Note: Zeitgeist is the first album credited to Smashing Pumpkins since 2000’s Machina: The Machines of God, but this isn’t really a reunion. Only frontman Billy Corgan and drummer Jimmy Chamberlin are present from the original lineup and the two played together in the post-Pumpkins band Zwan. So how is this more Smashing Pumpkins than Zwan was? And since Billy wrote and played everything on the album (except drums), how is this not a Billy Corgan solo album, like 2005’s The Future Embrace?
Sound: Zeitgeist rocks much harder than Zwan or Billy’s solo album…some of the time. The first half, in particular, is loaded with distorted, shredding riffs and pounding rhythms that take you back to the Pumpkins’ ‘90s heyday and are suited to energize mass audiences. The other tracks are a mishmash of the more electronic, ambient grooves the Pumpkins explored on their last two albums and Billy’s solo album, and the lighter, brighter and more melodic rock of Zwan.
Look For: The ominous mood, song structure and melody in the verse of “Starz” reminds me of Metallica’s “The Thing That Should Not Be” from Master of Puppets. It’s certainly not a direct ripoff, but I can’t help but think there may have been some inspiration there.
Heavy Rotation tracks: “Doomsday Clock”; “Tarantula”
Medium Rotation tracks: “Starz”; “7 Shades of Black”
Recommended: The driving, guitar-driven anthems are exciting examples of what’s missing from mainstream rock today and absolutely worth downloading. The mellower moments don’t hold up nearly as well and are just as disappointing as the majority of Billy Corgan’s output in the last ten years.
Grade: B

Listen to Tracks/Buy Music:
On iTunes
On barnesandnoble.com