Zwan: Mary Star of the Sea
Tom Birner
Issue date: 2/26/03 Section: Arts & Entertainment
It seems Billy Corgan has momentarily distanced himself from usual angst and depression (the strong reviews won't hurt). By ditching his typical theatrical approach to songwriting shows that, in fact, his creative well is not yet dry. The often publicly spited visionary that headed the most unique, artistic and powerful rock music of the nineties just might be on the verge of returning to his rightful place among mainstream rock's most respected contributors.
Corgan found a few new band mates (Slint/Tortoise guitarist Dave Pajo, skunk guitarist Matt Sweeney, A Perfect Circle bassist Paz Lenchantin), kept the best musician from his former band (unmistakable fiery ex-Pumpkin drummer, Jimmy Chamberlin) and sounds startlingly refreshed. "Mary Star of the Sea" is a record that lacks the artistic complexities of any Smashing Pumpkins album, but succeeds greatly in being a can't miss rock record of utmost precision, a work free of lavishness that rides on the power of strong guitar licks and true musical candor.
If you're expecting the emotion and breathtaking eccentricity that typified Corgan's most notable achievements, you might be disappointed. Radio-friendly guitar hooks and catchy choruses fuel this album. Corgan abandons his typical tortured ambitiousness in favor of a much more innocuous approach-- one that allows us to understand just how easy it is for such a consummate songwriter to write slightly less emotional yet honest and unobjectionable four minute rock tunes.
"Lyric" officially begins Zwan's recording career, starting off with what becomes a formulaic composition for the rest of the album: an alluring guitar riff, combined with Chamberlin's intricate drum work, giving way to a superb chorus, in this case made dreamy by Lenchantin's Kim Deal-esque backup vocals.
"Settle Down" follows with rather minimalist lyrics but great guitar leads evocative of Cheap Trick, and a finishing Corgan solo that sounds lifted straight from Eddie Van Halen's artillery.
"Honestly" is the band's first single, and it is a four minute reminder of Corgan's uncanny ability to create beast rock songs at the same rate as we mortals sneeze.
There are certainly a number of moments that could fill a Pumpkins fan with both hope and nostalgia, including "Of a Broken Heart," a staggering and emotive ballad with dolorous acoustic guitars (this beauty also contains the wonderfully honest line: 'so lets see you smile/ cause I'm not impressed with your loneliness'). There's also still that one of a kind fuzzy guitar sound with lots of feedback. The fourteen minute opus "Jesus I/Mary Star of the Sea" possesses the grandiose, singing guitars set to changing tempos, explosive drumming and surprisingly unambiguous and probably audacious theological verse, 'So perish every fond ambition/god and trouble are all I've known/yet how rich is my condition/god and heaven are all my own'.
Many of the songs on the record do share a somewhat uniform and cautious sound that makes "Mary Star of the Sea" fall short in being a great album. But the songwriting, built on a foundation of lively hooks and irresistible choruses makes this a rather subtle triumph. It seems Corgan is trying to get back into mainstream embrace, and he certainly has written an album that is too catchy to resist. It's not especially profound, and it lacks the emotion, and intricacy and utter mind-blowing poignancy that made me love every single Smashing Pumpkins album. While Zwan doesn't employ the full gamut of Billy Corgan's musical ambitions, it's a sincere rock record that is a scorching rebirth for man who's simply much too talented to be forgotten.
GRADE: B
Corgan found a few new band mates (Slint/Tortoise guitarist Dave Pajo, skunk guitarist Matt Sweeney, A Perfect Circle bassist Paz Lenchantin), kept the best musician from his former band (unmistakable fiery ex-Pumpkin drummer, Jimmy Chamberlin) and sounds startlingly refreshed. "Mary Star of the Sea" is a record that lacks the artistic complexities of any Smashing Pumpkins album, but succeeds greatly in being a can't miss rock record of utmost precision, a work free of lavishness that rides on the power of strong guitar licks and true musical candor.
If you're expecting the emotion and breathtaking eccentricity that typified Corgan's most notable achievements, you might be disappointed. Radio-friendly guitar hooks and catchy choruses fuel this album. Corgan abandons his typical tortured ambitiousness in favor of a much more innocuous approach-- one that allows us to understand just how easy it is for such a consummate songwriter to write slightly less emotional yet honest and unobjectionable four minute rock tunes.
"Lyric" officially begins Zwan's recording career, starting off with what becomes a formulaic composition for the rest of the album: an alluring guitar riff, combined with Chamberlin's intricate drum work, giving way to a superb chorus, in this case made dreamy by Lenchantin's Kim Deal-esque backup vocals.
"Settle Down" follows with rather minimalist lyrics but great guitar leads evocative of Cheap Trick, and a finishing Corgan solo that sounds lifted straight from Eddie Van Halen's artillery.
"Honestly" is the band's first single, and it is a four minute reminder of Corgan's uncanny ability to create beast rock songs at the same rate as we mortals sneeze.
There are certainly a number of moments that could fill a Pumpkins fan with both hope and nostalgia, including "Of a Broken Heart," a staggering and emotive ballad with dolorous acoustic guitars (this beauty also contains the wonderfully honest line: 'so lets see you smile/ cause I'm not impressed with your loneliness'). There's also still that one of a kind fuzzy guitar sound with lots of feedback. The fourteen minute opus "Jesus I/Mary Star of the Sea" possesses the grandiose, singing guitars set to changing tempos, explosive drumming and surprisingly unambiguous and probably audacious theological verse, 'So perish every fond ambition/god and trouble are all I've known/yet how rich is my condition/god and heaven are all my own'.
Many of the songs on the record do share a somewhat uniform and cautious sound that makes "Mary Star of the Sea" fall short in being a great album. But the songwriting, built on a foundation of lively hooks and irresistible choruses makes this a rather subtle triumph. It seems Corgan is trying to get back into mainstream embrace, and he certainly has written an album that is too catchy to resist. It's not especially profound, and it lacks the emotion, and intricacy and utter mind-blowing poignancy that made me love every single Smashing Pumpkins album. While Zwan doesn't employ the full gamut of Billy Corgan's musical ambitions, it's a sincere rock record that is a scorching rebirth for man who's simply much too talented to be forgotten.
GRADE: B