Musings on the past and present state of music, film, and pop culture. Get off my lawn.
★★★ Well it’s finally here–The Smashing Pumpkins (75%) reunion album Shiny and Oh So Bright, Vol. 1 / LP: No Past. No Future. No Sun, is out this Friday. The Rick Rubin produced affair is a major occasion, marking the first release featuring original drummer Jimmy Chamberlin since 2007’s Zeitgeist, and the first featuring guitarist […]
Concert Review: The Smashing Pumpkins at Frank Erwin Center-90’s alt-rock titans rock the Texas capital on their Shiny and Oh So Bright Tour (featured image by Olivia Bee) [rating=5] The Smashing Pumpkins made Austin their first Texas stop on their Shiny and Oh So Bright tour. And for fans who’ve been clamoring to see a […]
Rick Rubin Is Producing The Smashing Pumpkins Reunion Album: Billy Corgan reveals involvement of super-producer on forthcoming album. It’s been a verrryyyyy long and winding road towards the reunion of the original Smashing Pumpkins. It’s been teased in drips and drabs for over three years now. But recent weeks have proved that (a) yes, it’s […]
James Iha Seen With Smashing Pumpkins in Studio: guitarist seen with frontman Billy Corgan and drummer Jimmy Chamberlin in new Instagram photo. So how sick are you of the on-again, off-again, “yay they’re going to reunite (or are they going to reunite?), why did Billy Corgan put out (an admittedly good) acoustic solo album instead […]
William Patrick Corgan ‘Ogilala’ Review: the artist formerly known as Billy gets minimalist on new Rick Rubin produced LP. [rating=3.5] It hasn’t been easy to be a Billy Corgan fan in recent years (or let’s face it, for longer than that). Whether it’s his blistering critiques on his peers, indulging in conspiracy theories with Alex […]
Concert Review: A Perfect Circle at HEB Center: reconstituted alt-rock veterans cranked out an elegant, atmospheric set in Austin, TX. [rating=5] It’s been six years since A Perfect Circle toured North America, and nearly 14 years since their last album. But as their well received, stellar set at Austin/Cedar Park’s HEB Center proved, absence has only made the […]
Billy Corgan Reconciles With D’arcy Wretzky, Fuels Reunion Hopes: Smashing Pumpkins frontman discusses opening line of communication with former bassist. We reported recently that a long-hoped for reunion of the classic Smashing Pumpkins lineup, once thought unthinkable, is gaining traction. And frontman/master contrarian Billy Corgan added more fuel to the reunion fire, as first reported by […]
Original Smashing Pumpkins Lineup Reuniting? Billy Corgan drops a possible cryptic hint. As reported by Alternative Nation, Billy Corgan just released a Facebook video update that will surely have his fan base atwitter. Uncharacteristically subdued and jovial, he hinted at a few projects in the works including a new solo album: “I’ll give more details on […]
Albums Revisited: Smashing Pumpkins ‘Gish’ Turns 25–celebrating the Pumpkins indie début album on its 25th anniversary. May 28th marks a Gen-X musical milestone: on that date 25 years ago, The Smashing Pumpkins released their début album Gish, the highest selling indie record at that time (until 1994’s Smash by The Offspring…ewww… let’s keep’em separated). Gish […]
Ex-guitarist returns for surprise appearance at Los Angeles concert performing tracks off ‘Siamese Dream’. It’s an Easter miracle: last night, estranged Smashing Pumpkins guitarist James Iha joined the band to perform songs from their 1993 masterpiece ‘Siamese Dream.’ This marks the first time in 16 years that he’s shared the stage with frontman Billy Corgan […]
