The Maverick Returns
By Paul Rigg
It can’t be
easy being Billy Corgan.
The
maverick Smashing Pumpkins’ frontman
penned a stream of smash hits in the ‘90s, filled stadiums across the world and
earned himself an army of loyal followers.
His huge
desire for a return to the spotlight saw him build bridges with drummer Jimmy Chamberlin and guitarist James Iha but - whoever is to ‘blame’ -, without bassist
D’arcy Wretzky. In the process,
Wretzky accused Corgan of having ‘a shitty voice’, ‘being manipulative’ and
potentially having ‘a brain tumour’.
As if that was not difficult enough,
other critics have stuck the boot in harder with the Pumpkins’ tenth offering, Shiny and Oh So Bright Vol 1, released 16 November 2018. One reviewer, for
example, has slammed the lyrics for being totally and utterly vacuous. Another,
writing about the content, said: “There is, in fact, almost nothing
here at all. In the annals of ’90s bands that have reunited to thrust a new album into the void where inspiration used to be: Shiny might contain the least imagination,
the least personality, the least effort, the least love. […] There is nothing
for you here.”
On the
other hand, Corgan’s decision to work with producer Rick Rubin has been called a ‘masterstroke’ because of the album’s
added bite and focus (there are just eight tracks on it, totalling around 30
minutes).
There is certainly
some truth in all of this. Firstly, the lyrics are not really worth quoting. If
you want to have a chance of enjoying this album it is best to look past those
and focus on the music. And here there are undoubtedly flaws as well, but the
album has what many fans want: the Pumpkins’ stamp. The strong beats and the
distorted guitar riffs are both there, and most essentially the man himself adds
his distinctive voice, and guitar, and pulls it all together.
Knights of Malta, that kicks off the album, is not one of
Corgan’s best pop songs but it does have something about it, with its big piano
chords, female gospel style vocals towards the end and the swaggering frontman
wielding his 1974 Fender Billy Corgan
Strat to fine effect.
The following track, the lead single Silvery Sometimes (Ghosts), is similar
in that it is not going to be a Pumpkins’ classic but it will be welcomed by
fans and does have a catchy hook and some charm about it. The next track, Travels is not as strong, but again it
holds its own. On the other hand, Solara,
that follows, contains dirty riffs and a profoundly gloomy hook, which makes it
one of the standouts on the album.
Marchin on continues in a similar vein, this time with Chamberlin’s heavy drumming
breathing life into the song. Chamberlin
again shines on the album’s final track Seek
and You Shall Destroy, which is more upbeat and offers another strong riff
to close.
Shiny and Oh So Bright Vol 1 is not one that is going to be
added to the list of classic Smashing Pumpkins’ albums but with Iha and Chamberlin’s presence and Corgan’s
iconoclastic style, it is bound to be warmly received by many fans. It can’t be
easy being Billy Corgan; but then he can’t be anything else.