Not sure if this topic was already covered (too lazy to search all the threads)




To be honest, I had kind of had low expectations because of the fact that it was only Corgan and Chamerblin on board for the "reunion" - but I have to say that this CD is good, and Corgan seems to have gotten back to his roots here with the Pumpkins' sound. After all, Billy (as he so modestly put it) IS the Smashing Pumpkins, and although it would have been nice to see James Iha and D'Arcy Wretzky join in, the new 1/2 Pumpkins sound as good as ever, IMO.

What does everyone else think?

*If there is another thread - by all means point me to it
[Edited 7/27/07 10:36am]

I didn't have high hopes as well but have 2 say I love the album...

I'm coming around on this ablum, slowly.

On first listen, I couldn't figure out why this album was even created. Going forward without James and D'Arcy smacked a little too much of desperation. It seemed more about branding than anything else.

However, Billy acquits himself nicely on living up to one dimension (the hard rocking one) of the SP brand. But I really miss the slower stuff - he had such wonderful emotive imagery when the Pumpkins weren't trying to blow your socks off (if 'Pomp & Circumstances' is any evidence, Billy simply may not be able to write a beautiful ballad anymore).

With that exception (perhaps add the unjustifiably long 'United States') I feel like the collection of songs sound stronger with each listen.

Though there are some other things that still bug me:
The mix. It's a little muddy.
Not every guitar solo has to sound like Brian May.
SP were always more artsy than political. He might be trying, but he's still not the latter.
The cover.
The whole 'screw all the independent record stores' deals they cut.

But on a positive note, it reminds me most of their first album - like the second album of the second coming will hold promise.

PeteZarustica said:

I have to agree, it does remind us of the Pumpkins of yester-year - which I didn't expect. It'll be interesting to see if he forges ahead with the partial Pumpkins and what that will produce.

DiminutiveRocker said:

I like it....my favorite track so far is "Come on (let's go)". This album does seem to get back to their roots but some of Billy's vocals seem like he is barely singing into the mic.

It does seem weird to call it a "Smashing Pumpkins" album without James Iha and D'Arcy. Billy always wrote all the songs anyway, but the whole band played in the studio when they recorded.

DiminutiveRocker said:

It probably all depends on how successful this release is....however he tried it solo and that didn't seem to go so well so he might be back to the Pumkins thing for good.

I think the word is "overblown"

Sowhat said:

Yes, taking out the newspaper petition to get SP back together right when his solo album was hitting the CD racks was a little weird...

I would guess he sticks with SP even with minimal success. Really, what is the alternative?

It's pretty good, but it's not outstanding. The first five albums impressed me much more than this release.

i love this record.

and, coincidentally, i literally bumped into billy corgan today in downtown sf while waiting for my bus. he was cool. apparently he has a sore throat from hanging out at the beach during his time in sf and is worried about tonight's show. i told him to crank his gee-tar up and nobody would even notice it.

it's even worse than his solo album

I think the Zwan songs were quite a lot better, honestly (pun intended). But it's growing on me.

and I miss the Victorian thing the pumpkins had in the past. The new art direction doesn't do anything for me at all - like the paris hilton pictures. It's not gonna age well

sassybritches said:

cool, how long did you get to talk to him?

abigail05 said:

about 5 minutes or so.

sassybritches said:

He's a tall one. Was he wearing a black and whhite striped shirt

DiminutiveRocker said:

no. he was just wearing a hat, regular ol' shirt, and jeans. and some redness from the sun.

abigail05 said:

HEY AT LEAST PARIS PICTURES SOME SURPRISE HUH

ANYWAY THIS ALBUM WAY BETTER THAN NEW TORI OR BJORK!

POOK ROCK OUT DUDER