Planetarion Forums

MrL_JaKiri · 24 Feb 2003, 16:21

The tale of Zwan.

In 2000, The Smashing Pumpkins split up, leaving behind 5 albums, ranging from the good (eg. Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness) to the absolutely dire (admittedly, this was just the rediculously named MACHINA: The Machines of God). Billy Corgan then mucked around for a while, playing keyboards in New Order mostly, until last year when he formed the band Zwan, which also contained another former Pumpkin, the drummer Jimmy Chamberlin. Their album is out soonish, and their first single ('Honesty') was out today.

Q described the album as a much happier piece of business from Corgan, going from the band's logo (a silly affair with rainbows and guitars) to the comparative lack of angst.

That doesn't stop the single sounding like it was written for the second disk of Mellon Collie.

From this example I would presume that the album will sound like Mellon Collie, but leaning more towards Tonight, Tonight and the like rather than Zero or Bullet With Butterfly Wings.

In short,

The Smashing Pumpkins are back.

Effectively.

Snurx · 24 Feb 2003, 16:27

Hope the ablum will be nice.

MrL_JaKiri · 24 Feb 2003, 16:27

Q gave it 4 stars, which is the same that they gave Mellon Collie, so we can but hope.

MrL_JaKiri · 24 Feb 2003, 16:28

ps everyone post on this thread to stop the dance thread from monopolising the music posts.

HobbieRogue4 · 24 Feb 2003, 16:28

Quote:

Originally posted by MrL_JaKiri
In short,

The Smashing Pumpkins are back.

Effectively.

No.

While Zwan's sound may parallel the Pumpkins' sound through less angst-ridden vocals, it is not the Pumpkins, nor will it ever be the Pumpkins.

While Corgan was the "voice" of the Pumpkins, James Iha was the brains behind much of the "sound" and the both of them combined talents that made the Pumpkins what they were. It won't be the same.

"Honesty" is a crappy song anyway. Heh.

Snurx · 24 Feb 2003, 16:29

Hm..are these Q people reliabale?
I know 1000's of good albums that got ****ty ratings, and 1000's of bad albums that got great ratings. But then, it really is just a matter of taste..

MrL_JaKiri · 24 Feb 2003, 16:29

Quote:

Originally posted by HobbieRogue4
No.

While Zwan's sound may parallel the Pumpkins' sound through less angst-ridden vocals, it is not the Pumpkins, nor will it ever be the Pumpkins.

Billy Corgan having written all but a track and a half of Mellon Collie.

Anyway, I was just generalising for the masses.

MrL_JaKiri · 24 Feb 2003, 16:31

Quote:

Originally posted by Snurx
Hm..are these Q people reliabale?
I know 1000's of good albums that got ****ty ratings, and 1000's of bad albums that got great ratings. But then, it really is just a matter of taste..

They gave OK Computer 5 stars, and (What's The Story) Morning Glory 2. They get my vote.

I trust them in isolated areas.

GavGull · 24 Feb 2003, 16:33

I liked "Honestly" and "Desire", but have been left slightly disappointed by other songs (see "El Sol", "Baby Let's Rock" et al).

I'll be downloading more before I commit to buying the album.

PS. Adore was surely worse than Machina!

HobbieRogue4 · 24 Feb 2003, 16:33

Quote:

Originally posted by MrL_JaKiri
Billy Corgan having written all but a track and a half of Mellon Collie.

I'm a bigger fan of Siamese Dreams anyway.

Quote:

Anyway, I was just generalising for the masses.

The masses are stupid when it comes to music. The masses being the "TRL generation." At least in my country. :/

MrL_JaKiri · 24 Feb 2003, 16:37

Quote:

Originally posted by HobbieRogue4
I'm a bigger fan of Siamese Dreams anyway.

I think you mean 'Dream', sexy.

imo they peak at MC, Adore's quite good but MACHINA's just silly.

HobbieRogue4 · 24 Feb 2003, 16:40

Quote:

Originally posted by MrL_JaKiri
I think you mean 'Dream', sexy.

Staring at the case, I now realize my folly.

:((((

MrL_JaKiri · 24 Feb 2003, 16:50

Quote:

Originally posted by Iniluki
Having just acquired Honestly I can say Im not impressed.

Corgan without angst just isnt good

His vocal style suits Zero, Bullet With Butterfly Wings, Cherub Rock or Ava Adore much more (rhyme ahoy) than Tonight, Tonight or what have you, but that doesn't mean it's a bad song.

Although Honestly could be better.

queball · 24 Feb 2003, 16:59

Quote:

Originally posted by Iniluki
I will download some Zwan now*

*from a legal source!

Like http://www.poetsofzwan.com/?mp=media ?

Grimble · 24 Feb 2003, 17:19

I was hoping it would be an improvement from MACHINA, but so far the new material has really stuck me as quite bland. I miss the pumpkins

roadrunner_0 · 24 Feb 2003, 17:40

i imagime that my housemate will buy it within the week, so if theis thread is still active by then (which i doubt) i will give an opinion

MrL_JaKiri · 24 Feb 2003, 19:22

Quote:

Originally posted by Grimble
I was hoping it would be an improvement from MACHINA, but so far the new material has really stuck me as quite bland. I miss the pumpkins

Bland is better than MACHINA

Sarina_Joy · 24 Feb 2003, 20:05

It can't possibly be any worse than that lime green one whatever it's called.

queball · 24 Feb 2003, 20:16

Quote:

Originally posted by Sarina_Joy
It can't possibly be any worse than that lime green one whatever it's called.

Pisces Iscarot?

Sarina_Joy · 24 Feb 2003, 20:19

Quote:

Originally posted by queball
Pisces Iscarot?

No idea what the song's called, but they're in a LIME GREEN room and Billy Corgan looks scary.

Oh, and the song sucks.

MAdnRisKy · 24 Feb 2003, 20:33

Hobbie is closer

Adore was just a ****ed up album though, it was a completely different sound than much of the rest of their material.

If they were going to write music in that style they could at least have done it the old fashioned way as they did with soma the one with the REM guitarist guesting on it from their second album.

And yet, in this annoying fashion the pumpkins have, I liked it, I still feature many of the songs from it in my playlists, and hell even stand inside your love makes it onto it on occasions although much of that album is a complete wank fest.

But the pumpkins are not back. The sound of the pumpkins might be, but in essence that doesn't make them it. Just because creed sound hella like Pearl Jam does it mean Eddie veder has taken up new roots? Bollocks does it.

James Iha was and will remain much of the inspiration and talent behind the Pumpkins music. Jimmy Chamberlin is just a lost it crack head anyway, so him coming back isn't a great thing anyone remember machina btw?

MrL_JaKiri · 24 Feb 2003, 20:59

Quote:

Originally posted by Sarina_Joy
No idea what the song's called, but they're in a LIME GREEN room and Billy Corgan looks scary.

Oh, and the song sucks.

The Everlasting Gaze

Sarina_Joy · 24 Feb 2003, 21:05

Quote:

Originally posted by MrL_JaKiri
The Everlasting Gaze

:eek:

Ap0k · 24 Feb 2003, 21:13

Quote:

Originally posted by MrL_JaKiri
leaving behind 5 albums

there were actually 7 albums ya fool

siamese dream
gish
pisces iscariot
MACHINA: THe machines of god
MACHINA II (only ever realeased in limited amounts and available over the net from what i recall)
adore
mellon collie

and you could even say 8 if you were willing to count the greatest hits

MrL_JaKiri · 24 Feb 2003, 21:35

Quote:

Originally posted by Ap0k
and you could even say 8 if you were willing to count the greatest hits

I didn't count MACHINA2, and pisces is a collection of B-sides.

Ap0k · 24 Feb 2003, 21:41

still albums however

MrL_JaKiri · 24 Feb 2003, 21:42

Quote:

Originally posted by Ap0k
still albums however

'Proper albums' then.

Erkenbrand · 24 Feb 2003, 21:55

Strangely enough the albums been out here (Ireland) for the past 2 weeks, with an excellent bonus DVD. I guess we're finally ahead in something.

Anywho, Corgan always was the other musical genius of the 90's, yet he went down a route that I wasn't that interested in, leading to the awful MACHINA.

At the risk of over simplifying, if you liked the pumpkins circa Siamese Dream, you'll like this. Its full of beautiful 'summer' songs like 'Lyric' and 'Settle Down'. The set piece 'Jesus, I/ Mary Star of the Sea' is equaly gorgeous, seguing from one mesmirising arrangement to another overan epic fourteen minutes. Amazingly (and unlike some of his past attempts at this), it seems not even a fraction to long.

If you come to this album with an open mind, free of pumpkin comparisons, you'll find the album of 2003 so far.

BTW When is the U.K release date?

MrL_JaKiri · 24 Feb 2003, 21:58

It's out now, I just haven't bought it yet.

Erkenbrand · 24 Feb 2003, 21:59

Oh and if your counting pumpkin albums you left out the rather ****e Earphoria

MrL_JaKiri · 24 Feb 2003, 22:01

Quote:

Originally posted by Erkenbrand
Oh and if your counting pumpkin albums you left out the rather ****e Earphoria

Lets narrow it down to 5 good albums, excluding Rotten Apples.

Gish, Siamese, Mellon Collie, Adore and Picses.

Erkenbrand · 24 Feb 2003, 22:09

Ok, Im really not trying to play the pedant here BUT I would consider the uber-secret 'Mashed Potatoes' CD set to contain some of their best work.

P.S You'd want to get out sharpish and buy the CD before the FREE, LIMITED ADDITION, BONUS DVD is taken away.

Sarina_Joy · 24 Feb 2003, 22:13

Quote:

Originally posted by MrL_JaKiri

From hearing it once it's not good enough for Mellon Collie. Having said that, a lot of my favourite songs from that album (1979, in the arms of sleep) I didn't really like at first. It could be a grower. I don't like the repetitive swirly guitar bit at the end, but as I have said it will probably grow on me.

Edit: I've listened to it a few times now, and it has grown on me as predicted. I have to say it reminds me more of Dinosaur Jr than anything the Pumpkins ever recorded.