The Mechanical Forces of Love
| The Mechanical Forces of Love | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | July 15, 2003 | |||
| Genre | [1][2] | |||
| Length | 47:17 | |||
| Label | ||||
| Producer | Brad Laner | |||
| Medicine chronology | ||||
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The Mechanical Forces of Love is the fourth album by American rock band Medicine, released on July 15, 2003 by Wall of Sound.[3]
This album marked the band's return, after eight years of hiatus, in the form of a duo of Brad Laner and Shannon Lee.
Background
The album was Medicine's first record in eight years, and their first album since the group's split.[4][2] The album also marks the group's re-introduction of a female vocalist: singer and actress Shannon Lee, daughter of karate actor Bruce Lee.[2] The Mechanical Forces of Love is Lee's first appearance with the group; previously, vocals were provided by Beth Thompson.[1] Unlike previous Medicine albums, guitarist and keyboardist Brad Laner also contributes vocals to the album.[1]
Style
The album's genre has been classified as dream pop, indie electronic, and shoegaze.[1][4] Laner described the album's style as "Glitchy Beach Boys harmonies."[5] The album was perceived by some as a departure from the group's previous shoegazing sound, but others felt that the album was a "synergy" of Medicine's earlier style with that of Laner's side-project, Electric Company.[2] An album review by Uncut described the album's style as a "collision of Beach Boys/West Coast harmonies with beats’n’glitches electronica and mangled sci-fi noise."[6] The album's themes are love and sex.[6]
Opening track "As You Do" was described as "shambolic electro-funk" by Maya Singer (writing for CMJ New Music Monthly), while Pitchfork deemed the song "psychedelic short-circuit funk" and likened its style to Sly Stone.[4][2] Tim Sendra, writing for AllMusic, described Lee's vocals on the song as "almost funky."[1] Many of the album's songs were (uncharacteristically for the band) guitar-less, with "Good for Me" and "Whiz" being singled out as two of the only songs to feature the instrument prominently.[1] Pitchfork posited that the album, despite its techno influence, should be considered "a psychedelic record at heart."[2]
AllMusic compared the album's overall style to Garbage.[1] Both AllMusic and Uncut likened the vocal harmonies to those of the Beach Boys.[1][6]
Release
The album was released on July 15, 2003.[1][7] Some editions were released on the record label Wall of Sound, while others were released by Astralwerks.[8][9]
The single "I Smile to My Eyes" was included on the compilation accompanying the August 2003 issue of CMJ New Music Monthly.[10] To promote the album, it was given to non-commercial modern rock radio stations, with the focus tracks singled out as "I Smile to My Eyes," "As You Do," "Astral Gravy," and "Wet on Wet."[11]
Critical reception
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [1] |
| Guardian | [5] |
| Pitchfork | (8.0/10)[2] |
| Uncut | [6] |
Upon its release, the album received positive reviews from critics, holding a score of 70/100 on review aggregate site Album of the Year.[12] In a review for Pitchfork, critic Nitsuh Abebe commended the album's "gorgeous movements," singling out "As You Do" as a "wow-inducing rush" and concluding that "For some it might burn off quickly, but for just as many it'll sit just fine."[2]
Track listing
All tracks are written by Brad Laner and Shannon Lee, except where noted. Adapted from album liner notes.[8]
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "As You Do" | 3:39 | |
| 2. | "I Smile to My Eyes" | 4:20 | |
| 3. | "Wet on Wet" | 3:51 | |
| 4. | "Best Future" | Brad Laner | 4:13 |
| 5. | "ioi" | 4:35 | |
| 6. | "I M Yrs" | 4:35 | |
| 7. | "Astral Gravy" | 2:57 | |
| 8. | "Good for Me" | 3:56 | |
| 9. | "Negative Capability" | Brad Laner | 3:39 |
| 10. | "Whiz" | 3:36 | |
| 11. | "Sodden Rockets" | Kid606, Brad Laner | 3:42 |
| 12. | "And Sometimes Y" | 4:32 |
Personnel
- Medicine
- Brad Laner – vocals, instruments, production, engineering, mixing
- Shannon Lee – vocals
- Production and additional personnel
- Jonathan de Villiers – photography
- Matt Devine – additional vocals
- Kid606 – drum machine
- Josh Laner – drums
- Joey Waronker – drums
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Sendra, Tim. "The Mechanical Forces of Love". AllMusic. Retrieved May 19, 2013.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Abebe, Nitsuh (July 15, 2003). "Medicine: The Mechanical Forces of Love". Pitchfork. Retrieved May 19, 2013.
- ^ Sprague, David (2007). "Medicine". Trouser Press. Retrieved May 19, 2013.
- ^ a b c Singer, Maya (August 2003). "Reviews: Medicine". CMJ New Music Monthly (115): 55. Retrieved January 23, 2019.
- ^ a b Sweeting, Adam. "Review: CD: Medicine: The Mechanical Forces of Love". Guardian. Guardian News and Media. Retrieved January 27, 2019.
- ^ a b c d "Review: Medicine – The Mechanical Forces Of Love". Uncut. TI Media. Retrieved January 22, 2019.
- ^ "Upcoming at Retail". CMJ New Music Report. 76 (6): 42. July 7, 2003. Retrieved January 24, 2019.
- ^ a b Laner, Brad (2003). The Mechanical Forces of Love (Album booklet). Medicine. Astralwerks. p. 1.
- ^ "Releases: The Mechanical Forces of Love". AllMusic. RhythmOne. Retrieved January 23, 2019.
- ^ "Compilation Liner Notes". CMJ New Music Monthly (115). August 2003. Retrieved January 23, 2019.
- ^ Team Retail (August 4, 2003). "Retail: Points of Impact". CMJ New Music Report. 76 (10): 37. Retrieved January 24, 2019.
- ^ "Overview: Medicine - The Mechanical Forces of Love". Album of the Year. Retrieved January 27, 2019.
External links
- The Mechanical Forces of Love at Discogs (list of releases)
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