Oceania – what a grand name for the new album from THE SMASHING PUMPKINS. Lead track, ‘Quasar’, shouts hello with big drums and big guitar – BIG sound! Rock borders on metal, held together by the alternate vocals of Billy Corgan, a god of the Nineties reminding us that gods don’t die.
I don’t imply that Billy was ever gone but it’s been a confusing period of disappearing band members, a band called Zwan and a string of wonderfully free singles that are part of a yet to be fully defined collective called Teargarden by Kaleidyscope. The latter deserves special mention. Although it never got promoted, songs such as ‘Widow Make My Mind’ and ‘Freak’ were a return to form. And ‘Song for a Son’ was one of the greatest creations claimed by THE SMASHING PUMPKINS moniker. Indeed, Billy may be diverting from his original intentions but has said that Oceania is “an album within an album.” Continue reading
