Billy Corgan, TheFutureEmbrace (2005)

For me, this is "Adore" done properly -- lots of "Daphne Descends" (huge-sounding songs) and less of "Annie Dog" (soft-rock wihimpering + some electronics).

Hey, I'll not stand for that! It is a variation on the theme of that album, though, v. much so -- the return of Bon Harris makes that clearer.

IMO, "TFE" > "Adore" ... anyone else? (it might be too soon for people to make a judgement one way or the other, but I'll ask the question anyway)

Yay fudging!

Yeah, it's an enjoyable album, starts better than it ends but I can't complain and a couple of Corgan's best songs are hidden away on the DVD. Also saw them live a year before the album came out and they were great -- second ever show or something.

"Mina Loy" is indeed a monster of a song, I realize now upon relistening. When the bass kicks in again, goddamn.

This album IS really short, Corgan should be getting some grudging props for that from those who have always complained of the long-windedness. I wonder how much is due to reduced creativity (or rather, quantity of songs) or if it is a conscious decision to create a tighter album.

One thing- anyone else noticing the lyrics repeating old Pumpkins tropes pretty shamelessly? "Iiiinnnocence"..."stay with me"

RE: comparisons to Adore, I'm with Ned in that BC could sing Limp Bizkit covers and I'd listen, but I don't hear anything on this new one that equals the eloquent "For Martha."

I think he actually sings "Siamese dream" at one point! I larfed.

well, let ME tell you otherwise, becuz yr mixing up Machina and Machina 2. Machina was the bland dreary on, M2 had the GOOD stuff on it..

and bah! to b0lly and his neo-adore poopycaca.
play yr damned gtr, fewl!!! you know how to rawk, so do it like it needs to be done...

MUST...CONTROL...FIST OF DEATH...

Anyway I'm reviving this only to say the cameraeye song is really catchy- i like it.

http://s51.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=21GF307GBR6SU37W7LPYGN596U

*listens*

Mm, you're right -- the opening bits sounded 'eh okay' but as soon as the full song kicked in I was a most happy boy.

SOME people (malkmus apologists) say the same thing...

As for Zwan...if Corgan hadn't lost the ability to choose the right tracks for albums, Mary Star of the Sea could have been fantastic. Zwan have so many good b sides...but still, Come With Me, the second half of MSOTS and "Yeah", are all as good or better than anything on TFE.

I wrote a review of it on Static Multimedia, fwiw. I think its a really enjoyable record.

Oh...and I don't think it was mentioned, but Earphoria was officially released by Virgin in the winter of 2002, so stores should still have it in stock.

Personally, I'm real back and forth on Corgan the man. But I believe in Corgan the artist. I have a similar thing with Ryan Adams.

Mina Loy (M.O.H) is an excellent song and easily the best off the album, but I loved Adore and I think this one pales in comparison. (They are both synthey and dense.)

http://www.cbs.com/latenight/lateshow/exclusives/music/ls_ex_music_billycorgan.shtml

That's a goddamn shame.

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/29/arts/music/29corg.html

"Goth bus drivers *never* go out of style!"

(I am miffed I will have to miss this tour, I have to say.)

I listened to Pumpkins all the time, 91-94. All the time.

Yet I recently realized I could not recall a single thing about them--you could play a 16 Horsepower song and say it was SP and I'd be like, "Okay."

I mean, never has something gone into my brain and left with so scant a trace. If it wasn't for his song on the Lost Highway st, I wouldn't even know what his voice sounded like.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0506210240jun21,1,5197990.story

I suddenly really love this album.

I still enjoy it. Been a while since I gave it an ear, though.

I've never heard it in full before. The synths are Numanesque in parts. & guitar in the chorus of "Mina Loy" is awesome.

The synths are Numanesque

Oh please don't blaspheme like that.

hard to believe this came out ten years ago. "all things change" and "now and then" are great songs but those loud, dry vocals just sound awful. not an album to listen to around other people

also LOL at the notion that this is the "successful" version of what he was trying to do with Adore

Is he going to reissue this under the name of "William Corgan"? :D

i liked this record a lot when it came out but it really is the start of his unfortunate vocal production

making his voice palatable to millions was such an unlikely achievement to begin with that it kinda figures that any mild change to the recipe would spell disaster

it's not just the dryness though, because the vocals are just as high and dry on MCIS. imo, Adore is his best album vocally by a longshot. even the vocals on Machina sound better than MCIS in places. take Thirty-Three - imagine those vocals produced like Blank Page or something. taking vocal lessons or the damage done after half a dozen world tours changed the way his bleat. it's a thin line

Last thing of his I actively sought out. Then he revived the SP name and I was all "Haha, no."

everyone on netphoria stans for the live-only outtakes of this era, i'm not so sure:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-oO1iJuYHs

Last thing of his I actively sought out. Then he revived the SP name and I was all "Haha, no."

― Ned Raggett, Monday, April 6, 2015 8:05 PM (13 minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

Which is a shame, because Oceania is a really good record and without a doubt the best thing he's done since!