Smashing Pumpkins

[Risico]

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. 

[GeraldFord]

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.

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

[Dr. Blutarsky]

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.

[von]

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.

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

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?

[GeraldFord]

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.

[ShotgunBlues1978]

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!!

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 

[GeraldFord]

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?

[bazgnr]

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...

[GnFnR87]

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.

[Jim Bob]

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.

[GeraldFord]

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

[GnFnR87]

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

[GnFnR87]

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

[GeraldFord]

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.

[GnFnR87]

^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.

[Dr. Blutarsky]

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

[stinson4ever]

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.

[bazgnr]

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

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...

[2112]

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

[CheapJon]

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

yeah they did