CYR: Difference between revisions

Unlike the previous album, produced by [[Rick Rubin]], Corgan self-produced ''Cyr'', pushing himself to record and work outside his comfort zone: "I was trying to bring myself into modernity. I got [[W:Logic Pro|Logic]], I got some beats going, but I just wasn’t feeling it. I started to feel like the Luddite who couldn’t evolve. But then I realized that when I first heard [[W:Siouxsie and the Banshees|Siouxsie and the Banshees]], [[W:Sisters of Mercy|Sisters of Mercy]] and [[W:Joy Division|Joy Division]], they were making very modern music by using the technology that they had at hand. So I had to get inside the choices that they made."<ref name="LATimes">{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/story/2020-11-24/smashing-pumpkins-billy-corgan-cyr|title=Smashing Pumpkins’ Billy Corgan has a lot to say about Spotify, Courtney Love and our ‘dystopia’|work=Los Angeles Times|last=Exposito|first=Suzy|date=November 24, 2017|accessdate=November 26, 2020}}</ref> The band members recorded parts on their typical instruments, with synthesizers being recorded by Corgan. However many of the synths and guitars are indistinguishable. "I think it’s fun to play around with guitars that sound like synths and synths that sound like guitars," Corgan told ''Premier Guitar''.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.premierguitar.com/articles/31089-billy-corgan-on-smashing-pumpkins-new-imellon-colliei-sequel-nows-the-time|first=Tessa|last=Jeffers|title=Billy Corgan on Smashing Pumpkins’ New Mellon Collie Sequel: “Now’s the Time.”|website=Premier Guitar|access-date=December 15, 2020}}</ref> Backing vocals were largely arranged by touring member [[Katie Cole]], who sang them along with [[Sierra Swan]].<ref>Billy Corgan. November 27, 2020 Instagram Q&A</ref> The synths and bass synths were rarely sequenced and instead played by hand.<ref>Billy Corgan. November 29, 2020 Instagram Q&A</ref> Chamberlin notes that the sound of his drums (which were all acoustic<ref>Billy Corgan. November 29, 2020 Instagram Q&A</ref>) on the album were influenced by "early-seventies prog rock bands, that type of tight dry drum sound."<ref name="JimmyInterview3">{{cite web|url=https://wallofsoundau.com/2020/11/26/jimmy-chamberlin-smashing-pumpkins-interview/|title=Jimmy Chamberlin – ‘Smashing (Out New) Pumpkins Material’|work=Wall of Sound|last=Aaronms|first=Ricky|date=November 26, 2017|accessdate=November 26, 2020}}</ref>

The release of ''CYR'' had to be delayed multiple times due to the uncertainty surrounding the [[W:COVID-19 pandemic|COVID-19 pandemic]]. Despite this, Corgan insisted it be released before Christmas of 2020.<ref name=":1" /> The album was ultimately released on November 27 on all digital platforms, as well as on CD and vinyl. After the band teased the upcoming project with their countdown timers on their official website, they released the lead single "[[Cyr (song)|Cyr]]", which was backed with "[[The Colour of Love]]", on August 28, 2020, with an accompanying music video for the titular track. Several weeks later, the band released another single, "[[Confessions of a Dopamine Addict]]" which was backed with "[[Wrath]]". This release also included two animated episodes of the band's short series ''[[In Ashes]]'', which featured music from "The Colour of Love" and "Confessions of a Dopamine Addict".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://liveforlivemusic.com/news/smashing-pumpkins-in-ashes-wrath/|title=The Smashing Pumpkins Share First Two Episodes Of 'In Ashes' Animated Series, New Singles|author=Michael Broerman|date=September 25, 2020|website=Live For Live Music}}</ref> On October 9, 2020, the band released the third single from the album, "[[Anno Satana]]" and "[[Birch Grove]]", as well as the third episode of ''In Ashes''.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.spin.com/2020/10/smashing-pumpkins-unleash-two-new-tracks-third-episode-of-animated-series/|title=Smashing Pumpkins Unleash Two New Tracks, Third Episode of Animated Series|author=Brenton Blanchet|date=October 9, 2020|magazine=[[w:Spin (magazine)|Spin]]}}</ref> On October 30, 2020 the band released a fourth pair of songs as a single, "[[Ramona]]" and "[[Wyttch]]",<ref>https://www.nme.com/news/music/smashing-pumpkins-share-new-singles-ramona-and-wyttch-2804907</ref> with the "Wytcch" music video premiering on November 13, 2020 as part of a [[W:Friday the 13th|Friday the 13th]] event through their label Sumerian Records.<ref>https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/smashing-pumpkins-wyttch-video-1090144/</ref> The band released a final pair of songs, "[[Purple Blood]]" and "[[Dulcet in E]]" on November 20, 2020''.''<ref>https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/smashing-pumpkins-new-songs-purple-blood-dulcet-in-e-1093115/</ref>