Billy Corgan Takes His Chances With a New Band: Zwan
Written: Feb 03 '03
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Product Rating:
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Pros: melodic, gorgeous and unbelievably happy
Cons: some might wonder where Corgan's angst went
The Bottom Line: Zwan is an excellent power pop return to form for Billy Corgan.
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| MattA75's Full Review: Mary Star of the Sea by Zwan |
Shortly after the announcement that 90s rock stalwarts The Smashing Pumpkins would break up at the conclusion of their 2000 tour, lead singer/songwriter Billy Corgan proclaimed that the band just couldn't compete with "the Britneys of the world" as one of the main reasons that decision had been reached. Say what you want about Corgan, but ultimately, that comment seemed to be normal for him. Of course, the Pumpkins' own diversions into electronic effects and other relatively sterile forms of songwriting didn't help them either.
So now, Corgan is back with a new band, Zwan. He took drummer Jimmy Chamberlin with him from the Pumpkins, and added former A Perfect Circle bassist Paz Lenchantin, as well as guitarists Matt Sweeney and David Pajo to round out the band. Their debut disc, Mary Star of the Sea, is everything an old school Smashing Pumpkins fan could possibly want from Corgan: fabulous lyrics, strong melodies, excellent harmonies with Lenchantin, and an overall positive attitude that seemed all but impossible with the Pumpkins just three years ago.
For all of Corgan's talk about "the Britneys of the world," he himself should remember that he hadn't written a truly brilliant power pop song since Today in 1994, the song that ultimately launced the Pumpkins careers from cult favorites to American rock sensations. So it's probably not a huge surprise that the first single, Honestly, has done so well at rock radio. If not for the current state of radio, Corgan would have possibly his biggest crossover hit yet with this song. It's a tight web of fuzzed out guitars, solid drumming, and a big sing along chorus that features Lenchantin singing just as happily as Corgan seems to be. This is a surprise, not just for the usual dour Corgan to seem so happy, but for Lenchantin to seem so happy as well after playing the "dark gothic bass playing chick" so well in APC.
For those of you who fear that Corgan wrote one brilliant song and decided that was enough, cast those fears aside. This entire album continues the large shot in the arm rock has received from the releases in the last quarter of 2002. It's a tight, spiraling record that deserves to be Corgan's biggest hit yet.
The opening Lyric is seemingly Corgan's own little spiritual prayer. It's a nice midtempo rock number that drives along at a perfect pace. Even more so than on Honestly, you can literally see the smile on Corgan's face as he sings this song. It's such a contrast from the seeming gloom and doom of the last couple of Pumpkins albums (which is not to say those weren't good albums).
While the album is a mostly positive, upbeat affair, you shouldn't overlook the most mellow point of the album, the positively gorgeous Of a Broken Heart, an unbelievable ballad that might just put Beck in tears.
For the most part though, Zwan brings the rock, even exclaiming Baby Let's Rock! in full exhultation. They even delve into a bit of psychadelic pop on the extremely long but extremely worth it Jesus, I/Mary Star of the Sea.
While some people may bemoan Billy Corgan's newfound happiness as some sort of "coming of the apocalypse," I'll view it as one of the best rock records of the last couple of years. Corgan is just the latest in a line of 90s rock veterans getting to cut their teeth a second time, and his effort is by far the best of them all.
Recommended:
Yes
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MattA75
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Member: Matt Aucoin
Location: South Berwick, ME
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Gonna be a daddy, April 2010!
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