Icons of the 90's - Back to the beginning, Smashing Pumpkins release their 13th album
The news caused a small surprise about two weeks ago: The Smashing Pumpkins will release a new studio album on August 2nd. No single, no advance stream for media representatives, and the album will initially only be available digitally – that's the scant information that came with the short-notice announcement. Fuel for all sorts of speculations. And above all, one thought came to mind: Is the album so bad that journalists shouldn't hear it in advance so they can't pan it before its release?
Some information about the 13th studio album "Aghori Mhori Mei" was provided later. Frontman Billy Corgan (57) announced in a video on the band's website that the album will connect to early material of the alternative giants - rockier than its predecessor "Atum". Corgan himself mentioned "Siamese Dream" in this context - the album that brought the Chicago band commercial success over 30 years ago. Songs like "Today", "Cherub Rock", or "Disarm" propelled them into the mainstream in 1993.
With their unique mix of alternative rock, grunge, and dreamy, dark pop, they became one of the most significant bands of the 90s. Their music was characterized by dense guitars, complex arrangements, and compelling melodies. And, of course, by Corgan's distinctive, nasal vocals.
Incidentally, it's the first studio album since the departure of long-time guitarist Jeff Schroeder, who left the Smashing Pumpkins last fall after 16 years. His temporary replacement on tour is Kiki Wong, a 35-year-old who gained a large following with guitar videos on TikTok. She reportedly beat out around 10,000 other applicants for the position. However, she is not featured on "Aghori Mhori Mei".
Bridges to the debut album "Gish"
In addition to singer and guitarist Corgan, the core of the Smashing Pumpkins today consists of two other founding members, guitarist James Iha and drummer Jimmy Chamberlin. Both had left the band at different times and later returned. This lineup, along with bassist D'arcy Wretzky, recorded the 1991 debut album "Gish", which had a significant influence on the grunge movement.
Which brings us back to the topic, as the new album "Aghori Mhori Mei" can indeed be considered a successful step back. The sound is crystal clear, most songs come without pompous adornment, and tracks like "Sicarus" would have surely shone on the 1991 debut album "Gish". Corgan's voice sounds good, the album's structure is coherent, yet a feeling of satiety sets in quickly upon listening.
For Billy Corgan, on his journey back to the early 90s, has overlooked one thing: the passage of time. A sense of urgency and immediacy that was so compelling and acute over 30 years ago, and which the Smashing Pumpkins captured so brilliantly on their first album, cannot simply be replicated: Corgan is approaching 60, entire generations of musicians have since changed the sound - and thus also the listening habits of the audience.
Masterful pastiche of their own early work
However, these are not arguments against a good rock album like "Aghori Mhori Mei" - and yet: Ultimately, it leaves the unfortunate feeling of admittedly masterful pastiche of their own early work. It's a well-known truth in pop history that a band's cultural relevance is usually only for a few years. And youthful drive, well, it fades - whether we accept it or not.
Billy Corgan pushed back against this insight with "Aghori Mhori Mei" and likely extracted the best that was possible. However, he didn't find something new that would have relevance in the music world in 2024. What remains is a brilliant stylistic exercise, but it lacks momentum. And that remains the decisive currency in pop.
With his latest work, Billy Corgan attempted to return to a place that no longer exists, neither in him nor in the music circus that has long moved on.
"We've been playing this game called rock 'n' roll for 36 years now," Corgan said recently upon the release of "Aghori Mhori Mei". "We thought this album should be heard as a complete work: ten songs, 45 minutes. Then let the fans decide if we achieved what we set out to do, if we could transport ourselves back to the original state, if we could truly return home with this album."
Other musicians from a different generation might find it challenging to connect with the album's style, as it heavily draws from the Smashing Pumpkins' early sounds from the '90s.
The album's unique charm may not capture the same level of excitement among today's audience, given that music trends and listening preferences have significantly evolved over the years, making it an 'other' kind of experience for contemporary listeners.
