So does that mean that The Future Embrace was tossed aside for better things to come? Dunno. It's not a bad collection of songs. Even though I'm still not a fan of Corgan's voice, there's no denying that he knows how to put together a tune. The melodies are pretty and winding. The guitar provides lots of atmosphere in an almost Edge-like way. He even went so far as to cover the Bee Gees classic "To Love Somebody" with the Cure's Robert Smith assisting on vocals.
Some fans may object to so many songs revolving around Corgan's blossoming religious faith (see the liner notes for 'proof') but it's done in a fairly subtle way, with the lyrics staying away from stridency.
My only real complaint here is with the sterility of the rhythm section. Too much programming, not enough real drums. In some ways, this record sounds like the Pumpkins' "Adore". Just check out "DIA", on which Jimmy Chamberlain plays drums. The contrast with the rest of the material couldn't be greater.
Maybe the Smashing Pumpkins will get back together. Maybe they'll put out a killer new album....and just maybe I'll become a fan.
Obviously, stranger thoughts have occurred.
Article comments
1 - Jones Violet
Great review Mark. Like you, I can't call myself a 'fan' of Smashing Pumpkins, but I do like their songs, most of them, anyway. Actually, now that I think about it a little bit, I'm more of a fan of Zwan, than of Smashing Pumpkins. Have you listened to them? Billy Corgan and the band broke up some time ago, but their cd is definitely one that is going to stay high on my list of top CD's.
But wow, I'm loving that CD cover of Billy!
2 - Randy P/Tube Pinoy
I want to hear this one. Been a fan since "Gish". Is that Uncle Fester on the cover?
3 - Mark Saleski
doesn't Zwan have a guy who used to be in Slint?
that might be worth checking out
4 - Tom Johnson
I think so, Mark - David Pajo, I believe? I like Zwan because it's so positive sounding - and Corgan actually sounds happy for once! The downside is that the album was mixed terribly - it's gratingly loud in that way that a lot of rock records are "loud" now. Everything's been pushed to extremes for maximum punch, but it does make it a little hard on the ears.
5 - Mark Saleski
yessiree, they need to lay off the danged compressor.
the contrast between new recordings and very old is striking.
pull out something like Tom Petty's Damn The Torpedoes....gees, it actually sounds like there's air in the room!
6 - Jones Violet
Tom, I agree with Zwan sounding positive sounding. It's beautifuly poetic.
7 - Mark Saleski
i'm definitely going to check out Zwan..i recently bought a Slint cd and it was great: Spiderland.
8 - Tan The Man
Zwan's okay... they're worth checking out though...
9 - jelly belly
zwan is GREAT.
especially "Jesus I,mary star of the sea" and "lyric"
so purely ROCK
Drummers plays great in mary star of the sea
hope Smashing pumpkins will revive
10 - katherine
Love the albume. i think it's awesome. billys voice sounds more beautiful then ever and it's something different and it's good to have Billy back, i think he's done an amazing job with this album and before this i really wanted the pumpkins back and i love the pumpkins but now i'm just content with Billy and i wouldn't mind if he didn't really try to get the pumpkins back on the rode, somethings you just need to leave to rest. I'm trully loving the new album though!
11 - Bob A. Booey
Good news, Mark.
They are getting back together. Jimmy Chamberlain has already said he'll be a part of it.
Updated: 12:30 PM EDT
Rocker Corgan to Reform Smashing Pumpkins
CHICAGO (June 21) - Singer Billy Corgan said Tuesday he plans to revive The Smashing Pumpkins, his Grammy-winning band which broke up in 2000 after more than a decade of blending alternative rock with the avant-garde.
In full-page advertisements in Chicago newspapers, the bald-headed Corgan said, "I want my band back, and my songs, and my dreams."
He did not say which if any of the band's former members would be involved in the revived group, which broke through with albums such as "Gish" and "Siamese Dream."
The Pumpkins' top selling album was "Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness" which came out in 1995, but as the 1990s progressed their work became increasingly obscure as tensions arose in the group.
They broke up over differences among its four members and Corgan has since jumped from project to project but failed to match his early success.
Corgan, based in Chicago, has just released a solo album, "TheFutureEmbrace" on Reprise Records.
He did not say when he would try to reform the Pumpkins but the new album "represents a new beginning, not an ending. It picks up the thread of the as-yet-unfinished work and charter of The Smashing Pumpkins," he said.
06/21/05 12:08 ET
12 - ClockworkOrange
I love TheFutureEmbrace album. and the pumpkins. zwan wasn't as good as either. The pumpkins lyrics are so amazing... plus billy corgans voice is so key, cuz he can do notes but he's got that nasal death sound that makes everyone realise it's him. it had character. it didn't sound like everyone else @ the time. they also didn't stay to one sound. they kept it interesting. they didn't get boring. now TheFutureEmbrace is really cool because it's really trippy, and it's techno-y and the lyrics are fantastic.