The Mechanical Forces of Love

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]

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]

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]

Professional ratings

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]

All tracks are written by Brad Laner and Shannon Lee, except where noted. Adapted from album liner notes.[8].

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

• The Mechanical Forces of Love at Discogs (list of releases)