A WEEKLY SMASHING PUMPKINS EDITORIAL

May 4, 1998

What's the "new sound" of The Smashing Pumpkins?

With three songs from the new album Adore revealed to us (see Netphoria's front page), a lot of fans are focusing on determining exactly what the band's "new sound" is. Not exactly totally electric or acoustic -- defying definition -- "Ava Adore," "To Sheila," and "Perfect" are our first taste of "arcane night music" from Adore.

One thing seems clear: Jimmy Chamberlin's departure from the band seems to have affected The Smashing Pumpkins' musical direction. Now, it's hard to conjecture what the Pumpkins would have done for their fourth album if Jimmy was still in the band, but his absence has a decisive affect on these three songs. "Ava Adore," "To Sheila," and "Perfect" all utlilize a drum machine, and Jimmy's rockin beats are missing from all three.

But is this necessarily a bad thing?

Well, we'll find out on June 2, but judging from the three tracks, I'd have to say -- not necessarily. As much as I love Gish, Siamese Dream, and Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness, I'm starting to get burnt out on them. Now, don't take this the wrong way: I love the albums, and I think they rock, but I'm itching for something new. And Adore just might give me that.

The Pumpkins are a killer band because they never get stuck in a rut. They've always opened up new musical horizons to totally blow away their fans with something new and exciting. Gish was the debut album that introduced their brand of alternative rock to the world. Siamese Dream took that brand and expanded upon it to epic proportions with an album that brought the Pumpkins fame and success. But "epic" is a word that might be better suited to the next album, Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness: a double album consisting of 28 songs that explore just about every emotion a person could go through. MCIS was the quirky double album from a pretentious alterna-rock band that should have bombed, but instead captured the hearts of millions with its emotional and musical experience.

So where does that leave Adore? I don't know, of course, because I haven't listened to the entire album. But The Smashing Pumpkins aren't settling for a sequel to any of their previous albums. That much is for sure.

My assumption is that Adore is a step both forwards and backwards in time for the band. Jimmy's departure has prompted Billy, James, and D'arcy to reexplore their pre-Jimmy roots, most prominent of these the use of a drum machine. But the band has also taken this opportunity to take a step forward, to incorporate synthetic elements with natural elements all in a distinct Pumpkins style. Will this foray into sounds electronic dominate the band's sound in the entire album and albums to come? Who knows? I'm not really sure, but I'll tell you one thing. I actually like not knowing what direction the Pumpkins are going to take.

We'll all have to wait and see on June 2nd what Adore has in store for us, and as soon as I absorb all things Adore, I'll post my comments in a column of Ground Zero.

Coming soon: A follow-up to "What makes a band great?"

Feel free to e-mail comments or suggestion to me at michaelday@geocities.com.