Released in 2005 this album was the first we heard from Billy Corgan since Zwan in around 2002. It was much anticipated and I had really looked forward to its release
Track One - All Things Change
A interetsing sing. Very original, techno stylings and some very dark guitaring in amongst ... Read review
debut solo album TheFutureEmbrace is actually an overcast day in an Eighties post-punk Britain of raincoats, chimneys, riots and run-down heavy industry. That migh...
debut solo album TheFutureEmbrace is actually an overcast day in an Eighties post-punk Britain of raincoats, chimneys, riots and run-down heavy industry. That might not seem like much of a surprise - Smashing Pumpkins were neither cheery, Anglophobic or much given to enjoying luxurious sunny afternoon teas in thatched Devonian hostelries - but while TheFutureEmbrace is very much the inverse of Zwan's lighter but all-too-brief psych-pop caress, Corgan, to his credit, has avoided any back-peddling to the salad days of Smashing Pumpkins' biblical bombast. This is much more subtle, brittle and chilly, the inner rage of yore making way for sceptical deliberation and John Foxx synthetics. Corgan's admiral influences are obvious - the grey wash and wintry equanimity of Bowie's Neukoln phase, the phallanx of distantly shimmering flanged guitars recall The Banshees, the archaic and relentlessly mechanic drum machine summons forth the austerity of early Human League. The Cure's Gothfather Robert Smith stoops forward for an unlikely duet on a cover of Barry Gibb's "To Love Somebody" (Joy Division's "The Eternal" meets David Sylvian's Japan) while Corgan's own "Sorrows (in blue)" suggests he's actually more of a fan of the Bee Gees than his public may care to conceed. Others may sense the spectral presence of Killing Joke (both in "DIA" and in the tense, metropolitan meltdown of "Mina Loy") but while 1981 in England was no laughing matter TheFutureEmbrace at least allows one to reminisce from an extremely safe distance. --Kevin Maidment
debut solo albumTheFutureEmbraceis actually an overcast day in an Eighties post-punk Britain of raincoats, chimneys, riots and run-down heavy industry. That might not seem like much of a surprise - Smashing Pumpkins were neither cheery, Anglophobic or much given to enjoying luxurious sunny afternoon teas in thatched Devonian hostelries - but whileTheFutureEmbraceis very much the inverse of Zwan's lighter but all-too-brief psych-pop caress, Corgan, to his credit, has avoided any back-peddling to the salad days of Smashing Pumpkins' biblical bombast. This is much more subtle, brittle and chilly, the inner rage of yore making way for sceptical deliberation and John Foxx synthetics. Corgan's admiral influences are obvious - the grey wash and wintry equanimity of Bowie's Neukoln phase, the phallanx of distantly shimmering flanged guitars recall The Banshees, the archaic and relentlessly mechanic drum machine summons forth the austerity of early Human League. The Cure's Gothfather Robert Smith stoops forward for an unlikely duet on a cover of Barry Gibb's "To Love Somebody" (Joy Division's "The Eternal" meets David Sylvian's Japan) while Corgan's own "Sorrows (in blue)" suggests he's actually more of a fan of the Bee Gees than his public may care to conceed. Others may sense the spectral presence of Killing Joke (both in "DIA" and in the tense, metropolitan meltdown of "Mina Loy") but while 1981 in England was no laughing matterTheFutureEmbraceat least allows one to reminisce from an extremely safe distance.--Kevin Maidment
A review by Phelthew on Future Embrace, The - Corgan, Billy March 28th, 2008
Author's product rating:
Originality
Definitely a cut above the rest
Lyrics
Thought-provoking
Quality and consistency of tracks
Mixed
How does it compare to the artist's other releases
Weak
Value for Money
Poor
Advantages:
four great songs
Disadvantages:
8 not so great songs
Recommend to potential buyers:
yes
Full review
Released in 2005 this album was the first we heard from Billy Corgan since Zwan in around 2002. It was much anticipated and I had really looked forward to its release
Track One - All Things Change
A interetsing sing. Very original, techno stylings and some very dark guitaring in amongst well sung lyrics. You're sort of reminded of Smashing Pumpkin's Adore but there is a strong feling that something is missing. 3.5/5
Track Two - Mina Loy (M.O.H)
I love the was this song starts. Some steady repetitive drums, really industrial sounding guitarthen Corgan's whiney voice ripping in. "The sirens call outside..." really seems to fit the guitar. The construction of the song is great I like the steady build to the chorus and the different changes of tempo to and from the darker bridge. I love the guitar in this song especially in the chorus. It's rich and full sounding not just simple power-chords. The ending is also blissful and a great climax. 4.5/5
Track Three - The CameraEye
My favourite sing on the album. More techno stylings. Two bass guitars provide the music and what and original piece it is. The singing is slow and sporadic at first and the bass it is beautiful and enthralling. The lyrics are supreme. The song then becomes more upbeat, the bass speads up and the drums enter with a light but satisfying beat; the singing becomes continuous and is so easy to listen to. One of my favourite songs of all time. 5/5
Track Four - TOLOVESOMEBODY
A Bee Gees cover; Robert Smith of the Cure appears on this track, providing backing vocals. I don't like the music this song. A pretty pathetic and slow drumbeat that any fool could have put together. This is a very vocal song and I don't think Corgan ha dthe voice to pull it off and he didn't make up for it with great music like he usually does.2/5
Track Five - A100
A nice groovy drum intro. The music is rythmic, bassy and atmospheric. It then becomes lighter and the change takes away from the song. The lyrics are abit weak on this song and the overall construction leaves much to be admired. A song I think should have had alot more time spent on it. 2.5/5
Track Six - DIA
Jimmy Chamberlain here playing the repetitive but really enjoyable and appropriate drumming here. The drumming goes so well with teh song, a song that opens with a interesting dark rythmic guitar in the background that is very original and very much a trademark on this album. The violin provides so much emotion in this song and unlike ToLoveSomebody this song is perfect for Corgan's voice a sad and beautiful song. A tribute to the great duet that is Corgan and Chamberlain. 4/5
Track Seven - Now (And Then)
Alot of instrumental parts in this song that are frankly sub standard. You can sort of see what he's trying to do creating a sort of calm ambiance but it doesn't seem to work. The lyrics are weak and unimaginative. The bass rythim dull. The chorus annoys me and the whiney guitar in parts seems unnecessary. 1/5
Track Eight - I'm Ready
He's clearly very ready in this song. He says it over and over and over and over again. There are precious few other lyrics. The music is very similar to Now (And then) it really isn't a song you want to listen to. There's nothing about it attractive. How can a song with so little variance go on for almost 4 minutes? 1/5
Track Nine - Walking Shade
The only song released as a single from this album I think. I love the way it opens the gradual build of that forlorn guitaring. The music has something more to it than the last few. The drumming is substantive and really cathcy beat you like to move to. The overall construction is great, I love the unespected vocal intrusion of "Look" at one point. The vocal distortion and the lyrics are so well suited for each other. A really great song. 4.5/5
Track Ten - Sorrows (In Blue)
Very similar to Now (and then) musically. The singing and lyrics is somewhat better. The bippityboppity style of singing contrasts awkwardly with the darker, heavier cry of 'sorrow'. 2/5
Track Eleven - Pretty, Pretty Star
The rythm of the singing seems sort of Japanese and best suited to some Dick VanDyke children's film. It then becomes abit more solemn unexpectantly and yet again awkwardly, seeming really out of place. Yet again the variation in music from Now (And Then) and Sorrow. There is a nice guitar solo at the end that sounds sort of distant and accompanied by a nice drum beat you wish it was in a better song. 2.5/5
Track Twelve - Strayz
A slow song, no real music, just Billy singing.Ultimatey forgettable. 1/5
Four great songs on an album of rubbish B-sides. I was disappointed by this album. Alot of the songs were so substandard, not alot of thought seemed to be put in to them. The songs that are on it that are good are REALLY good, a really original sound and style of guitar that I think Corgan should have spent more time developing. I spent £11 on it, I really don't think it was worth it but for the great songs that are on it I wouldn't have left it out of my album collection. The album book has alot of self-indulgent pictures of a seemingly naked Corgan (you only see him from the shoulders up) posing
Advantages: a fab piece of electronic alt rock - a billy corgan fan's must Disadvantages: we prefer the pumpkins
Finally, after a long era of virtually nothing from the ex Smashing Pumpkins frontman (there was Zwan, but they were fairly disappointing), Billy Corgan returns with some of the most engaging, insightful music of his career. His high-pitched snarling whine combined with the grandly melancholic harmonies and progressions of electronics pick up where the Pumpkins 'Adore' left off. Corgan's voice blends perfectly with the dark electronic beats to create ... ...connection and salvation. There is a sense of close urgency that can be found in songs such as 'Tolovesomebody' with the heatfelt declaration "You don't know what it's like/To love somebody the way i love you", but not the passionate rage that pumped and echoed through much of the Pumpkins music. The album cover/artwork conists of a naked Billy (yes please) in various poses with his birthmarked hand - a mark that throughout his life has been a source ...
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19.10.2005
smashing cd Review ofFuture Embrace, The - Corgan, Billyby
beahotdacer
Advantages: great music for those who miss the pumkins Disadvantages: not nearly as good as any of the pumpkin releases
...happy to say . with Future Embrace he is back on form producing pumping and beutifull rock.
From a production point of view billy has obiously decided to go for a highly produced electronic sound, with a drum machien almost used thruout ,and ever other instrument going through somesort of electronic process. I dare say alot of the sounds might not be instrument at all in the conventiall sence. The closest i can releate this to in his former work ... ...download).
but without so much of the really fast tracks-I cant imagine he will be giving headbanging gigs to promote this tour. The songs are emotionally writen right from the first song, and are resnablely upbeat with 'all things change' being a song about him moving on after a hard period in his life. As seems to be a thing of his past few releases he sings about love and hope in alot of the songs. He also manages to fit in a rather nice cover ...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Advantages: Billy Corgan's Comeback Disadvantages: It's awful
Well to start with, this is not for Smashing Pumpkins fans. The music is like Machina but Electro. Basically.
I feel the lyrics are pretty weak. He is not on form at all here. Don't think I hate him or anything, it's quite the opposite, The Smashing Pumpkins are my favourite band. So when I got this CD I was really excited, and it didn't take long to be completely let down. The only salvation this CD has is Walking Shade. The only Single from the ... ...probably from shame!
The musically quality is ok, if you like the electric elements, but the only people who would buy the CD are Pumpkins fans, and I doubt this would be either what they expected or what they wanted!
All in all I feel this is a huge disappointment and one to avoid like the plague. ...
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12.03.2006
WELCOME RETURN Review ofFuture Embrace, The - Corgan, Billyby
dan_wales
Advantages: New music from Billy, a fresh direction that often satisfies. Nice cover art and booklet Disadvantages: Not anywhere near as good as the pumpkins. Might not stand up to repeated listenning
After the sudden breakup of ZWAN, a Billy Corgan solo album was inevitable. Okay it sounds nothing like the Pumpkins,but ignore that and this is a damn good album. 'Mina Loy' and 'Walking shade' are brimming with fuzzy electronic rock wonder. Openner 'All things change' is a definate highpoint with its simple yet beautiful melody. The major surprise is the Bee Gees cover of 'To love somebody' which effortlessly betters the original. 'The camera eye' ... ...can't get over the fact that Billy isn't just replicating past glories then don't bother buying this. It's a good start to his solo career and whilst I can't see myself listenning to this much in years to come for now it is a pleasing return from one of the true talents of American rock. ...
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Album Notes: Personnel: Billy Corgan (vocals, programming); Robert Smith (vocals, guitar); Emilie Autumn (vocals, violin); Jimmy Chamberlin (drums). Producers: Billy Corgan; Bjorn Thorsrud; Bon Harris. Recording information: Pumpkinland, Chicago, Illinois. THE FUTURE EMBRACE may theoretically be Billy Corgan's debut solo project, but many would contend the lion's share of Smashing Pumpkins and Zwan material was essentially Corgan (as a solo artist) existing within a band unit. Then again, neither of the aforementioned bands found the Chicago native so thoroughly toning down aggressive six-string flights of fancy in favor of shoegazer-like sentiments reminiscent of idols Joy Division and Echo and the Bunnymen. But that was exactly Corgan's intent in enlisting Nitzer Ebb's Bon Harris into the production mix of EMBRACE and emerging with songs steeped in synth-soaked soundscapes. Always prone to confessional songwriting, the Pumpkins' founding member is no less in therapy mode throughout these dozen songs. The subtle, New Order-like dance vibe of "A100" is dressed in pleas for love, while the clarion grandiosity of "Mina Loy (M.O.H.)" stews in paranoia stoked by modern-day terrorism. Most surprising is how effectively Corgan takes the Bee Gees' major-key smash "To Love Somebody" and transforms it into a minor key goth dirge buttressed by synth washes and a guest vocal by none other than Cure leader Robert Smith.
Album Reviews: Mojo (p.96) - 3 stars out of 5 - "[T]his titan of modern rock has decided to bare his soul, his foibles, his rather extreme religiosity, and his rocky search for love and meaning..."
Titles on disc 1
1.: All Things Change
2.: Mina Loy (MOH)
3.: Cameraeye
4.: Tolovesomebody
5.: A100
6.: Dia
7.: Now (And Then)
8.: I'm Ready
9.: Walking Shade
10.: Sorrows (In Blue)
11.: Pretty Pretty Star
12.: Strayz
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Listed on Ciao since : 06/10/2005
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