The Smashing Pumpkins – Shiny and Oh So Bright, Vol. 1 / LP: No Past. No Future. No Sun.

Being listening to The Smashing Pumpkins for decades, all the fans know quite good that this band got through very different chapters of their creativity. From grunginess of “Gish” to conceptuality of “Mellon Chollie and the Infinite Sadness”. And “Adore”. A fully nihilistic release for the band. Of course, there is no comparison for “Shiny and Oh So Bright, Vol. 1 / LP: No Past. No Future. No Sun”.

Getting though not-very-fruitful stage of band’s career in 2000’s, Billy Corgan get over himself, making the first step to the new release of The Smashing Pumpkins. The long-awaited reunion of notable guitar-duo – Corgan\Iha threw gas in the fire. Chemical reaction between Corgan, Iha has increased with well-known drum rhythms by Jimmy Chamberlin and Jeff Schroeder’s guitar riffs. Under control of notable chemist – Rick Rubin, the synthesis of these elements evolved into new one mixture. Containing the same, DNA of The Smashing Pumpkins. Rubin created some sort of depth. Post-punk-like atmosphere of infinitive sadness breaking with first chorus. This feeling of cold and denial don’t leave you. Billy Corgan keeps the feeling of lonliness in his band, like bloody heart, just took from a dead body. As an experienced actor he changed the mood of the record in a slightly different ways. However, the sacral feeling, the atmosphere of The Smashing Pumpkins didn’t leave you. A good one depression. Nice tremor. Like making a tattoo, with the name of your mother or wife, feeling the needle getting through your skin. And talking about The Smashing Pumpkins – there is something very-very special. Billy Corgan makes you feel loneliness, and then gives your heart back. Also returning something else. Something hidden and individual for all of us.  

“Shiny and Oh So Bright» expresses the feelings of not yet young band. The band passed through total breakdown, anger, abnegation. Evolving and not just becoming better. “Silvery Sometimes ( Ghosts )” sounds catchy, truly. Corgan’s “We’re in a middle” is recognition of not-yet young musician. During the years, he changed his view adding different new elements to the system of polarity of The Smashing Pumpkins. The opening “Knights Of Malta” is the real mix of grunge with echoes of Dexys Midnight Runners. Distorted, and a bit stunning. As well as “Knights”. It’s not the thing you’d expect from The Smashing Pumpkins. But, as it comes closer to the middle of the record, it becomes obvious that reunion of the band didn’t created one more record by The Smashing Pumpkins. Not just a usual longplay. Corgan tried to create conceptuality. In “Travels” he speaks about “the final”. His speech continues with contrast on “Solaria” and full catharsis on “Alienation”. Naivety changes to protest-like “Marchin’ On” which sounds like mix of “Ava Adore” with Johnny Rotten-like destroying energetic. All these things seems to be unknown. And with it, it makes you feel a kind of nastalgia. The sacral feeling, you’d feel listening to this record.
It seems for The Smashing Pumpkins that, getting through different problems, changing the members the band finally got together and released probably their best record, after 90’s.

Track Listing:

1. Knights of Malta
2. Silvery Sometimes (Ghosts)
3. Travels
4. Solara
5. Alienation
6. Marchin’ On
7. With Sympathy
8. Seek and You Shall Destroy