Billy is back and he smashes all rock hype into understatment
with Zwan. Arena-folk-metal-punk, a rampaging triple-guitar
attack and pop melodies, glam grandeur and sophisticated twists.
.co.uk
------
On initial hearing, Mary Star of the Sea by Zwan--Billy Corgan's
first musical project after the Smashing Pumpkins--sounds light
and breezy. His new bandmates-- Slint (
/exec/obidos/artist-search/Slint/${0} )/Tortoise (
/exec/obidos/artist-search/Tortoise/${0} ) guitarist Dave Pajo,
Skunk ( /exec/obidos/artist-search/Skunk/${0} ) guitarist Matt
Sweeney, A Perfect Circle (
/exec/obidos/artist-search/A%20Perfect%20Circle/${0} ) bassist
Paz Lenchantin and fellow Pumpkin Jimmy Chamberlain on
drums--have given Corgan a fresh perspective and his time as
touring guitarist for New Order seems to have heightened his love
for mid-80s British indie. There are moments of straightforward
jangle pop herein, while "Settle Down" reflects the moody angular
style adopted by the likes of Interpol. He also appears to have
fallen in love. "Honestly" has Corgan sighing "There is no place
I could be without you
I feel love" like a newly reborn soppy
fool. "Declarations of Faith" has him declaring "maybe we were
born to love" to a gooey melody that recalls American Anglophile
indie bands like Papas Fritas (
/exec/obidos/artist-search/Papas%20Fritas/${0} ).
It's all a million musical and spiritual miles away from the
messy pretension that led to the end of the Pumpkins. As the
album progresses, though, Zwan merge this new perspective with
the FM radio suss that characterised the best of the Pumpkins to
produce a record that takes in 70s balladry and a 14 minute
Spiritualized ( /exec/obidos/artist-search/Spiritualized/${0} )
tribute (the title track) without feeling forced. There is even a
nod to Britpop ("Baby Let's Rock!" is Suede (
/exec/obidos/artist-search/Suede/${0} ) pretending to be Menswear
( /exec/obidos/artist-search/Menswear/${0} )). It'll all end in
tears, of course, but on this record Corgan's having the time of
his life. --Ian Watson
P.when('A').execute(function(A) {
A.on('a:expander:toggle_description:toggle:collapse',
function(data) {
window.scroll(0, data.expander.$expander[0].offsetTop-100);
});
});
BBC Review
----------
Zwan is Billy Corgan's new band. The ex-Smashing Pumpkin has
produced an album full of bright and breezy pop songs that are
full of the joys of life. This is a back to basics record that
will satisfy Pumpkin heads and should bring on board a whole new
legion of fans.
Billy Corgan finally brought The Smashing Pumpkins to an end in
2000. The final couple of years of their illustrious career had
been fraught with death, drug abuse and, with their last studio
album Machina / The Machines Of God, critical and commercial
failure.
To form Zwan Corgan called upon old friends Slint / Tortoise
guitarist Dave Pajo, Skunk guitarist Matt Sweeney, A Perfect
Circle bassist Paz Lenchantin and fellow Pumpkin drummer Jimmy
Chamberlain. Together they've got the enthusiasm, excitement and
vitality that all new bands possess. Combine that with years of
experience and the invaluable ability to produce radio friendly
pop songs and you have a winning team.
The 14 tracks on Mary Star of the Sea do sound like Smashing
Pumpkins songs. Corgans nasal voice is instantly recognisable but
it is the guitars that sound most familiar; sonic noises and
guitar riffs that soar. As with classic Pumpkins albums, this
record features heavy rock anthems ("Ride A Black Swan"),
followed by more peaceful ballads ("Heartsong").
The album is jam packed full of great songs. "El Sol" is a
beautiful indie track, "Yeah" is just plain cool and "Jesus I /
Mary of the Sea" is a fantastic 14 minute epic roller coaster
ride!
If you disliked the doom and gloom that was so characteristic of
the Pumpkins later albums you have nothing to fear. Mary Star of
the Sea is full of fun and simple happiness, even love. 'There is
no place I could be without you...I feel love' sings Corgan in
the superb "Honestly". You can sense the enjoyment the band had
in making these bouncy pop songs. Beware; you won't be able to
wipe the smile of your face.
Is it better or worse than The Smashing Pumpkins? Who cares, it
sounds great and that's good enough for me. --Dan Tallis
Find more music at the BBC
( http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/syn//albumreviews/-/music/ ) This link
will take you off in a new window
See more ( javascript:void(0) )
