Musically, Siamese Dream is north on my compass. All things lead up to it or away from it, and no things are near equal. I have been a very seriously devoted fan of Billy Corgan's work since I heard a cassette copy of 'Gish', the Smashing Pumpkins first album. Anyhow, there is no point in me gushing about the Pumpkins or Siamese Dream... I did that here.
Billy was on Letterman tonight promoting his disc which lands at your Best Buy tomorrow. Sorry, I hate to plug them... but if you are buying CDs anywhere else you are an idiot. Anyhow, I have been spying on Billy's progress with the new disc through his Myspace account. He has been posting songs there, as well as chapters from his autobiography. I was under the assumption for the last few years that the solo disc would be an introspective acoustic outing.
It isn't. It is new wave electronic pop garbage. I wasn't expecting stadium rock, but this? I hate to say this, because I worship Billy... but if this new disc is anyway identifiable with what he just played on Letterman, then kill me. Before the song was even over (and it seemed like days, because the song went nowhere... it just droned on) I was thankful he wasn't coming to Denver on this tour. That was $100 I could save until Billy gets over this phase.
So, if you love new wave electronica (think: flock of seagulls without the catchy melody) then this is your disc. I'll buy it regardless because Billy is the greatest. This is a detour, though. Let's hope he is building a bridge to a new neighborhood.
Article comments
1 - flyer
i think you're wrong, the new album is not just a new wave revival. obviously, the influence of Cure, New Order and somewhere My bloody Valentine is there, but the album sounds very new. it's very hermetic too, like the old time of Siamese dream, with all these fuzz guitars around, making it impossible at the time to catch the melody. siamese dream made a mark. the future embrace is not going to, okay, but if it isn't as good as siamese dream, it's a pretty intelligent album, full of great corgan's melody. he allows himself new things with his voice, too. maybe it's too light for a first solo album. it just doesn't have the heavy melodramatic side of "Adore", but it's the same way of process. a new sound, a new way to compose the songs.
the bad part of this solo debut is the gigs. i'm french, so i saw Corgan's show on the 10th of June and it really sucked. boring, with no punch. billy failed to adapt the disc on stage but the disc isn't failed at all. just "the camera eye" is an outstanding song that no corgan's fan could have imagine from him.
and for the part where you speak about "gish", i feel perplex.. "gish" is a crappy indie clich� record. only "i am one" and probably "rhinoceros" can survive from Gish.. The pumpkins had not yet integrated very well their influences at the time of gish..
give a chance to this album. it's like "Loveless", you have to penetrate in the sound, don't perceive it with a pre-formated comparaison ton new order, the future embrace is going far beyond, certainly some songs like "a100", "all things change" or "i'm ready" have no real taste, but the rest is very good, tough.
2 - Sterfish
I definitely think you should check out this interview with Billy done by Jim DeRogatis of the Chicago Sun-Times:
3 - Michelle
I would have to disagree with you. The FutureEmbrace is certainly not "garbage". It's just different. Billy Corgan has stated several times that he wanted to do something different. It's defiantly different than the Smashing Pumpkins and don't think you compare the two..Billy has one thing that you can compare or always count on from him.....an incredible voice and wonderful lyrics.. At first when I heard walking shade I was like, I'm not sure if this is my sort of thing.. But after reading the lyrics and listening to the whole thing a few times, it really did grow on me. I like it...
If you're that big of a Billy Corgan fan and you say you are going to buy FutureEmbrace because you are a Billy Corgan Fan, why did you use the word "Garbage"???? No Fan that I know would have said that. You could of said "It's not your style of Music" or you really just didn't like it at all.... But "Garbage" should not have been said if you are a fan...That's just disrespecting..
My favorite's are "All things Change" and "Mina Loy" I like "Walking Shade" too.. I think the FutureEmbrace will do well, he has a large fan base, plus adding new fans that like this type of sound..
4 - Temple Stark
Why buy it if it's terrible? Just because?
5 - Pumpkin Pie
What song did Corgan sing on Letterman June 20, 2005? Thx
6 - Brad Williamson
The Smashing Pumpkins are going to hit the stage and studio again!!!!!!
Google "Smashing Pumpkins" and see for yourself!!!!!
7 - Aaron, Duke De Mondo
i know where you're coming from, Lono. whilst i have no emotional investment with the work of billy corgan (barring that amazing double record from a whiles back) i know all about buying stuff even if you know its not up to scratch just on account of who it is. what other reason can there be for Down In The Groove by Bob Dylan residing in my CD collection??
8 - Lono
I absolutely would not believe it if I did not read it myself.
Billy has said for the last few years that he will never ever play a pumpkins song again, and will never reform the band. ever.
he then postings on his site about how utterly horrible and talentless Darcy and Iha were (which is largely true). His new album came out this morning, and is a huge huge departure from any kind of guitar rock.
so, here is where it gets strange. today, the day his new disc comes out, Billy ran a full page ad asking to get his band back together.
http://www.nme.com/news/112761.htm
9 - Lono
ok, I have listened to the new CD about three times through now at my desk. I would say it is very very very close to Adore, but with less heart.
10 - Aaron, Duke De Mondo
Lono, what did you make of that Zwan record? i ain't heard it, nor any corgan post-Adore. just curious is all. and did they ever officially release that Machina 2 record? that was cool right there, releasing it via napster, back when napster was still illegal.
11 - Lono
Good questions. First off, to Temple:
Why buy it if I think it is going to be awful? Becuase I am a very dedicate Corgan and Pumpkins fan. Also, I am a collector, if Billy released a CD of him making shitting noises (which I think Neil Young did an equivalent of with Arc or Trans) I would buy. I trust his vision, even if it waivers.
now, onto the Duke. I think the Zwan disc is really great. On most levels, it really is just another Pumpkins record. Billy writes the songs and plays the instruments, with the best in class Jimmy Chamberlain behind him. The rest is just a matter of who tours with it. Speaking of that, I had tix to see Zwan here in Denver and they canceled that day. They then broke up about two weeks later.
Duke Q #2: Whatever happened to the Machina 2 disc (Friends and Enemies of Modern Enemies) > Billy gave it to the label and they didn't want it. It isn't terrific or cohesive, but has some great stuff on it. The band just opted to leak in online, and it is also now available through iTunes (as is their whole catalogue).
I recommend finding 'If there is a god'. It is terrific, clever, and thoughtful. It's also a tune the band played on their The Arising re-union tour.
12 - Lono
Correction:
the name of the fabled lost disc is:
Machina 2: Friends and Enemies of Modern Music
13 - flashfast
Im a big fan of Corgan's music and I can still say his latest effort is garbage.
14 - sydney
Lono,
Zwan wasn't a billy corgan solo album, like you suggest. The whole idea of zwan was to find a band that worked as a band, as opposed to the pumpkins who contributed less. The members of zwan all come from very acomplished, and seminal underground acts. Apprently though, there was very little chemistry there.
To everyone else,
I don't see why everyone should try and shit on billy corgan for trying somthing different (although, it's apparently not too far from Adore). He's a unique talent who's been to the top of the rock and pop world and had little to prove with regards to that side of success. You should be greatful that he's not churning out the same ol' stuff he was 10 years ago.
Every great band changes up their style periodically, and whether you know it or not, that's what allows them to be considered great. Would bob dylan be considered a legend if he hadn't gone electric? no. Would U2 have enjoyed the phenomenal success they've had, had they not tried an electronica stage? No. U2 is already sounding tiresome, and had they not done zooropa, and achtung baby, they'd have gotten tiresome that much quicker.
One last example, Coldplay. Now they've had three very good albums, including this new one. But I'll never listen to the new album again because it just sounds so redundant and boring now. If they come out with another similar sounding album next time, they will have created suicide.
In any case, you can name any great band and they've all switched it up periodically. This is a neccesity. It matters less that the new sound, is as good as the past sound, because what was great the first time around, rarely seems great the third and fourth time its been recreated.
15 - medbizguy
I was very disappointed the first time I heard the album, because this was such a departure from his prior work sonically, but after I saw the show I "got it." Billy nailed the joy division 80's alt scene. With the whole feel of the show it came together for me and the album made sense. I feel bad for those who dont catch the show because the album really benefits from the perspective of the look billy designed with the white floors and awesome digital lighting wall. Even having SBerry with the 80's gloves and heels completed the whole deal for me. I can say though that while all the tunes grow on you, deep inside Im still waiting for him to stomp on the distortion and shred away like a MF. Watching billy perform the whole album I felt like I was watching a heavy train going downhill with all the brakes on just burning to bust loose, but he didnt. the record does grow on you. BC still rocks but you gotta have a little faith on this one because it is quite a different sound and direction. I remember listening to DRI records in my room as a teenager, then flipping on the JDivision. Corgan seems to also like to mix it up, but Im sure many will not go to far down this path with him, but he will open up a new fan base. I for one will hang in there.
16 - Nick Scata
billy corgan is a stupid balding goth
17 - Khris
you're calling someone an idiot for NOT buying an album at Best Buy? what are you - consumer illiterate?? its just a cd... lol. you're the idiot.
oh, and MellonCollie will stand the test of time as The Pumpkins most monumental album
18 - joshua
nick, why would you comment something like that? this is a place for people to discuss the impact (whether positive or negative) that billy corgan's work (new or otherwise) has had on us personally. calling him stupid and making remarks about his appearance is extremely out of place. that is all i'm going to say since you obviously just posted that to get a rise out of people. very bad taste, chap.