If only they could sing, just a bit.

8)

After MCIS, the band's sound changed significantly... it turned a lot of younger listeners off, which also happened to be a huge chunk of their fanbase most likely. Older listeners or those that have a better appreciation and understanding of different music (like me) didn't mind the transition (I think Adore is one of their finest moments). But a lot of people my age just didn't understand the direction they were heading in and would've rather listened to less talented, but still loud and angsty bands like KoRn and Limp Bisquick. Their loss. The band's art direction (in terms of how they LOOKED) also changed, which is always unfavorable to a mainstream audience.


SP is still a very popular Internet band -- their bootlegs are all over the place, along with Pearl Jam and Radiohead... and a lot of younger kids seem to be getting into them, which I think is great.


As for Zwan? Man, what a trainwreck. And its a shame. A lot of their live shows were amazing; the studio album didn't even come close to what the band demonstrated at live shows that were bootlegged and encouraged to be put onto the internet by the band. A lot of it has to do with the fact that Matt Sweeney and David Pajo (the indie guys) started to isolate themselves from the band as soon as they realized they were going to record an album to be put on a mainstream label. That left Corgan and Chamberlin to do all the work, with Paz basically along for the ride. Basically, half the band didn't want to have anything to do with the album. Which explains why it lacks what I hear in all of my Zwan bootlegs. The fact that Corgan is a studio junkie and wants to do most of the work with his producers doesn't help the situation much, either. If they all came together and produced it like an indie band would, I think their album would've been outstanding. The cool thing is that even though the studio album wasn't too great, a lot of their bootlegs were, and they are all free.

MrGreg wrote: I think people were mad about the breakup and weren't too impressed by Zwan. They were big favorites in Illinois and probably still are, Billy Corgan is from Chicago. I was a freshman in high school when Melancholy was released and it was almost a State event. Of course, Champagne-Urbana being a big college town may have had something to do with it.

MrGreg wrote: I didn't ! I've always been a fan and probably always will.

What actually happened to Smashing Pumpkins' following during their last few albums? So many fans seemed to turn their back, and I don't understand it. I've always found their music to be quite enjoyable, especially the foray into the more melodic in their later stuff.

Such a very sad album, but always a great listen