Zwan “Mary, Star of the Sea” Reprise/Warner
Bros.
Hey, remember the Smashing Pumpkins? No, not that bizarre
mumu-wearing gothic melodrama factory that put out
“MACHINA/The Machines of God.” I’m talking about
the real Pumpkins, the band that rocked our 13-year-old lives with
jangly-guitared anthems like “Today,”
“Mayonaise” and “Tonight, Tonight.” Well,
there are those of us who haven’t forgotten them, one of whom
seems to be Billy Corgan himself. Corgan’s new band, Zwan,
has returned to the sound that made him famous, only it’s
toned down version of the Pumpkins. Corgan has enlisted indie rock
all-stars Matt Sweeney of Chavez and David Pajo of Tortoise and
Slint, plus A Perfect Circle bassist Paz Lenchantin. Despite the
super lineup, however, the group most often feels like slaves to
Corgan’s trademark sound, albeit poppier, less edgy and a bit
more repetitive than before. Putting his guitar and vocals at the
front of the sound, Corgan all but completely overshadows the
individual contributions of his great guitar players, which
initially had been the band’s biggest selling point. Still
the album is not without its rewards, especially for fans of early
Pumpkins records. The early release single, “Honestly,”
is a great sing-a-long rocker, and “Endless Summer” may
be the feel-good hit of this winter. At its best, the first Zwan
album is a refreshingly upbeat, brighter reinterpretation of that
classic, mid-90s Pumpkins sound. The bulk of it, however, is fairly
uninspiring. The songs lack the hooks that make Corgan’s best
material go. The lowest points of the album are its ballads, which
tend toward horribly boring, and the interminable 13-minute
non-epic, “Jesus, I.” That’s right, “Jesus,
I” is the song that’s already received early nomination
for Worst Song Title of 2003. So ultimately, if you dig that old
time Pumpkins sound, go out and buy this record. You won’t
regret it. But if you’re looking for a return to significance
and an artistic step forward for Corgan, you’re out of luck.
He didn’t do it with this one. -Dan Crossen
Johnny Marr + the Healers “Boomslang”
imusic
So, “Boomslang” is the worst name for an album
you’ve heard in a long time. But like “Pablo
Honey” and “Mary, Star of the Sea” before it, the
terrible title doesn’t signify a terrible album. Not that
it’s as good as those other albums either. For fans of the
Smiths and other 80s Brit-pop like the Stone Roses the layered
guitar sound will be familiar. Beyond those obvious historical
references Marr’s new work with the Healers seems to draw
from the bands he influenced, like Oasis. In fact,
“Boomslang’s” vocal work at times border between
Liam Gallagher and Bono. Without the androgynous lead vocals of
Morrissey, this isn’t much more than the Smiths Lite, as it
treads no real new ground. What would that be exactly, the Joneses?
The music is guitar-driven. Most of the songs have a plodding pace
and are generally listenable if not exciting. At its best,
“Boomslang” provides a window into a happier time for
Brit-pop. -Anthony Bromberg