I'm about to say 3 words that always seem to generate controversy on this forum
 

(ahem)

The. Smashing. Pumpkins.

I've been listening to them (by this I mean Billy Corgan, James Iha, D'Arcy Wretzky, and Jimmy Chamberlin) a lot recently, and I decided to check out the songs released so far for the 44-song Teargarden by Kaleidyscope project. My take:

"A Song for A Son": Not bad, but certainly not very good either. It sounds more like Billy Corgan singing in a classic rock cover band than anything he'd write on his own. The outro has sort of a calliope feel, which certainly doesn't help things.

"Widow Wake My Mind": BARF! Easily the worst thing ever released under the Smashing Pumpkins name, which is saying a lot considering Corgan can be VERY hit or miss at times. I first heard this on a new music radio program and hoped it was Billy guesting on someone else's track, and when I heard it was the Pumpkins, I was embarassed to have ever considered myself a fan.

"A Stitch in Time": Nice change of pace here. The electric sitar adds an interesting psychedelic twist to an otherwise folky acoustic song, but like other people have said, it could use some drums.

"Astral Planes": This one rocks more than the first three, with an almost acid garage vibe. Corgan's vocals are too dry to really fit though, and it's a bit repetitive. Cool riffs.

"Freak": Now, this is more like it! To my ears, it's the first Smashing Pumpkins song since the band's "reformation" that sounds something like a real Smashing Pumpkins song. Hell, add more guitar overdubs and reverb on the vocals and it would almost fit in on Siamese Dream, or detune it a half step and it'd fit on Melon Collie and the Infinite Sadness! Best of the bunch so far.

Overall: Billy Corgan has said that the purpose of releasing every song for the Teargarden by Kaleidyscope project is for fans to hear the album as it's being made, and that the best of the 44 songs may be compiled on a single CD. This is certainly an ambitious undertaking for a man who's always been known for veering recklessly between true artist and pretentious asshole. Personally, if we can't have a full Pumpkins reunion, then I do welcome at least a New Pumpkins album with more variety than Zeitgeist offered. That said, there is something to be said about leaving some stuff on the cutting room floor.

We're only 5 songs into this thing, so it's too early to tell, but it seems like each new release improves on the last. So while it's unlikely Corgan will match Siamese Dream or Melon Collie and the Infinite Sadness again, he may come close.

Thoughts/opinions/flaming?

My thoughts is we've had like 500 threads on this boring band and they all end up the same. "SIAMESE DREAM IS ONE OF THE BEST EVER." A bunch of people agree. Random person says "actually I don't like anything." Someone says, "THEY WERE GOOD TILL THE REUNION." Someone says, "I like them but Corgan is a dick." 4 pages of anti-Corgan rants and posts and stupid videos and pictures of him with Tila Tequila and such later, thread dies.

I think it's cool and socially acceptable to hate him, just like Bono. He's a decent guitarists, he's written and recorded literally 1100 songs and there's a few cool riffs here or there, but it just doesn't really have any relevance in my life. But eh. I'd say there'll be a few decent tracks amongst 44 on this insane album. Glad you dig it man and keep posting this stuff because I find it interesting, even if it's not something I ever want to subject my ears too!

Let the thread continue!

Unfortunately true. Even then, I remember hearing about this Teargarden thing a while back. I had a pretty negative interest in it then, still do.

who's going to post the first billy corgan picture?

there are so many awesome bands in the world, and people listen to these guys. bloody hell.

Better to listen to a "bad" band you really enjoy than to hate them because someone else thinks you should...

what more could possibly be said? brilliant synopsis, thats almost Days of Our Sonic Lives good..

see, down syndrome is not a disability, folks can manage successful musical careers!

so thats Billy's secret, he is vaudevillian grifter!

I know I shouldn't be laughing so hard at this but fuck it, I am!
You Must Spread Some Reputation Around Before Giving It to Glice Again.

Apathy, though I feel obligated to care.

I want to ask him if he still feels like a rat in a cage.

there's too much asshole in this thread. i'm overwhelmed

"Despite all my rage, I'm still just a prat on a stage"

ha! true! its syg what'd ya expect?

"Despite all my rage, I'm still vastly over-paid"

Fucking hell! Haven't see you posting here in aaaages. How the shitting crikey are you?

Hola, Glice. Como estas, mi amigo?

Clearly it was Billy (The Sun Goddess) that brought me back.

Billy unites us all. All glory to Billy.

Yes, I'm good. If that's what you're saying in your moonspeak.

I have a feeling phrases like that are common on a Smashing Pumpkins board.

Who knew he was Sun Ra reincarnated?

In fairness, that's the sort of outfit that is the right side of ridiculous. He's no Lady Gaga though.

if you look like billy corgan any outfit is on the wrong side of ridiculous. i.e. can you find a picture of him from the last 15 years where he doesn't look like a total cunt?

I tried really hard to be fair and find an acceptable picture of Corgan.












I couldn't find one.

i echo this with the added sentiment of 15 year old boring riff rock sure gets you rich.

I'd even try date-rape, if that's what it takes.

if you rape billy corgan i'll high five you

dont touch his right hand, its been places.

who cares about billy corgan....

seriously, im a fan of the smashing pumpkins. not a huge fan but whatever. but i dont understand what the big deal is with you guys and corgan..

Haha, when I saw the title, I thought this was a Broken Social Scene thread.

BSS don't generate much controversy, most people just don't listen to em, or simply find em average.

Mongolia, Peru etc.

all these pictures force to realization the reality that Billy Corgan wishes he was the kind of spontaneously visual artist like Kurt Cobain, or was at least as genuine a character as Marilyn Manson in 1996 but unfortunately all he can ever muster is some superficial, commercially antiseptic, hopelessly contrived attempt at art. its a shame really, he tries so hard decade after decade and yet WHAM, the reality that he is hardly an artist worth mentioning puts him in the likes with Hitler rather than the Caravaggio he was aiming at..





I just adore Caravaggio.. look at the sheer, overwhelming beauty of this painting. The bewilderment, even psychedelic confusion on the face of Abraham, the way the light emanates from the darkness as if the figures themselves were bursting with a light infused from the darkness, created not by outside sources of light, but seemingly coming from the light of life and living itself! The serenity of the Angel, notice who is not grabbing Abraham's hand to stop the knife, but is caressing the lamb in the thicket who is next in line for the slaughter... you can even see the moment when Isaac's fear is replaced with awe from the presence of the Divine.

I would say that Caravaggio perfectly captured the essence of what this moment symbolizes, the junction when a person's desires and a persons obligations hopelessly collide, when a man feels the crushing weight of daily reality and yet sees the glimmer of hope and purpose in the midst of even terrifying circumstances. Look at the joy in Isaac's eyes, as hope replaces loss, after he had willing bound himself to the duties of his life and fate, and yet in the last moment, relief, joy, redemption, success..

This is not a portrait of Abraham slaying Isaac, this is a portrait of a man losing his job and getting evicted from his house and in the moment of despair suddenly getting a phone call from a new, better job and catching an add in the paper for a new pad in a better neighborhood.. I love the Bible because it is true symbolism for our daily, human dramas, but as visual art it takes on such a more powerful significance..

You're not looking hard enough.





I'm certainly not defending him, but comparing him to Hitler as far as being an artist goes is just out of line. And I'm sure we could find some embarassing photos of Sonic Youth if we tried...

other mens parts.