Before I get into this, I must point out that I am a huuuge Smashing Pumpkins fan. So with that comes a highly critical opinion.
Smashing Pumpkins' newest album, Oceania, is a mish mosh of classic Pumpkin sounds put to meaningless lyrics and forgettable tunes. There is hardly a single identifiable melody on the entire album making it only passable as background noise. The opening track, Quasar, sounds like a desperate attempt at bringing back the Smashing Pumpkins sound, but the result is rushed and crammed with noise.
The songs are choppy and unbalanced. Many of them sound as if they were recorded in isolation, with different instruments played at different times, and the vocals added well after. Unfortunately, the nostalgic sounds of Billy Corgan's voice are lost into what feels like bad karaoke.
While there are a few redeemable songs, nearly all of them lack commitment. There are too many switches in melody, mood, tempo, volume, and even instrumental effects. Not the kind of classic Pumpkins music that people will be rushing to imitate or cover. Still, somehow the album has its place on the great Pumpkin mantle.
I was surprised to see that many of the early reviews on iTunes were highly enthusiastic, with people giving really five stars and stellar comments. Many claimed that the new album signaled a long awaited return of the Pumpkins and that the original Smashing Pumpkins sound was back. One reviewer went so far as to point out how 'it wasn't the train wreck that Zeitgeist was'. This couldn't be more opposite the truth in my opinion. In many ways Zeitgeist was one of their best albums ever and what it had going for it was it actually had real melodies and memorable tracks - songs that people will remember and want to emulate. Oceania, sadly, is mostly forgettable.
Still, as a die hard Pumpkins fan, I bought it and will continue to give it a chance, but mostly in support of the band and everything they've ever done. I hope other Pumpkin fans will do the same.
