Smashing Pumpkins title experimental eighth LP…
It’s been a weird year for the Smashing Pumpkins — or, in other words, Billy Corgan. Between losing Jimmy Chamberlin, appearing in wrestling promos, adding 19-yr-old drummer Mike Byrne, doing that short Spirits stint, and asking fans for prayers, it makes sense that the forthcoming LP would be a little left of the dial. Say what you will about the guy — and, oh, we’ve had our share of words — but the ol’ Chicago control freak stays true to his word. Just as he stated in his blog earlier this year, the band’s moving forward with the experimental LP, which will be released sequentially. In other words, this studio LP will be released over the next year or two… and eventually as EPs (11 in all). Hmm, cool.
Titled Teargarden by Kaleidyscope, the new record will eventually contain 44 songs, released one at a time online. The catch? It’s free. “There will be no strings attached,” Corgan insists. “Free will mean free, which means you won’t have to sign up for anything, give an email address, or jump through a hoop. You will be able to go and take the song or songs as you wish, as many times as you wish.” Well, nobody complained about signing up for Radiohead, but okay, we’ll buy it. Hey, at least he’s still embracing the idea, unlike Mr. Reznor. Not to mention, how else is Corgan gonna loop people in? Well, other than the fanatics.
So far, they’re off to a good start. Apparently the band’s recording four tunes as of now — Corgan says he has 53 songs on paper — with the first release due as early as this Halloween. (Hey, that makes sense! Just look at their name!) So, what can we expect? More stuff like G.L.OW.? No complaints there. Or, will it take the psychedelic route a la fellow friends Spirits in the Sky? Ba-zing! Corgan says the new material, “harkens back to the original psychedelic roots of The Smashing Pumpkins: atmospheric, melodic, heavy, and pretty.” The lone frontman even digresses on the title: “The story of the album is based on ‘The Fool’s Journey’, as signified in the progress of the Tarot. It is my intention to approach this by breaking down the journey of our life here into four phases as made by these different characters; the Child, the Fool, the Skeptic, and the Mystic.”
The question is: Does anyone care?
The answer: Well, it’s free. Can’t really argue otherwise.
The bottom line: Something wicked this way comes October — just remember, wicked can be either good or bad.
About the new album -
I’m so excited for this! It’s a great and mostly progressive release model as well. Billy knows that the fans (like me) who would love to have a physical copy, will buy the physical releases anyway.
By releasing it for free, it doesn’t allow anyone to have any kind of “claim” about how much the music is “worth,” say, with Radiohead’s model. (I’m not bashing Radiohead hear, I think it was a cool idea).
Anyway, from what I heard of the Spirits in the Sky tour, the new material is going to be AMAZING. I heard an interview today with Billy and Kerry on Navarro’s radio show, and they hinted at the first song being released being “The Trip!” Totally EPIC!
Joe P. -
Every artist and/or creator of anything is automatically given an “intellectual property right,” which means that if you or Billy put a © symbol on your work, you have the rights to that work. If someone uses it without your consent, it is still infringement of copyright.
At least, this was my understanding of the copyright laws in the USA. Here are some “copyright basics:” http://www.copyright.gov/circs/circ1.pdf
Hope that helps.
Hmmm. I hope it’s good, and heck once the boxed set comes out i’m all over it. I believe he should charged leechers for the songs. but whatever he thinks is going to help…..
Also I’m tired and I honestly don’t quite know how this works so please don’t bash me… but if the songs are free and can be downloaded as many times as they want.. (blah blah etc), does that mean that they are going to fall into public domain? At least these low quality internet files maybe? If you’re just going to be giving it out for free, do you even file to copyright it?If so how do you protect the fair useage of it if people are just taking it as they please?
Its good to see Billy get some good press. It seems like its pretty hip to bash anything he does or says, so I’m glad to see him getting some good publicity. I think that he truly is a gifted & prolific songwriter, no matter how you look at the career/personal paths he has taken. Hopefully with the music being free, a wider group of people will finally be able to realize that too.
My only worry is that he won’t actually finish it. He has been known to be a little less than reliable with various projects. I still want my Metro DVD and blu ray If all goes wrong.
Funny story, Steve…
why don’t you guys link to hipsters united anymore?
As someone who has partaken in the negativity towards Corgan, I am looking forward to this. I’m a sucker for concept albums, and I’ll give Corgan a shot every time until I hear the album (Future Embrace, Zeitgeist). And it’s for free? Who’s gonna really complain? The haters, I guess.
I don’t really see a hate bandwagon from this — at least until the music arrives. Even then, you can’t complain much. It’s free for Christ’s sake. If anything, people will still remain finicky in calling it the Pumpkins…this writer included.
before the hate bandwagon arrives, i’m just gonna say this concept seems awesome and i’m looking forward to this project coming. besides the music being released as its finished, you can follow what they are accomplishing in the studio day-by-day on a couple blogs and twitter accounts. just go to smashingpumpkins.com or hipsters united to find them. Kerry Brown’s is probably the most interesting. http://glittercop.blogspot.com/
I didn’t think Corgan had it in him…
It’s not a surprise, really. I mean, he did release Machina II online. But nevertheless, you’re right, it’s pretty cool. Regardless, I can’t get too psyched about this yet. I just wish Chamberlin were with ‘em.
This is effin awesome. Another artists who “get’s” it. Mike Masnick’s formula of CwF + RtB = $$ (Connect with Fans + Reason to Buy = Success) fits perfectly here. I never would of bought any new music by Corgan or go out of my way to listen to any, but I’ll sure as hell check these out. Regardless of how much $$ he makes on this, people will be listening which is the #1 goal.
Sep 17th, 2009 at 1:00 pm
[...] the Smashing Pumpkins (aka Billy Corgan) are trying on a new idea called “paynada” by giving away about 40 songs over the course of a year or so. While no one can argue getting free stuff period without any options is certainly generous — [...]