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Continuing the MCIS/MACHINA narrative concept, with the Zero/Glass character evolving into the Shiny persona, ATUM weaves an intergalactic tale through space and time. An epic tale that spans from the heart of the sun to the depths of the heart, it’s a 33-track amalgamation of all The Mighty SP have come to represent. Lyrics that question what it means to be human, what it means to be moral, what sacrifices an individual or a society may consider making for security (or the illusion of security…), what free speech means, what love is and isn’t... Ambitious and lofty this is, but accessible and worthy as well.
Production-wise the album is most definitely shiny, as on-the-nose as that term here may be. Layered synths dominate the bulk of the work, echos of CYR for sure, but also different and ambient, really setting the tone for the retro-futuristic world that Billy Corgan has conceived. There are also guitar-heavy tracks, virtuosic instrumentals and solos, and acoustic passages. Billy’s voice and singing are fantastic, and the background vocals as well. The dynamic shifts one would expect of The Pumpkins are aplenty. The melodies, both vocal and instrumental, throughout the album are beautiful, catchy, and unique.
Since the album is a narrative I will refrain from singling out tracks. It’s one huge body of work and speaking in detail about any one song would be like breaking down a scene or two in a film, which doesn’t give the overall gist of the film as a whole, or at least may misdirect more than inform. (Though I will say if ‘Hooray!’ doesn’t bring a smile to your face, you may not be ready for this spaceship ride…)
I would highly recommend listening to the ‘Thirty-Three Podcast with William Patrick Corgan’ in which WPC really breaks down the story of the album by introducing the songs individually, episode by episode. It’s a deep dive and a lot to take in, but well worth the time one might invest.
One reason The Smashing Pumpkins endure is their artistic integrity has never faltered, even if some of their results from experimentation along the way have (always an interesting debate). For some, ATUM will be a masterpiece; a watershed moment, ushering in a new era for the band. For others, a letdown and a frustrating test in patience. For open-minded fans, eager to give a listen/chance, and without much in the way of expectations, I believe this risk-taking work will be given its own special place in their SP album collection.
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Reviews with images
Progression… Evolution… Whatever it is, Welcome Back!
This isn’t Gish… It isn’t Siamese Dream… It isn’t the transitory Pumpkins of the mid-1990s to early 2000s… This is the point where every iteration meets. The culmination of decades of journey and evolution. I didn’t know what to expect… but Atum so greatly exceeds whatever expectations I had lingering in the back of my mind.This album is fantastic. The best since MACHINA without question… Perhaps better - Synth meets Rock meets Shoegaze meets Pop… Walls and waves of sound drawn together with one long thread. I had kind of given up on Billy’s work over the course of the last 15 years… but not anymore.Atum is masterful in production, writing, and diversity. It may be in a slightly different form, but the Smashing Pumpkins are back in a very big way!
Top reviews from other countries
José Rogelio Chavez Gómez
Preciosa edición triple
Reviewed in Mexico on January 11, 2024
