Billy Corgan's last release was with the band he constructed, Zwan. The album 'Mary Star Of Sea' puzzled many fans with its jaw droppingly positive lyrics and musical mediocrity. After all the fuss about trying to get the original band back together it is heartbreaking that 'Zeitgeist' is another project that contains only Corgan and drummer Jimmy Chamberlain. However, we know that in the early days studio Nazi Mr Corgan allowed very little input from the rest of the band and re-recorded most of their parts anyway. So is the rest of the original band required? Probably, because 'Zeitgeist' tries to regain the spark of the glory days, but the reality is it falls flat. The spite and malice that once inspired this "rat in a cage" has dissipated, but Corgan still goes through the motions and his claim as a guitar virtuso cannot be denied.
The guitar fuzzing of 7 Shades Of Black could have been an off cut from 'Siamese Dream'. United States sits somewhere between the metal-tinged power rock of XYU (from 'Melloncollie And The Infinite Sadness') and the dreamy jam session of Drown (from 'Singles' movie soundtrack). This track is one of the many in which Jimmy Chamberlain's drumming shines like gold. Of course Corgan doesn't give him the limelight without a fight and so it also includes ample scorching guitar. The lyrics major on political and apocalyptic themes, except for the embarrassing foray into the cult of celebrity that is Starz.
'Zeitgeist' is a step back to 90s world, but these songs lack the innovation and passion of the Pumpkins back catalogue. The reality is as much as the fans will try to like it, only time will tell if 'Zeitgeist' beats 'Adore' as the least played Smashing Pumpkins record.
Scott Berry
Billy Corgan's last release was with the band he constructed, Zwan. The album 'Mary Star Of Sea' puzzled many fans with its jaw droppingly positive lyrics and musical mediocrity. After all the fuss about trying to get the original band back together it is heartbreaking that 'Zeitgeist' is another project that contains only Corgan and drummer Jimmy Chamberlain. However, we know that in the early days studio Nazi Mr Corgan allowed very little input from the rest of the band and re-recorded most of their parts anyway. So is the rest of the original band required? Probably, because 'Zeitgeist' tries to regain the spark of the glory days, but the reality is it falls flat. The spite and malice that once inspired this "rat in a cage" has dissipated, but Corgan still goes through the motions and his claim as a guitar virtuso cannot be denied. 
