Here Today... Gone To Hell!

From www.nme.com:

BILLY CORGAN has said he wants to reform SMASHING PUMPKINS.

The singer, who has completed work on his debut solo album ?TheFutureEmbrace? has taken out a full page advert in the Chicago Tribune newspaper where he said ?his heart? remains with his old band.

He wrote: ?When I played the final Smashing Pumpkins show on the night of December 2, 2000, I walked off the stage believing that I was forever leaving a piece of my life behind. I naively tried to start a new band, but found that my heart wasn?t in it. I moved away to pursue a love that I once had but got lost. SO I moved back home to heal what was broken in me, and to my surprise I found what I was looking or. I found that my heart is in Chicago, and that my heart is in the Smashing Pumpkins.

?For a year now I have walked around with a secret, a secret I chose to keep. But now I want you to be among the first to know that I have made plans to renew and revive the Smashing Pumpkins. I want my band back, and my songs, and my dreams. In this desire I feel I have come home again.?

Smashing Pumpkins split in 2000 after the release of their final album ?Machina?. Following the split Corgan formed Zwan, who split after one record.

Do it man.

We need some good music!

Yes. Yes. Yes.

God I hope that happens.

I wonder if its a whole new line up or what, either way we got the pumpkins back!!!!! : ok: : ok:


i think he'll be goin' back to old school too!!  Pumpkins ROCK!! :beer: :drool:

I would absolutely melt? :drool:

Last I knew, he doesn't even speak to D'arcy or James anymore, but fuck me I'm excited.


D'arcy had quit by this time, but they also released Machina II/The Friends and Enemies of Modern Music. I think the record company told them where to stick it though, so they just gave a few copies to some close friends/fans and told them to do what they wanted with them/put it on the internet for free, so that it would be available to the fans. It can be downloaded from www.billy-corgan.com if you're interested? :)

I very much doubt Billy would be lying about this, but it doesn't take a genius to work out why he could have chosen now as the time to mention it. The timing of this statement just after releasing his solo album, Thefutureembrace, will no doubt boost sales.

whats Machina II like...??

Pretty cool. Definitely worth getting, especially since it won't cost you anything  : ok:

http://www.billy-corgan.com/downloads/mp3/machina2/index.php

I really wanna hear another Mellon Collie type album from them  :)

That would be amazing, please go for it Billy!!!

Geez - he sounds rather pathetic really.

Get over it or reform the band - but such whining is just irritating

I happen to love the Pumpkins, and it woulod be good to see them again

Give em' a break dude, this is the first time i've heard him talk about the Pumkins since they broke!!

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0506220248jun22,1,1064631.story?ctrack=2&cset=true

Will `the Great Pumpkin' stand alone?

Greg Kot
Published June 22, 2005


Billy Corgan's full-page ads in Chicago newspapers announcing his decision "to renew and revive The Smashing Pumpkins" appear to be more an invitation than a done deal.

Corgan said Tuesday "the door is clearly open" to reconvene the alternative rock powerhouse's original lineup but would not say if any of the other Pumpkins knew of his plans.

Though it's certain a Pumpkins reunion would be built on singer-guitarist Corgan and drummer Jimmy Chamberlin, who remain friends and collaborators, Corgan would only say that he'd welcome a return by guitarist James Iha and bassist D'Arcy Wretzky, who left the band on acrimonious terms. The ex-Pumpkins could not be reached for comment.

"What I've done [by going public] is I've set the intention," Corgan said. "It's going to happen."

The Pumpkins, founded by Corgan and Iha in 1987, and joined the next year by Wretzky and Chamberlin, became one of the most acclaimed and commercially successful bands ever to come out of Chicago and helped provide the soundtrack for the alternative rock generation. Before concluding their career at a December 2000 concert at Metro, the Pumpkins sold more than 25 million albums.

Corgan went on to establish Zwan with Chamberlin and three indie rock musicians, but the quintet imploded in 2003 after releasing only one album. Corgan then worked on numerous solo projects, including a poetry book, a collection of Chicago-inspired songs that he performed in concert last year, and an album, "TheFutureEmbrace," released Tuesday.

Corgan said he realized he wanted to revive the band while working on "TheFutureEmbrace." He said he and Chamberlin were listening to unreleased Pumpkins songs to decide which ones to include in an Internet release last year, "and this cloud came over the room."

"I started thinking differently, I started feeling differently," he said. "That guy came back. The soul of that thing is different than this guy here. If you put me into that band, I turn into the Great Pumpkin again."

Corgan insisted he won't be going back for nostalgic reasons, or because his sales as a solo artist don't match the levels he achieved with his old band.

"The work's not done," he said. "I thought it was done. I left [the Pumpkins] for very noble reasons. My loyalty to James [Iha] was really the big splitter in that. And now that I look at it, I know there is more."

The question remains who besides Chamberlin would want to sign up for such an assignment. Corgan laughed. "That band has a soul," he said. "I don't care who's in it."

In the interim, Corgan has a tour to complete for his solo album, beginning Wednesday in Atlanta

if Iha and D'Arcy don't join in, then in theory, it won't be much different from Zwan.
BUT, if it helps Corgan think in a different way musically, then I can totally understand him.
it's all about the state of mind : ok:

I would love to see this happen! :yes:

I love Mary Star of the Sea so much  :yes: It's brilliant

I can understand it, but I would at least like to see one of them back with Billy and Jimmy. All of them back together would be ideal. I'd still be really happy if Billy could manage to get James, but had to bring Melissa Auf der Maur back instead of D'arcy.

The question remains who besides Chamberlin would want to sign up for such an assignment. Corgan laughed. "That band has a soul," he said. "I don't care who's in it."

hmmm.........

I wonder.

Let's say he reformed the band with new people because he couldnt reconcile with Iha and D'Arcy .  Will there be a bunch of people on the Smashing Pumpkins boards that yell, "This new band is not SP!!!!.  Fuck the new band!!!"   ;D

Anyway, I happen to think that a band's soul exists because of its members, not independently of them.  But I have to admit I'm curious and definitely interested in the new reincarnation if it ever gets off the ground.

about the SP boards thing, yeah I think that will happen, just like what's going on here.
Im not anywhere near as big a fan of SP as I am or GN'R, and the members that stood out in SP to me, was Billy and Jimmy.
but ultimately, nothing beats the original band.

Thanks for the link to that  :beer:

Good news!! too many reunions nowadays when will GNR runite??  :peace:

Did anyone else here get the new Billy album.  Its decent.  I hope it grows on me a little.  SP getting back together (hopefully), made my fucking week.   I honestly don't even care who's in the band this time around.  As long as Billy is there, who cares?  It would be great to have some of the original members back, but hey, as we know from GNR, you can't always get what you want. :smoking:

you went from fuck the new band to being interested. give em' a chance : ok: :hihi:

I heard Billy Corgan's cover of "To Love Somebody" tonight on Jay Leno and it was trippy,creepy,weird and great

I love this shit.

I wish they would come back.

Check it out, the official site is updated and running:

http://www.smashingpumpkins.com

It's official, The Smashing Pumpkins are currently writing songs for their upcoming album, their first since 2000. no release date has yet been set, but the band plans to begin recording this summer.

Most excellent news!  : ok:

thats awesome, is James Iha on board? what about the original bassist?

Last I heard it was just Billy Corgan and Jimmy Chamberlain.... That could also work for a Zwan reunion.  :hihi:

damn i really hope Iha is involved, i mean since A Perfect Circle seems to be officially over he should have the time. but the main problem is he and billy havent really gotten along right?

The bassist for that was in Hole/Smashing Pumpkins, Melissa (her last name too long..lol) said Billy might not even know where D'arcy is-was her drug problem that bad? Was that the reason she was out of the band (fired?)

Say it ain't so! I had no idea about this, but after a bit of research it really seems that APC might never come back from its current hiatus. Truly sad news...

As a long time SP fan who is following this via netphoria.org (like all the others),     I can just repeat it be better be with James Iha and D'arcy or else it is not an reunion.
Lets wait and see what it turns out to be, rather then to speculate on who is possibly in or not...

This is great news. I've been a fan of SP since 'Siamese Dream', a new album from them would be great. I sure hope James Iha is in though, he has a unique sound, wouldn't be the same without him.

I was never really into Smashing Pumpkings into I heard Zwan. I liked the one and only cd Zwan put out.

sweet!!! love the pumpkins, good news.   : ok:

Billy and Jimmy ARE Smashing Pumpkins, im syked as for this, Pumkins RULE!!

Yep you're right.  The other members are for the most part just road musicans.

Since Billy Corgan writes all their songs and plays lead guitar, what's the difference between Cogan solo and a SP reunion?

well, did Zwan sound like SP or not?  I havent heard Zwan so I cant tell you.  But I'm psyched about a new pumpkins album.

Is it worth getting? I am not a hardcore fan, but I like their stuff that I have heard and I thought I should get this. Do I miss a lot of essential tracks by buying this instead their albums? Any feedback would be appreciated? :peace:

The tracklist.

1. Siva 
2. Rhinocerous
3. Drown 
4. Cherub Rock 
5. Today
6. Disarm
7. Landslide 
8. Bullet With Butterfly Wings
9. 1979 
10. Zero 
11. Tonight, Tonight
12. Eye 
13. Ava Adore 
14. Perfect 
15. The Everlasting Gaze
16. Stand Inside Your Love 
17. Real Love 
18. Untitled 

I know it's not cool to reply to your own post, but seriously anyone???

I'm not much of  a Smashing Pumpkins fan, but I suppose if it's anything like GN'R's Greatest Hits, then yeah, I imagine not all their best tracks are included. But most Greatest Hits cds are usually just that anyway, a collection of songs for more casual listeners not interested in buying an entire bands back catalog to find the gems.

Well I've heard it, actually Im not a big SP fan but it's quite good, nothing outrageous you know  ;)

Get it  : ok:

But I have a lot of bias...

I guess I wouldn't really suggest starting there though. Greatest hits albums do a good job of giving someone a general idea of a band's career, but I prefer listening to proper albums with songs that are meant to be together - especially with regards to SP.

Well I think I am gonna get it. I mean who's gonna stop me from buying the albums later If I want to  :yes: Oh another question, you know the song from "Batman and Robin"(god that movie sucked) called "The beginning is the end is the beginning" is this on any other compilation or something other than the movie soundtrack itself? Anyway thanks for all the feedback feel free to add anything you want positive or negative.

I'd say get it - There're a ton, and I mean a ton, of spectacular songs missing from the GH - But that's the nature of Greatest Hits albums, right? It gives a nice overview of the band's song library and its diversity. After the GH, I'd say go for Mellon Collie or Adore (which is a very slow, atmospheric album - But my favorite of the bunch).

As for "The End is the Beginning is the End," I've no clue where to find it aside from on the B&R soundtrack, but that song absolutely rocks! Too bad the movie is pretty much the worst movie.. ever.

Anyway, I hope you like the GH!  :beer:

Well I don't know if you got it or not, but I always felt Siamese Dream was a classic album of theirs, and would recommend it over any GH of theirs.. I never liked their whole Melon Collie... era. Although this does have Drown which is an awsome song off the 'Singles' soundtrack, with a long distortion solo at the end. 

Well I ordered It ( haven't gotten it yet). Well the greatest hits has 3 songs from "Siamese dream" That won't be able to replace the album but, should give away the tone of the album. And as I said earlier who can' stop me from buying it later right? Anyway thanks for responding  :peace:

'The end is the beginning' might be on iTunes, along with an absolute shedload of hard to find Pumpkins tracks. (More bands should make their rarities available like this).

I second Eccotides - Rotten Apples  is a good starting place but barely scratches the surface of the Pumpkins massive catalogue. And Mellon Collie alongside Adore really shows Mr Corgan's full range of songwriting styles.

I love SP, The vid for ADORE is my fave video of all time, soooo trippy. i wont buy the greatest hits. i got the songs already..

BTW how funny is the clown scene on the dvd of the videos?   :rofl:

The version of 'Drown' on this album is different to the Singles one, it doesn't have the outro solo for some reason.
I love Mellon Collie it's a fantastic album, but try this for an overview then if you like that you'll know which albums to get.

This is a pretty comprehensive greatest hits which I would advise getting.

The most productive period was Siamese Dream and Mellon Collie and all the best tracks are present here. Try getting the two disc addition which also has all the best b-sides.

The Pumpkins are one of the best b-side bands of recent times, along with The Smiths, The Wildhearts and early-era Oasis. Try tracking down all of the Mellon Collie singles which have half-a-dozen b-sides on each (Bullet, 1979, tonight tonight, zero, 33)

In all honesty if you want a proper feel for the band just buy Siamese Dream and Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness. Siamese Dream is one of the strongest albums of the grunge era and Mellon Collie is one of the best epic prog rock albums of all time.

They're recording a new album at the moment which is due for release this year, although it remains to be seen if James and D'arcy will be on it. To be honest, as long as Billy and Jimmy are part of the band it doesn't really matter who the other guitarist and bassist are.

Normally I hate it when people bump old threads, but I just checked smashing pumpkins website and it says that they are recording with Roy Thomas Baker.  That is good news!  Isn't he one of the (many) rumored producers for cd?

yeah he produced CD beetwen 2000 and 2002..
he is great producing.. but they way he produces is very very painfull and slow lol... he use a lot of analog equipments.. and hundreds of overdubs and takes...
he produced the last darkness record.. and it sounds great, the only problem are the so so songs lol

this should be interesting, i really hope James Iha comes back too that would be awesome.

Zwan was ok, the song "of a broken heart" is amazing

here is Billy playing an acoustic version, its fantastic

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-qrBnidaMZY

This is great news!  I loved the Zwan cd and was dissapointed when I heard they broke up...  The Pumpkins getting back together more than makes up for that!!!

That won't be happening.  Corgan gave an interview where he said how ugly the Zwan thing became, and how bitter things got between himself and the other band members, and how he'd never work with (most of) them again.  I really enjoyed the music, though...

Zwan was great, it consisted of the the backbone of the Pumpkins.  Billy and Jimmy, that is all they need with some good musicians to round them out .

i thought this band was grunge. but i read up on them on wikipedia and they seem a totally different band to the scene...i wanna listen to them however...where do i start  :confused:

Siamese Dream.

i found this on another forum.....

not sure how credible this is, but it looks legit

(http://img246.imageshack.us/img246/7420/spfullfest12vf8.jpg)

if turns out not to be, please don't shoot the messenger!! lol

Which forum did you find that on?

http://www.echoingthesound.org/phpbbx/viewtopic.php?t=6004&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=100

its in the music section of a NIN messageboard

Good call, yeah definitely check out Siamese Dream. "Mayonaise" is a hidden gem off that album.

is gish any good, my dad seems to have that one.

Agreed...fantastic song.

Gish is good, it's their first album so it's a little more experimental, before they hit the mainstream.? If your Dad has it, can you try listening to his copy? Anyway, definitely check out SD, it's a great album worthy of being in almost everyone's collection (Great lyrics, great guitar, great drums) The album is tight, like Nevermind : ok:

fucking wonderful :yes:

i'm more of a Mellon Collie fan, "Tonight, Tonight" and "Zero" are some of my favorite Smashing Pumpkins songs.

looks like something's up in Pumpkinland - They've got an SP-themed flag thing going on...

(http://myspace-577.vo.llnwd.net/01302/77/56/1302926577_m.jpg)

thats awesome.

i wonder what direction they will go in for this record? the more synth heavy approach like Adore or my rock n roll/metallish like siamese dream/mellon collie?

looks like the rock scene is really looking up with the return of these rock titans, chinese democracy being released soon, Army of Anyone releasing an album and touring, etc... : ok:

Smashing Pumpkins' Billy Corgan Unveils New Tunes During Solo Set

Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan emerged from a year out of the public eye to play a few songs at a multi-act show featuring Pete Townshend in Los Angeles last night (November 7).

The star played late in the gig at the Hotel Cafe, appearing uneasy and tuning his guitar frequently. He went on to play four as-yet-untitled new songs.

Early in the show, Corgan and his bandmate Jimmy Chamberlin, who are currently recording what will be their first album in seven years, stood by and watched performances by Townshend, E from Eels, Minnie Driver, Pete's brother Simon Townshend, and Pete Townshend's girlfriend and songwriting partner Rachel Fuller, who organised the show.

Fuller admitted she thought Corgan was "nervous" since he hadn't played live for so long.

The show was part of Fuller's 'In The Attic' series, which has featured interviews and performances by artists such as The Flaming Lips, Razorlight, The Kooks and The Zutons.

Corgan provided no news about his ongoing work with the reunited Smashing Pumpkins - or whom exactly that entails - but during the show Townshend spoke favorably about the new material he had heard.

NME

(http://img177.imageshack.us/img177/8850/billykt0.jpg)

Yeah a couple of old heavyweights stepping back in the ring.. Cool to see, I think SP will go back to more guitar rock.

Siamese Dream is a great album-they were really big in the 90's, Tonight, Tonight is an excellent video-it's interesting what happened with D'arcy-does anyone know why she left? I remember rumors of drugs

I can't wait for this album and tour.  I've met Billy Corgan a few times and he's a really nice guy.  He sat and talked with me for about 10 minutes once and for really no reason at all... just to talk.

ummmm wow. u lucky fucker!!!

i checked out Adore recently and i dont know why its so criticized i think its pretty cool.

I like Adore a lot too.  It will be interesting to see what route they take on this new album.  It would be cool to just go back to straight up rock n' roll with a lot less electonics involved.  Has he talked about this album at all yet and has anyone heard of any audio that's around for that solo performance he did?

i think the will go to a more classic rock style this time.. they are using, roy thomas baker..
he is known for his epic-retro sound, and his use of analog recording

I haven't listened to the Pumpkins in quite a few years... I did end up seeing them live at Summersault 2000, when Auf Der Maur was in the band. It was unfortunately a bit of a weak performance... kind of going-through-the-motions. They seemed really unhappy up on stage, and Chaimberlin was the only real standout. I read some comments from some of the other bands on the tour that echoed those impressions of them. I think it was a bit of dark time for the band, in that Machina hadn't sold as well as was hoped, and Corgan sounded very frustrated with the music scene in his interviews. Plus, the band was due to end in a month or so. I had been a big Pumpkins fan for the three years previous to that, so it was a bit of a disappointment.

That being said, a new album could be interesting. I enjoyed hearing Corgan and Chaimberlin back together on the Jimmy Chaimberlin Complex CD.

A Perfect Circle actually performed earlier at the same concert, and they blew the Pumpkins and the rest of the headliners off the stage, IMO. Everyone I spoke to was quite impressed by them. I really enjoyed their two albums, sad to see that the group appears to have fizzled out now, but as long as Tool is still making albums, I'll be happy.

summersault!  that was the best concert i think ive seen come through this crap town-

Finger 11 (before becoming a STAIND rip-off band)
Our lady peace (when they were good-  for those of you who know who they are)
A perfect circle
Foo Fighters
and Smashing pumpkins (my first time crowd surfing was during 'Bullet With Butterfly Wings" at this show)

also i remember Sum41 was the first band on the bill-  right at noon when the gates opened up-   they're managers band (treble charger) was also on the bill.

but back to the smashing pumpkins-   they're album can go either way-   i hope they do something a little more experamental instead of selling out to the radio.

This band drives me nuts,

i like them but i still can't make up my mind if their one of my fave bands.

i find that there are only two kinds of Pumpkins songs, awesome ones and ones that suck. i can't find a songs that are in the middleground. I find that most of their albums are patchy like that and i have trouble sitting through most of them because some songs just bore me. its like, their good stuff i fucking love and think are amazing but i cant stand their decent to bad range of songs.

does anyone else feel this way or am i insane? should i just let them grow on me more?

You're not crazy - Even as a big Pumpkins fan, they're wildly inconsistent.

Some stuff is absolutely terrific, and some material is absolutely terrible and just a mess of noise and vocals.

Still, I've managed to find several songs that register as simply "good," mainly on the Adore and Machina albums. So at least that bucks the "no middle ground" trend in my eyes.

Great band. I love Siamese Dream. They went big just after Nirvana's Nevermind.

okay thanx for the assurance. the songs i do like i love, its just frustrating because most bands i like are pretty consistent and not so patchy. I'm trying tho, i guess some songs are growing on me.

i really want James Iha to come back, i always liked the guy. i really hope he does i mean A Perfect Circle is done and i dont think hes doing anything else now.

this is all good news

MORE UPDATES/INFO

this is from their official myspace, Jimmy Chamberlain wrote it:

Hello again!

I hope everyone enjoyed their holiday. We have been very busy carving up the sonic landscape with oceans of guitars and a sea of fuzz bass. We are four songs deep and about a hundred guitars in! Every day is a little louder and every night is a little darker! Last night for instance, we were working on a song...a very beautiful simple song we had been playing since we got back together. A song that was never questioned because of its poignant simplicity. Suddenly, Billy looked up and said that he thought we should try to find something else in the song. A different feel. A new approach. Something besides drums, bass and guitar. We had Bo' (our assistant) bring in an old organ to see if that would change the vibe.  Instantly the song was transported to a new place . A place of symphonic majesty that made us all smile. 

It's really moments like these that make it all worth it.
Sometimes you just have to ask the question...........
At any rate, it sure was nice to play something quiet for a change!

JC

there was also a picture of this:

(http://myspace-654.vo.llnwd.net/01499/45/61/1499191654_l.jpg)

i am so pumped i hope it comes out soon!! i have a such a good feeling about this record i dont know why. i think its going to be really special. its also awesome jimmy is keeping us updated so frequently too.

I definitely have a really good feeling about it too - I'm so glad that Jimmy's been letting the fans know what's up with the recording process, even though we still don't know who the band is comprised of at this point.  ;D

okay, i know i said Adore was "pretty cool" earlier but i was wrong its more than that. i'm listening to it again now and i absolutely love it. To me, its better than everything they've done, even Siamese Dream and Mellon Collie. There i said it.? This record is spectacular. i know i was complaining about their consitency earlier but call me crazy i think this is their more consistent record.

Corgan has hinted on their official myspace page that record will be out in May.

The ball is really rolling - They're playing the Nova Rock Festival in June, according to their myspace announcement...

Can't wait for the album!

About time to announce the full lineup, yes?

Haha, sometime around "now" would definitely be sensible timing for small details like that.  :)

i really want D'arcy and Iha on board but i think if they were in fact in the band it would have been announced by now for promotional purposes.

You're probably right.  Right now, keeping the lineup a secret only adds to the suspense and hype.

yeah it sucks but Corgan really is the primary creative force behind the Pumpkins, i mean he fucking recorded practically all of Siamese Dream on his own. I just always liked Iha and D'arcy and it would still be a shame if they arent in the band. .

so are there any rumors about a US tour at some point this year?? i would assume they would play small venues right.

Small venues?? I think not.? ?Arenas at a minimum.

thats awesome. this is gonna be a pretty exciting year for music.

This NME article essentially says it won't be the original lineup:

http://www.nme.com/news/smashing-pumpkins/26232

However, the most suprising thing to me is the fact that they're being mangaed by Paul Geary, former drummer of Extreme.

i still have my fingers crossed that all this secrecy will lead up to a big surprise that its the original lineup, even thought thats becoming less and less likely.

Album news coming tomorrow! So Billy says on the SP myspace bulletin...

Zeitgeist

wow, thats one of the strangest album names ive ever seen. and releasing it on a saturday?? weird....


whatever i'm still pumped

lets get some US tour dates now...

edit:  this is what i found for the title:

Zeitgeist
?noun German. the spirit of the time; general trend of thought or feeling characteristic of a particular period of time.?

http://blogs.usatoday.com/popcandy/

Another Pumpkins message
Billy Corgan posted an update about the Smashing Pumpkins reunion on his MySpace page today. He says the band's new album, Zeitgeist, will be released July 7. However, the big question remains: Who exactly is in this "reunited" band? And, if it's not all four original members, can it still be called a reunion? (Heck, at this point, I'd just settle for three members.)


http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=9685952&blogID=227210062&MyToken=93a89d55-f74e-43e1-ab8c-2413fc239170

I wouldn't be surprised if Billy managed to lure James back into the fold, but I personally think D'arcy is gone for good.

Apparently, only bassists have been auditioned by Billy and Jimmy...no guitarists as of yet.. ;)

...But unfortunately, I read that a few weeks ago, so who honestly knows at this point.. :-\

What are they thinking. two members cant use the same name...ITS A OUTRAGE  :rant: :rofl:

haha.

i would love to see the old members, but its not THAT big of a deal really. Corgan was always the primary creative force behind all the songs, the guy pretty much recorded all of Siamese Dream himself with Jimmy on drums. It was all his lyrics and direction, Iha and D'arcy just fit so well and complemented each other musically on stage very very well. but it wont be the end of the world if they're not on board.

Even if they don't come on board immediately, theres no reason why they couldn't down the road.. : ok:

I truly think, that in this case, what matters is Corgan.  Chamberlain is very important, as his style was a distinct part of the bands sound.  The other two...not so much, in my opinion.   Much like GnR, the band's sound, attitude, spirit, and style lives on in the frontman more than anyone else, regardless of who is in the official lineup, original member or no.

And for those basically saying "it's Zwan" more than the Pumpkins, that's fine by me.  I really dug the Zwan album, and thought it sounded like most of the Pumpkins songs I loved...

Zwan kicked serious ass.

"Mary(...of the Sea)"  seldom leaves my car CD player.

Some brilliant driving songs on there, thats forsure :)

hmm, i think i'll finally check out Zwan. i've only heard the song "Of A Broken Heart", which is amazing.

anyway i still cant get over that they're releasing the album on a saturday, 7/7/07, crazy!!

Billy, being an extremely spiritual person, probably doesn't want to miss out on the aura of good luck surrounding 07/07/07 :)

This new incarnation of the Smashing Pumpkins may as well be Zwan with Billy and Jimmy only. I am still optomisitc though.

And like I said previously, that's fine by me.  I loved the Zwan album, and would welcome more of the same...

I wonder if the new record is going to explore uncharted waters, or if Billy is going to take it back to perhaps the "Mellon Collie" sound?

That would be nice.. ;D

all i have to say is Mellon Collie and The Infinite Sadness is really a fantastic record. it took me a while to get into it but it is a very special, and definitely one of a kind.? i think i like it better than Siamese Dream.

does anyone actually like the Machina albums? i dig a couple songs but it just doesnt do much for me.

all i have to say is if this new album even comes close to the epic majesty of Mellon Collie and The Infinite Sadness i will be happy.

It was an attempt at sarcasm which I obviously suck at. Seeing how we are fans of Axl who is constantly criticized for using the name gnr with only 2 partly-original members.

yeah i figured u were only half joking, i just addressed it further cuz  i know alot of other rock fans and specifcically pumpkins fans have been bitching about it.

Fresh Pumpkins Due July 7

Josh Grossberg

Some smashing news for Smashing Pumpkin fans.

A year and a half after announcing their reunion via full-page newspaper ads, Billy Corgan and his merry band of alt-rockers have revealed that Zeitgeist, their first studio album since 2000's Machina: The Machines of God, will drop in July.

In a message on its Website, the Chicago-based band said it will forgo the typical Tuesday release date for a relatively rare Saturday release, making the album available exactly at 7:07 a.m. on July 7, aka 07-07-07.

To build a buzz about the disc and their highly anticipated return, the Pumpkins will take to the road with a series of festival gigs in Europe, starting with the Pinkpop Festival in the Netherlands on May 28 and continuing with stops in Germany, Portugal, and Italy before wrapping up June 17 at Interlaken, Switzerland.

The band also confirmed that their only scheduled North American concert appearance this year will be headlining the second night of Toronto's inaugural Virgin Music Festival, sponsored by billionaire mogul Richard Branson's Virgin Music Group, on Sept. 9. Other acts on the bill include Bj?rk, who's slated to headline the Sept. 8 show, Interpol, the Killers, Paolo Nutini and Amy Winehouse, among others.

While Pumpkinheads will be glad to see the band's guitarist/frontmant/leader Corgan rejoined by drummer Jimmy Chamberlin, there's no word on the rest of the lineup. Guitarist James Iha and bassist D'Arcy Wretzky remain MIA from the reunion, as does Wretzky's replacement, former Hole bassist Melissa Auf der Maur, who joined the quartet for some post-Machina gigs.

One possible fill-in is former Jane's Addiction bassist Eric Avery, who confirmed to MTV News last year that he was rehearsing with the group in the studio.

The Smashing Pumpkins first got together back in 1988. The band's debut album, Gish, came out in 1991, but it was their breakout major-label debut, 1993's Siamese Dream, with the hits "Today" and "Disarm," that turned them into alt-rock superstars.

The Pumpkins followed with Pisces Iscariot in 1994 and hit their peak in 1996 with the Grammy-winning, VMA-dominating double-album Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness, which spawned the singles "Bullet with Butterfly Wings," "Tonight, Tonight," "The End Is the Beginning Is the End" and "1979." But at the height of their popularity, touring keyboardist Jonathan Melvoin died of a drug overdose and Corgan subsequently fired Chamberlin, who was battling his own drug problems.

The Pumpkins stuck with a drum machine for their next release, 1998's Adore, which failed to match the sales of their previous releases.

Chamberlin was allowed back into the band for the recording of Machina in 1999, but Wretzky left shortly thereafter to pursue an acting career. The band played its final show at Chicago's Metro on Dec. 2, 2000.

Corgan and Chamberlin went on to form Zwan, which put out one forgettable disc, before he embarked on an equally inauspicious solo career culminating with the release of 2005's The Future Embrace.

Link: http://music.yahoo.com/read/news/41348237

 

Zwan's album is far from forgettable >:(

I still listen to it regularly.

Zwan had a good abum, I wish they cold have hung together for another one.

Agreed.  A great album that went largely ignored.  To me, it represents the better elements of the Pumpkins songs I loved...

As everyone had expected, James Iha won't be part of the reunion-he told Rolling Stone he hasn't spoken to Billy Corgan in years, and is working on his second solo album-I know Billy pretty much played, wrote all the music for Smashing Pumpkins, but does anyone know what he and Billy had the falling out over?

Too bad, I loved his work.

inside info says that
ginger reyes is gonna be the bass player
and
jeff schroeder the guitar player

Who are they? Names I have not heard before.

underground guys

tracklist??? TRACKLIST!!!

The Smashing Pumpkins, Zeitgeist

01 Doomsday Clock
02 7 Shades of Black
03 Orchid
04 That's the Way
05 Tarantula
06 Starz
07 United States
08 Never Lost
09 Bring the Light
10 Come On (Let's Go)
11 For God and Country
12 Pomp and Circumstance

^ from this article:

http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003574560

gives some descriptions of the songs too, check it out.

I just got the Aeroplane's Fly High and its fucking awesome.

james iha was the fucking man, i'm listening to "Believe" now, and he sings it and its just fantastic.  its really a shame he wont be involved this time around..

but regardless, i will be in the record store on 7/7/07 buying this new record.

Just out of curiousity, were you able to buy it brand new, or did you find a second-hand copy?

to be honest i found it on my school's DC++ hub. i would buy it if i could find it but i couldn't find a good copy and used it can get pretty expensive. and i've had bad luck buying used CDs.

I hear 'ya.

Im trying to track down a copy of Tool's Salival boxset for a fair price, but most people online are selling their copy for over $200 which just isn't worth it :-\

did anyone hear about this or see the pictures?

On May 6, 2007, four photographs of album art were leaked on the Netphoria fan message board. They depicted the following:

Two elderly men flanking the Grim Reaper at a presidential podium, with the Smashing Pumpkins flag as a backdrop.
Paris Hilton standing in front of a photo of a mushroom cloud.
Schoolchildren giving a Nazi-esque salute.
The devil in a business suit being crucified.
Within hours, a band representative requested that the photos be removed [7], but it appears that they have already spread to hundreds of fans' personal archives. Netphoria administrators then began to remove all copies of the images from the forums, and banning users that posted them[8].

The band management soon released a statement to the media stating the photos are "stolen goods" that should not be posted on the Internet[9].

the first single is supposed to be "Tarantula" and will debut the week of May 21st.

the official album cover:

(http://a303.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/3/l_8af237b28c5de4e5f64cf1ff19c6f316.jpg)


it looks like they are getting political too, whatever, as long as the music is good.

theres a 30 second clip of Tarantula on youtube and various sites and it sounds GREAT.

and the record wont be coming out 7/7/07, but on that tuesday, so 7/10/07

Can't wait for the Pumpkins return.  One of my all time favorites, I dusted Mellon Collie off recently, forgot how sweet those discs were.  Sounds just as good as it did back in '95

THANK U!!!!

*listens*

this shit shocks so hard. very impressed.

Thanks for posting that clip.  That's a cool song, definitely not up there with the Corgan's best stuff but it sounds good, especially as a single

heres a much much better quailty stream. a million times better than the radio rip:


http://www.spinner.com/2007/05/18/new-music-tarantula-by-smashing-pumpkins/

not bad not his best but definitely not bad.

i have a reallly good rip of the stream if anyone wannts it. ?: ok:

The Smashing Pumpkins, "Tarantula"

I don?t wanna fight
Every single night
Everything I want is in your light
You and me go there
To places I don?t know to care
The spoils of all I?ve got were left to scrounge

Don?t let me say this,
but you?re no worse than me,
It?s crazy

We are real, if real ever was, just because
We all feel, feel we?ve had enough,
I?m real, ?cause someone gave us sound

I wanna be there when you?re happy
I wanna love you when you?re sad,
Can?t stand the morning rain

Get out and take your place then
Can?t stand the blazing sun
Then close your eyes you?ll see
The angel die.

I don?t want to be
Anything for these
A million watts of sound can?t compare

Come along you?ll see the world
The pulse ripples, the crowd unfolds
The current starts to flow and they are on

Oh it?s a white hot soul they want
sinful

You?re real, if real ever was, it?s just because
You?re real, every living soul
Yes I?m real, ?cause someone gave us sound

Don?t break the oath
I want to love you when you?re happy,
Don?t break this oath
I want to be there when you?re sad
Please bring the pouring rain.

You?re real, as real as any ghost,
It?s easy now,
I?m real, in every living soul
God gave us

Can?t stand the blazing sun
Can?t stand the morning rain
Get out and take your places

I don?t want to be alone
I don?t want to be alone
I don?t want to be alone

If it?s a white hot soul they want
It?s a black heart they?ll get.

http://www.spinner.com/2007/05/18/ne...hing-pumpkins/

Great stuff i think, REALLY reminds me of mellon collie, which was released in 1995 and stands out as one of the top 10 albums of the entire decade...

This is going to be a BIG time hit on alternative/modern Rock radio...

It would be great to get the guns first single out on the net thanks to the band themselves so people can hear official versions!

Wrong fucking forum..........

nope, they opened for Guns...and the stuff kicks ass

Yeah well so did Skid Row..... do you see anybody talking about Skid Row in the GN'R Message Board.

actually, people talk about Sebastian Bach all the time

 Unless it has a direct relation to GN'R..... there would not be a whole thread about his new CD....... try adding this to the Bad Obsession board.

ya, ive got a bad obsession, like this thread

idiot

read the rules  : ok:

get this guy out of here :rant:

isn't there another section on this board for this ???  why waste our time so that everyone else gets pissed at you and complains.

this thread is taking valuable server space that we could be using for 'if you were one of axl's testicles, which side would you be?' threads.

wrong section, but great topic. I am very much looking forward to new SP music.

This new song rocks.

this may be the wrong forum, but the song is great!

i guess thats the point, sure not G N R, but killer to hear new GOOD Rock.  This should be all over the radio all summer.  Hopefully NEW Guns will be heard there too!

It's not as good as the Pumpkins stuff from their peak but it's still a good song

I love the song :peace:

tarantula is great, hope the rest of the album is as strong

maybe merge this with this http://www.heretodaygonetohell.com/board/index.php?topic=28828.100

yeah, that's sounds good !

Dr. David Thorpe said it the best on somethingawful.com--

The Smashing Pumpkins

Who's Reuniting: Billy Corgan, Jimmy Chamberlin (the drummer) and? uh? nobody knows who else. Maybe just Jimmy and Billy, in which case the reunion contains exactly as many Smashing Pumpkins members as Corgan's solo album did. Which doesn't matter, since he always played nearly everything on the Smashing Pumpkins' records anyway?

Time Apart: The band has officially been dissolved for 7 years, although Corgan and Chamberlin have been split up for a whopping zero years.

Reason for Breakup: Descent into irrelevance after two underperforming albums.

Reason for Reuniting: Corgan's solo record sold approximately 28 copies, most of them to Corgan's family, friends, and cats. Maybe resurfacing with the Smashing Pumpkins name will give his career the boost it so desperately needs. Maybe he forgot how poorly Machina fared. Also, money.

Billy Corgan is finally ready to pop that big ol' cue ball of his out of the corner pocket into which he was unceremoniously scratched by America, and we couldn't possibly be less excited at the prospect. Corgan has miscalculated the structure of rock and roll myth to an embarrassing degree, and now he's attempting the ultimate folly: a comeback on a low note.

After the beeping gothic burble of Adore, the few remaining Smashing Pumpkins tolerators were cautiously optimistic about the return-to-rock followup, Machina, which turned out to be a grotesque, hyperproduced art-rock turd. Wisely, Corgan "split up the band" (a curious proposition, since he is the band), returning three years later with the universally ridiculed prog supergroup Zwan. After a go-nowhere solo album, Corgan put an out an ostentatious full-page ad saying he wanted his band back. Why the ad, Billy? The band is you. Were you worried that you'd forget that you wanted to cash in what little currency your former band's name holds?

"Oh, I wonder what's in today's paper? oh yeah, I nearly forgot, it's this big gay full-page ad about how my solo career was a miserable failure! Guess I'd better call Jimmy, the drummer, so I can hold up some flimsy charade that it's a 'reunion.'"

The song is great. And it sounds like the Pumpkins too, more than Billy's solo album ever did. Looks like this album will be well worth getting.

Billy Corgan does guest vocals on one song on the New Scorpions album : ok:

I thought the David Thorpe article was funny, although I did like most of the SP's albums, as well as ZWAN and Corgan's solo CD. I am trying to download Machina 2, but I have dial up and it's taking forever.

EDIT:

Okay, I downloaded Machina 2 and it's pretty cool (like 25 songs!)

Too bad the quality sucks.

what do u guys think of Machina?

it never really did much for me, i dont really like the concept that much and i like the Everlasting Gaze but i couldnt really get into the rest of it, it seems uneven.

i'm gonna give it a listen again tonite.

Dr. David Thorpe is a moron.

Zwan had some great moments and Billy's solo album is actually very good. It is kind of like Adore part 2. I did not know that sales=good album.

I don't even know if David Thorpe is even a real person. I thought it was funny, just a jab.

I really liked Corgan's solo album and thought it was better than Adore. Adore had some good ideas, but it was too long, both the actual songs and the album as a whole.

Machina 2 kicks ass, download it if you haven't already.

Thanks 'GnFnR87' for the link!

Well, I do believe the SP have another hit song on their hands.? I feel this song is an excellent choice for re-launching the band.? Also, I get the feeling it's going to be in constant rotation this summer on many "modern rock" radio stations.

Although the vocals sound (to me) a little unpolished at times, especially in relation to the rest of the mix... I'm really enjoying it and looking forward to the new album.

Cheers,
W.R.

Machina 1 & 2 are both incredible, although I tend to prefer #2 to #1.

Adore is also a brilliant album too.

Not quite as good as Machina, but some cool songs on there.

Terribly misunderstood album...

Yeah Machina is okay i guess, i just doesnt feel like the same Pumpkins magic from the other records tho, i dunno.


is it more of a grower album?  because these songs dont really stand out or impress that much.

i'll try to give it a chance tho and listen to it some more.

I guess you could clasify the album as a "grower."

Stand Inside Your Love, Wound and Age of Innocence are probably my favorite songs from it.

awesome song (Tarantula), I think that this new album will kick some asses!!!!

The version of Machina 2 that I downloaded sounds like crap. Has a CD quality version ever leaked?

Hey Richard Nixon i have a 192 Kbps rip of Machina 2, i'm not sure/dont think that there is a better quality version out there.

also keep in mind that the "lo-fi" sound and pops/scratches were intentional. (at least i think so, i read that somewhere) because the record was uploaded on the net from hand-cut vinyls.

anyway the first show was today!! heres a pic: i love how Corgan always gets women as bass players. hehe.

(http://i12.tinypic.com/4u4r0o3.jpg)

Setlist:

01. United States
02. Today
03. Stand Inside Your Love
04. Orchid
05. Doomsday Clock
06. Home
07. Hummer
08. Starz
09. Tarantula
10. Bullet
11. Gossamer
12. God and Country
13. 33
14. Rocket
15. Winterlong
16. To Sheila
17. Glass and the Ghost
18. Cherub Rock
19. 1979
20. Tonight
21. Neverlost
22. That's the Way
23. Disarm
24. Zero
25. Untitled
26. Shame
27. Silverfuck
28. Annie Dog
29. Muzzle

Do we know who the others in the band are other then Billy and Jimmy? Is that James? It kinda looks like him.

lol i wish it was james iha....

the other members are Ginger Reyes on bass and Jeff Schroeder on guitar.

Here is Ginger  :drool:

(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ee/Ginger_reyes.jpg/400px-Ginger_reyes.jpg)

Pretty never heard of her though.

^lol yeah i never heard of her either until recently.


i am rocking out to Machina 2 right now and i am absolutely floored. i've had it for a while now but i finaly sat down for a proper listen and i LOVE IT. a million times better than Machina, which im still trying to get into.

i am so happy right now, awesome awesome music. i'm happy Billy Corgan is back to kick some ass and take some names  :rofl:

From Wikidpedia

Machina II/The Friends & Enemies of Modern Music is an album by The Smashing Pumpkins that was released for free on the Internet on September 5, 2000. A sequel to Machina/The Machines of God, it has thusfar not had a commercial release. It consists of three EPs full of B-sides and alternate versions, and one double LP which is the actual album. Both Machina albums are concept albums. At the time the album was released it was to be the final Smashing Pumpkins studio album, but as of the summer of 2006 the band has reformed and is in the process of writing a new album.

Virgin Records was unwilling to release Machina II/The Friends & Enemies of Modern Music so close to the first (and commercially unsuccessful) Machina. As is evident by the title, the band was fed up with Virgin. As a final farewell, and as a snub to the unsupportive label, it was released independently. The album was released by The Smashing Pumpkin's own label Constantinople Records. Only 25 total copies were made. The vinyls were shipped via FedEx to several heavily active fans in the online community, with instructions to immediately redistribute it among the fans. Originally, the songs were intended to be the second disc of a double album instead of two separate releases. Virgin declined a double album from the band as the previous Pumpkins album, Adore, had not sold well.

Though not as well known among Pumpkins fans as the band's commercial releases, Machina II perhaps enjoys greater popularity among die-hard fans than its sister album, Machina. Its underground popularity can most likely be attributed to its hard, raw sound and rough energy. This sound was further defined by the manner of the album's release: the tracks were sourced from hand-cut vinyl records and then uploaded to the Internet. The end result was a collection of heavy rock songs with a very raw, "lo-fi" sound intentionally characterized by pops, scratches, and other distortions. For fans left unsatisfied by the muted atmospherics of Adore and the sometimes over-processed and obtuse first Machina, Machina II was a welcome return to the band's hard rock roots.

The Pumpkins performed a track from the album ("Cash Car Star") on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, which also ended up being the band's final television appearance. The performance was a rarity as "Cash Car Star" was not a single in any way, and Machina II was unavailable for purchase. (Leno even held up an actual vinyl hard copy of the album in true talk show performance tradition, with the comment "You can download it on the Internet") A previous live performance of the song had been broadcast as a portion of Kiss' 1998 Psycho Circus Halloween special, where the Pumpkins served as the opening act. The Pumpkins' Rotten Apples 2001 release contains the Machina II track "Real Love." Two Machina II B-sides, "Lucky 13" and "Slow Dawn," were included on Judas 0 (which was packaged with some Greatest Hits pressings).

On August 5, 2005 the Q101 copy (#19) was put up for sale on eBay. The seller decided to end the auction four days early when the bidding had reached $10,000 from a bidder in France. This bidder has since disclosed that there was a mutual agreement after the auction was ended to cancel the sale transaction. It remains to be seen if this copy (or any other) will go up for sale again publicly in the near future, but the episode suggests that an original vinyl copy could fetch a five-figure sum.

Contents [hide]
1 Track listing
1.1 EP one (CR-01)
1.2 EP two (CR-02)
1.3 EP three (CR-03)
1.4 LP (CR-04)
2 Personnel
3 Release sources
4 Download sites
5 External links
 


[edit] Track listing

[edit] EP one (CR-01)
"Slow Dawn" ? 3:14
"Vanity" ? 4:08
"Saturnine" ? 4:11
"Glass' Theme (Spacey)" ? 2:55
Total time: 14:08


[edit] EP two (CR-02)
"Soul Power" (James Brown cover) ? 3:02
"Cash Car Star (Version 1)" ? 3:41
"Lucky 13" ? 3:05
"Speed Kills (Alternate Take)" ? 4:51
Total time: 15:01


[edit] EP three (CR-03)
"If There Is a God (Piano and Voice)" ? 2:34
"Try, Try, Try (Version 1 Alternate Text)" ? 4:23
"Heavy Metal Machine (Version 1 Alternate Mix)" ? 6:47
Total time: 14:03


[edit] LP (CR-04)
"Glass' Theme" ? 1:54
"Cash Car Star" ? 3:18
"Dross" ? 3:26
"Real Love" ? 4:16
"Go" ? 3:47
"Let Me Give the World to You" ? 4:10
"Innosense" ? 2:33
"Home" ? 4:29
"Blue Skies Bring Tears (Version Electrique)" ? 3:18
"White Spyder" ? 3:37
"In My Body" ? 6:50
"If There Is a God (Full Band)" ? 2:08
"Le Deux Machina" ? 1:54
"Here's to the Atom Bomb (New Wave Version)" ? 3:51
Had the album been crystallized as an "official" pressed release, the song "Let Me Give the World to You" was considered as a single. The original, as-yet-unsurfaced version, was produced by Rick Rubin. It was originally written and recorded for Adore.


[edit] Personnel
Jimmy Chamberlin - Drums
Billy Corgan - Guitar, Lead Vocals
James Iha - Guitar, Vocals on "Go"
D'Arcy Wretzky - Bass, Vocals[citation needed]
Mike Garson - keyboard on "Le Deux Machina"

[edit] Release sources
A number of a release sources exist for Machina II. All of them are sourced from vinyl.

Virgin Promos - This source is from in-house promo CDs made at Virgin Records (sourced from the vinyls), made before Machina II was released to the public over the Internet. Two versions of the promos exist, a UK (type I) and U.S. (type II) version, both with 4 CDs corresponding to the vinyl copies.[1] As it was done in-house at a record company it generally assumed to be a high-quality transfer, though some of the faint voices which can be heard in the background before some of the EP songs are cut off, and in general it is missing a considerable amount of audio between song transitions.

Q101 Transfer - As mentioned above, the radio station Q101 received one of the 25 vinyl copies. It was subsequently transferred to 2 CDs by the station (one CD containing the EP tracks and one containing the LP tracks). Because the transfer was done by a high profile radio station (presumably with high-end equipment and professional oversight) many assume the transfer to be of good quality. Copies were given away as prizes from the station.

SPIFC Transfer - The SPIFC transfer was produced from a vinyl copy by a member of the SPIFC. A transfer was eventually performed onto two CDs with "high-end" equipment. The SPIFC offers MP3 downloads of the transfer to members and held a contest giving away CD-R copies. When analyzed the audio from the SPIFC transfer shows a 21 kHz tone which casts some doubt on the quality of the transfer.

MP3 Web Releases - Following the vinyl release a number of MP3 versions quickly surfaced on the web. A select number of people involved in the Smashing Pumpkins online fan community received one of the 25 releases. Using audio equipment they had immediate access to these were recorded onto computer, encoded to MP3 and quickly released for the masses. Later MP3 releases may be from one of the CD sources listed above or newer lesser known transfers.

Commercial Releases - Four tracks from Machina II have been released commercially. These are of specific note, because these versions were sourced from the master tapes rather than amateur vinyl transfers. "Real Love" was featured on the Rotten Apples compilation. "Lucky 13" and "Slow Dawn" appeared on Judas O, which was included with early copies of Rotten Apples. The Machina II version of "Try, Try, Try" was one of the B-sides to the "Untitled" single, titled "Try, Try, Try (Alternate Version)." The studio banter that preceeds "Try, Try, Try" on Machina II has been removed from this version.

(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ee/Ginger_reyes.jpg/400px-Ginger_reyes.jpg)

I'd like to rub my face in her bare naked buttocks for six hours.

lol thats pretty funny.

have u guys checked out the official site yet? its been redone and its awesome. i wish axl would do something like this when he releases chinese democracy.

What an incredible setlist.

I had no idea they played such long sets.

smashing pumpkins sucks....

^agreed


anyway heres teh setlist from last nite!! they opened with Lucky 13!! fucking crazy shit.

(http://www.smashingpumpkins.com/gallery/pics/00000001.JPG)

smashing pumpkins? wierd name for your grandma'

damnnnnnnnnnnnnnn

Ginger Reyes is my kinda woman....

(http://www.silverfuck.free.fr/TSP/2007-05-22%20-%20TSP@ReX/album/slides/DSCF3795.JPG)

check this out, they are already playing B-sides from the new album!!

this is Gossamer in really good quality. this will not be on the album!! wtf?? its awesome!! i hope its a bonus track or something.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=vGqXoPuDd6w

I'm going to see them live if they ever come through LA/Long Beach area just to see Ginger Reyes.  Hot damn.  Hahhaha, just kidding.  Mostly for the music, but i know which side of the stage i'll be standing by.

The new songs kickass though.  I love "Starz."  Download a bootleg if you can, they're great songs.

yeah the only new songs i've heard are of course Tarantula, and the b-side Gossamer which wont even be on the album. i want the album to a be a surprise so i'm not gonna listen to any new live songs and i will try not to even DL the leak. its cool when u listen to an album for the first time only hearing the single.

i'd really like to see them too, it pisses me off that they are playing NINE shows in North Carolina at the same damn place, then ELEVEN shows in California in the same place. but i'm sure they'll still do a full fledged North American Tour.

heres the setlist from last nite: i'm so happy that they've played "home" twice now out of the three shows, i hope they keep it up i love that song!!

(http://www.smashingpumpkins.com/gallery/pics/brussels0526.jpg)

I betcha' Richard Nixon would love to plunge his head into Ginger Reyes' buttocks.. :hihi:

Billy seems really happy in those Youtube clips though.

Good for him :)

yeah i noticed that too, billy sounds really pumped and excited in the videos i've seen.

more ginger pics:
(http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f129/sebi2704/TSP%202007-06-02/01.jpg)

(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/f/f6/Gingerreyes.jpg/335px-Gingerreyes.jpg)


definitely the hottest SP bassist so far.

I wonder if Billy has tapped that ass...

LOL i was just wondering that myself.

the opening track to the new album, "Doomsday Clock" is gonna be on the soundtrack for Transformers. so that song might leak soon.

even if the whole album leaks im gonna personally try to hold out till when it comes out, its such a great feeling listening to it for the first time on the day of release. its gonna be hard tho i'm sure the entire album will leak fairly early.

I wont be downloading the new album.

yeah i'm gonna hold out. the official pumpkins site has a live version of doomsday clock and i'm very tempted but i decided i'll wait. i like Tarantula alot and i can't get bored of it so i think that will hold me over till the album comes out officially, which is only like a month from now.  :hihi:

i've listened to machina alot recently and its grown on me but its definitely not their best album.

i prefer Machina II.

i wish Corgan would officially release Machina II, properly produced/mixed and mastered. that would be amazing.

I prefer Machine II as well, however Id definately take Machine I over Adore.

i think i like Adore better than Machina I, its pretty close tho, machina has grown on me alot.


here is Silverfuck from Rock Am Ring with the doors song "The End" mixed in, its a 10 minute jam that is fucking awesome. i wish they would properly tour the states instead of like 11 shows at the same place. what the fuck?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Sb0_RvAZkQ

me again, heres a review from Spin magazine. not too shabby eh?

(http://www.ryanwillhoft.com/pics/spin_review.jpg)

Sounds good to me : ok:

i have listened to Siamese Dream nonstop for over a week now. just over and over. its incredible.


heres another review, much more detailed, probably the best yet. http://blogs.riverfronttimes.com/atoz/2007/06/smashing_pumpkins_zeitgeist_fi.php

could it be right that I heard a new Pumpkins song on the radio last week?
it was pretty damn good!

the album opener, which is also on the Transformers soundtrack, "Doomsday Clock" was made available today on ITunes. it was also revealed that there will be a bonus song on ITunes, i hope u can buy just that song on ITunes? cuz i wanna buy the actual album in a store...


also, the pumpkins will be playing on letterman TWICE in one week. on Monday, July 9th which is the day before the album comes out, as welll as Friday Juy 13th!!!


i decided not to get the song, i want the album to be a surprise when i first listen to it. i'm really pumped for this album.

anyone heard the rumor that billy is gay?    i believe it
 : ok:

Im pretty sure I could not possibly care less.

I am interested in this new album, has it leaked at all? Someone let me know please.

damn...

Billy Corgan is defintely not gay. he has had an on/off relationship with Courtney Love and even dated her exclusively before Kurt Cobain came into the picture.

so i guess his choice of women may be a little questionable, but hes not gay. :hihi:


me too. i just finally heard tarantula on the radio and i was like fuck yeah the pumpkins are BACK!!!?

JULY 10th BITCHES!!!

o yeah, i love the cover of the tarantula single. check this out:

(http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/I/515PWiIYFPL._SS500_.jpg)

Why'd he drop "The" from the name? lol I mean, honestly. I liked them as "The Smashing Pumpkins." Just "Smashing Pumpkins" feels too...punk-ish for my tastes. And where the fuck is the new video? When do we get that?

lol i never could figure out what the story is with "the", i think u can just use both variations. although the new album just says "smashing pumpkins", while older ones indeed said "the smashing pumpkins"

as far as the video, it was being filmed this week. i dont know why they are so late with it. i think it woud've been smarter to have the video wrapped up already and getting exposure, i mean this IS a comeback and all.

pics from the music video, no release date announced for it yet, probably soon. ginger is looking as hot as ever.... and billy's rocking the weird dress/cape thingy.

(http://www.smashingpumpkins.com/gallery/pics/DSC_0063.JPG)
(http://www.smashingpumpkins.com/gallery/pics/DSC_0062.JPG)
(http://www.smashingpumpkins.com/gallery/pics/DSC_0060.JPG)

What is it with him and those weird outfits.

haha  good answer  :hihi:

Chics with guitars are hot.  8)

one of the bonus tracks(there are like four different versions of the album with a different bonus track) "Death From Above", i think its on the Best Buy or amazon version, has been made available/leaked. anyone want it just PM me.

this was a record label decision, to have all these versions, and i think its a dumb idea. most fans will just buy one version and DL the bonus tracks.

heres most of the different versions:

Regular Version(12 tracks)
Deluxe Edition w/ 72 pg. Book   
Blue Itunes w/ Stellar (bonus track)   
Target w/ Zeitgeist   (bonus track)
Best Buy w/ Death from Above  (bonus track)

they all have different color covers i think.

i'll probably pick up the target one with the title track. if anyone is planning to get the ITunes version with "stellar", i'll trade with u!!

I'll get the one with the book if I get it at all. I think I might need to hear a bit more first before I make that decision ;) Where do you check out something like this?

the album is all over torrent sites.

I'm listening to it now... pretty good.

well i'm still holding out, but i've heard good things about it. i'm really really excited.


its actually pretty impressive that they were able to keep this from leaking for so long.

5 different cd's,.. what a sad cash grab,    i gave up on this band when D'arcy left (got fired?)--  she was my pretend girlfriend.   

it sucks, but its a record label decision. i doubt Billy had any say over it. and besides, we get extra songs!!


people who have listened to it: whats your opinion on the production? it seems to have divided the fanbase. many say billy's vocals are pushed too far in front in the mix.

still holding out...9 days.....

I'm really enjoying what I've heard. I think there's some filler here, but some real standouts, too. Might just get me out there to pick up a copy. I'll give it a few more listens. I still won't spoil Libertad, however. My buying that is a given. I kinda spoiled Eat Me, Drink Me and Year Zero that way this year :'( I still love them both.

Check out the video for "Tarantula," just posted here: http://www.spinner.com/2007/07/02/video-premiere-smashing-pumpkins-tarantula/

Also, stream all of Zeitgeist here: http://spinner.aol.com/artists/new-releases-full-cds

Enjoy :beer:

OMG!! thanx!! will check out the video soon....

that album stream is really tempting.....

i like the video. still can't get bored of the song itself either.


i wish there were more close ups of Ginger tho......

The Pumpkins have announced the following North American tour dates:

Sep. 08 - Montreal, QUE - Osheaga Festival
Sep. 09 - Toronto, ONT - V Fest
Sep. 13 - Las Vegas, NV - the Pearl
Sep. 18 - Phoenix, AZ - Dodge Theatre
Sep. 24 - Vancouver, BC - NE Forum
Sep. 28 - Salt Lake City, UT - McKay Center
Sep. 30 - Morrison, CO - Red Rocks
Oct. 02 - St. Paul, MN - Wilkins Auditorium
Oct. 04 - Normal, IL - Braden Auditorium
Oct. 07 - Detroit, MI - Fox Theatre
Oct. 09 - Pittsburgh, PA - Palumbo Center
Oct. 11 - Columbus, OH - LC Pavilion
Oct. 15-16 - Boston, MA - Orpheum Theatre
Oct. 21-22 - Philadelphia, PA - Tower Theatre
Oct. 25 - Memphis, TN - Mud Island Amphitheatre
Oct. 30 - Atlanta, GA - Fox Theatre
Nov. 03 - Dallas, TX - Nokia Theatre
Nov. 05 - Nashville, TN - Ryman Auditorium

I'm sure I'm in the minority here, but afer the first listen, I'll take Zwan over Zeitgeist.  Hopefully it will grown on me with more listens...

what the fuck. no New York City???? i'm gonna freak out!!!

okay, i caved and decided to listen to one song, so i listened to Doomsday Clock... its fucking awesome. i'm even more excited now :hihi:

Oct. 11 - Columbus, OH - LC Pavilion

Cant wait! :drool:

http://www.myspace.com/thelist

awesome quality videos of the secret show in madrid.

i love this band, with axl dicking us around this is the next best thing.

5 days till the album release!!!

the pumpkins will be on letterman next monday and friday.

i have all the bonus songs now, if anyone wants them.

You know, I take back what I said before. There's no filler on this album, although some of it takes a few listens to really grow on you. I love it. One of the best this year and a welcome comeback. Favorite track right now is "Bleeding the Orchid."

The bonus tracks are alright, nothing amazing, but they're growing on me. Better than some of the filler they had on Mellon Collie even.

Which of the bonus tracks would you guys say is the best?

I'm leaning towards buying this album from Target to pick up the title track but I wanted to get a few opinions first

They're all okay. I don't have a clear favorite. Zeitgeist is as good or better though than the others. You'll end up with them all anyway, if you want.

Did anyone get to catch them on Live Earth? I didn't. I saw AFI and The Police and a few others here and there throughout the day, but this really disappoints me. Anyway....

SMASHING PUMPKINS' entire four-song set from yesterday's Live Earth concert in New York has been posted at YouTube. The group's setlist was as follows:

01. United States
02. Bullet With Butterfly Wings
03. Tarantula
04. Today

Spinner.com reports: "Frontman Billy Corgan, looking one part mental patient and one part prison inmate, unleashed 'United States' from the band's new 'Zeitgeist' album on the crowd, meshing in 'The Star Spangled Banner' during his guitar solo. 'Bullet With Butterfly Wings' followed, played at punk-rock speeds with fellow original Pumpkin Jimmy Chamberlain furiously smashing away behind his 'kit. In what may have been a comment on the Live Earth proceedings, Corgan changed the lyrics, singing 'Can you fake it for just one rock show?'

"As the band shifted into the next song, Corgan cheekily introduced it as 'Tar-an-too-lah,' otherwise known as their current single, 'Tarantula'. He reminded the global audience that the band's new album is released on Tuesday, joking, 'We know you're all gonna buy it, not illegally download it like you did all our other albums.'"

Here's the YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=discountmetal
Here's the Spinner Mason article: http://www.spinner.com/2007/07/07/smashing-pumpkins-propel-live-earth-to-the-zeitgeist/

yeah i caught it, i was hoping for a longer set but it was still cool.

it was the first time i heard United States although it was a much shortened version.

Ginger was lookin' hotttt.

Ginger definately is hot. Especially in the "Tarantula" video. By the way, of the bonus tracks, my favorite is "Death from Above" and least favorite is "Zeitgeist."

That's what I like to see. They open a set for a huge crowd with a song on a yet-to-be-released album that isn't the single. Good setlist and good performance. I'm ready for the 10th.

Okay, I'm out of the loop here.  Can anyone brief me on the bonus tracks?

check ur PM box, [hint hint, nudge nudge].  :hihi:


i'm listening to Siamese Dream now, i think this is my favorite album ever. no joke.

I went to my local Best Buy yesterday to pick it up and I was told it wouldn't hit the shelved till tuesday. I remember reading it was to be released 07-07-07.  Now its 07-10-07. I know new stuff comes out on tuesdays, but why did they promote it otherwise? Got Libertad instead.

they changed it to the 10th a long time ago. 7/7/07 was just the date the said when the title was announced.


anyway, its really pissing me off that most of the reviews just focus on how its only billy corgan and jimmy and bitch about james iha and d'arcy not being there and how its a cash grab etc. wtf??? last time i checked MUSIC reviews were about the MUSIC???? some reviews i read spend the whole thing on just talking about the history surrounding the release and say two sentences about the actual music.

also, is it really THAT big of a deal that D'arcy and James aren't involved??? the pumpkins have always been Billy's creation, he wrote like 99% of the material and practically recorded all of siamese dream by himself. the only important thing james ever did was co-write Mayonnaise. i love james and d'arcy, don't get me wrong, but the new members are fine and this has been billy's baby from day one.

not dissing on Axl or anything but the whole GNR situation is a little more understandable to criticize since it was much more of a group effort. while practically all the pumpkins records said? "all songs written by billy corgan". 

I feel that music critics know less than most when it comes to fairly assessing  a new CD when they review it.  Billy and Jimmy were and are the core elements of SP. They were never defined by the Bass sound of D'arcey or the Iha backing guitar sound  :hihi:

Jimmy's drumming along with Billy's bombastic riffs, lyrics and vocal style make SP sound like SP.

Cant wait for Tuesday :)

That and Melissa Auf der Maur is a way better player than D'arcy. I always preferred the later Pumpkins.

My initial reaction to the bonus tracks is that they're more melodic and catchy than most of the actual album itself, which I think is kind of sad...hopefully repeat listens of Zeitgeist will change that impression.

Now that I've heard all the bonus tracks, I have no problem picking up the special edition with the photo book and regular track listing. If I had to settle on a bonus track, it'd be BestBuy's "Death from Above," but still, I'll be looking for the special edition. I think that'll be the one to hang on to.

Why are you guys saying that the album comes out tuesday. I went and bought mine saturday. Is it the cd's with the bonus material that comes out tuesday.

So does the special edition come w/ the bonus songs?

From the AMG

2 stars (of 5) And keep in mind Erlewine is a dick.

by Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Way back before the Smashing Pumpkins were superstars, right around the release of Siamese Dream, it was already an open secret that they were not a democracy; they were a dictatorship, ruled under the iron fist of singer/songwriter/guitarist/conceptualist Billy Corgan. He came up with their sound, equal parts metal and dream pop, he wrote the songs, and, according to most reports, he recorded almost all the guitars and bass on their albums, masterminding their sound down to the littlest details. Anybody that meticulous was also sharp enough to know the value of image too, so Corgan knew it was better to present the Smashing Pumpkins as a full-fledged band, not a solo project, and he came up with a diverse lineup ideally matched for the alt-rock '90s: he was the skinny misfit leader, surrounded by female bassist D'Arcy, Japanese-American guitarist James Iha, and drummer Jimmy Chamberlin, who came across like an old metalhead on the prowl for freaky chicks. They didn't look like a band; they looked like the idea of a band, which was appealing in its own right, but for as photogenic as they were, the reason the Pumpkins turned into stadium-conquering monsters was Corgan's outsized music, which was nothing if not deliberately, self-consciously dramatic. His commitment to grand gestures was cemented when he disbanded the Smashing Pumpkins at the turn of the millennium, about a year after former Hole bassist Melissa auf der Maur replaced D'Arcy and just as Iha was beginning to bolt. The group was beginning to fracture, but the retirement of the band's name seemed like confirmation that the Pumpkins were a concrete idea for Corgan, that they were a band that served a particular moment in time, and once that moment in time had passed, so had the band. The very fact that he pretty much was the Pumpkins lent this move integrity, since it was clear that Billy could keep the ball rolling, ushering new musicians in and out under the same moniker with nobody but the hardcore being any wiser, but instead of taking that easy road, he decided to make a clean break and pursue other projects.

As it turns out, the Smashing Pumpkins era did mark a phase in Corgan's career: the time that people paid attention to him. Without that name, Corgan started playing to an ever-more selective audience, first as the leader in the deceptively sunny Zwan and then on an icy, alienating 2005 solo album, The Future Embrace, where Corgan channeled his inner Martin Gore. Neither was a radical musical departure from the Pumpkins ? even The Future Embrace had its roots in Adore ? but that didn't matter, since taken together they had the cumulative effect of marginalizing Corgan, and if there was ever a place Billy didn't want to be it was on the margin. From the very beginning, he wanted to lead the biggest, most important band in the land, eventually getting his wish as he used the indie rock underground as a catapult to mainstream stardom, but once his star began to wane he panicked and played the one card he had left in his deck: getting the band back together. On the day The Future Embrace was released, he took out a full-page ad in his hometown paper the Chicago Tribune announcing that the Smashing Pumpkins were reuniting. The only hitch was, he didn't tell any of the other members of the impending reunion, but as it turns out, only Chamberlin ? who was already drumming with Corgan ? was interested in signing up, leaving the Smashing Pumpkins as a band in name only, a Billy Corgan project at its core. This was precisely the very thing he seemed to avoid when he retired the band at the turn of the millennium, and returning to his marquee name gave this reunion a sense of desperation, as if he had nowhere else to go, and the ensuing 2007 album Zeitgeist does nothing to erase the suspicion that Corgan is anxious to regain his status as rock & roll god. To this end, he makes Zeitgeist the hardest, heaviest Pumpkins album ever, layering the record with endless guitar overdubs that wind up feeling like overcompensation, not just for the synth-driven Future Embrace but as a blustering retort to any skeptic who questions the validity of this reunion. Of course, bombast has always been par for the course for Corgan and the Pumpkins, but at their peak they truly did achieve sense of majesty, either in their dreamy, softer psychedelic side or their towering torrents of metallic guitar. Here Corgan has blunted his attack, removing any sense of beauty either in the ballads (which invariably are icy, stilted synth sculptures, not the quivering, gentle pop of "1979" or the strings and acoustic guitars of "Disarm") or the rockers, which was a key to the Pumpkins' appeal. What made "Cherub Rock" or "Bullet with Butterfly Wings" work is how the sighing melody acted as a counterpoint to the ferocious guitars, but on Zeitgeist he repeatedly buries his threadbare melodies beneath squeals of guitar that are too processed to either soar or sear. More than anything, it's this digitally dulled sound that saps Zeitgeist from any impact it may have, but it's also true that there's import to the title: for the first time, Corgan is trying to address the wrongs of society, which is a big change for a writer who has spent his career turning the intimate into the operatic, and it doesn't quite work. It's a long way from complaining that the world is a vampire to detailing how it sucks your blood away, and this blatant attempt at capturing the mood of the era ? evident in the very titles of "Doomsday Clock," "United States," and "For God and Country" ? backfires, only emphasizing the desperateness behind Corgan's music here. At his peak, he never seemed to strive for relevance ? sure, he strived to make art, but his music never seemed weighed down with being part of the, well, zeitgeist; it just came naturally to him. As the title of this purported reunion makes all too plain, Corgan is now all too consumed with being relevant, with being part of the discussion, with being part of the zeitgeist, and never has he has seemed less relevant or interesting than he does here.
 

^

While I haven't heard the new album myself, this guy sounds like he went into the review thinking the album would suck. And he spends too much time (3/4 of the review) playing the part of the typical, jaded critic.

No, oddly enough. A good move would have been a bonus disc with all three bonus tracks, plus the photo book. But from what I've gathered, it's just the photo book with the CD bound inside. Still, that's the classy choice. That's what I'm getting. If I get there and look at it and the book is a real piece of shit though, I'll pick up the BestBuy copy with "Death from Above."

so the pumpkins are on letterman tonite, i won't be able to watch it but i'm sure it'll show up on youtube hopefully tommorow......

they'll be on letterman friday too!! i think tonite they'll play Tarantula and friday they'll play Starz.

I'd love to see them play "Doomsday Clock" instead of "Starz."

yeah doomsday clock is the only song i've heard from the album other than tarantula and i like it alot, i know theres been alot of negativity toward it in the fanbase but i think it rocks. the ony thing its lacking is a badass solo a la "cherub rock"


i'm so excited for tommorow, i'll probably pick up the record at target cuz their usualy the cheapest place to get albums around here. can't wait to jam to it when i get home fuck yeah!!! :hihi:

Where's the controversy? The lyrics? "It's lonely at the top"? Even that's reaching, but I dunno why people feel the need to  bitch about everything and anything. I can't remember the last time a band's "loyal" fanbase was actually enthusiastic about a current release, only much after the fact. Then in retrospect things become classic. Only now are people coming out to say things that I've known all along, like Adore and MACHINA being brilliant. They were really shit on, and still are to a degree. But what the hell do I know, I even liked TheFutureEmbrace.

anyone know how to get the password for the presale?

tix on sale this week.

buy the album on ITunes.

thanks!  : ok:

After hearing the CD twice now, Zeitgeist is my favorite album of 2007. The negative reviews are full of shit, this album IS the Pumpkins and it is intense. At times it is harder than Machina, more focused and direct than Mellon Collie, and with as much guitar glory and sonic power as Siamese Dream or Gish.

It just has it. It feels relevant (not talking about political theme or lyrics at all) and NOT because of the re-union 'gimmick'. The first 5 or 6 songs blow away all other competition for album of the year that I've heard, and quickly erase what I consider failures TheFutureEmbrace and Zwan. Especially impressed with Corgan's vocals after all these years, and Chamberlain's drumming is as good as I've ever heard.

A solid 4.5 out of 5 and it is clear that the Pumpkins are BACK.

After one listen, really good album.  I love the drums and how big and mean the guitars sound at the beginning of Doomsday Clock.  Really good opening song.  The two Roy Thomas Baker produced songs Starz and Bring The Light are two of the best on the album.  Other standouts for me were 7 Shades Of Black, Bleeding THe Orchid, Come On Let's Go, and That's The Way My Love is. 

This sounds like a Pumpkins album is supposed to sound, big guitars, great drums, catchy vocal melodies and lyrics, songs that get stuck in your head, yeah it's all that IMO.   I could've done without some of the political shit but the music rocks and I like all the songs for the most part.  Good effort, good to hear that Corgan's back in form

We have the same favorite tracks :beer:

Anyway, they kicked ass last night on Letterman. Check it out: http://youtube.com/watch?v=FP1yIfMeIQ0

Can't wait to see them perform again on Friday.

Thanks for the link to that performance, I didn't get a chance to see it.  Nice show.  Wish they would've shown an extended shot of Ginger though  :hihi:


I knew this album would get mixed reviews so I pretty much ignored them until I'd heard it for myself.  One, I knew some critics would say Billy was desperate to get back into the spotlight so he resurrected the name, that's nonsense, this is every bit a Pumpkins record.  And the press likes to rip on Billy more than any other rock star not named Axl Rose, so you knew some people had pretty much made up their mind they weren't going to give it a good review before they even heard the album.  Whatever though.  Most fans of the band will like the album, that's all that really matters

The closest I can see them on this tour is at the Orpheum in Boston. Anyone been there before, what's it like? They're playing two nights there. I've never seen a band on a multi-night engagement (didn't see the GN'R Hammerstein "comeback" shows). What's usually the more crowded, first or last night? I wanna go, but I don't know anything about the venue and how crowded it gets.

okay, after the first listen i must say its a tad underwhelming but does have its moments. i'm sure it'll grow on me. hell, even Siamese Dream i didn't like too much right off the bat!! :nervous:

i wanna listen to it more then i'll be back to talk specifics.


o yeah, Pomp and Circumstances is really cool and beautfiul. this was the standout for me, great atmosphere and ambience, as well as awesome guitar work and lyrics.

the only thing i'm not too fond of is Billy corgan's vocal layering. its okay, but the songs they've played from Zeitgeist live sound alot cooler with Ginger and Lisa's backing vocals.

The only track I don't like is United States, although I've never been one for the long Pumpkins tunes. It seems like some of the energy is sucked out then and it's a slow climb to get back to really feeling energy in the record, although listening to the tracks following United States individually they're all good.

i didnt like the first half of that song but once it picked up i was pretty impressed.

Silverfuck is still my favorite pumpkins epic.?love that song  :drool:

Hmm.  I have yet to buy it, and what I've heard didn't really do much for me.   I'm a big fan of the Pumpkins, and to me, they've alway been about pummeling, bombastic metal fused with pop melodies and softer, catchy instrumentation.  To me, Zeitgeist seems to be all of the former and none of the latter, and I'm having a hard time getting into it based on the bits I've heard.

Hopefully, like you say, it will grow on me in time.   :beer:

Looks like Zeitgeist is headed toward a debut of 150,000, not too shabby. 

I'm really liking the title track right now.  It works well as an album closer, it's very relaxed and subdued, and I like the music and the vocal melodies on it quite a bit

150K is not bad. i was expecting it to be a little better but with album sales down overall cuz everyones downloading, its still good.

after repeated listens, Zeitgeist is solid. hopefuly they are just warming up and the next one will kick even more ass!!

whoa, check this out

An Open Letter From Billy Coragn

July 10, 2007

My Dear Friends,

Today is the greatest day you've ever known.

Seven years, seven months, and ten days ago, the clock struck midnight, 2000, and the world began turning faster. Back then, I disbanded the Smashing Pumpkins because the new millennium demanded it. A new age needed a new start?cleanliness and unity, not the confused, confusing wreck I let the band become.

We were once the most important band in the world, and everyone?me, you, Courtney Love?knew it. The Smashing Pumpkins drew the line between Black Sabbath, the Bee Gees, and the Cure, and that line caught a generation like a leash around a wayward puppy. We founded Alternative Nation, and the kids and advertisers flocked around. But because the band had become bloated, overbearing, headstrong, because it grew beyond my control, it had to die. I killed it before it killed me.

And now, after all those years of self-imposed obscurity, of forced poetry, of side projects mired in mediocrity and too many guitarists, I bring us, together, here, to the corner of Future Avenue and Now Street. This is our moment! This is our day! This is Zeitgeist! (That's "Spirit of the Age" in German. Trust me: I've read Hegel.)

This band has always been the headlight on the barreling locomotive of modern youth; with a title like Zeitgeist, nobody can argue. I brought back original Pumpkins drummer Jimmy Chamberlain?recovered and reverent of yours truly, he's the epitome of a new leaf turned over?plus another chick bassist and some new guitar guy. Zeitgeist (Say it! It feels good!) arrives this week, in four different forms: The Best Buy version is different from the Target version is different from the iTunes version, which is different from everyone else's version. Most zeits would've settled for a single geist, but ours demands more marketing strategies, so I offer it four.

As for the music, the critics won't get it. They never have. My old fans?the ones whose lives were changed by Gish and Siamese Dream?won't get it. They will complain that the sound is too dense, too severe, too, yes, overbearing. But the New Generation is the one I'm speaking to, the one that needs to know that My Chemical Romance and Panic! At the

Disco couldn't exist without me. Whether they want to know doesn't matter. This Zeitgeist is not consensual?it's here, whether you understand it or not.

Several weeks ago, I released "Tarantula" to prime the public for the coming onslaught. The song is the sound of one ego exploding (mine), the sound of an entire album in just one song. You'll like it because it has the same skyrocketing guitar riff as "Cherub Rock," and you liked "Cherub Rock" back in 1993. You still like it, because it is one of the best songs ever recorded. But now, instead of one guitar playing one riff, there are more?way more?guitars. And more riffs. It's awesome, in the original sense of the word. It might scare you.

Fear is the effect I'm going for. Fear and exhaustion. But "Tarantula" is not the scariest or most exhausting song on the album. That honor goes to "United States"?a triumphant teenage anthem that sounds like the closing solo of "War Pigs," refracted and stretched into nine minutes. Remember, I was subtle once: "Drown," from the Singles soundtrack, was haunting in its minimal, dissonant beauty. But the Zeitgeist has no time for subtlety, friends, and neither do you. Hence song titles like "United States" and "For God and Country" and "Pomp and Circumstance." Even more than you need more guitars, you need more meaning. And I bring it to you:

Dulcet tones whisper fast

Refuse your yearns, renounce the past

Rouse me soon, the end draws nigh

Whose side are you on

Your blood you cannot buy.

Revolution!

Revolution!

Revolution!

Yes! Zeitgeisty!

Every revolution needs a counterpoint, and that would be "Bring the Light," the one song with a discernable, singable hook, the one song that's remotely accessible. It's got a melody that burns with the same adolescent struggle as those Siamese Dream days. Naturally, it stands out: Hooks and singability are not really the zeitgeist. At least not this Zeitgeist.

Here is what you must understand: Nothing has changed since 1999, except my budget. And Pro Tools. I am still the same alt-rock messiah I was. You are still my teenage flock.

Trust me.

Your zero,
Billy Corgan
http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Content?oid=262627

is he serious? this sounds very sarcastic. hes an interesting guy....

I can't wait to check this album out.  :D 

That letter seems very tongue in cheek with Corgan embracing the persona of the control freak/egomaniac the and his detractors have carved out for him.  Funny stuff

Hahaha, that's a funny press release. It's fairly obvious he's joking. Great album with all sarcasm aside, anyways.

um...okay Billy ?:nervous:

so um... yeah... what were we saying... oh yeah, thats right

... I really like the album... :nervous:

So now he's saying his solo album and ZWAN sucked?

Man, if only Axl would write a sarcastic letter like that when CD comes out.  It would probably be the length of an entire novel, but entertaining nonetheless! : ok:

no!? please no!? the album will be entertainment enough for me...
and garner attention enough for Axl on its on without ANYTHING like this...
um... let the music speak for itsself!? lol!? ?: ok:

So after being underwhelmed by the... ahem.. initial listen, I bought Zeitgeist at Target and I'm actually really starting to like this album. "Zeitgeist" itself is surprisingly my favorite track on the album, wierd as it's a bonus track - But many of the songs are really growing on me.

So far, I'd give it an above-average 7.5/10, but that may be bumped up to an 8 as I spend more time spinning this one.


Anyone who can point me in the direction of the other (3? 4?) bonus tracks, I'd be most appreciative.  :beer:

The Orpheum in Boston is great, my favorite place to see a show. It's pretty small, maybe a 4000-5000 seater. A little run down, but in a cool way--very Victorian.

I have seen many bands there:

-Motley Crue 1997
-Hole 1999
-Stone Temple Pilots 2002
-Marilyn Manson 2003
-The Doors 2003
-Nine Inch Nails (2x) 2005
-Tori Amos 2005
-Dresden Dolls (3x) 2005, 2006
-Raconteurs 2006

Just got it yesterday, heard it in pieces so far, but not all the way through yet. Really like what I hear, the apocalyptic guitar sound is back!!!!!! And yes Billy, I get the new stuff, coming from a fan who got hooked by Siamese dream back in 1993.

Ah, I remember I wanted to get down there to see NIN back in '05. Wound up seeing them somewhere else on that tour. Anyway, great stuff. So what would you recommend then, first or second night out?

Hmm, I really couldn't say. I'm going to try to get tix tommorow. I don't really care which show I go to. Just curious, have you been to any shows or events in the Boston area? If so, do you know the "Jesus guy?" He's always around events in Boston, so you should be able to spot him if you go to the show in Boston.

Yeah with Billy and Jimmy getting back into the Pumpkins state of mind hopefully we'll see a few more albums from them in the following years

The 150K number is very solid considering they haven't had an album since 1999, and that album sold 165K in its first week.  I think this one should get some mileage out of the singles.  Tarantula is doing well, Bring The Light is an almost guaranteed hit if they release it as a single, Doomsday Clock and That's The Way My Love Is are both viable singles too.  I think they should have at least 3 successful singles, the album should have some staying power, and hopefully will provide some momentum for their next album  8)

Back to Machina:

I was listening to this (part I) the other night and think it's awesome, maybe their best album. It's full of great hooks and solos. What the deal with the hate for this album?

I'm not sure I agree about Machina being in contention for their best album, but it has some great songs on it to be sure.   "Stand Inside Your Love" remains one of my favorites...

Thats The Way (My Love Is) is already set to be the second single.


Machina is okay. i hate the production, and alot of the songwriting is predictable and boring. it has its moments though.

i think a far superior album could have been created with the combined best tracks from Machina and Machina II, that would have kicked ass.

listened to it once last night and didn't really get into it.  nothing grabbed my attention at least.  i'll give any album 3 listens.. 3 is enough and if I can't get into after 3, that is enough for me.   so maybe try agaiin tonight.

I listened to the new album three times tonight and am really enjoying it.

well i know i said they'd play Starz but i was wrong, they played Thats The Way (My Love Is) last nite on Letterman. i guess that makes sense since its supposed to be the next single.

here it is

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50AUvizvxqA

that letter is fake, sorry lol. its just a smartass journalist reviewing the album.

From Rolling Stone

4 stars (of 5)

Zero: That is the exact number of doubts singer-guitarist-songwriter Billy Corgan has about this controversial resurrection of his old band. "I never felt so right and good. . . . You'll never need another sound," he crows in that bleating voice against the titanic fuzz of "Bring the Light." It is classic Corgan bravado, but the cumulative effect of his distortion-orchestra guitar and drummer Jimmy Chamberlin's pinpoint thunder is impressive and convincing, a return to the big pop-wise din of 1993's Siamese Dream. Original members James Iha and D'Arcy Wretzky are not part of this reunion, but they were hardly on Siamese Dream ? Corgan played their guitar and bass parts.
By that standard, Zeitgeist, performed entirely by Corgan and Chamberlin, is a Pumpkins record ? and a good one. Lyrically, Zeitgeist is the least self-absorbed record Corgan has ever written, although not quite the electric newspaper some song titles suggest. There is more fear of frying than actual fight and social remedy in "Doomsday Clock" and "For God and Country," the latter sounding more like Corgan's pledge of allegiance to the Cure. The closest thing to victory over Dick Cheney is the promise in "Starz" ? "We cannot die. . . . We are stars/We are" ? which rocks better than it reads, with Robert Fripp-like snakes of guitar and a closing frenzy of staccato power chords and Chamberlin pummeling his cymbals into splinters.

The best thing about Zeitgeist is that Corgan is back to what he does best: hard-rock architecture. His wall-of-guitars overdubs are exhilarating in their details: the harmonized squeals in "7 Shades of Black"; the creeping buzz of "Tarantula"; the long, howling solo, sinking in echo, in "United States." The Pumpkins were never more exciting in the Nineties than when Corgan unleashed his inner Tony Iommi all over his inner Robert Smith. That is what happens on Zeitgeist, which makes it a strong new start for Corgan and Chamberlin, no matter what they call themselves.

^thanx for that, i was pretty surprised since Rolling Stone gives shit bands like Linkin Park etc.. good reviews and dissed Tarantula when it came out...


anyway Zeitgeist debuted at #2 cuz of some lame rapper who sold more.

tHE MORE i HEAR IT, THE MORE i LOVE IT! United States is a great song. Black Sabbath meets the Cure is pretty accurate.

Have been listening to the album a lot since it's release and am impressed. Cant wait to catch the new songs live when they come to columbus. From the performances i have seen it will be a great show.

Alright, I'm getting less and less on the fence about this album after listening to all of you for a while now.  After some recent letdowns - Libertad among them - I was pretty hesitant to buy the new Pumpkins, but I think it's time to give it a full listen...

Smashing Pumpkins.... wasnt that the band that once starred in a Simpsons episode?

yeah they did : ok:

wow, just stumbled across this. the pumpkins playing "Blank Page" from Adore in 2000.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3V73cCFbhCo


breathtaking..... i'm so happy Billy Corgan is back, i have high hopes for the next record.

maybe jeff and ginger will contribute this time?

Holy SHIT!!  I can't believe that I missed these posts/this topic.

Apart from Guns N' Roses, the Smashing Pumpkins are my favorite band.  I am of the opinion that there really is no more prolific songwriter out there than Billy Corgan.  Seriously -who the hell else has written THAT many songs that are THAT good in THAT amount of time.

Anyway...

New album -LOVE it.  I think that it's infinitely better than Zwan (mostly because I saw Zwan numerous times and in my opinion, the best Zwan songs were not included on the album).

I'm also just glad to see that Jimmy Chamberlain is getting some more of the spotlight.  He's an absolutely amazing musician.

I've got my tickets to the Detroit show at the Fox Theatre and I'll be sure to let everybody know how it goes.  I'm really hopeful that it'll be amazing.

As some have posted some Pumpkins videos, these are among the ones that I've been enjoying of late...

33 (my favorite Pumpkins song) performed this year at the Rock am Ring 2007) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=txcPW7G3rrg

Tear from Brussels in 1998 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Ds-fPZUdb0

Enjoy!

yeah jimmy chamberlain is the fucking man. best drummer alive not named Danny Carey :rofl:

Geek USA is fucking incredible, i think its his best drumming performance but there are so many!!


and i agree with u about Corgan being such a prolific songwriter. the other day i was trying to think of my top 5 favorite pumpkins songs and it was pretty much impossible cuz there are sooo many great songs.

the new smashing pumpkins music video for "Thats The Way (My Love Is)"

http://myspacetv.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=16914466

Great video, IMO - I hadn't thought about that kind of look/setting for That's the Way, but I must say... it clicks. I like it.

yeah i think its cool.

here are some really really rare live performances i stumbled upon on youtube

Bodies
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s1lg7UbDwtk

Spaceboy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWnYFxfTGic

the new album is shit.
i'm really disappointed.

Has anyone been to there concerts recently. I was thinking of going to see them but I am not sure yet. Are they worth seeing? 

i would go see them in a heartbeat if they came to NYC for the fall tour!!


unfortunately they are not coming to NYC, which still baffles me......[cries]

Ginger Reyes is worth the price of admission alone ;D

and i'm glad i gave it a couple more listens because I'm really loving this album now.  :peace:   some great stuff here.

yeah i found it SOOO undewhelming at first but it has grown to be a good album in my eyes. i cant say i HATE any song on it really, and the only song that is close to "filler" for me is "(C'mon) Lets Go" but i rarely skip it cuz its still a fun song with good riffing.

i actually LOVE the bonus tracks, espectially "stellar" and "zeitgeist", i think those two songs are excellant and deserved to be on the album.

its a shame Thats The Way (My Love Is) is the single tho, its a decent song and will do okay but i think Bring The Light would've been a much better choice for the second single.

My favorite album so far this year. Simply great stuff. Doomsday Clock, My Love is, Tarantula, United States, Neverlost, Bring The Light, Pomp And Circumstance and Come On Let's Go are all top notch, but the main prize goes to Starz. Corgan hasn't made anything that good since Siamese Dream, maybe Mellon Collie.

The rest are good too, but do not stand out as much as the others.

Jimmy Chamberlain said in an interview that they will begin recording a new album after the tour!!!

he also confirmed that zeitgeist was a simple rocking in your face album to get new fans cuz it was a comeback album etc.. so this new record will probably be much more experimental.? :drool:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i_evk2R4wGU

this is the best pumpkins live performance i've ever seen its Fuck You(An ode To no one) from the final metro show (proshot) its from the greatest hits DVD.

billy's screams and jimmy's drumming are just fucking insane.

the whole show was recorded and theres been rumors of a DVD release ever since.

turns out my dads got "gish" so ive got that on atm....

i heard a song called "today" on youtube and loved it because it was tripping...what albums that off?

i must say.

i feel very ignorant right now.

i always never bothered with the pumpkins cause i read they were apart of the grunge/alternative scene....

but i must say they are not what i expected, loads of guitar solos, psychedelicness, i love all that type of stuff really digging this, its like hendrix with a typical 90s sound twist.

i read up on them and how they change...

whats this "eletronic" stuff i read about like that they did in the late 90s?

what about the machina albums?

cool,i checked alot of youtube videos, dug the dream stuff, very "drifting in the clouds" spaced out haha.

melloncollie singles on youtube, i dunno his voice is different on it and it annoys me ill still check the album out though.

^ hey mrlee i'm really happy ur finally getting into the Pumpkins!! : ok:

if u haven't already, check out Siamese Dream. i cannot stress enough how much that album owns. it could very well be my favorite album ever.? the next logical step would be Mellon Collie u can check out the singles for the songs "Zero" and "Tonight, Tonight" great stuff. really shows their diversity. Zero is a badass rocker and tonight tonight is an amazing uplifting anthem.? that album really has it all as far as diverse song structures and styles.

i finally got the full length version of the song "Drown" off the soundtrack for the movie Singles.

the only other version is the one on the greatest hits which is half the length. the longer version is much cooler, it has a E-Bow solo at the end that was taken out for the greatest hits. i think that version was only 4 minutes and this one i just got is over 8 minutes long!!

if anyone wants it PM me.

i really think Billy Corgan is one of the most underrated guitarists of the 90's. all the critics seem to do is bash his voice and call him a control freak, but the guy can fucking rip it up on the guitar!!!!

i'm really excited for the next album i hope they really branch out and experiment, and i hope jeff and ginger get to be involved this time cuz they are great.

Zeitgeist has been on my playlist since it was released. I think it's my second favorite SP album after Siamese Dream.

I wonder how they liked touring with GN'R.

has axl or anything other band members ever given an oppinion on the band?

What does everyone think of Adore?

I have had this album on my shelf for years and pulled it out day as I am going to the show next week and wanted to get reacquainted with their work.

I think it's a pretty cool album. Maybe not their best, but a noble effort. I think it was creatively savvy to take a 180 degree turn after MCATIS, if not commercially so. It's not the most digestible album, but satisfying nonetheless.

It's not one of my favorites, but there are still quite a few gems on there.

I'd say:

Ava Adore (the album should have had another "rocker" like this)
To Sheila
Perfect
Appels + Oranjes
Daphne Descends
Shame

Are easily up there with the Smashing Pumpkins best songs, but maybe that's just me.

i like Adore alot. it can get pretty boring one sitting tho. as someone said earlier there should have been another rocker similar to "ava adore". oh well. the song "Eye" from the lost highway soundtrack would have fit well on Adore.

and how could u guys forget "blank page"?? fucking love that song. i think its my favorite from Adore. all the songs are pretty solid. i think my faves are Blank Page and "Behold! The Night Mare"


i'm still listening to Zeitgeist alot. Bring The Light is so fucking awesome, i've had it stuck in my head the past few days, i love that guitar solo. and all the bonus songs are excellent, i really think the song "stellar" is the best thing to come out of the Zeitgeist sessions and its only a bonus song!!

That song is hauntingly beautiful.

Listening to it just the other day, I remember thinking "if there is anything this deep on Chinese Democracy, we're in for a treat" : ok:

the pumpkins did AOL sessions, they play some songs off the 'geist, some oldies, and the new song "Superchrist"

http://music.aol.com/sessions/smashing-pumpkins-sessions/639

there is another re-release of zeitgeist out tommorow, exclusive at best buy. it will come with a documentary DVD and another new bonus track called "Ma Belle", i hope it surfaces on the internet i would love to hear it. cuz im not buying that album again just for one song. fuck that.

I read on smashingpumpkins.com that five of the new CDs being released will have a golden ticket. The winners get to burry their head in D'arcy's bare naked buttocks for 87 hours.

     

The Smashing Pumpkins' live performance at the Tower Theater in Upper Darby, PA on October 21st was recorded and will be broadcast online by music.msn.com!

The show will be available at 11 AM PT / 2 PM ET today!

For now, there are exclusive photos, an interview, and more.

Click HERE to go directly to the page

http://www.msplinks.com/MDFodHRwOi8vbXVzaWMubXNuLmNvbS9zbWFzaGluZ3B1bXBraW5zP0dUMT0xMDU4NQ==

It says only until 2pmEST but its still watchable. Someone should record this.

yeah i just finished watching that. its pretty good,

my favorite song was "Starla"? billy does a fantastic job on that guitar solo!! holy shit. "hummer" was great too.


i'm pissed that they cut out a few songs from the concert stream,? like "home" i love that song.......one of the gems on machina II.

Well that sucks that its not quite the full show.

The new album is great and is that bass player cute or what.   : ok:

the pumpkins are cool, but i just can't stand listening to billy corgan for any sustained period of time.

lol its an acquired taste. his voice was a big turnoff for me in the beginning tho. i think hes never sounded better than on Siamese Dream.

"For Martha" [July 1998]:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=4jJC9Sgne3c

THEY ARE RECORDING NEW SONGS ALREADY!! cuz they have a break for a month in between gigs,

this is from jimmy's blog: (http://www.smashingpumpkins.com/blog)

Greetings, I hope these words find you all at peace.

First I'd like to thank everyone for their prayers and energy. It was well received and I'm feeling much better. The tour was a rock rampage and now we are back in the studio recording some songs for a possible release worldwide.
Look for these around the first of the year. Busy Bees !

I wish all a Happy Holiday and a productive 08!

okay so this is awesome!! i would love it to be a new album but it'll probably be an EP or some kind of internet release. but as long as its new material its fine with me!!

You know, it really can't be overstated how cute Ginger is :love:

(http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m256/satan117/518630067_be81a2e233.jpg)

true, with all parts.

he's really annoying live too though. he could do with someone to walk on stage and slap him every now and then.

playing the US national anthem at reading festival in the UK, within a day of the US army bombing british soldiers in a "friendly fire" incident, it wasn't his brightest move ever.

i didnt realize how awesome most of the residency songs are!!

check this out

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cVsLdU5NYWM&feature=related


(during their residencies billy wrote some new song for every concert.)

cant wait for the new material, whether it be new, or properly recorded residency songs.

New Blog from billy. Brand new EP out January 2nd on Itunes called "American Gothic" also, notice how billy never mentioned god once in this blog entry!! LOL

I emerge from my seemingly eternal self-imposed silence to bring good news! The collective We is happy to announce that We have just finished a new acoustic e.p. entitled 'American Gothic' that features 4 new songs:

* The Rose March
* Again, Again, Again (the crux)
* POX
* Sunkissed


Even better is the news that these songs will be available on i-tunes starting January 2nd...the collective We looks forward to you hearing these new songs afresh and us playing them to you anew on the upcoming European and Australian tours...

Since the holidays are upon us, the collective I would like to take this opportunity to give gratitude where it is due, and that is to those that are not hypnotized, or so numbed by darkness that they cannot hear the chime in my words...I wish you a warm holiday and a brilliant New Year to come, and may you get all you deserve! (again) From my heart to yours, sincerely, I hope you feel the love that we have for all of you, even for those of you who are lost and seeking, bruised and still keeping...i hope these words find you as well...

The new day has finally come as we turn the corner on the end of one energy that no longer serves us and begin to embrace the new dawn that will...and no, I am not speaking about the band or the music business...what is past is passed, and we all wear the black arm bands in honor of, but life happily, as it should, marches on...hopefully to a good beat...

Thanks to New Orleans for showing Us the meaning of hope...and thanks to the old guard for showing the same dull move, you know the one that never works? Art band that said old guard wishes they were in so bad that they wish importance upon it? Check! No matter what you crutches all dream up, Led Zep is still a 100 times better! Go Zep! Go Team! Rock on! Long Live the Mighty SP!
And...

Thank YOU for showing up! And yes, I mean YOU

lovingness, happiness, BC

http://www.smashingpumpkins.com/blog

He sure writes in a very interesting way.

You have to buy it as an import if you want an actual copy!  ::) :rant:

Yea, I was at two of the Asheville, NC residencies and it was amazing.  30 song varied sets (with a couple songs like you said written during the residencies), open taping policy, and a small venue at $20 a ticket so you could get right up close to the band.  I must have taken like 300 pics those two nights.

(http://a910.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/104/l_2b58d10c047f7cedd2ac47272830b95d.jpg)

They played the Rose March in the SF residencies.  I hope one of those songs is a renamed 99 Floors because that song is amazing.

i'm downloading American Gothic now. this better fucking be good!!! [crosses fingers]  ;)

It's kind of disappointing.  Billy Corgan needs to get depressed again.  POX is pretty hot though!

i like the EP alot. The Rose March is gorgeous, the rest of the songs are pretty solid as well. although "again, again again" is on the weak side.

my only complaint is that 99 Floors isnt on it.

I completely agree.  Sunkissed has really grown on me though.  It feels like it has some sort of atmosphere within it much like a lot of the Adore era songs.

yeah sunkissed is great. love the atmosphere too.

i just got incredible quality versions of pretty much all of the new residency songs if anyone wants them:

01 Rose March 2007-07-30
02 Peace And Love 2007-07-31
03 No Surrender 2007-07-28
04 99 Floors 2007-07-27
05 The Leaving Lament 2007-07-16
06 I Don't Mind 2007-07-30
07 Psalm 131 2007-07-05
08 Question Mark 2007-06-26
09 If Only In A Dream 2007-06-30
10 Mama 2007-06-29
11 I'm Doing The Best I Can 06 2007-06-27
12 Promise Me 2007-07-16

billy's myspace said a couple weeks ago that they are recording the concert jam "superchrist" in the studio. they apparently changed it alot cuz it has a violin in it.



Superchrist - Smashing Pumpkins
Hard and heavy electric guitars, this is a 7 minute epic rock track called ?Superchrist?. The deep quasi-metal sound lulls into a beautiful gentle break featuring Billy Corgan?s folk-style picked acoustic guitar overladen with Ysanne delicate violins. Harmonically progressive, this is brave and dangerous stuff.

http://ilovestrings.com/discography/

i thought the song was okay live, they played it at aol sessions and a bunch of concerts, i think its good news that they changed it alot.

Superchrist video:

http://myspacetv.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=29097011

Really... bad... video and I'm a huge Pumpkins' fan.

The song itself is okay, but definitely not Billy's finest work

This week, the Smashing Pumpkins filed a breach-of-contract lawsuit against their former label, Virgin Records, alleging the band's name was used without permission for a Pepsi promotion. Band leader Billy Corgan called up Rolling Stone from a bathroom in Australia to explain his side of the story and wound up dishing dirt on his career, explaining how the Pumpkins will release music in the future and offering an opinionated take on Amy Winehouse, Radiohead and the state of the record industry: "I don't think the Beatles would be making an album right now."

Tell us about your personal perspective on this lawsuit.

We've been treated very poorly by [Virgin] as a label for years now. Even when we were going to put the band back together, we went to them for the umpteenth time and said, look, it's a natural thing to want to put out a best of, and they keep telling us nobody cares. And then to turn around and use us like this against our will obviously shows you how full of shit they are, because obviously you have value or they wouldn't be trying to make money on you on the side. And in our case we actually have the right to say no to these types of things. They had to ask our permission to put our music on iTunes. So this is just them getting really sneaky trying to push stuff through, because the only place they're going to get money now is from corporate sponsors.

And look, it's no secret that the record labels are out of touch. They've lost money continuously for seven or eight years and they continue to hold on to the Titanic. This is just another indication of them thinking that they can get away with whatever because they're the big old record business. You know, Josh Homme from Queens [of the Stone Age] came out talking about Interscope, Trent Reznor ... It's a very difficult position because whether it's blogs or people posting on Web sites, fans can get very frustrated about what they perceive about how you do your business, not being aware of how we continually have a gun pointed at our head.

Did you approach the label with your concerns before filing the suit?

No, because it's like talking to a brick wall. These people, they treat your music like it's worthless and they treat you like you're even more worthless. And that goes for our current label, Warner Bros., too. There's no passion. There's no love. There's no respect. It's just, like you're just a number. You might as well be some cookies, or a rock. I really think it's total arrogance on their part. I think they just thought they could get away with [using our music for the Pepsi promotion] and we wouldn't do anything about it. And luckily enough we have the ability to do something about it.

Do you have thoughts about how to go forward with your music and how to release it?

The first thing we're talking about doing is in essence not doing an album that has any walls. So we'll release the album in different forms in different places. Not just one CD with twelve songs. Our next album might be forty songs. Now, to the mainstream person, that's too many songs. So maybe you only give them one or two songs at a time. And then I think what's cool is you can deal with different people. You can do a deal with a skater Web site or you can work with Pepsi if you choose.

The music business has sown the seeds for it's own destruction here. So we're not in any hurry to go back and help save them. Warner Bros. treats us like we're from another planet. We've had a good record and we've sold records. And I haven't spoken to the label president since 2005. Now we're free, we're out of our contracts. So I think that makes us really dangerous, because we really are the kind of band that's willing to take chances. We really will work with anybody if we feel it's a cool, fun thing. And it doesn't have to always be about money.

Trent Reznor and Radiohead and all kinds of people have been jumping out of the major label system and doing things their own way. Can the labels survive?

Well, as long as they have young dumb bands who are willing to sign their lives away, yeah, of course. The label's going to continue to sell them that they're star makers. They're not star makers. Stars are born. MTV and the labels and secret people you don't know about don't run the music business any more. MySpace runs the music business now. Lots of other people run the music business now.

So it's safe to say that now that you are free of your contracts you're not going to be rushing to sign a new deal?

Well, I think it's kind of interesting and it's a vulnerable thing to say: People aren't beating our doors down to sign us, either. It's not that we're not desirable. We're not dumb. They're not going to be able to sell us their soap they're going to sell a twenty-two-year-old. And that's why they don't want to do business with us.

They're still trying to sell you on the idea that they know something that you don't know. But if you look at the numbers, they don't, they know less than the consumer. The consumer's been telling them for ten years they don't want albums. So what do they do? They continue to try to sell them albums. The consumer says that they don't want to pay $15 for fifteen songs when they only want one song. What do they try to do? They try to shove albums down their throat.

A lot of artists love the album form or have some connection to it. Is it going to bother you to be more single-focused?

No, we're still going to do albums. I think we're going to do it in a different way. I can tell that our plans right now are to do an album over two or three years and put it out in pieces and then maybe eventually bring it all back together. The album doesn't have to be perfect. It doesn't have to be ten songs. Some dumb white guy somewhere doesn't have to like it. Some old fart, out-of-touch has to decide, oh, these ten songs aren't as good as Sgt. Pepper's. Well, you know what? I don't think the Beatles would be making an album right now.

Artists are finding their own ways to get paid outside of the major-label system, like the Eagles with their Wal-Mart deal, Madonna signing up with Live Nation.

I think it's really difficult for the young artist, who doesn't have at least some sense of a pathway. For example, if you were a kid today and you're looking at the bands who are successful right now, you think, if you don't sort of sell out and let somebody make you a star, go on American Idol, then you can't be successful. Alternative culture is really critical towards introducing new ideas. We need those young bands to push old band like us, to push new boundaries. We need our butts kicked regularly. That's where all the energy comes from, from the bottom. And when the message on Amy Winehouse is drama is better than music, and for Radiohead publicity is better than music ? no disrespect to them. But I think it's a bad message to young bands of how to make it happen. It's almost like the evil stepchild of the rap bling-bling thing, like, the only way to make it work is I've got to come up with a gimmick.

Selling out has lost its negative stereotype in a sense.

We can all talk forever about how cool it is and how things are different: The power's coming back to the artist. But sometimes it takes an oppositional force to make things work. The old music business wasn't great but at least it kind of gave you something to kind of work with or against. Now, who do you work for and who do you work against? The great example is American Idol. I mean, who gets bigger marketing, whose TV show is bigger? And then those artists don't sell. There's a complete disconnect between the drama of the show, the emotional connection with the singers, and then absolutely no care for their musical career. I mean, that's troubling.

Right, because, like you say, it's not really about the music at the end of the day.

Right. And as an alternative artist, we're still here because it is about the music. And anybody can point to any other 9,000 stupid things I've said or done. The music still trumped any of those things. So I can sit here at my rosy age and know that that's why we're here, because the music has held us in good stead with a lot of people around the world.

Speaking of the music, could you talk about new single "Superchrist"? Is that indicative of what you guys might be working on next?

I think that's the band, me, whomever, back in free territory. I think, if I was a fan of the Pumpkins, the great frustration is, where's that energy that used to be there? We made the video for $5,000. We spent our own money to record the song. We did it our own way. There was nobody standing there and there was no timetable. We just put it out when we wanted. It was great. I think that's where the band belongs.

Coming back, we didn't really know what to expect. It's a weird world. I mean, we never said we were bringing the original band back. And then people were saying, oh, it's not the original band. Well, we tried. I mean, what are we supposed to do? Stay home? You're dealing with ideas and opinions and disappointments that aren't yours. And there's not much you can do about them. We've rebelled for years. It's just that we've been quietly rebelling in a system that didn't give us a lot of options.

Is there a moment you can pinpoint that demonstrates your mistreatment at the hands of a label?

I'll give you my favorite line of the past three years. I was talking to the label president from Warner Bros., Tom Walley, and we were having a call. They were actually thinking about dropping us, which in retrospect probably would have been good. I was in Arizona, we were starting to write the album, and so I said things are going great. And he said, "What's the difference between Zwan and Smashing Pumpkins?" And I was like, what do you say? What do you say to a brick wall? What's the difference between your side band and the band that was your blood and your sweat and your heart for fourteen years? So we're out of Purgatory. And we're excited now.

ToEachesOwn:  Very interesting interview.  Thanks for the post!

http://www.reportyourhometeaching.com/bc_interview.flv (http://www.reportyourhometeaching.com/bc_interview.flv)

Billy hanging with fans out in L.A.  Some topics that are discussed:

-Fall tour including LA, NYC, and Chicago
-"Era" tours where the band will just play stuff from certain eras (example: what the band would have played in 1993 on the Siamese Dream tour, etc)
-A live DVD from the Asheville/SF residencies
-Gossamer possibly being released
-The music industry/fan base

It's actually a very cool 6 minute interview.  Keep in mind, he's just chilling with fans in a parking lot so it's more informal.

all of that sounds awesome, especially the release of gossammer. i hope billy follows through.

The music is more FUN now!  : ok:

Care to explain that?

New single G.L.O.W. will be out in September.  I guess the plan is to release singles every couple of months.  No albums.  Just songs.

http://www.smashingpumpkins.com/news_5077 (http://www.smashingpumpkins.com/news_5077)

jesus im sick of bands marketing everything through crappy games all of a sudden.

That's re-tad-ed

Its one of the best methods to get your music out there, though. These games get eaten up so quickly and the song gets so much exposure from varying ages, and it's easy.


EDIT: How is Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness? Been thinking of getting it. (I liked 1979 and Bullet With Butterfly Wings, but the clips on Amazon don't really tell me much)

Get Siamese Dream first if you haven't already.  I think it stood the test of time a lot better than Mellon Collie. 

It's a masterpiece :)

Agreed.   Fantastic release.  Seeing them on that tour was a stand out experience.   Great concert, great crowd, great music.  It's not ALL 10/10 stuff, but there's some great variation on there and a fantastic mix of stuff. 

I think I'm going to go and put it on now.

You're kidding right?  That album has more filler than a jelly donut.

Yeah, it would have made an awesome single album.

i used to think that but its grown on me and i think there are only a couple filler tracks. excellent album. but my personal fave is Siamese Dream.

Don't forget American Gothic, that's really great. It's the Jar of Flies of the SP!

Maybe 2 or 3 songs on the second disc, but even those I enjoy.

so the new single debuted today on the radio. dying to hear it.

I got Siamese Dream today, sounds pretty cool so far. (Only up to Spaceboy)

its a pretty cool album. although i couldnt listen to it on a regular basis.

Seeing them twice next month!  :peace:

i was gonna buy the greatest hits.

but decided not to, this may seem trivial. But the track listing is awesome but its missing my favorite song by them. "Rocket", WHY IS THAT NOT ON?! :no:

What has happened since the release of Zeitgeist only proves that the brain behing the Pumpkins has always been Billy Corgan....miss Darcy and James though.

whats happened since then?


and LOL im surprised you havent been jarmonated yet.

ive just read something VERY surprising.

The late 80s band Enuff Z Nuff. Most of you probably assume and hate these guys. Although over the past few months ive been discovering their material and found them to be a very interesting band.

Anyway, i was on wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paraphernalia_(album) and it says Billy played lead guitar on a few tracks of their album they released in 1999. Im gonna have to hunt that down for a listen, i love billys psychedelic guitar playing.

Ive recently become a huge fan within the last 6 months of all era's of the band. I liked zeitgeist. Is there any talk of a new album coming out anytime soon?

They've actually talked about not doing albums anymore and just releasing singles straight to the internet.  I think they got dropped from their label after Zeitgeist.

Yea i forgot about that. I had heard that a while back. Thanks for refreshing the memory

"The listening patterns have changed, so why are we killing ourselves to do albums, to create balance, and do the arty track to set up the single? It's done."

- Billy Corgan

http://leisureblogs.chicagotribune.com/turn_it_up/2008/12/billy-corgan-di.html (http://leisureblogs.chicagotribune.com/turn_it_up/2008/12/billy-corgan-di.html)

Just got Zeitgeist. Since Mellon Collie finally helped me 'get' the Pumpkins, Siamese Dream didn't really do much for me, even though I heard some really interesting elements, and Machina didn't really stand out too much either. So far I'm liking the Zeit.

Machina II is a really cool album too, probably my favorite after Mellon Collie':

http://www.archive.org/details/machina2 (http://www.archive.org/details/machina2)

Whats everyones opinion on Adore? Ive seen a lot of people and talked to a lot of people who have disliked it. I happen to really dig it. I mean its different from their other albums which I also love very much, but i have seen a lot of resentment towards this album and i dont understand it

I think people dislike the album because there's very little "rock" to be found on it, but I still enjoy it.

To Shelia, Ava Adore, Perfect, and Blank Page are some of my favorite 'Pumpkins tunes.

Nevermind, it's just under a weird file name and I couldn't find it in iTunes. (Named Cmon with some random numbers after it)

wow that fucking sucks. what a shame. guess my dreams of finally seeing them both live will never happen.

now billy will be bashed even more for being the only original member of the band...

uh oh that sounds familiar!!! :rofl:

I think it's a really good album to listen to if you've had a bad day. It's not in your face, the melodies are soothing, it gives you something to concentrate on instead of your problems...but it only works for me in situations like that. Otherwise I have a hard time getting into it.

And holy shit, Jimmy left? Must've had something hardcore go down between Billy and Jimmy to get him to leave after all these years!

BC pretty much has always been the SP, but loosing Jimmy Chamberlain sucks.

Billy for VR?

Dust off the drum machine :hihi:

wow! Billy Corgan is the only original member left...wonder why that sounds so familiar?

Now, do you think the Smashing Pumpkins are really the Smashing Pumpkins now?

sure, guns n roses is guns n roses

billy was always the major creative force, with jimmy just behind. i mean christ billy recorded all of siamese dream himself other than drums of course.


its still a crushing loss though because jimmy was a founding member and a fantastic drummer.

the pumpkins are still the pumpkins, billy is such a control freak that he recorded most of the songs himself. iha and d'arcy helped a bit but it was always billy's vision.

I'm happy to finally announce the plans for the new Smashing Pumpkins album.

Recording began yesterday, September 15th, 2009 on the new record which will be entitled 'Teargarden by Kaleidyscope'. The album will feature 44 songs, 4 of which are now being recorded. My desire is to release a song at a time beginning around Halloween of this year, with each new release coming shortly after until all 44 are out. Each song will be made available absolutely for free, to anyone anywhere. There will be no strings attached. Free will mean free, which means you won't have to sign up for anything, give an email address, or jump through a hoop. You will be able to go and take the song or songs as you wish, as many times as you wish.

We will however sell highly limited edition EP's (of 4 songs each times 11), and details of how those EP's will be made available are still being worked out. Because the songs themselves will be free, the EP's will be more like collectors items for the discerning fan who will want the art itself, along with the highest possible audio quality available. The EP's will be more like mini-box sets rather than your normal cd single. We may also offer other variations for sale, say for example a digital single with a demo version of a song. The commitment that is most important is the one I'm making to you: that the music of 'Teargarden by Kaleidyscope' will be available for free to everyone. All 44 songs: free for ALL.

When the entire album is finished, it will be compiled into a deluxe box set which will also be made available for sale. Those who have bought the EP's need not worry, as the box set will not be a recompilation of the limited edition pieces.

The story of the album is based on 'The Fool's Journey', as signified in the progress of the Tarot. It is my intention to approach this by breaking down the journey of our life here into four phases as made by these different characters; the Child, the Fool, the Skeptic, and the Mystic.

The music of 'Teargarden by Kaleidyscope' harkens back to the original psychedelic roots of The Smashing Pumpkins: atmospheric, melodic, heavy, and pretty.

I already have 53 songs written for the record, so I am quite confident that I already have much of the material that I would need to undertake such an extensive project. I am very committed to seeing this album through to its completion and very, very excited about the prospect of delivering new Smashing Pumpkins music to you in a unique and exciting way.

http://www.smashingpumpkins.com/pages/news/announcement-from-billy-corgan-about-new-smashing-pumpkins-album

I'm happy to finally announce the plans for the new Smashing Pumpkins album.

Recording began yesterday, September 15th, 2009 on the new record which will be entitled 'Teargarden by Kaleidyscope'. The album will feature 44 songs, 4 of which are now being recorded. My desire is to release a song at a time beginning around Halloween of this year, with each new release coming shortly after until all 44 are out. Each song will be made available absolutely for free, to anyone anywhere. There will be no strings attached. Free will mean free, which means you won't have to sign up for anything, give an email address, or jump through a hoop. You will be able to go and take the song or songs as you wish, as many times as you wish.

We will however sell highly limited edition EP's (of 4 songs each times 11), and details of how those EP's will be made available are still being worked out. Because the songs themselves will be free, the EP's will be more like collectors items for the discerning fan who will want the art itself, along with the highest possible audio quality available. The EP's will be more like mini-box sets rather than your normal cd single. We may also offer other variations for sale, say for example a digital single with a demo version of a song. The commitment that is most important is the one I'm making to you: that the music of 'Teargarden by Kaleidyscope' will be available for free to everyone. All 44 songs: free for ALL.

When the entire album is finished, it will be compiled into a deluxe box set which will also be made available for sale. Those who have bought the EP's need not worry, as the box set will not be a recompilation of the limited edition pieces.

The story of the album is based on 'The Fool's Journey', as signified in the progress of the Tarot. It is my intention to approach this by breaking down the journey of our life here into four phases as made by these different characters; the Child, the Fool, the Skeptic, and the Mystic.

The music of 'Teargarden by Kaleidyscope' harkens back to the original psychedelic roots of The Smashing Pumpkins: atmospheric, melodic, heavy, and pretty.

I already have 53 songs written for the record, so I am quite confident that I already have much of the material that I would need to undertake such an extensive project. I am very committed to seeing this album through to its completion and very, very excited about the prospect of delivering new Smashing Pumpkins music to you in a unique and exciting way.

-Billy Corgan

Sorry MrRedField didn't see you had already posted this. Just sooo happy Billy is back once again!

I could have sworn I heard a new song while waiting for a pizza at Panago a few weeks ago.

I doubt it. They just started recording a few days ago. I really can't wait for this freaking album, but I don't agree with the way it's being put out...well maybe I just fear change, but damn I love the standard format they we have all come acustom to.

They (he) got a new 'kid' drummer to replace Jimmy Chamberlin!

thats old news

Well I don't see it anywhere in this thread.

As I said on echoingthesound, Billy better have his shit together. His ego is becoming increasingly foul these past few months regarding much of everything. He's such a hypocrite talking about artists and album sales and free downloads at that trial some months ago to releasing a free album after all of this.

In positive side of this post I state that I will download the eps to see how I like or dislike them.

I really think this is a truely new era in Smashing Pumpkins music and maybe a truer version more than ever before.....for the first time Billy which IS Smashing Pumkins BTW finally for the first time has NO rules to follow and a 44 song effort is a great fucking start for this new era...and the concept is really cool as well...I have a feeling this will be a fairly cool start to a radical new era of Pumpkins music. Oh ya Mike Byrne is the shit so far!

Man I can't wait for that first new song!  It should be coming any day now!

Billy Corgan video...

In this video, find out how ?Eye? came to be on David?s Lost Highway soundtrack and get the exclusive first look into what went on during the recent drummer auditions where Billy meets current drummer, Mike Byrne for the very first time. Also, listen as Billy works on new songs for his upcoming album, Teargarden by Kaleidyscope. How awesome! I hope you all enjoy watching this piece as much as I enjoyed making it!

Bonus Video +
Get an exclusive look at a new song by the Smashing Pumpkins

http://dlf.tv/2009/billy-corgan/

I like the new song, very classic sounding.

http://smashingpumpkins.com.s3.amazonaws.com/player/mp3/A-Song-For-A-Son.mp3 (http://smashingpumpkins.com.s3.amazonaws.com/player/mp3/A-Song-For-A-Son.mp3)

whoa what an awesome song. Love love love the guitar solo!!  :hihi:

looking forward to hearing more of Teargarden by Kaleidoscope, where does billy get these names? lol

Billy Corgan Calls Smashing Pumpkins Split a 'Mistake'

Dec 10th 2009

Do you regret breaking up Smashing Pumpkins in 2000?

Breaking up the band was a mistake because I think it broke trust with the audience. You had an audience that was very invested in that idea -- whether they were invested in the people or the idea or the songs, I don't know. Like a relationship that you break off from and then try to pick back up, it's never quite the same. It doesn't mean it can't be as good, but it has to be different. That beautiful original feeling got lost in the interim of being away. If we had said, "We just went away for seven years," it would have been similar, but somehow breaking up, there's a violence to it.

Many fans said things like, "You reformed Smashing Pumpkins but really it's just in name." Do you think that's a valid criticism?

Anything is a fair criticism. The question I would ask is, "Do I have the right to do it?" Based upon what I've seen since reforming the band, I do have the right. If I felt I didn't, I would sit here honestly and say, "Nah, I probably should've just left it alone." I've been making music with the intention of connecting with an audience for 20 years now, so at the end of the day I have to be accountable to me in that way. I can't not do what I believe in because somebody else doesn't feel the same way I do about it.

http://www.spinner.com/2009/12/10/billy-corgan-calls-smashing-pumpkins-split-a-mistake/

Not one of the top...but it's ok...  Is he going to release 1 song per month ?
I just heard the American Gothic EP and I was surprised ... cool album.
(I'm sure is pretty old for all of U, but I just discovered it  :hihi:).

Second new song "Widow Wake My Mind":

www.smashingpumpkins.com

Third single "A Stitch in Time", a review and listen to the song here:

http://www.spin.com/articles/review-smashing-pumpkins-new-single

The new song from Smashing Pumpkins "Astral Planes" is available for streaming here:

http://www.smashingpumpkins.com/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2PTOhsy7jLo

Smashing Pumpkins - Tonight Show with Jay Leno April 20th:

"Widow Wake My Mind"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=38hRY5SvrDI

Full episode (Pumpkins @ 37:45) :

http://www.nbc.com/the-tonight-show/video/tuesday-april-20-2010/1221024/?__source=recent-eps-module

THE SMASHING PUMPKINS
ANNOUNCE INTIMATE U.S. TOUR DATES STARTING JULY 6
IN ADVANCE OF HEADLINE SLOTS AT
TWO SUMMER SONIC FESTIVALS IN JAPAN

The SMASHING PUMPKINS have announced a 12-show run of intimate venues beginning July 6 in Cleveland and wrapping July 21 in Tampa. This marks the iconic band?s first tour since December 2008 and will feature, says leader and founder BILLY CORGAN, ?a balance of classics, a few obscure ones, and new ?Teargarden? material.? Last week, the Pumpkins released the four-song TEARGARDEN BY KALEIDYSCOPE VOL.1: SONGS FOR A SAILOR EP (Martha?s Music/Rocket Science Ventures). This is the first of an eventual 11 specially packaged EPs--taken from the in-progress 44-song work TEARGARDEN BY KALEIDYSCOPE--to be sold in record stores. Notably, all the music is being released online, for free, with no strings attached.

CORGAN and his band mates--guitarist JEFF SCHROEDER, drummer MIKE BYRNE and new bassist NICOLE FIORENTINO?are planning to invite select fans to attend their sound checks (details TBA). ?We are going to do something unique, which is play an invite-only set during sound check of almost all new, unreleased songs,? says Billy. ?We're still figuring out a way to make it possible for some of the fans who'll be in the line outside waiting to get in for that.?

Rehearsals for the tour ?have been fantastic,? adds Billy. ?I haven't been this comfortable in a band situation since about 1995. Musically, we seem to have wound our way back to a more kinetic, electric, and psychedelic sound that reminds me of SP in Gish-Siamese era.?

The decision to play intimate venues keeps in line with the Pumpkins? ?long-standing tradition of trying to start up new tours at smaller venues because it allows the band the opportunity to take some chances musically,? explains Billy. The band has been recording and rehearsing in Los Angeles, and recently broadcast a full session live online: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/live-from-coldwater-studio

After the U.S. dates, the Pumpkins will head to Japan for four shows, including headline performances at two Summer Sonic festivals in Japan--August 7 in Tokyo (Marine Stadium) and August 8 in Osaka (Maishima)--to be followed by two headline dates in Tokyo (August 10 and 11 at Studio Coast).

The very limited edition collector?s EP TEARGARDEN BY KALEIDYSCOPE VOL.1: SONGS FOR A SAILOR (?A Stitch In Time,? ?Widow Wake My Mind,? ?A Song For A Son? and ?Astral Planes?) is packaged in a beautiful silk-screened wooden box. Each box contains a 4-song CD, a vinyl 7? and a hand-carved obelisk from the shadows of the Incan ruins in Machu Picchu. Of the first EP, Jerry Shriver of USA Today described the music as ?a delicious swirl of howling psychedelic rock and melodic ballads (5/25/10)," while Edna Gundersen (also of USA Today) singled out the song ?A Stitch In Time,? noting that ?Billy Corgan binds a pretty melody to shimmery acoustic pop psychedelia, thus extending his brand's relevancy (6/1/10).? Elsewhere, Mikael Wood of the Los Angeles Times cited the ?jammy, psychedelic side, with winding song structures, lyrics about endless seas and astral planes, and buckets of circa-'70s guitar fuzz (5/26/10).?

The Pumpkins also plan to tour South America and Australia in 2010 and hope to return to the U.S. later this year.


Here are the tour dates:

 
TUE    7/6    Cleveland, OH    House of Blues
THU    7/8    Grand Rapids, MI    Orbit Room
FRI    7/9    Columbus, OH    Newport Music Hall
SAT    7/10    Louisville, KY    Forecastle Festival
MON    7/12    Baltimore, MD    Rams Head Live
TUE    7/13    Richmond,VA    The National
THU    7/15    Norfolk, VA    The Norva
FRI    7/16    Charlotte, NC    Fillmore
SAT    7/17    Charleston, SC    Music Farm
MON    7/19    Orlando, FL    House of Blues
TUE    7/20    Ft. Lauderdale, FL    Revolution
WED    7/21    Tampa, FL    Ritz
SAT    8/7    Tokyo    Marine Stadium / Messe
SUN    8/8    Osaka    Maishima / Summer Sonic Site
TUE    8/10    Tokyo    Tokyo Studio Coast
WED    8/11    Tokyo    Tokyo Studio Coast

you guys ever seen this?

Didnt know Billy was a fan of Duran Duran

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hq2XVjdfin0

Smashing Pumpkins Triumph Over Hecklers in Debut

http://www.spin.com/articles/smashing-pumpkins-triumph-over-hecklers-debut

Some videos here: http://www.youtube.com/user/iamcitizenbusiness#p/u/3/OkYwHTG2LGY

apparently it was Matt Sorum and Perry Farrel that pissed him off lmao!

Billy Corgan ready to unveil new Smashing Pumpkins lineup on the road

Loaded question: How does this band compare to the original lineup?

We seem to be able to represent the music, particularly the new music, in a way that seems to be a bit more controlled chaos, as opposed to just chaos.

What was great about the old band is that we played with a lot of chaos. When it worked, it was great. But when it didn't work, you didn't know how to control it. It would just blow out of control

Are you friendly with your ex-bandmates: Jimmy Chamberlin, D'Arcy Wretzky and James Iha?

No. I have no relationship with them at this time.

You've blogged about putting some thought into carrying on under the Pumpkins' name. Was Zwan, the band you formed after the Pumpkins temporarily disbanded in 2000, really just the Pumpkins under another name?

When I left the Pumpkins in 2000, I didn't just start a new band. I wanted to approach music from a different perspective. Zwan approached it from more of a folk-rock perspective, more song-based.

The Pumpkins were always, in my mind, more of an art thing, more conceptual.

So when I restarted the Pumpkins [in 2005], it was very much about coming back to the idea of being in a progressive-type of band.
I know for somebody on the outside, it doesn't necessarily always seem apparent what those differences would be, 'cause I'm still the main songwriter guy. But for me, it's a huge difference, in terms of what I talk about and what I'm focused on.

I never thought of Zwan as any version or incarnation of the Pumpkins at all. In fact, I'd planned on going in a totally different direction. I didn't even anticipate that Jimmy [Chamberlin, the ex-Pumpkins drummer who also played in Zwan] was going to join the band. It just ended up working out that way.

http://www.cleveland.com/popmusic/index.ssf/2010/06/billy_corgan_ready_to_unveil_n.html

Smashing Pumpkins have posted a new song "Freak" on their site:

http://www.smashingpumpkins.com/

Smashing Pumpkins Perform New Song at Benefit for Madina Lake Bassist

Jul 28th 2010

Corgan then treated the fans to a new song, 'Blessed Mothers,' but blanked on the lyrics, saying the tune was usually reserved for their sound checks. Stalling, he started to take requests from the audience while a stagehand brought out a lyric sheet and placed it on a staff before him. He joked about being unprofessional but then continued the song without a hitch.

http://www.spinner.com/2010/07/28/smashing-pumpkins-matthew-leone-benefit-madina-lake/

The song "Blessed Mothers":
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZE5WFmi-zT4

From an interview with Billy Corgan:

August 12, 2010

I read that you recently fainted onstage in Tampa. Are you okay?

Oh yeah, I'm fine. Just a bit bruised up. It's happened before, where I just? over sing. I just faint. If you see the video, I fall down and when I wake up five seconds later, I get up and finish the song. The last time it happened was in 2008. I've done like 1,700 shows, so it's not a normal occurrence, that's for sure.

Is that why you decided to break away from the major label system with your new album?

Yes, because major labels are not interested in my musical life. There was a time when major labels were interested in helping an artist reach a place of high creative output, because they could make a lot of money off it. You can look at a million artists -- Bruce Springsteen to Madonna to Prince to U2. They took people on a journey, and people were invested in the journey. They wanted those albums because they wanted to know where that artist was taking them. If you make it about, "What can you give me today?" then, well, that's not music. I call it McDonald's music. It's fast food music.

http://www.spin.com/articles/qa-billy-corgan-smashing-pumpkins?page=0,0

Video of him passing out:

Smashing Pumpkins Bullet With Butterfly Wings - Billy Passes Out Live

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hrd1ytWnpYY

I figured the other day as Ava Adore is probably one of my favorite Smashing Pumpkins songs, surely i should listen to the album it is off.

So i did, and wow. Is Adore just seriously under-rated?

What an interesting album, i like the mix of their sound with the electronica, especially the drum machine dance-ish beats. Very cool stuff, the odd track bored me, but Appels + Oranjes, what a track!!!!! Trippin balls for sure.

I think every Pumpkins album after Mellon Collie is ridiculously under-rated. But of all of those, yes, Adore is definitely the most interesting of them... if not actually my favourite.

tbh Mellon Collie doesnt do much for me, i dislike how Billy sings on that album, too whiney for the most part.

But before and after im fairly happy with what ive heard!

Adore definitely has a great atmosphere about it, something i love.


Btw, i think "Perfect" takes alot of influence from The Cure.

A Facebook video interview with Billy Corgan:

Aug 23, 2010 by The Smashing Pumpkins

Billy talks about the SP tour. Playing #SSMF and answers fan questions.

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=432033114667&ref=mf

The Smashing Pumpkins press conference MTV World Stage concert at Auditorio Nacional on August 26th in Mexico City.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQrkM7aNQTY

Billy Corgan L.A. Weekly interview:

Thursday, Aug 26 2010

The real, true internal story of the Smashing Pumpkins is actually a little bit like Cinderella [laughs].

So they'd just sit there and complain, like the wicked stepsisters, "I don't like this" and "I don't like that." I'd go and sit in the three-hour meetings with the labels ? me, the manager ? and I'd deal with all the details, and labels would even offer me deals on the side, give me more money to do what I wanted to do, and I'd say, "No, I don't wanna do that because it would fuck my bandmates." I would sort of put myself as the protector of the family, and then I'd go home to the family and they'd just fucking hate me.

http://www.laweekly.com/2010-08-26/music/the-l-a-weekly-interview-billy-corgan/1/

I don't know if it was intended or not, but I find pretty much the entire album has a distinct Cure vibe to it - always enjoyed it and found it a much more focused effort than MACHINA.

This from an interview with Billy Corgan.

September 15, 2010

Do you feel like you have something more to prove now you?re the only original Pumpkin in this line up?

I feel my public persona at times has overshadowed my musical accomplishment. I get frustrated when I see people who?ve done less than me and had less success than me enjoying more ass-kissing. I?m held up to different standards.

Presumably you don?t want to share a stage with your former bandmates?

Why would I get on stage with someone who doesn?t call me for Christmas? Because the guy in the back row who doesn?t give a f-- about my new song, that?s the only way he wants to hear Bullet with Butterfly Wings? They?re silly arguments to me. I understand. I really do. I?ve been in that situation as fan, it?s only one or two original members in a band. I?ve seen bands with members who weren?t part of the original band and I really enjoyed the show, I enjoyed the way they played. And I?ve seen original line ups where they obviously hate each other and it?s boring because there?s no chemistry. It?s more about people?s fantasy. It?s like their porn. It?s their porn fantasy of my world but my world has never been like that. When was my band ever intact? The only time the band only really worked together on the same page in any way that resembles normalcy was Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness and even then I still did 85% of those songs.

http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/celebrity/billy-corgan-says-veronicas-jessica-and-lisa-origliasso-could-go-solo/story-e6frfmqr-1225924132819

I guess he and Axl are quite alike.

alright, i got around to listening to Machina last night.

Wow. Thats all i can say, that album is astonishing!!!! Its a perfect blend of Adore, Mellon Collie and Siamese Dream. Raindrops + Sunshowers, Stand Inside your Love, Heavy Metal Machine. Awesome stuff!!!

i got the 2 CD Rotten Apples with Judas O b-sides disk. However.... it looks like a CDR...is this a rip off...or is it intentional?

Don't worry. It's intentional.

On April 26, 2011, Corgan announced via a video uploaded to the band's Facebook page that the band will record and release a new album titled Oceania, labeled as "an album within an album" in regards to the Teargarden by Kaleidyscope project, which will see the light around September. Also, the entire pre-break up discography will be reissued and remastered, starting with Gish, Siamese Dream, and Pisces Iscariot, expected in late 2011. Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness, The Aeroplane Flies High, and Adore will be released in 2012, and finally, Machina/The Machines of God and the yet commercially unreleased Machina II/Friends and Enemies of Modern Music are expected to be released in 2013. The reissues will contain extra tracks.

I really like the stuff that's on 'Teargarden by kaleidyscope' so far.

i really should get around to downloading teargarden from their site, i heard its appalling though.

It's not bad...the songs get better as it goes



Coop

Did anyone hear Oceania? I really, really dig it :)

Man I thought Billy sounded kinda uninspired on every song....i was really looking forward to it, but just can't seem to get into it.


Coop

I love it. The best thing Billy's done since Mellon Collie, and the record of the year so far. :)

They still have their moments but not as solid start to finish as the old stuff.

I agree :)

Reissues of the band's back-catalog so far have been great, and they keep on getting bigger.
Exact tracklists haven't been released yet, but it's just been announced that the Mellon Collie & The Infinite Sadness reissue will come with 64 bonus tracks (all from the Mellon Collie era) across 3 discs, as well as a DVD featuring a 3 hour show from the Brixton Academy in 1996, and two booklets, and all of the other usual bits and pieces they've put into the three previous reissues so far (art cards, etc.).
Current price on Amazon.com is close to $100, but hopefully that's just a placeholder price. Either way, that's a lot of music.

I'm sure the old stuff ties into him being able to get a proper promotion for the new stuff. It's how a proper remaster and re-release project should go. People would love GNR to put stuff out like this, but way more red tape than Corgan has. He has everything on a new label (but isn't EMI changing hands?) and the back catalog helps as far as promoting new stuff goes.

I like Oceania a lot, but no one I know knows about it and in general I don't see SP mentioned anywhere as a currently active band. Is unfortunate.

No James Iha, no D'arcy, no Jimmy Chamberlain.

The brand lost alot of identity with the member revolving door and inactivity over the years.

I hate to say it but it seems as if the Pumpkins music got stuck back in the 90's and somehow doesn't translate to this generation.

SP played in my town last night. Went to the show and I was very impressed. 

The new guys bring it. Billy rocked- played Guitar and keyboards and vocals also sounded really good.   Looks like he's eating well when he's off tour.  Or he needs to switch to light beer.

the real come back is here!
with a new single. as it should be. hmm.

https://youtu.be/rx9ya42QLXs

great single if you ask me (and even if you don't)

 :love:

2 songs from the upcoming album were released 2 weeks ago, I just noticed.

The colour of love - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2KwkCtVrL8E (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2KwkCtVrL8E)

Cyr - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2AN_GRWlU7k (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2AN_GRWlU7k)

Not your old SP.  Dark disco is the best way I can describe it.

A different direction compared to anything else thev've done.  Admittedly I dont love it, but I think I like it.  : ok:

It's official, the smashing pumpkins are releasing a double album on November 27. :beer:

Think I’ll check this out, just hungry for anything new from a few of my fave bands

They have 2 songs on youTube for the upcoming album. Definitely not your old school SP,  may need to grow on me more. Some cool sounding synths on them.