The Smashing Pumpkins: Oceania

[Rowsdower!]

Anyone check out this new album yet? I'm a diehard Pumpkins fan and while I enjoyed Zeitgeist and some of the other stuff Corgan & Co. have put out since the "reunion," I'd have to say that Oceania blows it all out of the water. While it's a shame that Jimmy Chamberin isn't in the band anymore, perhaps that's what Billy needed to start really writing some great music again. Most of the newer Pumpkins stuff that I've liked best have been the songs where he broke from the typical formula and drifted into more experimental territory. And that's what you get with Oceania, only with a healthy dose of kickass rock to go with it. I've only been able to listen to it the whole way through twice so far, but I've found plenty of great stuff on Oceania. The first two tracks, Quasar and Panopticon, rock like the Pumpkins of old, while tracks like The Celestials and Pinwheels tap into that quieter side that was noticeably absent on Zeitgeist (except in the bonus tracks for that album, curiously). One of my favorites, The Chimera, sounds like it could be the sequel to Rocket, and I mean that in the best way possible.

I realize that the Pumpkins are among the most polarizing bands of all time (sometimes even to their own fans) but as a lifelong SP fanboy, I have to say that I'm really digging Oceania. Glad to see the critics are liking it; hopefully the fans are too.

 

[Rowsdower!]

(sigh)

Gotta love the spambots.

 

[Thor The Mighty]

I've been a SP fan since the 90's myself. I plan on buying the new CD soon. I generally don't buy CDs anymore but I will make a exception with this case.

 

[Rowsdower!]

Yeah, I considered actually buying the CD for this one too since I'm an SP collector (I even bought The Aeroplane Flies High way back when I was a high school kid with almost no money), but downloading it was just easier. Plus there are a few songs that are great to listen to on your iPod while working out.

 

[Thor The Mighty]

I have a lot of but not all of everything they have put out. I became a SP fan my last year in highschool. I used to be a hip hop fan but by that time I was completely burned out on it, I still don't listen to it. I love old music from the 60's through the 90's and only a few groups or artists this century hold my interest.

 

[drumsnotdead]

I am scared to listen to this, after my brother told me he hated it and we both love Pumpkins. Ava Adore is still my favourite song of all time though.

 

[Matt Mortem]

I gave this is a listening. I loved it. Of course, I've essentially loved everything the Pumpkins have done. Oceania is terrific. Well done Mr. Corgan, well done.

 

[Rowsdower!]

Yeah, I've loved most of Billy's stuff over the years. The Future Embrace and Machina I were the only ones that I didn't love, and even those albums had a few songs that I'll love forever. But I'd say Oceania is the best SP album since Adore. I know that Zeitgeist was the official "comeback" album, but Oceania feels like the real comeback to me.

 

[Matt Mortem]

Yeah, I've loved most of Billy's stuff over the years. The Future Embrace and Machina I were the only ones that I didn't love, and even those albums had a few songs that I'll love forever. But I'd say Oceania is the best SP album since Adore. I know that Zeitgeist was the official "comeback" album, but Oceania feels like the real comeback to me.

I agree. To me, SP was at their weakest with Machina 1&2, even though Stand Inside Your Love and Try, Try, Try are two of my favorite songs. As a whole, those albums left a lot to be desired. Oceania feels like a return to form for SP and I certainly like it better than the other Teargarden stuff they've been releasing.

 

[Rowsdower!]

Yeah, there were some good songs of that era but it was definitely their worst moment and I think that a lot of it had to do with poor decisions as far as what made it to the final cut of Machina I. I don't know if it was Billy or Flood, but whoever decided to leave great songs like Glass Theme, Dross, Speed Kills, Blue Skies Bring Tears (Heavy) and White Spider in favor of crap like Heavy Metal Machine and The Crying Tree of Mercury (the album version anyway; the live acoustic version is actually great) needs to have their head examined. I know Corgan doesn't want to pander to his fans, but point blank, we wanted an edgy rock album after Adore. And instead, what we got was a mix of sappy "oh, it's so sad we're breaking up" songs interspersed with annoying b**ching about the pressures of fame.

Anyway, all that aside, I really like where the band is headed now with Oceania and I hope they continue down that path.

 

[Matt Mortem]

I agree. I didn't like the first few songs released for Teargarden, but I'm hoping what comes after Oceania is much better. I'm optimistic for SP's future.

 

[Rowsdower!]

Supposedly they are going to play the album in its entirety for the first half of their live shows, then after the break, play all old stuff. I think I'll have to check it out.

 

[Matt Mortem]

Supposedly they are going to play the album in its entirety for the first half of their live shows, then after the break, play all old stuff. I think I'll have to check it out.

If they roll through AZ I'll try and see em.

 

[Lasirius]

I'm loving this album. Zeitgeist fell real short in my opinion, I ended up selling it back to the store.

 

[Rowsdower!]

Whoa, really? Damn, that's hardcore.

Zeitgeist was okay IMO, but it had a few too many songs that just felt like filler to me and overall, the album just felt hollow. I think Billy got so caught up in the "WE NEED TO COME BACK AND ROCK!" idea that he forgot how to make a good album. Oceania is much, much better. Some fans are being really hard on it for whatever reason, but I've been listening to it almost nonstop in my car, while working out, while working on projects, and I'm still loving it.

 

[Thor The Mighty]

Whoa, really? Damn, that's hardcore.

Zeitgeist was okay IMO, but it had a few too many songs that just felt like filler to me and overall, the album just felt hollow. I think Billy got so caught up in the "WE NEED TO COME BACK AND ROCK!" idea that he forgot how to make a good album. Oceania is much, much better. Some fans are being really hard on it for whatever reason, but I've been listening to it almost nonstop in my car, while working out, while working on projects, and I'm still loving it.

I agree. Zeitgeist was not terrible imo but it did not live up to expectations after a several year absence of SP music. Billy's solo album in not bad either but it doesn't really wow me. As for Zwan... I have not heard enough to make a real opinion but there are a few of their songs on Youtube so I may listen to them.

 

[Lasirius]

Whoa, really? Damn, that's hardcore.

Zeitgeist was okay IMO, but it had a few too many songs that just felt like filler to me and overall, the album just felt hollow. I think Billy got so caught up in the "WE NEED TO COME BACK AND ROCK!" idea that he forgot how to make a good album. Oceania is much, much better. Some fans are being really hard on it for whatever reason, but I've been listening to it almost nonstop in my car, while working out, while working on projects, and I'm still loving it.

It was okay but I realized it wasn't an album I was going to miss in my collection and I needed the money haha. I find myself listening Oceania repeatedly, it's a fine way to be back. I also liked Billy's solo album.

 

[Pink Ranger]

Is it worth buying the physical CD for this album, or should I just buy it on iTunes?

I occasionally buy physical CDs if it is for concept-ish albums where one song is supposed to seamlessly blend into the next one (i.e. Portishead, Bjork). Is this album well served by that medium?

 

[Rowsdower!]

I agree. Zeitgeist was not terrible imo but it did not live up to expectations after a several year absence of SP music. Billy's solo album in not bad either but it doesn't really wow me. As for Zwan... I have not heard enough to make a real opinion but there are a few of their songs on Youtube so I may listen to them.

I'd recommend the Zwan album. It was really good (IMO) and it's a shame things didn't work out for that band, for whatever reason. It's not as dark as the Pumpkins, but it still has the same basic sound, only with more of a summer feel to it, if that makes sense.

It was okay but I realized it wasn't an album I was going to miss in my collection and I needed the money haha. I find myself listening Oceania repeatedly, it's a fine way to be back. I also liked Billy's solo album.

Yeah, I've been listening to Oceania practically nonstop. There are some songs that clicked with me immediately, while others have grown on me incredibly. Folks over at Blamonet all f**king hate it for some reason, though. I guess it's one of those "if you are a TRUE fan, you'll hate this album because it doesn't even compare to their old stuff" things, or something. Really, I think it's just a case of some diehard fans being uptight about everything. If they were into superheroes, I think those guys would have b**ched about puffy batsuits and Jokers who weren't permawhite.

Is it worth buying the physical CD for this album, or should I just buy it on iTunes?

I occasionally buy physical CDs if it is for concept-ish albums where one song is supposed to seamlessly blend into the next one (i.e. Portishead, Bjork). Is this album well served by that medium?

Well, it is a concept album but the songs don't really blend into one another like that. So, it probably doesn't matter whether you download it or buy the CD, but definitely pick it up in some form. It's worth it.

 

[Pink Ranger]

Well, it is a concept album but the songs don't really blend into one another like that. So, it probably doesn't matter whether you download it or buy the CD, but definitely pick it up in some form. It's worth it.

Got it, thanks.

 

[Rowsdower!]

No problem.

 

[Rowsdower!]

From the SP facebook page:

 

[Ilayda]

I cant wait to listen Ocenia, It supposed to be really good. Thats what I read on a lot of review... My favorite album of Smashing Pumpkin is Adore 1998. It brings me a lot of memory

 

[TheWatcher]

SP is my favorite band. I've bought and loved all of their albums with the exception of Zeigest. T
I loved this album.

 

[Rowsdower!]

The Pumpkins have a new album coming out in a few weeks. Instead of starting a new thread for it, I figured I'd just bump this one. It's called Monuments to an Elegy and a few of the songs have already been released.

Really digging Beige Beige and One and All. Tiberius also sounds pretty cool. They seem to be going for a more raw sound this time around (much more than Oceania, which had a much more streamlined feel to it... that's not a complaint; the album was awesome).

Also, Tommy Lee is in the band now, or is on the album, anyway.