Over an impressive 10 year span The Smashing Pumpkins churned out one defining album after another.  From their debut “Gish” in 1991 through to their 1998 release “Adore” (with “Mellon Collie And The Infinite Sadness” and “Siamese Dream” in between), forget gold, everything they touched turned to platinum.  

But with Billy Corgan being the last remaining original member of the band and a new album out this week, we can’t rest our laurels on nostalgia.  Luckily “Oceania” is the album we have been waiting for and from the opening track ‘Quasar’ fans can breath a sigh of relief.  Behind Corgan’s powerful guitars is also that iconic hint of fragility in his vocals that he is finally letting shine through again.  With the softening of sound and the addition of the much missed acoustic guitar, The Pumpkins embrace their talent for pop melodies that lends their music to be not just enjoyed, but remembered and sung along to.

Tracks like ‘My Love Is Winter’ strikes up that perfect balance, beginning with sweeping melodies and luscious instrumentals before Billy shakes things up, tearing through on guitar.  New drummer Mike Byrne doesn’t shy away from the skins and matches Billy’s strength on guitar rather than hiding in the shadows of ‘The Billy Corgan Show”.   

The Smashing Pumpkins have defied their critics and achieved a return to form without having to mimic their 90s albums.  While we might still hope to hear the Pumpkins’ classics when they return to Australia for Splendour and sideshows, we have no doubt that hearing what “Oceania” has to offer live will be a mind-blowing experience in itself. For a limited time, you can listen to the album in full before its release this Friday at www.iTunes.com/SmashingPumpkins.

LISTEN TO 'ROTTEN APPLES - THE BEST OF THE SMASHING PUMPKINS' BELOW!

 

THURSDAY 26 JULY- CHALLENGE STADIUM, PERTH

Tickets: ticketmaster.com.au, 136 100

TUESDAY 31 JULY – THE ENTERTAINMENT CENTRE, SYDNEY

Tickets: ticketmaster.com.au, 136 100

THURSDAY 2 AUGUST – HISENSE ARENA, MELBOURNE

Tickets: ticketek.com.au, 132 849

SUNDAY 29 JULY –SPLENDOUR IN THE GRASS
SOLD OUT