse triumph.
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  2. Q Magazine
    80
    MACHINA/the machines of God is, mostly, a wonderful rock album.
    Read full review
  3. Wall of Sound
    87
    At nearly an hour and a quarter, the album does feel a little long, especially when it falls prey to the ponderousness that made Adore drag...
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