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Album of the week
Zeitgeist is the seventh studio album from The Smashing Pumpkins and the first following the 2005 reunion. With 12-hour shifts nearly all week, Jimmy Chamberlin described the sessions as a "long laborious process to greatness", and also served as a producer for the first time with the band. It was recorded entirely with analog equipment and media, using the same 24-track tape recorder as on Mellon Collie. It stands as the most overtly political work released by the band or Billy Corgan himself, which Chamberlin attributes to their interest in the music and life of Fela Kuti. It is also among their heavier releases. "People wanted to hear some energy, that they didn't want us rolling over and crying in our milk", wrote Corgan, while Chamberlin observed "the world is ready for something with some balls behind it." The releases came in six colors, each with varying material and packaging. The album peaked at #1 in Canada and New Zealand, at #2 on the Billboard 200, and was ranked on Rolling Stone's list of the Top 50 Albums of 2007.
Song of the day
"Gossamer" is a song by The Smashing Pumpkins that was an Zeitgeist outtake. No studio recording has been made available, but it was performed regularly during the summer leg of the Zeitgeist tour, and a common feature of the band's live sets up to 2010. Its debut at the first Paris show in 2007 indicates that it was written during the Zeitgeist sessions, but this is not confirmed. The song duration typically ranges from 15 to 35 minutes. It was recorded live at the Fillmore and was released on the DVD If All Goes Wrong.
Did you know...
- ...that Matt Sweeney's (of Zwan) former band Skunk helped inspire the composition that became "Frail and Bedazzled"?
- ...that "The Crying Tree of Mercury" had an online interactive music video directed by Billy Corgan that was released by MTV?
- ...that the original cover for Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness was supposed to picture a Victorian-style set with the full band in costume, but the artist demanded too much money?
- ...that The Smashing Pumpkins contributed to a various artists compilation album that parodied the hideous 70's and 80's K-tel compilations? Each participating band was to cover an obscure 70s song. The Pumpkins went with "Jackie Blue" by Ozark Mountain Daredevils.
- ...that Billy Corgan was the original bassist for The Smashing Pumpkins? Their very first show included Corgan on bass, Iha on guitar, and a drum machine.
In the news
April 27, 2024
April 26, 2024
- Kiki Wong is confirmed as the new guitarist of The Smashing Pumpkins.
April 24, 2024
- The NWA announces that Billy Corgan's new 8-episode unscripted series, Billy Corgan's Adventures in Carnyland will debut on The CW on May 14.
April 17, 2024
- Jeff Schroeder announces his new project Glass Bow with Vice Cooler, Andrea Wasse and Emily Retsas. They open up for Blushing on July 6.
Today in history May 5
Releases
- 2023: ATUM was released in the US (4×LP + 5×7") and Worldwide (4×LP, 3×CD, Digital)
Live shows
- 1990: (The Smashing Pumpkins) Metro; Chicago, IL, US
- 2000: (The Smashing Pumpkins) Ruth Eckerd Hall; Clearwater, FL, US
- 2005: (Jimmy Chamberlin Complex) DC9; Washington, DC, US
- 2007: (The Smashing Pumpkins) Congress Theater; Chicago, IL, US
- 2013: (The Smashing Pumpkins) Tom Lee Park; Memphis, TN, US [Beale Street Music Festival]
- 2021: (Tinted Windows) Rolling Live Studios; Los Angeles, CA, US – Tinted Windows final show, tribute to bassist Adam Schlesinger
- 2022: (The Smashing Pumpkins) Teatro Metropólitan; Mexico City, MX – first show in Mexico since 2013
- 2023: (Billy Corgan) KROQ Studios; Los Angeles, CA
More fan sites
- SPFC (Smashing Pumpkins Fan Collaborative) – One of the oldest and most comprehensive databases. Much of the data on SPCodex was imported from SPFC.
- SP Freaks – The de facto official museum for The Smashing Pumpkins.
- SPLRA (Smashing Pumpkins Live Recording Association) – A wiki dedicated to documenting live performances.
- The Smashing Pumpkast – A bi-weekly Smashing Pumpkins podcast hosted by Frank Garcia-Hejl and Pat O'Brien.
- SPFam – Facebook-based mental health and wellness peer support group.
- Landslide Omnipedia – Unique encyclopedic content and host for Act IV.
- Netphoria – A very active discussion forum for all things Smashing Pumpkins.