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Review Summary: Zeitgeist, the new album from Billy Corgan's new Pumpkins, is a good one, but probably should have been a solo album. Here's why. Zeigeist is a very good album, not quite great, but very good. It's certainly better than any of Billy Corgan's efforts that followed the band’s breakup (Zwan and his solo album), but it falls short of the Pumpkins catalogue. Which is only understandable seeing as it is only half of the Pumpkins playing on the record, and as these two, Billy Corgan and drum virtuoso Jimmy Chamberlain, have worked together in Zwan and on Corgan's solo album. This fact however, detracts from the legitimacy their names give to the new lineup. The new Smashing Pumpkins are simply "Billy Corgan," under a marketable name.
That said, it's still a good album. It lacks the complimentary sounds that James Iha and D'arcy Wretzky provide, as though George and Ringo were missing in a Beatles album (I say Ringo and not Paul, as Corgan has always been the driving force and principal songwriter in the group, while Iha does almost literally translate as the George Harrison of the group. Ringo's beats, while essential as D'arcy's bass, did not create the Beatles or Pumpkins, while SP drummer Chamberlain, has an immense effect on anything Corgan writes: it's understandable why Corgan has carried him along through his various projects). The album itself has rockers that lack an intensity that other albums, like Mellon Collie, Siamese Dream, or Gish, have in theirs; just as the ballads lack a poignancy found on any previous SP album, Adore and Machina included.
Corgan also tries to incorporate grandiose anthems into some songs here, such as the closer, “Pomp and Circumstance,” which actually can come off as being quite pompous! The “la la las” are arguably annoying, and the album comes off as abrasive in several parts due to trying to cram too much noise in at once with Corgan’s nasal vocals on top (as evident in songs like “Tarantula”). The album is at its best when it relies on minimalist technique.
In fact from the opening song on the album, “Doomsday Clock,” Corgan tries too hard to make this album what it is not: a Smashing Pumpkins album. From the ominous turning-over drone of Corgan’s guitar, to the all-too-quick arrival of his vocal delivery, Corgan is trying to establish a return to form… Something he vowed never to do after the release of Adore, and something until now, he had not done.
In a number of ways, except for the maturity of its singer, as well as his jadedness from failures, Zeitgeist is what Corgan might have released directly after the first two albums had Wretzky and Iha left during the turbulent Dream sessions.
The exception to Zeitgeist's upperclass mediocrity is found in the epic, "United States," which does come close to standing next to classics like, "The Aeroplane Flies High," "Porcelina of the Vast Ocean Seas," "Glass and the Ghost Children," or "Silverf*ck". And yet to me, the song will never be so classic. While it is the centerpiece that ties the album together, links it from one end to another, it again lacks that poignancy and intensity. Like other songs, it becomes slightly repetitive within itself (eg; the chant of “Revolution / Revolution / Revolution”).
“Revolution.” Yes, Zeitgeist is also yet another political album for to come from a ninties “art rock” band. Not only is the concept tired (as it’s already been covered this decade by numerous bands, including but not limited to, bands like Nine Inch Nails, Slayer, Ministry, A Perfect Circle and Megadeth). But it drifts from the typical subject matter of past Pumpkins albums: Angsty hard-to-come-to revelations about life and love. While this is certainly forgivable, it creates yet one more distinction from the new Pumpkins and the old.
As heretofore mentioned, this is not a terrible album; it’s actually very good. Billy Corgan though, has always sought to fashion himself to be a John Lennon, an Ozzy Osbourne, or even merely a Robert Smith or Eddie Van Halen; a musical revolutionary, a rock god. This means commercial sales and popular recognition are essential. Zwan and The Future Embrace did not give him these things. If you're a casual or initiate Pumpkins fan, please, go pick up one of the first five albums (or the rarity / b-side compilations, Pisces Iscariot and Judas O) with the original lineup. Then, after that, by all means, pick up Zeitgeist, and judge for yourself whether it deserves a place in the Smashing Pumpkins catalogue
| other reviews of this album |
A.R.O. STAFF (3.5)
A good, straightforward rock record. Nothing more; nothing less....
angelfyre (2)
A feeble attempt at a groundbreaking rock reunion...
BlindWriting (4)
Corgan and his longtime partner Chamberlin show their chops with a strong, dynamic new eff...
MoonlightBleeding (4)
Zeitgeist's Re-Release adds three excellent songs, fixes some track lineup miscues, and al...
myriad (4)
IT GOEZ BOM BM TSHH DADAD DERRR EDERRRR!!!...
tribestros (4)
Smashing Pumpkins are back-in full swing, despite the controversy with an excellent and un...
JohnXDoesn't (3.5)
Smashing Pumpkins return with Zeitgeist, an uneven but more then acceptable "first" effort...
Freddy Thomas (4.5)
A welcome return to great form after 7 years for Smashing Pumpkins, despite only having 2 ...
red0 (1.5)
A dry, stale, listener-fatigued album with a spotty track lineup and little replay value....
Attention Whore (1)
An 'Open Letter' to Billy Corgan......
wpstout (3.5)
Great mainstream rock album, just as expected....
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Album Rating: 3.0
Well, have at.This Message Edited On 08.16.07
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Nice review, although yet again, people don't realize that much of the former Pumpkins catalogue was recorded by Billy & Jimmy only, Siamese Dream, MACHINA II, etc.
Its the exact same thing.
Secondly, bands change members ALL THE TIME.
Thirdly, are The White Stripes' Jack's solo project?
Sorry for freaking out, but so many people don't have a clue what they're talking about when it comes to Zeitgeist.
Its a very good first review though.This Message Edited On 08.16.07
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From what I heard off this, it is pretty bad compared to the old Smashing Pumpkins.
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Its not bad, That's the Way (My Love Is), Tarantula, Starz, For God and Country, and Pomp & Circumstances aren't bad at all. In fact they feel right at home in the Pumpkins' library, but what irks me about this album is Billy's vocals.
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I don't dislike this album, well what i've heard from it, at all. However I seem to remember being told by a hardcore fan of these guys that a lot of the songs i've told him that i enjoy, are the few songs co-written with James Iha, so I'm confused, cos i'm not hugely knowegdable about the band. I find Tarantula quite smexy when i hear it though. This Message Edited On 08.16.07
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There was a few off of Siamese Dream and Mellon Collie that Iha wrote. But he never recorded the Siamese Dream songs himself. In fact the only song that they recorded as a band on the album was Quiet.
He wrote Mayonaise...I don't know any others off the top of my head.
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i feel midly educated now lol.
| | | Album Rating: 4.5
Mellon Collie was a concept album exploring things and genres they've never done before, so please don't compare it to this.
Billy said himself that this is a straight up rock record, something that people would catch a second of and then be like, oh hey I like that, and then be drawn into the melody and the depth. Much more like Siamese...
Hardly anybody knows the amount of musical and creative dedication Billy has, the amount of songs that he has written is pretty damn incredible. You can look for years and still turn up random b-sides and acoustic stuff all but forgotten about.
The fact that he even has any ideas left after what? almost 20 years now of almost entirely devoting his life to music, is pretty amazing...he might seem pretty pompous, but seriously he has more reason than most full-of-themselve-asses out there.
I feel pretty privileged to hear their ideas and enjoy their creativity. This album has much more depth than people have garnerd it with.
I can listen to every song and enjoy if not all of it, at least a small part of it besides (Come on) Lets Go...that's the only song I feel that's pretty mediocre. I also thought the album ended on a weak note, but I'd forgotten about the bonus tracks, so once I got those on the end there, it brought it together...it needed an acoustic track and a lazy track.
Death from above reminds me of u2. so does the new in Flames.
maybe I should have written a review.This Message Edited On 08.16.07This Message Edited On 08.16.07
| | | Album Rating: 4.5
by the way, they're already working on more stuff along the lines of mellon collie, including Gossamer which is right around 30 minutes long.
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This is along the lines of Mellon Collie.
| | | Album Rating: 4.5
this doesn't have all the tracks to fall asleep to
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i've only heard tarantula and doomsday clock, which are purty good but so far dissappoint me for being pumpkins.
| | | Album Rating: 3.0
Corgan has certainly always had control in the band, however, Iha and D'arcy are essential to the group's sound. Before writing this, I refreshed myself on the other albums, and the sound is definately to be missed.
The Smashing Pumpkins have an ENORMOUS catalogue, (especially when the unreleased stuff is looked at) true, but that's all the more reason for an initiate to seek out the old before delving into the new.
And yeah, Billy's vocals irk me a lil too on this album. More nasal than ever; plus, where are the growls?
| | | Album Rating: 3.0
One hing I have Corgan to thank for this album, he got me into the old catalogue again. I've forgotten how much I love the Pumpkins.
| | | Album Rating: 4.5
yeah, I do think that D'arcy and Iha softened their sound back in the day...took the edge of I guess you could say.
oh nice ryme. ha ha
Iha is a guitar tinkering wizard, so I do think they had more variety from track to track on their earlier albums.
I think corgan added sort of a mordern edge to their sound on Zeitgeist...I'm pretty sure it's mostly his guitar, he had a custom one made that was made out of some crazy metal, I think.
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I don't like the Pumpkins at all, mainly due to Billy's vocals which I can't even stomach for a whole song...
As for the review, this is a good review... which only shows more that you kind of slacked on the last two ;)
| | | Album Rating: 3.0
I suppose I did slack - They've been deleted. Probably for all the scuff about em. But, yeah, I'll put more work in next time. I just figured a review was better than none at all. Had Meat Loaf's Welcome to the Neighborhood and Kings of Convenience's Quiet is the New Loud already been in the archives, I wouldn't have even cared about writing them.
| | | Album Rating: 2.0
Well written! I still don't think the album warrants more than a 2. The noteworthy tracks aren't enough to make up for the sucky ones. My absolute favorite Pumpkins song is "Eye," which isn't on a SP album persay, but on the "Lost Highway" soundtrack. Yours?
P.S. Even if Iha and Wretzky didn't contribute that much instrumentally to the band I felt they added a certain personality to it, apart from Corgan's. Without them, it's probably not "Smashing Pumpkins." And yes, bands change members or get rid of them all the time...but they also change names....
Bravo on your "Zeitgeist" thoughts.
| | | Album Rating: 2.5
Album's good, not great. Who can hate, "Tarantula" and "That's The Way My Love Is"?
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