When The Beatles broke up, Paul McCartney formed Wings. Likewise The Smashing Pumpkins called it quits not long ago, and Billy Corgan has a new band, Zwan, and a new album, “Mary, Star of the Sea.”
Zwan released its debut album Jan. 28 on Reprise Records. The band is the brainchild of Billy Corgan and Matt Sweeney who met in 1990 and decided they would form a band when their current projects came to an end, according to www.zwan.com.
“As a fan of Machina, I see it as the perfect continuation of the story that album started to tell,” said Ben Kopel, an English sophomore. “I’m sure that the other four people that liked Machina would agree.”
Smashing Pumpkins fans immediately will see the difference from the front of the CD, which is covered in rainbows. From there they will be taken into Zwan’s happy, pop-rock world.
The band sounds reminiscent of earlier Smashing Pumpkins music, but it is a mediocre representation at best. The album’s optimistic lyrics and cheery sound are a severe break from Corgan’s past work.
Corgan changed from the frontman of The Smashing Pumpkins, the spokespeople for a depressed and alienated generation. The new album from the new band seems to focus on the optimistic and spiritual side of life. “Mary, Star of the Sea” is a far cry from “Siamese Dream” or “Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness.”
“Here comes my faith to carry me on. Faith, not a grave,” sings Corgan in the opening track, “Lyric.”
Billy Corgan’s recognizable voice that many associate with the sad, depressing songs of The Smashing Pumpkins doesn’t translate nearly as well to Zwan’s new sound.
Paz Lenchantin, from A Perfect Circle, does an excellent job playing bass guitar for Zwan, but many tracks are mixed with the bass so low, it’s hard to hear. She also provides the album’s powerful back-up vocals.
The only holdover from the Smashing Pumpkins is the drummer, Jimmy Chamberlin, who drives the more rock-heavy “Honestly” and shows restraint on the slower “El Sol.” He does equally well for Zwan as he did for Smashing Pumpkins.
The band has three different guitarists, Billy Corgan, Matt Sweeney and David Pajo. They blend well together, especially for the massive guitar piece in “Jesus I/Mary Star of the Sea” which is more than 14 minutes long.
After the initial shock of being the new and improved Billy Corgan, the album shapes up to be an adequate first album for a band. The true test will be the next album.
“Looks like Billy found Jesus. I hope this isn’t going to be like when Bowie lost coke,” Kopel said.
For more information about the band or to hear some of the new album, check out its Web site at www.zwan.com, but prepare to be bombarded with rainbows.