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Product Description
Product Description
Eighth studio album by the American rock group. The album is part of the band's ongoing project entitled 'Teargarden by Kaleidyscope', which began in 2009, and includes the single 'The Celestials'.
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CD
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Being an album within an album, the 13 song "Oceania" is extracted from the far bigger, still unreleased 44 song "Teargarden by Kaliedoscope" : Billy, where the hell do you find these titles? This is absurd.
Being the first Pumpkins record without Jimmy Chamberlain on drums, the Pumpkins are now, to be strict, an extension of Corgans solo identity in the rock format. Less than the traditional idea of a band, more than a solo project, The Pumpkins of 2012 are now - 25 years on - a weird prospect : much like other bands of ever rotating members - where the identity sits not in people, but in sounds and rhythms. Would you know that this lineup shares only one person with the band that recorded 2000's "Machines Of God"? Would you care? When you're in the crowd of the London O2, or the Seattle Dome, or whereever, it might be irrelevant. At least one person told me they saw Pink Floyd performing "The Wall" last year, even though not one member of the final Floyd lineup was present.
"Quasar" opens : rampaging, angry rhythms, rolling bass, growling guitars. This is how Corgan does it. The lyrics are the usual stuff : questioning, semi-sixth form poetry (not that this is a bad thing), but also spiritually stuck, dealing with the same concerns and issues he was twenty years ago. Sonically there is not much progression - and this is no bad thing either. When the template is at a certain standard, there is little refinement to make. The production is clear and dynamic with slight compression in the mastering. Whilst lacking in killer hits that are instant setlist classics, there are 13 solid songs
To be blunt though, I started to get bored on first listen.... Read more ›
Being the first Pumpkins record without Jimmy Chamberlain on drums, the Pumpkins are now, to be strict, an extension of Corgans solo identity in the rock format. Less than the traditional idea of a band, more than a solo project, The Pumpkins of 2012 are now - 25 years on - a weird prospect : much like other bands of ever rotating members - where the identity sits not in people, but in sounds and rhythms. Would you know that this lineup shares only one person with the band that recorded 2000's "Machines Of God"? Would you care? When you're in the crowd of the London O2, or the Seattle Dome, or whereever, it might be irrelevant. At least one person told me they saw Pink Floyd performing "The Wall" last year, even though not one member of the final Floyd lineup was present.
"Quasar" opens : rampaging, angry rhythms, rolling bass, growling guitars. This is how Corgan does it. The lyrics are the usual stuff : questioning, semi-sixth form poetry (not that this is a bad thing), but also spiritually stuck, dealing with the same concerns and issues he was twenty years ago. Sonically there is not much progression - and this is no bad thing either. When the template is at a certain standard, there is little refinement to make. The production is clear and dynamic with slight compression in the mastering. Whilst lacking in killer hits that are instant setlist classics, there are 13 solid songs
To be blunt though, I started to get bored on first listen.... Read more ›
22 of 25 people found the following review helpful
By James Long
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Until recently I wished that Billy Corgan had never reformed the Smashing Pumpkins. As a die-hard fan, the mediocrity of Zeitgeist was hard to stomach - but not half as hard as the forgettable Teargarden material that followed. Only 'The Rose March' off the American Gothic EP hinted that Corgan still had the ability to pen a good song, but even then the rest of that EP was disappointing. With each new offering, I became more and more convinced that Corgan's creative juices had run dry.
Then along came Oceania, and Corgan's claim that it was the best thing he'd done since Mellon Collie. I bought the album more in hope than expectation, deliberately ignoring the growing buzz and the free availability of the tracks online. I went in almost totally cold (I'd heard a bit of My Love Is Winter six months before, but that was the only exposure I had).
I was promptly blown away. Corgan is right: this *is* the best thing he's done since Mellon Collie.
Stylistically Oceania contains hints of earlier albums; a touch of Gish's psychedelia, a bit of Siamese Dream's sonic fuzz, some of Mellon Collie's poetry and a few of the electronic beats and loops of Adore (thankfully there's none of Zeitgeist in there). There's even a touch of Zwan about it (Corgan's ill-fated post-Pumpkins band). Yet the end result is an album that sounds completely unique; it's unquestionably a Smashing Pumpkins album, but it feels different. It feels fresh - a new start, a rebirth.
Oceania mixes quite a few different styles. Quasar is a stomping rocker, a throwback to the Gish/Siamese Dream days. The Celestials showcases the classic soft/heavy dynamic that has always been the Pumpkins' trademark.... Read more ›
Then along came Oceania, and Corgan's claim that it was the best thing he'd done since Mellon Collie. I bought the album more in hope than expectation, deliberately ignoring the growing buzz and the free availability of the tracks online. I went in almost totally cold (I'd heard a bit of My Love Is Winter six months before, but that was the only exposure I had).
I was promptly blown away. Corgan is right: this *is* the best thing he's done since Mellon Collie.
Stylistically Oceania contains hints of earlier albums; a touch of Gish's psychedelia, a bit of Siamese Dream's sonic fuzz, some of Mellon Collie's poetry and a few of the electronic beats and loops of Adore (thankfully there's none of Zeitgeist in there). There's even a touch of Zwan about it (Corgan's ill-fated post-Pumpkins band). Yet the end result is an album that sounds completely unique; it's unquestionably a Smashing Pumpkins album, but it feels different. It feels fresh - a new start, a rebirth.
Oceania mixes quite a few different styles. Quasar is a stomping rocker, a throwback to the Gish/Siamese Dream days. The Celestials showcases the classic soft/heavy dynamic that has always been the Pumpkins' trademark.... Read more ›
13 of 16 people found the following review helpful
By P H. Moore
Format:Audio CD
OK, so I am a HUGE Pumpkins fan, and have been a fan since I first heard Mellon Collie in 1995. That album blew me away, and they became my favorite band instantly. Since then I have bought everything I could find including all albums, demos, dvds, unreleased stuff, live albums etc. And for me every album is a 5 star album apart from Adore (4 stars) and the disappointing Zeitgeist (3 stars.) And so after Zeitgeist I had fairly low expectations for Oceania. I didn't enjoy previous Teargarden releases, and it seemed to me that the band's best day's were behind them. Billy has reinvented the band with new members after Jimmy Chamberlin left, including an excellent young drummer Mike Byrne. First of all Oceania sounds like a proper Smashing Pumpkins album. Billy has taken inspiration from his previous Pumpkins albums and somehow mixed them all together to make something new, but at the same time recognizable as the Smashing Pumpkins. Back is the emotion of Siamese Dream and Mellon Collie, back are the synth's from Adore. Back is the psychedelia of Gish etc. Yes Corgan has really brought the focus back with the new line-up. Oceania may not be a Mellon-Collie, but it is a very solid album. I have listened through the album 6 or so times so far and I am surprised at just how good it is. Oceania comfortably sits alongside other classic albums like Machina, Gish, and Pisces Iscariot as a very good Smashing Pumpkins album. And let's be honest, who saw that coming? I didn't!
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By ratmonkey
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
The first 'proper' album from the Pumpkins (well Mr Corgan anyway) since Zeitgeist, Oceania (still unsure how to pronounce it) shows the band under Billy's total control (give or take) is not cause for concern. Yes they were better earlier on in their career, and still haven't produced anything else as seminal as Siamese Dream and Mellon Collie, but this is a far better expression of intent since Adore. Zeitgeist wasn't bad as such (insomuch as Machina wasn't as good as everyone made out) but Oceania is just a very good rock record. It is assured, well-structured, doesn't pander to commercial needs and feels 'honest', as if a band go together and made some songs together because they wanted to. Some talented band. It's not groundbreaking but it's also unlike a lot of their previous material, heading toward the prog-rock side of music as opposed to the grunge/metal or alternative/indie sides.
Opener 'Quasar' is immediately powerful and smacks of material from Gish but doesn't shine as bright as it should. The lyrics are odd (to me) but that's not really the issue. The song itself is ok but not as strong as the opening song from a NEW Smashing Pumpkins album should be. 'Panopticon' fares slightly better and reminds of Mellon Collie's faster and more thoughtful moments. Again it's not perfect but still pretty good. It's when 'The Celestials' kicks in that the album starts to make waves. It is the unashamedly 'singley' song. It has an awesome chorus, hooks aplenty and a nicely ramped up guitar. But it's what it says that is important. And that is simply that the Pumpkins can make great music again. 'Violet Rays' is back to the alt-prog side of things again but in a good way. Again, the chorus kind of reminds of 'Galapagos' from Mellon Collie.... Read more ›
Opener 'Quasar' is immediately powerful and smacks of material from Gish but doesn't shine as bright as it should. The lyrics are odd (to me) but that's not really the issue. The song itself is ok but not as strong as the opening song from a NEW Smashing Pumpkins album should be. 'Panopticon' fares slightly better and reminds of Mellon Collie's faster and more thoughtful moments. Again it's not perfect but still pretty good. It's when 'The Celestials' kicks in that the album starts to make waves. It is the unashamedly 'singley' song. It has an awesome chorus, hooks aplenty and a nicely ramped up guitar. But it's what it says that is important. And that is simply that the Pumpkins can make great music again. 'Violet Rays' is back to the alt-prog side of things again but in a good way. Again, the chorus kind of reminds of 'Galapagos' from Mellon Collie.... Read more ›
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
2.0 out of 5 stars
Something Is Missing
Smashing Pumpkins, or The Smashing Pumpkins as they became known as during the later part of their career were an amazing and unique proposition on the landscape of the early to... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Gilgamesh
5.0 out of 5 stars
Dont hesitate
Sorry weak little review this. I feel that my music reviews always pale a little when compaired to others. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Grumblebum
5.0 out of 5 stars
great album
this album has the old style pumpkins sound, love it. recommended to daughter and she loves it too! good buy
Published 5 months ago by Mrs. A. M. Simpson
4.0 out of 5 stars
One of their best
Ok, you know how you get these groups who made their best work years ago, die hard fans live for a new release and no matter how average it is love it, I am not one of those. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Toby le Rhone
1.0 out of 5 stars
Worse than Zeitgeist
I read reviews on other sites that this album was a return to form. Not in my eyes.
The first listen while I was working was nothing ground-shaking. Read more
The first listen while I was working was nothing ground-shaking. Read more
Published 9 months ago by R Morris
4.0 out of 5 stars
Their best since "Adore"
The Smashing Pumpkins gained most of their success in the 90's with critically acclaimed recordings such as "Siamese Dream" and the double album "Mellon Collie And The Infinite... Read more
Published 10 months ago by Amillionmiles
5.0 out of 5 stars
They are back
Rolling Stone Magazine rated this as the best album in 2012 (to date). I have to agree. Its Pumpkins at their best, going back to their Gish/Siamese Dreams/PI days. Read more
Published 10 months ago by G. Grech
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent
I think I might be in the minority but I found early Pumpkins albums like Gish to be over rated. My first ever Pumpkins album was Adore and it still remains one of my favourites of... Read more
Published 11 months ago by R. M. Pearson
1.0 out of 5 stars
Oceania (Smashing Pumpkins album)
When Billy Corgan said that he / they [the band / what's left of the Smashing Pumpkins - i.e. just himself!! Read more
Published 11 months ago by S. Hynard
5.0 out of 5 stars
Pumpkins
Very impressed as I wasn't expecting much. Thankfully Billy has the talent to carry the band all the way and just show where the great songs from earlier album were coming... Read more
Published 11 months ago by Elizabeth Kennedy
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