Reconsidering Machina #3

This is part three in a series in which I learn to love, or at least like or tolerate, the Smashing Pumpkins album "Machina/the machines of god."

My opinion of the album hasn't changed too much since the last installment, but I do have some more specific things to say about it.

• The album is fairly balanced between the pretty, softer songs and the heavier, guitar-based songs. Unfortunately, a couple of those heavier songs drag the album down with their depressing and plodding sounds. Taking some of those songs off the album would strengthen it.

• The return of Jimmy Chamberlin's drumming is very welcome. Even though he doesn't get to show off like he does on previous Pumpkins albums, having the drums come from The Man instead of a drum machine makes a huge difference.
  

• As I said before, this album can really only be compared to Adore. The sound on this album is a little heavier than that album, but not by much. It certainly isn't as heavy as Mellon Collie. Even though Machina and Adore share some of the same sound qualities and methods of production, Machina is the weaker album because the melodies are weaker. However, the difference is not very large; these albums are two sides of the same coin to me.

• "Glass And The Ghost Children" is really starting to grow on me. First, it sounds like an actual rock song. Second, it sound like an actual Smashing Pumpkins rock song. It's the same progressive thing they've been doing all along, only a little different. I love the bass in the first section, and I also love the freaky guitar sounds. This is another one of the Pumpkins' great epics, and I think I needed a few listens to get that.

• With a few exceptions, these songs are what I'd call decent. They're not as horrible as I first thought, nor are they great. Unlike most of the other Pumpkins albums, though, there's nothing on here that I'm particularly excited about. There's very little here I would tell a new fan to listen to in order to learn about the greatness of the Smashing Pumpkins. There are only a few songs I'd consider candidates for that sort of thing. When I think of the essential Pumpkins songs, I'm going to think of songs that aren't on this album.

Those are my thoughts for today. I think I'll end the series here for now, because I don't see these opinions changing in the near future. However, I'll probably revisit the album at some point in the future. A week from now, a month from now, or even a year from now. But, right now, I'm done Reconsidering Machina.