Aghori Mhori Mei
Aghori Mhori Mei | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | August 2, 2024 | |||
Recorded | 2022–2024[1][2] | |||
Length | 44:41 | |||
Label | Martha's Music | |||
Producer | Billy Corgan | |||
The Smashing Pumpkins chronology | ||||
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Singles from Aghori Mhori Mei | ||||
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Aghori Mhori Mei is the thirteenth studio album by The Smashing Pumpkins. It was announced on July 19, 2024 after being added to the band's Spotify without notice, featuring the ability to pre-save the album and a countdown to its release. The album was released digitally on August 2, 2024, through Martha's Music and Thirty Tigers.[3][4]
The album was written and recorded over a two-year period and is billed as a "rock and roll guitar record".[1] Written and produced by Billy Corgan, the album is a progressive rock, alternative rock, heavy metal and pop record. The composition is largely driven by a mix of guitar, bass and drums with some mid-tempo tracks utilizing synthesizer and orchestral arrangements. The album had no singles prior to release.[5] "Sighommi" was released as the first single from the album on August 2, 2024.[6]
Background and development[edit | edit source]
In December 2022, drummer Jimmy Chamberlin posted through his official Instagram account that the band were "back in the studio".[2] In May 2023, Billy Corgan announced that the band had already began work on a follow album to the triple album Atum: A Rock Opera in Three Acts (2022–2023). The band initially recorded 20 songs for the album with Corgan wanting to put out a record with "somewhere in the neighborhood of 10 to 12 songs".[5] Corgan described the album a "straight up rock and roll guitar record" and stated that "it very much sounds like the ‘Siamese Dream’ / ‘Mellon Collie’ version of the band.[5]
In June 2024, Corgan gave an update on the band having worked on the album for "almost two years now". He described the pressure of recording new material to deadlines, stating that "It's not healthy, but I've gotten used to it through the years". He reiterated that "It's very much a rock, guitar record, old school" and that "old-school fans will be happy, for once".[1]
In an interview with Audacy in August 2024, Corgan described how the band wanted to get into the "mindset" of recording songs in the spirit of Siamese Dream but not replicating the exact sound. Explaining that "you go back to the old school but with a new version of yourself", he further elaborated on using the the old processes; "You just move on into other pastures, good and bad. You take your lumps as you go". The album was produced with the help of long-time band collaborator Howard Willing.[7]
Composition[edit | edit source]
The standard edition of the album consists of 10 songs, all written and produced by Billy Corgan with production assistance from Howard Willing. The album has elements of progressive rock, alternative rock, heavy metal and pop. The albums sound was influenced by heavy metal bands such as Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, and Dio, with several tracks taking on the characteristics of heavy metal and progressive rock.[8] Some of the tracks such as "Goeth the Fall" take on a mid tempo ballad styling, with "Who Goes There" leaning into a more "bittersweet pop" presentation. Many of the songs utilize down-tuned guitars, with "Edin", "Pentagrams", and "999" all being played on guitars in Drop C tuning.
From a music theory standpoint, the album is notable for its artistic lack of cadence and resolution at the end of many tracks. Instead of ending on the tonic chord, Corgan often closes the songs with a half cadence or suspended chord, making the listener feel as if the song is incomplete. A rare technique in Western music, it is a stylistic departure from the majority of Corgan's songwriting. All songs on Aghori Mhori Mei exhibit this technique except "Edin", "War Dreams Of Itself", and "Sicarus".
Lyrically, the album themes touch on the concepts of Hinduism, Greek mythology,[9] music history,[8] travel, and relationships.
Promotion and release[edit | edit source]
The album was released on August 2, 2024, through Martha's Music and will be distributed digitally through streaming services and digital storefronts initially.[10] Physical copies of the album will be released in the future on exclusive edition vinyl through Billy Corgan's tea room Madame ZuZu's.[3] Corgan announced that no singles would be released prior to the album's release, explaining that the band "had to give the knee many times to what is the first song and what is the first statement and let other people judge us by one moment in time. We felt the right way to hear this record was an intact body of work".[11]
Despite no singles being released before the albums release, "Sighommi" was promoted as the first single on August 2, 2024.[12] A double A-side 7" single featuring "Formosa" and "Our Lady of Sorrows" is set to be released on November 22, 2024, free with the "Madame ZuZu's edition" of the album.[13]
Critical reception[edit | edit source]
Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [9] |
Clash | 8/10[14] |
Kerrang | [15] |
Beats Per Minute | 82/100[16] |
Sputnikmusic | [17] |
Many critics regarded the album as a return to form for the band. AllMusic highly praised the album calling it "a rock & roll pyre lit with myth and memory", filled with "dark rock magic [and] anthemic melodies spinning on the knife's edge of the band's electric guitar wallop."[9] Kerrang described the album as feeling "like the true return", summarizing the record by calling it "an excellent album that suggests intriguing possibilities going forward".[15] Clash magazine equally praised the album. Describing that the band were "back and are ready to make a racket" and calling the album "a welcome surprise from one of rocks most unpredictable acts".[14]
Reception amongst fans was reported as being "positive" towards the album.[18] The album topped an "All-Genre Poll" ran by Billboard, with music fans naming their favourite new music release of the week.[19]
Track listing[edit | edit source]
All tracks are written by Billy Corgan.
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Edin" | 6:46 |
2. | "Pentagrams" | 6:25 |
3. | "Sighommi" | 2:58 |
4. | "Pentecost" | 3:18 |
5. | "War Dreams Of Itself" | 3:28 |
6. | "Who Goes There" | 3:28 |
7. | "999" | 5:43 |
8. | "Goeth The Fall" | 3:25 |
9. | "Sicarus" | 4:15 |
10. | "Murnau" | 4:59 |
Total length: | 44:41 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
11. | "Formosa" | |
12. | "Our Lady of Sorrows" |
Release history[edit | edit source]
Released | Label | Catalog ID | Format | Country | External sites | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
August 2, 2024 | Martha's Music | Digital | Worldwide | Discogs | MusicBrainz | [1] |
More releases: Discogs • MusicBrainz
Personnel[edit | edit source]
The Smashing Pumpkins
- Billy Corgan – vocals, guitar, bass, keyboards
- James Iha – guitar
- Jimmy Chamberlin – drums
Additional personnel
- Katie Cole – backing vocals
- Howard Willing – mixing
- Andrew Scheps – mixing (tracks 1-9)
- Ryan Hewitt – mixing (track 10)
Charts[edit | edit source]
Chart (2024) | Peak positon |
---|---|
Japanese Albums (Oricon)[20] | 43 |
Swiss Albums (Swiss Hitparade)[21] | 84 |
UK Digital Albums (OCC)[22] | 6 |
UK Album Sales (OCC)[23] | 70 |
UK Independent Albums (OCC)[24] | 17 |
US Top Album Sales (Billboard)[25] | 45 |
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Ruskell, Nick (June 4, 2024). "Billy Corgan: "I don't play any songs I don't want to play. I don't care if they're classic or not"". Kerrang. Retrieved July 20, 2024.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Back in the studio with @smashingpumpkins". Instagram. December 3, 2022. Retrieved July 21, 2024.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Kaufman, Gil (July 19, 2024). "Smashing Pumpkins Announce 13th Studio Album, Aghori Mhori Mei". Billboard. Retrieved July 19, 2024.
- ↑ "Aghori Mhori Mei - The Smashing Pumpkins". Amazon Music. July 19, 2024. Retrieved July 20, 2024.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Colothan, Scott (May 4, 2023). "The Smashing Pumpkins working on 'straight up rock album' that echoes Siamese Dream & Mellon Collie". Kerrang. Retrieved July 19, 2024.
- ↑ "Smashing Pumpkins Get Back To Their '90s Roots On New Album". iHeartRadio. August 2, 2024. Retrieved August 2, 2024.
- ↑ Cingrana, Joe (August 2, 2024). "Billy Corgan on getting back into the '90s mindset for The Smashing Pumpkins' 'Aghori Mhori Mei'". Audacy. Retrieved August 6, 2024.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 "Billy Corgan Tried to Take Himself Back to the Early Days of Smashing Pumpkins on New Album". Loudwire. August 7, 2024. Retrieved August 9, 2024.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Collar, Matt. The Smashing Pumpkins: Aghori Mhori Mei > Review at AllMusic. Retrieved August 9, 2024.
- ↑ Kreps, Daniel (July 19, 2024). "Smashing Pumpkins Reveal New Album Aghori Mhori Mei Out in Two Weeks". Rolling Stone. Retrieved July 20, 2024.
- ↑ Dunworth, Liberty (July 19, 2024). "Smashing Pumpkins announce 13th album 'Aghori Mhori Mei', out next month". NME. Retrieved July 19, 2024.
- ↑ "Smashing Pumpkins Get Back To Their '90s Roots On New Album". iHeartRadio. August 2, 2024. Retrieved August 2, 2024.
- ↑ The Smashing Pumpkins. "Aghori Mhori Mei: Madame ZuZu's edition - The Smashing Pumpkins". Madame ZuZu's. Retrieved August 6, 2024.
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 Walker-Smart, Sam (August 4, 2024). "The Smashing Pumpkins – Aghori Mhori Mei". Clash. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 Hickie, James (August 2, 2024). "Album review: The Smashing Pumpkins – Aghori Mhori Mei". Kerrang. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
- ↑ Wohlmacher, John (August 2, 2024). "Album Review: The Smashing Pumpkins – Aghori Mhori Mei". Beats Per Minute. Retrieved August 6, 2024.
- ↑ "The Smashing Pumpkins Aghori Mhori Mei". Sputnikmusic. August 5, 2024. Retrieved August 6, 2024.
- ↑ "Fans React to New Smashing Pumpkins Album After Not Hearing a Song Before It Came Out". Loud Wire. August 2, 2024. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
- ↑ Peters, Mitchell (August 4, 2024). "Fans Choose Smashing Pumpkins' 'Aghori Mhori Mei' as This Week's Favorite New Music in All-Genre Poll". Billboard. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
- ↑ "Oricon Top 50 Digital Albums: August 12, 2024" (in 日本語). Oricon. Retrieved August 7, 2024.
- ↑ "Swisscharts.com – The Smashing Pumpkins – Aghori Mhori Mei". Hung Medien. Retrieved August 11, 2024.
- ↑ "Official Album Downloads Chart Top 100". w:Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 9, 2024.
- ↑ "Smashing Pumpkins Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 9, 2024.
- ↑ "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 9, 2024.
- ↑ "The Smashing Pumpkins Chart History (Top Album Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved August 13, 2024.