 | Tracklist:
1. Doomsday Clock
2. 7 Shades of Black
3. Bleeding the Orchid
4. That's the Way (My Love Is)
5. Tarantula
6. Starz
7. United States
8. Neverlost
9. Bring the Light
10. (Come On) Let's Go!
11. For God and Country
12. Pomp and Circumstance
| Ranking: #173 for 2007 | |
| | other reviews | Freddy Thomas (4.5)
A welcome return to great form after 7 years for Smashing Pumpkins, despite only having 2 of the cor... | myriad (4)
Smashing Pumpkins comeback record a smashing return to form.... | Porter W. Richards (4)
Smashing Pumpkins are back-in full swing, despite the controversy with an excellent and unique relea... | BlindWriting (4)
Corgan and his longtime partner Chamberlin show their chops with a strong, dynamic new effort.... | John Cruz EMERITUS (3.5)
Smashing Pumpkins return with Zeitgeist, an uneven but more then acceptable "first" effort from Bill... | dudeinthepassinglane (3)
Zeitgeist, the new album from Billy Corgan's new Pumpkins, is a good one, but probably should have b... | angelfyre (2)
A feeble attempt at a groundbreaking rock reunion... | Attention Whore (1)
An 'Open Letter' to Billy Corgan...... |
On 36 Lists
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| Summary: A dry, stale, listener-fatigued album with a spotty track lineup and little replay value. |
4 of 7 thought this review was well written
Butchery should be a crime. I’m vegan-take it from me. For all of our history, we’ve gone around and killed smaller animals. We’re not like that anymore, we’re a bit smarter and have the ability to live without brutalizing smaller animals. We’re not cavemen. And in the case of music-butchery should, also, be a crime. And no greater a criminal of music butchery is Billy Corgan on 2007’s biggest flop, Zeitgeist.
It’s obvious Corgan has seen the error of his ways-new releases G.L.O.W. and SuperChrist, while not having much actually originality or classic Pumpkins charm, have an extremely gritty production and style, something harking back to the muddy waters of Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness. However, this album has only two volumes. Loud and quiet. The music never changes in melody or dynamics-outside of a few parts to Bleeding the Orchid and Tarantula, it’s a garbled mess of over-tuned guitars emulating the old Pumpkins tone, with little success. Instead of the subtle, minor layering of vocals from older releases where the vocals were buried and harmonized with the screeching guitars, they are turned loud, and given the insatiable Freddy Mercury treatment. In fact, on Bleeding the Orchid, this layering absolutely kills a potentially amazing song. The track lineup is atrocious and drole, plus Corgan lacks all bite whatsoever. He hides behind a moody, boring Zwan vocal approach with no snarls, screams, or bites at all. The worst part is that the tracks are all dynamically impaired, even the 'slow' and experimental like Pomp and Circumstance sound like watered-down rockers with little substance.
Of course, like all post Adore Corgan albums, his brilliance shines through in spotty places. Doomsday Clock has a killer song structure, fantastic riff layout, and great opening. Tarantula is altogether a track that will stand among Bullet With Butterfly Wings and Zero, and the b-side Stellar is the new Set the Ray to Jerry-type cult favorite for the new Pumpkins generation. But Doomsday Clock faltered from poor vocal mastering and Lars Ulrich-inspired snare, Tarantula’s epic, warm and fuzzy, retro breakdown didn’t last nearly long enough, and Stellar never hit it’s climax. Zeitgeist won’t be remembered for being “the spirit of the times”, unfortunately for Corgan, it’s going to be “all that could have been”. Zeitgeist is an album filled with what-ifs and what didn’t happen.
I can’t place my finger on this issue that hurts the album, but it feels, disorderly. The tracks seem to be doing four different things at once. The music seems to be extremely low-budget and cheap, the synthesizer modules and keyboards used on the album are something I toyed with when I was five. The guitar tuning is extremely old-fashioned and barrels with gallons of wah practically ruining the album’s best part, the 20 seconds of Tarantula’s breakdown. Jimmy Chamberlin’s drum production teeters in-between St. Anger and TheFutureEmbrace on a few of the tracks, clearing two of the worst albums of the decade in the process. The bass is so muddy and muffled, this sounds more like something Jason Newsted was a part of than Billy Corgan. The constant echoing riffs that are so overused get frustratingly repetitive that it sounds like a bad rendition of Heavy Metal Music. Billy tries to use his voice to create atmosphere in songs, killing all possibilities for the song because of that disgusting tone he was peddling. And that brings another issue with the album-Corgan’s vocals. He still has that soft/loud tone, but he underutilizes that bite he was so famous for. “Intoxicated/with the madness” from Zero bordered on all-time epic, with the brutal scream “Intoxicated!” that suddenly switched to delicately soft “with the madness” has become a constant drawl mixed with a fascination with a lisp vocal performance that does little other than whine, makes his vocal performance a true embarrassment. The Freddy Mercury-layering does little to help this major problem-enlarging it to epic proportions. In United States, Corgan barrels his vocal box for a brutal screech during “Do you wanna watch me…” before coughing up “die” instead of barking it like he would have during older albums. Or, the ridiculous “La la la la la” during Pomp and Circumstance, the teeth have been replaced for dentures.
Lyrically, Corgan hasn’t changed a bit over the years. His vocals are still really pretentious, really fake, and overly poetic. The rocking first half, while shallow, is a bit stronger and tries to make a statement before the album takes a quick U-turn, and it then becomes a cheap electronic pop-rock that is overly-influenced by failed side projects TheFutureEmbrace and Zwan, obviously creating the criticisms for bringing the name from the grave. The second half, post-United States becomes like a terrible Bee Gees record, frolicking between corny pop-rock, Dollar-Tree synth lines, and unemotional, unattached music with the substance of Britney Spears. What happened halfway through the album is a great question, maybe Corgan’s balls dropped off half-way through the making of the album. Whatever it is, Iha and Wretzky’s crap filter would have broke after hearing these songs Corgan cooped up for the second half. I’m still puzzled at the idea of putting songs like For God and Country, Pomp and Circumstance, and (Come On) Let’s Go! on a Pumpkins record. If it’s Billy’s best attempt at a modern Thirty-Three or Cupid de Locke, he certainly has become a different person. These songs are over-produced and utterly pompous. Nothing has that simplistic, bare sound of Spaceboy, it’s all over-produced, noisy garbage.
Zeitgeist was a huge flop that shimmers in places, and rusts in others. With a dwindling replay factor, there’s not much to return to this album for-I wouldn’t be surprised to see it whisked away in favor of the album’s single Tarantula, the aborted Doomsday Clock, and the B-side Stellar on any true Pumpkins’ fans iPod. Don’t be in denial Pumpkins fans, accept it for what it is-a horrible album. If you don’t want another album like this, keep complaining-it’s getting to Corgan. (see As Rome Burns on Youtube for further information).
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there are some wtf sentences, but so far this is your best negative review.
still, not too pos worthy.
Digging: Kool G. Rap - 4, 5, 6
| | | Album Rating: 1.5
I fixed all the "wtf" sentences.
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The track lineup is atrocious and drole, plus Corgan lacks all bite whatsoever, hiding behind a moody, boring Zwan styled vocal approach with no snarls, screams, or bites whatsoever; and here’s the kicker-the tracks are all dynamically inpaired, even the slow songs and the experimental tracks like Pomp and Circumstance sound like watered-down rockers with little substance.
sentence seems over-long.
Lyrically, Corgan hasn’t changed a bit over the years. It’s still the same, misguided, angsty, random lyrics that are pretentious and overly poetic.
in Corgan's case, I really wouldn't say poetic.
Jimmy Chamberlin’s drum production teeters in-between St. Anger and TheFutureEmbrace, clearing two of the worst albums of the decade in the process.
now that's just being overly dramatic.
| | | Album Rating: 3.5
decent review. i like this album
| | | Album Rating: 1.5
St. Anger & TheFutureEmbrace FOR MOST AMAZING ALBUMS EVAH!
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Good review, I pos'd. It could be trimmed down a little but otherwise, great descriptions, easy to read despite it's length, just generally good stuff. But when you say 'It’s still the same, misguided, angsty, random lyrics that are pretentious and overly poetic.', it doesn't read well. Also, his lyrics used to be pretty good as far as I remember?
And no greater a criminal of music butchery is Billy Corgan on 2007’s biggest flop, Zeitgeist.
... Forgetting Soulja Boy, of course.This Message Edited On 12.22.08
Digging: Steven Wilson - Insurgentes
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St. Anger & TheFutureEmbrace FOR MOST AMAZING ALBUMS EVAH!
i wasn't saying that... at all.
how in the bloody hell did you get that from what i was saying.
I just thought you were being overly dramatic about the production on the drums of this album. They fit the music, particularly on "Doomsday Clock", and besides it really isn't St. Anger bad.This Message Edited On 12.22.08
| | | Album Rating: 1.5
I love the Pumpkins, but his lyrics are my least favorite part, they seem really pretentious and fake, at least to me.
| | | Album Rating: 3.5
i love me some good drum production  This Message Edited On 12.22.08
| | | Album Rating: 4
I don't think you've said anything in this review that hasn't already been said.
It's written well, but it feels pretty pointless.
Digging: Biffy Clyro - Only Revolutions | | |
Intro is pointless, not to mention a tad preachy. If you would have come back to the "butchery" thing at any point in the review, it would have made a little more sense.
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I've heard tarantula and its pretty awesome. Does the rest of the album sound like that?
| | | Album Rating: 1.5
No.
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Way to hit the nail on the head as far as the music goes (not that whole "don't kill small animals" thing in the intro ;))
Digging: The Shizit - The Shizit
| | | Album Rating: 3
I've been digging all thier old material this past year, but I don't really feel the need to give this album a try
Digging: Dusted - When we were young | | | Album Rating: 4
vocals are still really pretentious
How can vocals be pretentious?
I’m vegan
lol.
Digging: Ganon - As Above, So Below | | | Album Rating: 1.5
I shouldn't get butthurt from assholes negging my review, but I am.
My ass really stings like there's a rod up it.
There's a nice, little bridge right there, I'm going to throw a penny (your life savings) and you do me a favor and jump off.
Head first.
Maybe you'll hit the bottom and have severe brain damage.
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Maybe it's because you act like such an asshole all time. I didn't even neg you, in fact I just gave you a pos to prove it. Maybe you're just making too many enemies on this site.
| | | Album Rating: 4
Your review makes me believe that your rating should be higher
Digging: Dinosaur Jr. - Farm | | | Album Rating: 4
I shouldn't get butthurt from assholes negging my review, but I am.
My *** really stings like there's a rod up it.
There's a nice, little bridge right there, I'm going to throw a penny (your life savings) and you do me a favor and jump off.
Head first.
Maybe you'll hit the bottom and have severe brain damage.
Did it cross your mind that you've been negged because your review is bad? Just a thought.
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