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Since I heard that The Smashing Pumpkins were going to reform I was really excited. I was hoping that the last album “Machina” wouldn’t be the last album I would hear from them. I still felt that they had a few more albums and years in them, but a break from touring was much needed. Then I found out that only the lead singer Billy Corgan and the drummer Jimmy Chainberlin were the only two members coming back. Neither James Iha, nor D’Arcy was coming back to the band. I was even more surprised that they didn’t even invite Melissa Auf Der Maur back. She even stated that she’s willing to come back if they asked her too. So I don’t really think it’s a true reunion. But for any educated pumpkin fan, they know that Billy was the mastermind in the studio. So maybe it doesn’t make a difference if James and D aren’t in the band. But I still think many fans feel like they were cheated out of a real reunion and that Billy only brought back the name to cash in on it and to get attention from the media.

When the pumpkins broke up in 2000, Billy made a new super group (featuring Billy and Jimmy) named Zwan. The band didn’t last very long, but the one and only album they made sold well, but was soon forgotten. After that Billy made a solo album called “The Future Embrace”. The album did poorly compare to his past work. So the only way for Billy to save his career was to do a reunion. So that’s what he did, and he mentioned it first on the Chicago Times news paper with a full page ad. This was news to all the former band members. At the end no one other then Jimmy decided to join. So here we are now with a half hearted reunion, and a new album.

“Zeitgeist” German for “The Spirit of the Age” is the first album made by the Pumpkins in 7 years. The album already hit #2 on the billboard charts with 145,000 + copies sold in America on the first week. I wasn’t sure what to expect from the album when I first bought it. The last 2 albums were softer, poetic albums. So since it’s been nearly a decade, I was expecting more of the same since they are older and have matured more over the years. Lyrically, the album is very political compare to there past work. It’s the first time the the pumpkins have ever really spoke about something in a non poetic sense. So that was a shocker to me. What also shocked me is that this is the most aggressive album made by them as well. The songs come in fast, furious, lot of distorted guitar layering and amazing drum work. Their aren’t too many moments in this album where they give you a breather from this musical assault, but when they do give you a chance to catch your breath their ballads will easily take your breath away. Songs like “That’s the Way (My Love Is)”, “Neverlost”, and “Bring the Light” seem to be more memorable, and full of life then the heavy rocker songs that after a while all seem to just blur together due to lack of individuality.

This album came out in many different versions. Each album version has a different color cover containing different bonuses. The standard red version has the basic 12 tracks. The deluxe red cover version has a book that accompanies it. Then there is the best buy orange color version that has the extra bonus track “Death From Above”. The blue cover I-Tunes version has the extra track “Stellar”, and the purple cover Target version has the bonus song “Zeitgeist”. I really hate these different versions of albums. It seems like it’s the new way for the music corporation to cash in on us fans. They purposely make different versions just to trick us into buying each copy. It’s really annoying; I don’t see why they just can’t make 2 versions. One should be the standard version and the other one being the deluxe version. Why do we need more then 2 versions?

But overall it’s a good album. I doubt many will feel its better then there “Mellon Collie” album. But I think its worth picking up if you’re a Pumpkin fan, and if your not, then this wouldn’t be the first album from the Pumpkins that you would want to add to your collection. It doesn’t showcase the full potential that they have. So out of a 1 through 5 scale, I give it 4 out of 5 stars. I think the only crappy song on the album was “Pomp & Circumstance” and I felt that “United States” was too long of a song.