For the first time of his career, Billy Corgan finds himself not hiding behind a band name. After much anticipation and optimistic postings on his web site, Corgan released his first solo album, TheFutureEmbrace, June 21. Corgan, the former front man of the 1990s alternative rock band, the Smashing Pumpkins, has faced numerous obstacles in his career, but this album should prove to be his greatest. With a fickle music scene circulating around much younger artists, the 38-year-old may very well be a living piece of rock history.
The album finds Corgan discarding the faux-optimism of Zwan and taking a step in the direction of a more somber, ambient tone much like his work with the Smashing Pumpkins. Like his work on 1998's "Adore," Corgan's album is heavy with synthesizer and drum-machine based. Former Pumpkin Jimmy Chamberlin makes an appearance on the song "DIA" providing his characteristically galloping drum work.
Throughout the album the listener finds a very richly layered style of music-a Corgan staple. "Now (And Then)" tangles synthesizer with chiming, distorted guitars creating a very heavy atmospheric sound. A slow-paced song, "Now (And Then)" captures the heart-breaking sincerity that catapulted both the Smashing Pumpkins and Corgan into the limelight.
The dreamy, 1980s pop ambiance of "Pretty, pretty STAR" brings back memories of "Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness." Again a rich layer of warbling guitars, synthesizer and, of course, Corgan's trademark nasal vocals provides a lullaby-like tone to the song.
Corgan's album is not altogether smooth, however, and many tracks will find themselves victim to the skip button on the stereo. The lackluster cover of the Bee Gee's hit, "To Love Somebody," features Robert Smith of the Cure and contains a muddy layer of guitar tracks in the background providing something similar to white noise. Smith's presence is hardly noticed and Corgan's voice does not do the Gibbs brothers justice. "I'm Ready" is an ultra-repetitive song that begins with a droning synthesizer melody much akin to elevator music.
Lyrically, Corgan has not skipped a beat. He is able to scowl at his listeners with his cynical wit and charm them (for brief moments) with an uplifting quality he honed during his short tenure with Zwan. His vocals continue to improve as his range continues to sprawl up the scales. This is clearly exhibited in "Walking Shade," as his voice climbs high above the bouncy electronic drum beat.
The leading news story in Pumpkin land, however, was not the release of TheFutureEmbrace. Ever the master of deceit, Corgan surprised listeners and Pumpkins fans again by stating the possibility of a Smashing Pumpkins reunion by way of a full-page advertisement in the Chicago Tribune and the Sun Times. This desire to reunite the now-defunct act begs the question: how much faith does Corgan have in his solo career?
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