4/5
Smash Mouth
Many members have left The Smashing Pumpkins sitting on the stoop, like rotting pumpkins on the porch a few days after Halloween. Yet the Smashing sound still remains fresh. As the pumpkins bring more records by the year, like the orange cultivated squash in patches of October. Now, barely a year since the three acts of the 'Atum' rock opera like a 'Mellon Collie' 'Teargarden', founding fathers Billy Corgan, James Iha and Jimmy Chamberlain give us 'Aghori Mhori Mei'. Complete with its own reel on social media to help you with the pronunciation. It sounds like, "lookitupyourdamnself". Lucky for us, though, the Pumpkins are much kinder with their thirteenth album produced by Martha's Music and Thirty Tigers. And after discographies worth of tracks on their last couple of LPs, this top ten track set is short, sweet and so complete.
"As a Janus exclaims/Don't you flee/Don't but stray far/You can never leave this stage/It's not just me/It's about you here in heart/For there's your need," Corgan proclaims on the 'Sighommi' sole single (so far) of the project from the prolific artists. Speaking to their success and their strive, as they drive to give us definitive release after definitive release. It's their grace. They've never strayed far from their own stage, like their fans, who will never flee from their need. Even melancholy souls still feel the heart of love. With no singles prior to 'Aghori's' release, this 44, like the late, great Jerry West, minute album was conceived over a two-year period. Billed as a "rock and roll guitar record", from the epic opening of 'Edin', to the staring through your rearview of 'Murnau'. Fans will love the call of '999', from the US to the UK, or the sensational, soaring 'Sicarus', "in flames."
Powerhouse songs from 'Pentegrams' to 'Pentecost', keep this LP of mostly one-word tracks playing without skips as you can shuffle this like the complete catalogue of one of modern rock's greats, without ever having to lift a finger as you keep it moving. But it's 'War Dreams Of Itself' that hits harder in these times, stating "There's thrush in the flue/Come here mighty Orcus/And swing that cue/Yeah/A 21st-century schism/On a 21st-century loom of red, white and blue" for the record. Bold and biblical and holding a mirror up to the Stars and Stripes. It's a different day from the time those who were lost in darkness, stayed at home with a ZERO t-shirt on and their favourite album as company, embracing their ears like hugging headphones. We all seem lost these days, tempted by the despair. But bands like this, still run and care. Circling back to some Pink Floyd like artwork that breaks the prism, this dark side of the moon will help you see the light. "So I found/A postcard from the cross/Said, hey, hi, how are you?/The weather's fine/If you like that kind of view", Corgan croons on 'Who Goes There'.
Twinning with the likes of 'Siamese Dream', this old-school Pumpkins record will keep the fans happy "for once". Although personally, everything that's come out since they started releasing tracks individually and digitally has been inspired and redefining. You'll be able to get physical copies of this streaming sound soon, as you slip off the dust jacket and sip tea in Corgan's Chicago Madame ZuZu's tea-room. But before dropping the needle, it's good to note that even 'Sighommi' wasn't going to be so much of a single. Always forced to choose the first record, the band said "meh" to all that, as they wanted 'Mei' (pronounced "me", or "may". See, I'm not a complete prick) to play as an intact body of work. And it really works that way, which is why we can't leave without celebrating the glory days adored sound of 'Goeth The Fall' ("I'm tired of lying in wait for your love/Reach for me through fire/The kino's burnt down/In fairy dust and in sight and sound/Won't you follow me/Oh, won't you dance with me/A love, a love as found/Summon naked doubt/'Cause I'll always be around"). Now, the only question remains is, 'Aghori Mhori Mei', what does it mean? Well... TIM DAVID HARVEY.
Playlist Picks: 'Sighommi', 'War Dreams Of Itself', 'Sicarus'.
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