When it was mentioned that Billy Corgan was a huge fan of Cheap Trick growing up in suburban Chicago in the late 70s/early 80's, you would have said, "Yeah right, and Jerry Garcia loved Slayer." Yes, the 90's most prolific "alternative" artist who sampled all types of artsy atmospheric sounds in the studio with the Smashing Pumpkins was a sucker for power chord arena rock. The enigmatic front man's latest project, a band named mysteriously Zwan, debuts with Mary Star Of The Sea. This disc has 70s rock and roll painted all over it and even the retro looking CD cover makes you wan to have a pin and jean jacket. With three guitar players in the mix, including Matt Sweeny and David Pajo, there leaves one too many slingers to turn this into a wishy-washy alternative experiment.
It's refreshing to hear Corgan throw his guitar on his shoulder again after the last few Pumpkins albums visited territories of confusing ambience and electronica. The opening tune "Lyric" vibrates in Cheap Trick's "Surrender", and rifles with heavy indulgences of guitar chords tampered over fresh experimental sounds. Jimmy Chamberlain from the Pumpkins is reunited with Corgan in Zwan and provides a steady catchy beat into "Settle Down," with bassist Paz Lenchantin holding the fort down. Corgan's lead vocals reach an unheard of level in this tune, as his whiny screams hit some outrageous notes.
The first single of the album, "Honesty" is built around Chamberlain's intricate drumbeats, and Corgan's simple but sincere vocal lines. Chamberlain shines throughout this whole album with his steady low beats pulsating through the next rocking tune, "El Sol" which carries a mystical vibe. Corgan than plays to a somber chord in "Of A Broken Heart," one of the few slow songs on the album, however it speaks volumes within its acoustic appearance, that echoes repeatedly in the title theme, "until I die of a broken heart."
The fast rocker "Ride on Black Swan" carries a full force guitar rock anthem and builds up and down with carefully crafted energy. It's a joy to listen to the three guitars blend together and make one united power chord, that sounds innovative in today's "been there done that" music scene. If any one tune sounds like it clearly steps in Pumpkins territory it would be the acoustic "Heartsong"; a slow one with a rough echo that may cause those less Corgan tolerant to run for the volume switch.
"Endless Summer" is a catchy rock song that could very well be a hit MTV video, if bubble gum tunes didn't rule the airwaves. This number creates a vivid picture of carefree days in simpler times, that could put Bryan Adams's "Summer of 69" forever in the back of jukeboxes.
The rest of the album shows that Corgan is a man on a mission to rock his bald head to new territory. By playing full force he hopes to find an identity for a new outfit that sounds fresh and cutting edge, but can't hide their obvious influences of 70s hard rock bands. Intensely,
Mary Star of the Sea swims bravely through their initial launch and remarkably pulls it off.
