What The Hell Does Zeitgeist Mean, Anyhow?

I bought the new Smashing Pumpkins album. This should come as no surprise to those of you who know me, because I‘ve been a fan of theirs since high school. Just to depress my classmates, I’ll mention that was nearly seventeen years ago.

Don’t get me wrong. I think the album is good. It is at least on par with most of their other albums… but that’s just it. The new line-up only retains frontman, Billy Corgan and drummer, Jimmy Chamberlin from the original incarnation. It sounds like the tracks could have been pulled from the sessions of any of their last three studio albums. In fact, it sounds like Zwan and Billy Corgan’s “solo” record… which were basically Billy, Jimmy, and some filler musicians. Chamberlin’s Life Begins Again was the refreshing break from the Pumpkins’ formula, which sadly was not more fully explored.

As far as the other two founding members, only James Iha has attempted helming a project on his own. His Let It Come Down album had a sound that was reminiscent of the Pumpkins’ less-potent B-sides. It made me wonder whether the Iha penned tracks were leftovers, deemed too impotent for an official Smashing Pumpkins release.

Perhaps I am being overly harsh. I mean, I would definitely listen to Zeitgeist over most music being churned out of late. It’s just that, the Smashing Pumpkins are my favourite band. I want the best for them. I want them to blow people away. I want them to push the envelope.  And, for criminy’s sake, if they are going to hype up a “reunion,” I want them to work through their personal bullshit and bring back the original line-up… if only just for a group photo and a couple of appearances where they karaoke through a few of their greatest hits.

Other newer releases of note include Mary Timony’s The Shapes We Make and Billy Talent’s second eponymous record.  Washington, DC’s own Mary Timony is at it again with another collection of songs that hearken back to the medieval music of old. Fans of her old band, Helium, will not be disappointed… if they can get over their initial shock upon learning that not only is Timony not dead, but she’s been putting out a number of good solo albums.

Billy Talent is a breath of fresh air to pop-punk. This is the first new band I have heard in while that has piqued my interest. That being the case, it’s hard for me to compare their sound to other bands of their genre. Think pop-punk… that doesn’t suck ass. They hooked me with the track Fallen Leaves. The video is on YouTube, but be forewarned… you will rush out to buy the album, so have your cash in hand.

Comments

[teb]

Where are the comments? Maybe, like Kelly Clarkson or Britney Spears, you've gone away too long, ignored or betrayed your fans, now they've forgotten you. I remember the days when your comments section was rich and full of thoughtful retorts to your witty commentary. Alas, a shadow of your former self, the blog a mere glimmer of its' former glory. Rue the day and weep for the Monkeyhouse, children, it lives and breathes no longer.

Or maybe it's jus' cuz everyone knows the Punkins blow.

[sandra]

Zeitgeist, to me = my favorite bar in San Francisco :)

[Emily.]

I like Zeitgeist, but it's not in my top 3 favourite Pumpkin albums... I'm hoping if they do another album, they'll have got their act together by then...

But I LOVE their old stuff =]