The Smashing Pumpkins second track from Teargarden By Kaleidyscope was released today–I would like to preface my review by saying I’ve always supported the Pumpkins regardless of the direction taken. Regardless of personal preference there was some element of the song I could get behind–or at the very least I was supportive that Billy and Crew were experimenting with something new. I bought Zeitgeist the day it came out and listened to it repeatedly. I downloaded every live concert I could get my hands on and saw them three times since they’ve reformed.

I was unsure how I would like the new sound when it was announced Jimmy left the band. I’ve always felt his driving force behind the drums provided the cohesive bonds behind the songs. It was a counter-point to Billy’s guitar that evoked emotion without words. The mix of melody and drums gave a balance to some of the repetitive lyrics the Pumpkins are known for.  However, again, I’m very supportive of Billy and his work and was (am) going to give it a fair chance…

Enter the new album: as I’ve stated before this 44-track album will be released one song at a time over the course of several years. I was deadset against this idea and would much rather prefer an EP like American Gothic…it allows for the building of a framework and can be more emotionally developed than one single song. Again, this is only song 2 so I am still keeping an open mind…these are just initial opinions. The first track, Song for a Son, was a well-developed, slow building ballad that really opened up at the end. I loved the way it was developed since the tour…

Track 2: Widow Wake My Mind. I was highly disappointed in this song. The Pumpkins have almost always had repetitive lyrics but the melody and drumming could provide emotion that balanced out the repetition. Not this. Highly repetitive lyrics, underdeveloped drums with a horrid fill and a very simple guitar part. Their was a bit of piano that helped add to the development of the track but it wasn’t enough…it just seemed like a spur of the moment gesture. It actually reminded me of a stripped down version of a Zwan song. It retained enough of the “upbeat” catchy melody only without the layering and multiple guitars. Also, if it was a Zwan song it would be one of the worse ones–if it even made the cut. After listening to the song five times through I can’t help but walk away feeling like this was a work in progress released too early. I hear parts that had potential seemingly overlooked. Horribly disappointed in the second track.

This is another reason I dislike the way SP are releasing their songs…it is conducive to a track by track analysis versus the work as a whole. If I were to do a track by track analysis of any SP album, except Siamese Dream, I would have at least one review that sounded as negative as this. Holistically, the album review is always much superior. I’m afraid by the time this album is complete my opinions of these tracks will already be set.