I love The Smashing Pumpkins.

I have written many times about this band. They played a pivotal role in my formative youth starting with “Siamese Dream” which I first heard at my Uncle Phil’s house. His son Chris had the album and I listened to it there for the first time. It was unlike anything I was into at that time and since that day, I have loved the band and Billy and all the incarnations and solo stuff.

I collected weird one-off songs in the Napster days. I remember the day I listened to my CD copy of “Melancholy And The Infinite Sadness” in my room while cleaning and thinking how mind-blowing the combination of songs were, how epic. Then I got “The Aeroplane Flies High”. What a crazy collection.

Then came “Machina” and “Machina II”… and I began to wonder. Then it was Zwan, then Billy Solo. There were some lean years when I thought that The Smashing Pumpkins might be no more.

Then Dalton and I went to see the movie “If All Goes Wrong”.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1236247/reviews?ref_=tt_urv

This one was a stepping stone. I didn’t realize that The Smashing Pumpkins had a new album “Zeitgeist” which is amazing, and had no idea a new Smashing Pumpkins revival was happening.

Then came “Oceania” and “Monuments To An Elegy”. I picked up the latter on vinyl.

I have been seeing posts about a new Smashing Pumpkins tour on Instagram and been heartened that Billy is still at it. Then came this yesterday:

O M G !

So, yeah Billy. Instagram works.

Smashing Pumpkins’ reunion album, Shiny And Oh So Bright, Vol. 1, out in November

I immediately went to the site via the link and  pre-ordered a copy. Booyah! More Smashing Pumpkins!!

Now, you will note that I go the dismal “normal” vinyl bundle. There are plenty of other options if you are deep of pocket and love colored vinyl or Limited Editions etc…  I drooled over several of these options. The only reason I bought the David Bowie clear vinyl edition of Blackstar was because it just a little bit more. I had no idea it would be his last and that the crazy thing would still be going for hundreds of dollars at this point. So I passed on the violet version and the version with the 7″ singles and bundles with shirts and sweatshirts.

My bundle comes with regular lack vinyl and downloads of 2 songs from the album: “Solara” and “Silvery Sometimes (Ghosts)”. Now often I will not listen to pre-release songs. I like the surprise of hearing the whole thing. This time however, I couldn’t resist.

“Solara” is a great throwback to the old Pumpkins “Gish” era sound. Love it. Rocking out all the way. I see why they pre-released this one.

“Silvery Sometimes (Ghosts)” is softer and smooth with some amazing wispy guitar work in the quiet moments. Billy’s voice is crisp and the hook is great. You can listen to this song by the way at the Consequence Of Sound link above.

These songs sound great and I am excited for the new release. There are 8 tracks and I suspect it will be on the short side, but none the less I am stoked. Billy and James and Jimmy are back together and Jeff Schroeder (featured in “If All Goes Wrong”) is still with them too.

The Smashing Pumpkins are one of the few bands that I will buy a new album from without ever having heard a single song. They are just that good.

Here’s to November!