Not Just Another Pumpkins Album
Written: Jan 26 '03
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Very Smashing Pumpkins-esque
Cons: Very Smashing Pumpkins-esque
The Bottom Line: A solid album, and great for Pumpkins Fans who have been longing for more material from Billy Corgan.
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| youngspeare's Full Review: Mary Star of the Sea * by Zwan |
It would be wonderful if we could look beyond the obvious Smashing Pumpkins connection and review Zwan on their own merits. It would be wonderful, but I think it's just entirely impossible.
Impossible because the two people who contributed the most to the signature Pumpkins sound are also Zwan members: Billy Corgan with his nasal voice and fuzzy guitars, and Jimmy Chamberlain with his distinct jazzy style of keeping the beat.
So it's no surprise that Zwan does sound remarkably like the Smashing Pumpkins did, towards the end. Remember "Untitled" by the Smashing Pumpkins? It was never on any officially released Pumpkins CD. It didn't really sound like it belonged on any of them...but it would easily fit in among the other 14 tracks on "Mary Star of the Sea."
Having said that, Zwan could be considered as the continuation of the Pumpkins sound, towards something that is beyond the Smashing Pumpkins. Which is why I listed it's Pumpkin-like qualities as both a pro and a con. Pro because hey, if it ain't broke, don't fix it, right? Con because this is NOT the Smashing Pumpkins, and I for one do not want Zwan to be a Smashing-Pumpkins rip-off band.
Okay, I think I've covered the Pumpkin connection enough, on to the CD at hand:
I am biased since I have always been a Smashing Pumpkins fan, but I truly believe that Billy Corgan is a very gifted songwriter. And so "Mary Star of the Sea" is certainly not some mediocre pop-rock CD with a mere 1 or 2 quality songs on it. It's an album in the traditional sense: 14 tracks you WANT to listen to.
Overall, the album is much more pop-oriented and more psychedelic than the Pumpkins ever were. Their debut single, "Honestly" attests to the pop-factor, as does "El Sol" and "Heartsong." On the other hand, "Settle Down" and "Jesus,I/Mary Star of the Sea" are definitely heavier on the psychedelia, especially with the dreamy jam session in the middle of "Jesus,I/Mary Star of the Sea."
My final verdict on "Mary Star of the Sea" would be that it's an excellent debut from a band who might be struggling just a little to develop their own sound. I definitely recommend it to any Smashing Pumpkins fan. If you weren't a huge Pumpkins fan, give it a listen regardless. It's different enough that you just might like it.
Recommended:
Yes
Great Music to Play While: Hanging With Friends
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Epinions.com ID:
youngspeare
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Member: Erica Basnicki
Location: Toronto, Canada
Reviews written: 31
Trusted by: 4 members
About Me:
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