Billy Corgan's new albulm

Here are some stream of consciousness thoughts on Billy Corgan's new joint which comes out later this month.

Influences:
Human league
New order
Death cab for cutie (vox)
Mogwai
Aphex twin

As I listened to the tracks I had Very good reactions to some songs and to some parts of songs as well. I very much like alterna-tronica and this falls in that category. However some tracks left me wishing I could just skip it (if I weren't listen critically I probably would have). I would say at first pass that I generally like a good majority of the songs, but felt that some entire songs and many portions of songs were either sketchy or just plain fell on their collective asses. (Hard I might add)

Anyway here are my thoughts as I listen.

It is not as honest. (Some songs not as much feeling which comes from overproduction)

Therefore:

Overproduced.......

But

Much like early pumpkins, he has taken an indie niche and done a very good interpretation/representation of it. It is sort of a new twist on goth/industrial. There are also some very good new wavey songs. And since disco, 70's rock and 80's pop have all made a comeback (hell there are even SEVERAL joy division inspired bands out there now) it is fair that the music I grew up addicted to is, much like my sideburns, about to be cool again.

He is still/always an excellent song writer and still gives a voice to my generation (or societal subdivision whichever really) and as always his songs revolve around pain, love, disenchantment with life in general, and god. Topics as classical to music as ending a song with a 4,1 chord progression (been common since mozart, still happens in 80% of songs today).

All in all I give it a B- :

I think Billy has gotten (to be frank here) to be too much of a Godfather of xxxx in his life and career. Sometimes living in a garage, (or even more tragically in Tampa) is the best antidote for complacency and overworking something in a studio. The urgency behind "we can't afford Butch Vig, so work fast" or "we have to play every gig that comes our way to eat" is what has kept Billy honest for years This record seems the most distance yet from him personnally, and unfortunately that is, I feel, where the lack of empathy and sense of too much studio noodling not enough emotion comes from.

I have said this before, and although it sounds mean spirited, it is just me being honest. (Believe me I know this could backfire but) I think Billy needs a dose of humble pie, and perhaps even a little failure or fan based backlash. It will (I hope) ground him a little and bring some reality back to his music.

With all that said, my summation (a la Jerry Springer) is this:

All in all, I would take an above average Bily Corgan record before a mediocre band with one or two radio friendly tunes I like from a record full of less than uhh.... good songs on it. (Snow patrol and Modest Mouse come to mind here). I still belive in you Billy, I will buy the record (with cash, at a store - you can still do that right?) And see him live, and keep my fingers crossed for the next one. ( I hear Mike Doughty, Billy, Jimmy Chamberlain, Shannon Hoon's ghost, and New Order are gonna do a Gorillaz thing, with Billy as a character named Glass..... Oh Nevermind almost noone on earth will get this joke)

Rawk On (from 42,000 feet with a 7 & 7)

-c