O.K., I admit it. As a closet Smashing Pumpkins fan, I have contracted a Jekyll and Hyde kind of appreciation for them; disliking some of their radio-saturated, confident, ego fueled tracks and secretly falling victim to their more calm, composed and dynamic tracks. Being in exile for nearly a decade of Pumpkin’s music career. I feel I owe any ex-Pumpkins members project a proper review. Former drummer, Jimmy Chamberlin was an integral part and of the Smashing Pumpkins and Zwan: There are few places he hadn’t traveled, magazines he hadn’t been in, and stadiums he hadn’t played. After a long hiatus from being in the limelight Jimmy Chamberlin held up in a L.A. studio and put together his solo debut entitled Jimmy Chamberlin Complex “Life Begins Again.” The group is comprised of Chamberlin teamed up with Billy Mohler, an L.A.-based songwriter who has worked with everyone from Macy Gray to Fred Durst. The boys also enlisted last minute help from Sean Woolstenhulme and Adam Benjamin.
The opening track “Street Crawler” begins with smooth rolling beats, juxtaposed with intricate percussive complexities. Beautiful guitar sings like a choir as jazzy arpegiated keyboards fall like hail from the sky. The album titled “Life Begins Again” takes off with force and features vocals from ex-Catherine Wheel front man Rob Dickinson. The anthem song takes a journey from heavy rock to a Sting-like ballad. (Not like something induced by a Scorpion’s tail, but like a song by the lead singer of 80’s rock fame: “The Police”) The track “P.S.A.” begins with lush keys and volume knob guitar swells with a light beat. Guitar lines take hold of the structure and delve into center stage, winding up till the very end of this dynamic instrumental.
The ultimate highlight of this release is a track entitled “Lokicat,” in which Chamberlin’s former front man appears on the microphone. The drumming is so hypnotic with a heavy use of deep tom rolls and intricate sparkling taps of brass. The guitar line is light and sleepy like a vivid colored kite flying across a ethereal backdrop. Corgan’s voice is calm and focused as he sings Chamberlin’s lyrics of finding himself. This dreamy track is Billy’s best performance since the December of 2000’s demise of The Pumpkins.
“Love is Real,” is a mixture of The Pumpkins signature sound mixed with a heavy dose of Foo Fighter arrangements. Rob Dickinson takes the mic again and sings Chamberlin’s lyrics “Love is Real, I walked outside tonight with the stars as my guide, knowing where to go/ it’s my heart that tells me so,” against the catchy grooves. “Cranes of Prey,” sounds like a revisit of “Rat In A Cage” era with lightening fast drums and crunchy distorted guitars exploding about. After two minutes the groove get shot from sky like a clay pigeon, falling into a dreamy jazz arrangement of fretless bass bubbling with effervescence to its climatic ending. The hyper jazz influenced “Owed to Darry,” has more beats per square inch than a piece of New York cheesecake has calories. The moody track “Newerwaves,” starts off sounding like U2’s “I Will Follow” but after a few measures the music reminds me of “Untitled,” the opening track of Interpol’s debut. This song marks the vocal debut from band member Billy Mohler. His monotone vocals are not fully developed and seem to get lost in the murk of the arrangement.
The album takes a turn downhill after the instrumental “Time Shift” with dynamic jazzy pause and stops as Rock n’ Roll Hall of Famer Bill Medley (one-half of the Righteous Brothers) takes the microphone on “Lullaby to the Children.” His vocals come across contrived with an “insert grunge singer in the blank __________” feel (i.e. Chris Cornell, Eddie Vedder.) It’s a very odd thing to hear a Righteous Brother doing a theatrical grunge ballad over this beautiful piece of music. The album finally comes to a close with a minute-long lush instrumental version of “Lokicat” which fades out to silence.
If this is how “Life Begins Again” is; then I think Chamberlin needs to take some personnel inventory. There is no doubt Jimmy Chamberlin is more than a modicum of a talented drummer. Chamberlin held court in one of the largest rock groups of the last decade and showcased his intricate and diverse drumming. But despite the monumental musicianship and drumming on this album, it lacks a consistent theme and a good front man to be noted in the history books. Jimmy Chamberlin Complex’s new line up even puts all-star cast Zwan to shame on the track “Lokicat” giving this review a +2 rating on that track alone. But with the subtraction of “Lokicat” the album would pale in comparison. I would quickly find “Life Begins Again” in a bone yard of dust covered jewel cases. As drummer David Lovering was recently saved from the basement of the Magic Castle with a receding hairline and a deck of cards to reform The Pixies. I hope that Chamberlin and gang can send Corgan to obedience school and reform the Smashing Pumpkins or recruit him as a permanent fixture in the Complex.
What I discovered during this review despite my stubborn closet Jack-O-Lantern amore is that I am a true Smashing Pumpkins fan. I did it I let the cat out of the bag. I think I am just a little late (Just over 5 years!) to join there over populated fan club. My realization came after hearing “Lokicat,” and reminiscing how much I did admire the Pumpkins. This release is worth investigating yourself, without the clutter of my Pumpkins praises. But even in my newfound haze I conjure this: instead of one great track, what if we had eleven great ones? Until the day the Pumpkins reunite, this will have to holds me over. |