13. Smashing Pumpkins - Machina II/The Friends & Enemies of Modern Music
By the late 90s, Smashing Pumpkins had turned away from their usual brand of guitar-heavy alternative rock toward a more electronica-flavored sound. The band lost a good chunk of fans with their decision to use drum machines and synthesizers on Adore, but critics fell in love with the change in direction. But while Adore was met with a small bit of hostility from fans, the following two concept albums (the last before the band officially broke up) registered with relative indifference. Described as a two-part story about a "rock star gone mad" (totally not autobiographical), the Machina albums are the most underrated things hiding in the Pumpkins' discography. The storyline may be a bit thin for a traditional concept album but the music is heavy and oh-so satisfying for fans of the band's earlier sound. On Machina II, in particular, the electronica elements are used smartly, primarily as a way to bolster the sounds of the guitars and drums. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tv9JZxA4HLU