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Smashing Pumpkins Set Final Album Free, Digitally
The Smashing Pumpkins have launched their final album group, “Machina II: The Friends and Enemies of Modern Music” in strictly digital format, taking shots directly at the label which they claim never supported them.
The band which has always seemed to blaze a trail with their amazing music, leave the industry as a group with a blatantly clear message of their frustration with the industry and their strong acknowledgement of the Internet a viable alternative method of distribution, utilizing Napster for the delivery method of this free music.
The band was reported to have produced only 25 copy of the album and handed them out only to close friends of the band.
It appears that due to a non-compete clause they are unable to release this album in CD format, and the fact that Virgin Records apparently showed no interest in a follow up to the Machina album, prompted the ‘pumkins to set their music free for fans online.
There is also put a rather extensive FAQ on the band's main fan website explaining the situation, and covering common questions they envision fans having.
The Smashing Pumpkins are doing their best to make the digital release as satisfying as any CD release could be, and are even offering art and liner notes which a CD normally has.
I think as a community we should show our genuine appreciation for the bands recognition and support for releasing this music digitally. Doing so brings some much needed bright light to the community surrounded by the darkness and negativity of legal issues and bad press. Much love from all of the digitial music community, sincerly.
User Comments
(These do not necessarily reflect the beliefs of this site)
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-X-
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Date: September 12, 2000 @ 10:47 PM
Sadly enough, the BBS board which this FAQ is on is "Empowered by AtomicPop"... |
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richieZ
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Date: September 12, 2000 @ 10:54 PM
this is awesome... SP has always impressed me... i'll grab this release for sure...
-rZ |
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jamuraa
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Date: September 13, 2000 @ 12:56 AM
Oh yes. This is really a great thing for artists - they *can* defy their labels.
BTW - is it legal for everyone to mirror this?
Jamuraa |
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Anonymous
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Date: September 13, 2000 @ 2:54 AM
Do some research before posting news. This is not really a new Smashing Pumpkins album. It's 25 tracks (90 minutes) of unfinished demo material, probably most from the Machina sessions. There is no way this is a follow up album. Listen for yourself.
The "FAQ" referenced was not posted by the band. In fact, there have been no official statements from the band.
I want a real answer why they distributed crappy quality vinyl copies. If they really wanted to "stick it to the man", nice digital copies of the demos would have been appreciated. But why would Virgin care? Isn't their contract up? |
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Anonymous
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Date: September 13, 2000 @ 3:04 AM
FYI: Billy Corgan promise when he announced the breakup that leftover material from the Machina sessions would be released. This is it and a more.
The 25 tracks include the altered Machina tracks "Heavy Metal Machine", "Try Try Try" & "Blue Skies Bring Tears", and "Let Me Give the World to You" from the Adore sessions. Too bad the sound sucks. |
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Anonymous
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Date: September 13, 2000 @ 9:47 AM
what you're looking at is a collection of b-sides, not a follow-up album. |
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Anonymous
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Date: September 13, 2000 @ 10:55 AM
Smashing Pumkins label has not been giving them any support due to the fact that Billy Corgan's voice (now)sounds like two cats having sex in a metal garbage can. Gish and Siamese were good, but if I was their label I would have dropped them a long time ago. Sorry Fans, but this is a publicity stunt to get rid of some old crap and gain some unneeded notariety.
G |
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Fletch
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Date: September 13, 2000 @ 11:26 AM
"The Smashing Pumpkins ... are even offering art and liner notes which a CD normally has."
no they aren't, some kid with a scanner is. |
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PhoenixIscariot
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Date: September 13, 2000 @ 11:34 AM
This IS the official and last album from the smashing pumpkins. Here's the OFFICIAL press release for it:
HEADLINE:
the smashing pumpkins
release their final album
MACHINA II/ the friends and enemies of modern music
free music for the fans
BODY:
"MACHINA II/the friends and enemies of modern music, the final album from The Smashing Pumpkins has been released. The album is the companion piece to MACHINA/the machines of God. Both were recorded at the same time, and the new album completes the story of a rock star gone mad. MACHINA II / the friends and enemies of modern music allows the fans to be the record company by distributing the music for free via various fan web sites. In addition to the album, there are 3 e.p.s which feature alternate versions of MACHINA songs as well as outtakes. The band only pressed 25 copies each of four distinct pieces; one 12-inch l.p., and three 10-inch e.p. The records are only available on vinyl, each uniquely numbered and signed by hand etching in the out groove.
The track listing for The Smashing Pumpkins final album
glass
cash car star
dross
real love
go
let me give the world to you
innosense
home
blue skies/version electrique
white spyder
in my body
if there is a god
le deux machina
atom bomb
e.p. 1
slow dawn
vanity
satur9
glass/alternate version
e.p. 2
soul power
cash car star/version 1
lucky 13
speed kills but beauty lives forever
e.p. 3
if there is a god/ piano and voice
try/ version 1
atom bomb
heavy metal machine/ version 1 alternate mix
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rob_n
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Date: September 13, 2000 @ 11:56 AM
Uh...this IS the follow up album. Do your own research anon. |
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rob_n
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Date: September 13, 2000 @ 11:58 AM
So tell me aol...what were they planning on releasing to the public? A FOLLOW UP ALBUM...Get it? Good. This IS it, their label didn't want to release it, hence it is in demo quality. |
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rob_n
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Date: September 13, 2000 @ 12:00 PM
His voice has remained unchanged. It's always sounded like "two cats having sex". |
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Anonymous
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Date: September 13, 2000 @ 12:08 PM
Not true. Before, his voice sounded like two cats making love pasionately, but now it seems the kitties are having angry, unrehearsed, animal (no pun) sex. It has gotten worse, or maybe I've gotten better, but it seems they have degressed.
G |
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Anonymous
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Date: September 13, 2000 @ 1:12 PM
Ughh, YAWN. Keep posting man, im sure someone will find that funny other than you. No really though, you are right, Billy does sound like 2 cats having sex with each other in a garbage can. Keeping that in mind... Britney Spears sounds like a cat coughing up a furball, Fred Durst sounds like he is getting beat by a huge dude who has a board with a nail in it, and Eminem sounds like a white Dr. Dre who was tied up and gagged. There I think I pretty much covered it there, I think I still like Billy's voice the best though. So go enjoy your Creed, Korn, Eminem, Nelly, Nsync, whatever the hell you listen to... |
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jcterminal
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Date: September 13, 2000 @ 1:42 PM
/me starts a band: "Two Cats", looking for singer that doesn't sound like two cats doing anything...
---==*==---
mind: www.jcterminal.com
body: i.jcterminal.com
soul: tds.jcterminal.com |
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Anonymous
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Date: September 13, 2000 @ 3:15 PM
First of all, you agreed with me on the 2 cats garbage can thing. Secondly I agree with you on the Eminem, Spears, Durst thing. Finally, relax buddy. I didn't mean to insult your little Billy Boy. Oh yeah. And Creed, Korn, Eminem, Nelly, Nsync, nice try, but I listen to music that will still be around next year. |
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milladrive
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Date: September 13, 2000 @ 3:17 PM
Where is it written that an album needs to be some glossy package w/slick production work? Any compilation of songs grouped together for a purpose constitutes an album. Can't a photo album contain crappy quality pictures of high quality images?
If the artist considers it finished, which obviously they do, then it's finished. Who are _you_ to say it's unfinished. Did you do any collaboration w/SP?
Finally, how would releasing "nice digital copies" be "sticking it to the man" any more than "crappy quality vinyl copies?" First, the Pumpkins apparently WANTED the sound of the vinyl to be present during playback, and second, the label encouraged this release. Your research could've consisted of reading the article. |
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milladrive
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Date: September 13, 2000 @ 3:30 PM
It's all good, man. The trick is to see greatness is some of it. ;) |
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milladrive
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Date: September 13, 2000 @ 3:53 PM
Why is it so difficult to learn how to thread? Do you think we won't read your comments? Why does everyone else have to piece together a conversation between you and some other person? :) |
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Anonymous
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Date: September 13, 2000 @ 5:23 PM
Show me some quotes. When did the Smashing Pumpkins say they wanted the vinyl sound to be there?
The problem with all these articles and comments is that they are making up news as they go. Look at everyone saying it it was released to say f*** you to Virgin and the record industry. I didn't see any quotes from the Pumpkins. One person says Virgin is pissed, someone else says it was encouraged. Idiots.
In the traditional sense, this not a "follow up" album, but a compilation of unreleased demo material. |
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Anonymous
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Date: September 13, 2000 @ 6:11 PM
It amuses me how many people post comments on this that don't know shit about it, other than what they heard on cnet. The reason it wasn't released on a CD is because Virgin could have sued Billy for that, there wasn't anything in the contract that said he couldn't release material on vinyl which is what he did. Know the facts first next time, kiddies. |
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-X-
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Date: September 13, 2000 @ 8:05 PM
I did note that in the article that this was due to a "non-compete clause" now didn't I? |
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jamuraa
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Date: September 13, 2000 @ 9:04 PM
I don't know what you're reading, but the liner notes all over the place that are from the smashing pumpkins, saying f*** you to the record company explicitly.
Jamuraa |
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Anonymous
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Date: September 13, 2000 @ 10:09 PM
Umm.. Korn has been around for several years. There huge swell of mainstream popularity is only recent. I think that can be said of any popular band. It's not the band's that are "fly by night" it's the fickle mainstream listeners that eat up whatever the RIAA gives them and nothing else. |
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rob_n
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Date: September 14, 2000 @ 1:32 PM
Hell yeah brotha! :) I compare "boy bands" to wrestling. It's ENTERTAINMENT...not MUSIC. Oh yes and lets get the good old dictionary out here...
Band: (noun) "A company of persons organized to play musical instruments"
Heh. |
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rob_n
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Date: September 14, 2000 @ 1:35 PM
If you would read the comments instead of just scaning them quickly you would find out people are upset because somebody decided to just come out and say "this is not the next album blah blah i'm an idiot". |
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alexbhlz
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Date: September 14, 2000 @ 3:46 PM
This pumpkins material is incredible. I'm so glad they put it out. |
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-X-
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Date: September 14, 2000 @ 4:53 PM
That is a excellent (link) sir ;) |
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priss
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Date: September 15, 2000 @ 6:23 AM
This is awesome. The Pumpkins have pulled off an excellent move, whilst also showing they care for their fans. It took a long time for me and my 56k modem to get all the songs, but it was well worth it! |
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Anonymous
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Date: October 31, 2000 @ 9:02 AM
A ll you fucking wanks putting the pumpkins down,ripping the piss out of the music and the quality whatever shut up! you probably just got a poor copy so you put it down thats shit loads of good quality mp3s and cdrs coming out all the time and for christ sake you should be happy to get free music,to get anything free these days...anyway you probably havnt even heard it , so dont complain at a good band thats giving something for free and not at society which is determined milk all they can out of the youth of the world,with people who havnt heard anything better than what is always in the charts the same product shit.....Christ you shouldnt be complaining he's saving your ass and your business. |
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