Zeitgeist

On July 10, 2007, the Smashing Pumpkins returned after a seven year disbandment with the release of their 7th album, Zeitgeist. The two remaining original members of the band, mastermind Billy Corgan and drummer Jimmy Chamberlin, had a heavy hand in the production and did a majority of the recordings in secrecy. While James Iha and D'arcy Wretzky are absent for the first time in the band’s history, the Smashing Pumpkins sound comes through as clear as ever.

The deluxe release that dropped three months later featured four additional tracks as well as a DVD containing music videos for the two singles, “Tarantula” and “That’s the Way (My Love Is),” and a short documentary entitled Inside the Zeitgeist.

Both primary contributors sum up Zeitgeist in a different way. Jimmy Chamberlin refers to the music as “Thundering sonic terrorism.”

The singular vision of this album is impact…to put together a body of songs that’s like a gut-punch and really resonates with people. Zeitgeist is kind of like of like our raising of the flag."

Jimmy gives one hell of a “gut-punch” on songs like “United States,” where he dominates with his incredible percussive skills in which Corgan is able to accentuate and electrify with his minimalist guitar riffs and sparse yet emotionally powerful vocals.

While Jimmy calls it a “singular vision,” Corgan breaks it down by referring to the album as “Three interlocking visions.”

• One, we wanted to make a Smashing Pumpkins record that on first listen, people wouldn't be like, 'Ugh, this is not what I wanted.' We weren't trying to make some grand declaration...it was more like a 'hello.'
• Two, we were also making a political comment about what it's like to live in an emerging facist country.
• Three, what can [we] offer? Why even have Smashing Pumpkins 2007 style, is it relevant anymore? Does it mean anything?"

Generally speaking, the public did think it meant something. The album debuted at the no. 2 spot on the Billboard 200, barely missing the no. 1 mark which was held by T.I.’s T.I. Vs. T.I.P. The album was also included in Rolling Stone’s Top 50 Albums of 2007.