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36 of 38 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Zmashing Pumpkins it isn't, March 19, 2003
I am really annoyed at all the reviewers who have complained at how different this is from the Smashing Pumpkins. Why are they so surprised? Why do they feel Billy Corgan cheated them? I think it was made loud and clear that this is ZWAN, not the Smashing Pumpkins continued. People who are disappointed at the changes in the music and mood are only kidding themselves. Billy has even said that Zwan does not play Pumpkin songs at shows, so I think it is clear that the Pumpkins are over. Zwan's debut features something probably no one thought they'd see - a very, VERY happy Billy Corgan. It is quite obvious by listening to Mary Star of the Sea that the old rat in a cage has found God (on "Declarations of Faith" Billy makes it clear in the chorus `I declare myself of faith'). He has found joy in life, and it radiates throughout the CD. There is no doom-and-gloom here. The first single, "Honestly", will give you a good idea of what to expect. It's not the best song on the album, but it was a good idea for the first single because it has all the Zwan elements you find throughout every song. A very happy, carefree, fun attitude; an infectious, rocking riff; and Zwan's loud three guitar attack. Another standout on the album is "Jesus I/Mary Star of the Sea". "Jesus I" is a 14 minute masterpiece (on par with the longer Pumpkins songs, such as "X.Y.U." but certainly not sounding anything the same)in which all the musicians get a chance to shine. I've listened to this song over and over and in my opinion, this track alone is nearly worth the entire cost of the album. Other songs that grab you right away are "Yeah!", "Lyric", "Endless Summer", and "Heartsong". However, there is not one misstep in the whole CD. You won't need to hit the skip button on `Mary'. Overall, this is a great CD to listen to LOUD during summer. Did I say great? It is actually perfect. I always thought the Pumpkins would be good as a happy band (not that they were bad as a depressed angst band), and Zwan gives me what I want. Buy this album, play it loud, and be happy.
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11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
More Zmashing, February 14, 2003
Zwan is not a supergroup, or even really a distinct new group of its own. Instead it's a new extension of Smashing Pumpkins, with Billy Corgan still solidly in control of the songwriting. This album presents a logical progression from the final proper Pumpkins album, the underrated Machina. The other similarities between the two bands are ridiculously predictable. Pumpkins drummer Jimmy Chamberlin has come over wholesale. Bassist Paz Lenchantin (from A Perfect Circle) is now the female counterpoint, utilized liberally on backing vocals, although she's better at both bass and vocals than D'Arcy of the Pumpkins. Guitarists Matt Sweeney and David Pajo have hip indie credentials, but here they make few distinct musical statements of their own and are merely two more cogs in the Corgan machine. Corgan has made no major changes in his songwriting style, besides some natural development, so Zwan are just some new Pumpkins.Lyrically, Corgan has thankfully dropped most of his self-righteous woe-is-me schtick and has become much more spiritual, with his usual helping of romantic musings. Musically, this album still contains some of the Pumpkins' old problems, such as the hokey sing-along "Come With Me;" while this time the gigantic sprawling epic is the 14-minute "Jesus I/Mary Star of the Sea" which can't quite justify its entire length. But this album also shows the long-time strengths in Corgan's songwriting that he rarely receives credit for. This includes pent-up, dramatic ballads like "Heartsong" and the energetic, groove-worthy rockers like "Declarations of Faith" and "Ride a Black Swan." So this Zwan album has little new to offer, but it is a good buy for Smashing Pumpkins fans who wish to see how Corgan has continued to improve his approach. Note that at various points in the liner notes, the bandleader calls himself both Billy Corgan and Billy Burke for some reason. Put all the members of Zwan in alphabetical order and Corgan is merely in second place. Burke moves up to first.
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15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Smashing Zwan!, January 28, 2003
As a big fan of the Smashing Pumpkins, I had to look into the band Zwan. At first, I really wasn't into the single, "Honestly" but it grew on me in time. After getting Zwan's "Mary Star of the Sea" I was really blown away by the first track, just the guitar sounds, the arrangement, everything. As I listened to the rest of the album, Ive come to find that the Smashing Pumpkins arent dead at all, Jimmy's incomparable drumming is still as present on Zwan's album as it was with the Pumpkins, hes still the best. And Billy has seemingly worked through some of the demons of pumpkin-ness and released an amazing post pumpkins post rock album. And the song "So I died of a broken heart" is eerie yet sad, almost reminiscent of "Disarm", accompanied by keyboard strings, while Baby Lets Rock is just a damn happy, sort of bluesy kind of song. This album was far above my expectations and it just proves that Billy does it again... he may have left the Pumpkins, but the Pumpkins havent left him. He still can write a damn good song. Billy indeed has talent, unlike a lot of todays "hit" artists, I look at them and even if they do make a satsifying song, most of them do lack talent. No matter what you say about Billy, he has talent, and there is no denying that if you listen to any Pumpkins album, and Mary Star of the Sea. Pure talent.
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is Zwan's 
