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Machina II: The Friends and Enemies of Modern Music
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Machina II: The Friends and Enemies of Modern Music Image
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  1. First Review
  2. Second Review
  3. Third Review
  4. Fourth Review

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User Score
9.0

Universal acclaim- based on 30 Ratings

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 3
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 3
  3. Negative: 0 out of 3
  1. The A.V. Club
    80
    A world-class band giving away more than an hour of strong material is historic in and of itself, but Machina II also holds up artistically. Purportedly drawn from the Adore and MACHINA sessions, the disc reflects Corgan's obsession with dream-pop, Cure- and Depeche Mode-styled synth-Goth, and glam-tinged heavy metal. But Machina II is not only far more cohesive than the sprawling double-album Mellon Collie And The Infinite Sadness, but tighter than the initial MACHINA.
  2. Pitchfork
    77
    It would be extremely easy to dismiss this album as Billy simply taking out the accumulated garbage of the past couple years. It would be easy, that is, if it didn't almost redeem the Pumpkins.... This album features an abundance of tracks that throw the deficiencies of their previous record into even sharper relief.
  3. AllMusic
    60
    As both a high-class artifact and a gift to a loyal fan base, Machina II is a welcome winner.

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 14 out of 14
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 14
  3. Negative: 0 out of 14
  1. lordythegreat
    Jun 22, 2012
    10
    its for free and its good stuff, what more do you want? :D songs such as go, vanity, cash car star are some of my fave smashing pumpkinsits for free and its good stuff, what more do you want? :D songs such as go, vanity, cash car star are some of my fave smashing pumpkins tunes, and they didnt even get a proper release. all fans of the pumpkins and fans of good alternative rock should give this a look you wont regret it… Expand
  2. ManuelM
    Aug 21, 2005
    10
    Machina was meant to be a double album. Fuck Virgin Records.
  4. BrennanB
    Oct 17, 2006
    10
    A gift to SP fans. Billly Corgan shows he is the best songwriter since Cobain (maybe better) with beautiful songs like Slow Dawn and Vanity A gift to SP fans. Billly Corgan shows he is the best songwriter since Cobain (maybe better) with beautiful songs like Slow Dawn and Vanity and chuggers like Glass. Best band of the 90's.… Expand
  5. Brendan
    Jun 11, 2004
    9
    Fantastic album, better than machina - draws much from dream pop bands like 'my bloody valentine' - beautiful
  6. CalR
    Feb 19, 2012
    9
    Yes, yes, yes! Machina II is easily one of the most consistent albums Smashing Pumpkins ever did (I am not counting the hit/miss EP's thatYes, yes, yes! Machina II is easily one of the most consistent albums Smashing Pumpkins ever did (I am not counting the hit/miss EP's that come with it) and fixes most of the drab and uninspired lyrics that made the first album so mediocre. 'Innosense' and 'In My Body' remain two of their most impressive later works, with the former among my favourite tracks.… Expand
  7. JorisV.
    Jun 13, 2005
    9
    This shouldn't be the first Pumpkins-album to discover 'em with, try Siamese Dream and MCIS. Otherwise: As an SP fan I tell you This shouldn't be the first Pumpkins-album to discover 'em with, try Siamese Dream and MCIS. Otherwise: As an SP fan I tell you that this is a rare collection of great songs worth the full download. If these demo-sounding tracks would have been produced, mixed and released as their final album it would slightly overshadow Machina I. (besides some of their best tracks on it). Expect a mix of furious SP-rock in overdrive genre Everlasting Gaze and dreamy-popsongs genre This Time. Listen to classic and exciting SP hardrockers as Dross, Cash Car Star, the heavy industrial White Spider or Soulpower. Besides these hardrockers other outstanding tracks are the drawn in melacholy tracks "Vanity" and "Home" or the dreamy popsong "Here's To The Atom Bomb". Wait! Did I mention the solo of Slow Dawn yet? For all of you who love the Pumpkins' MACHINA-sound, enjoy! If only some of the tracks on MACHINA I were replaced by one of the tracks mentioned above, MACHINA I would have been another SP masterpiece… Expand
  8. thisname
    Nov 11, 2010
    7
    Better than Machina... but as Machina was beautiful in how all the songs fit like they were perfect together... these songs are all over theBetter than Machina... but as Machina was beautiful in how all the songs fit like they were perfect together... these songs are all over the place... A brilliant mess if you will.… Expand

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