Review: Smashing Pumpkins, 'Teargarden by Kaleidyscope 1: Songs for a Sailor'
By this point, Billy Corgan has so polarized his fan base that it’s impossible to discuss his music without phrases like “ego run amok” and “raging control freak” getting in the way.
But though he now remains the sole remaining original member of the band he founded in Chicago in the late ‘80s, Corgan is a long way from phoning it in as a recording artist. Last year he announced plans to record a 44-song album, which he would unveil a song at a time on the Internet. Each group of four songs would be repackaged as a physical EP, of which “Teargarden by Kaleidyscope 1: Songs for a Sailor” (Rocket Science) is the first.
This is the first batch of recordings Corgan has done since longtime drummer Jimmy Chamberlin left the band in early 2009. He was the one true foil in Corgan’s career, a musician capable of ferocity and nuance in equal measure, and a large enough personality to impact how Corgan shaped the music.
The musicians surrounding Corgan are now all relatively anonymous; their role seems largely to color the arrangements in what are essentially fleshed-out Corgan solo tracks. Without Chamberlin’s freight train roaring behind him, the hurtling “Astral Planes” never quite achieves liftoff. And one can only imagine how Chamberlin might’ve combusted the six-minute “Song for a Son,” which sounds like a promising sketch for a “Stairway to Heaven”-style epic.
Corgan’s at his best when he takes a lighter tack and develops two of his more engaging melodies on the remaining tracks. Ascending guitar lines give “Widow Wake My Mind” a soaring insistence and “Stitch in Time,” with its rich acoustic layers and chiming percussion, is all incense and peppermints. For those fans who haven’t yet written off Corgan, it’s enough to keep them listening for the next “Teargarden” installment.
greg@gregkot.com
"Son of a Sailor"???
"Song for a Son" is on the EP "Songs for a Sailor"
Posted by: reggaeluv2000 | May 21, 2010 at 11:55 AM
Something about this release seems chincy to me. Like it's not fully realized. I mean, look at the cover. Doesn't it look like a Junior High photoshop project?
That said, I agree that at least musically, Corgan is still trying. It's a lot more than you can say about most musicians that have had his success. No classic, but like you said, Greg, maybe there will be some good stuff to come.
Posted by: reed | May 21, 2010 at 06:15 PM
He should change the name to Billy Corgan & The Smashing Pumpkins or something... it's just not Smashing Pumpkins...
pre-2001 Smashing Pumpkins have been and always will be my favorite band of all time...
Zwan and his solo album were great too...
Posted by: Adam | May 21, 2010 at 11:46 PM
Reed, that's actually not the cover of the boxset.
Oddly enough, Song For a Song and Astral Planes (musically) are the two tracks I like best from the EP.
Posted by: Eric | May 22, 2010 at 12:46 AM
Billy, get yer ass back in the ice-cream truck!
Posted by: Dirty deeds done dirt cheap | May 22, 2010 at 05:50 AM
They played Song for a Sun while Jimmy was still in the band. It wasn't remarkably different.
Posted by: CrabbMan | May 22, 2010 at 02:32 PM
Is Mr. Corgan that much of a "raging control freak" where he chased away his one last pillar or musical support behind him in Jimmy Chamberlin? Is Billy really that delusional? I bought the Zwan CD and Jimmy Chamberlin Complex CD,(Both very good),but he should not call this band that.I agree with Reed up there in his comment when he says 'Smashing Pumpkins this is not' I was a longtime fan.Been following and buying the CDs since they were on Caroline,but I won't be dropping my hard earned recession bucks on a Smashing Pumpkins disc if it does not have not even one original member.Sorry Billy,that's just how I roll.
Posted by: Dave Farris | May 24, 2010 at 10:25 AM
billy is about as edgy as a beach ball. someone's gotta make chinese democracy look understated.
Posted by: j | May 24, 2010 at 06:21 PM
It never ceases to amaze me how under rated and under appreciated this man's music is... I can't believe that any true SP fans would listen to this batch of songs and think, "Wow, this sucks..."
To me the music on TBK so far is absolutely some of his best and most creative!
Posted by: FatherTree | May 25, 2010 at 07:49 PM
It never ceases to amaze me.. People simply can't get over the fact that James, Jimmy, and D'arcy are gone for good. Any wise pumpkin-head knows that the the driving force behind every record has always been billy. Jimmy obviously had a lot of imput as he was the drummer, and i don't doubt his involvement in the shaping and structuring of the songs. But whether you like it or not, billy was always ring leader. The new band is amazing. Jeff has certainly proven his worth. Mike byrne is an amazing drummer for his age, and still molding his style. People are way too critical of this bands work. Billy doesn't give a F*** about writing mega hit singles anymore. He's interested in the work around the great work. He wants to approach each song as if it were a painting. What he's doing with the new stuff is breaking the status quo. He's tired of the cookie cutter style of making records and any musician should respect him for having the balls to try something new.
Posted by: Lance | May 28, 2010 at 12:56 PM
I don't understand how a drummer could alter the sound so much. It's not like the drummer is making the musical decisions here, Billy is. Every band I've ever played in has a drummer who plays what he's asked to play. Why do you think drummers keep jumping from band to band? Because a good drummer is a good drummer and can play what you ask them to. A lot of drummers are hired guns, it's rare to find a drummer who's dedicated to one group.
But, with that being said, drummers who stick around probably have more input in the rhythm and BPM of a song. Also, each band writes music differently. I feel in the case of SP that it was mainly Billy, Jimmy probably had some input too. However, I feel D'arcy probably had a larger shape on the sound of that band. People underestimate and overlook a good bass player - always.
Posted by: Pat | June 11, 2010 at 04:44 PM
2.4 out of 4.
wow you know smashing pumpkins is about the only band who has stand out since the 90, in similarity RATM.
Posted by: Varria Studios | June 20, 2010 at 10:40 PM
Enough with this crap! This mope couldn't write his way out of a paper bag. The guy is a phony. Doesn't live in Chicago, but always tries to play the Chicago card when he has nothing else, which is most of his career. His music is dribble that any kid could play in his bedroom. Admit it, this band has stunk from the beginning.
Posted by: Joe Blow | July 24, 2010 at 04:27 AM
" I won't be dropping my hard earned recession bucks on a Smashing Pumpkins disc if it does not have not even one original member."
Billy is an original member so that statement doesn't make any sense. Anyhow, the kid who replaced Jimmy ain't no Jimmy, but Billy boy can do whatever he wants with the SP name since he was always the main songwriter. With that said, I don't personally care for Teargarden so far.
Posted by: The Truth | August 15, 2010 at 12:50 AM
@ Joe Blow
I'd like to see you play these songs...
Or are you more inept than a child?
I am a musician, and I promise that if you are not one also you could not play these songs. Perhaps a few parts... but you'd never complete them.
Learn to play something...
Posted by: Guitar Player | December 29, 2010 at 06:10 PM
. . . Can we at least agree that A Song For a Son is pretty good? I love everything from Gish through to Adore, especially Siamese Dream, and A Song For a Son seems good enough to be called a Pumpkins song, even if three of the founding members are gone.
Posted by: Saybor | January 30, 2011 at 09:22 PM