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Chicago Favorites Offer New L(ong) P - For Free |
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Written by KONSTANTIN BEZZUBOV
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Thursday, 17 December 2009 |
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Alternative music was once a revolutionary force that cut through the excess of late 80’s tights-wearing hair metal. Gritty guitars and strained vocals rocked the nation, and local luminaries Smashing Pumpkins were one of the leaders of the movement. Of course, now that stuff is just being spun on the likes of Q101-giving music geeks a reason to groan when hearing bands from that era still being relegated to the “alternative” genre. Well, if you haven’t heard already, the Pumpkins are back now, or at least trying to get noticed again. And they’re going indie! The group plans to release Teagarden by Kaleidyscope independently at a TBA date. It will be a 44-track album, with each song being released one at a time. Besides being available online for free, there will eventually be 11 EPs of four songs each, sold as mini-box sets.
Though the Pumpkins are known for their lush melodies and radio-friendly format, the first track out from Teagarden is the start of what promises to be a winding musical journey. It definitely goes beyond the typical alt-rock standard of guitar-bass-drums. Sounding epic while still clinging to their trademark sound via Billy Corgan’s acidic vocals, the song starts off with gentle piano and moves into acoustic balladry: “This is a song for a son, this is a song for a sailor; the best I ever had.” It opens up into a raw guitar solo section, and comes back down the way it started; this time with a lingering flute leading the descent.
The ideas behind the song are personal. Corgan says, “I think it has something to do about not having any kids and thinking about why I don’t have any kids. And then also kind of thinking about my relationship with my father…I didn’t set out to write that, it just rolled out of me.” If you recall, Corgan and crew played the song in a more basic form during their 20th anniversary tour, but now according to Corgan, it’s more like a “movie”. “Song for a Son” is accessible, and has the Pumpkins’ stamp on it. While it doesn’t break new ground or move into very sophisticated sonic territory, it’s a good listen that fans should enjoy for simultaneously forging a new path for the band while sticking to time-tested ideas.
Check out the song at the new Smashing Pumpkins website: www.smashingpumpkins.com
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