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Zeitgeist
by The Smashing Pumpkins

The Smashing Pumpkins reviews
Critic Score
Metascore: 59 Metascore out of 100
User Score  
7.8 out of 10
based on 29 reviews
Read critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
based on 275 votes
Read user comments
Rate this album

The Smashing Pumpkins return from a seven year hiatus with their latest album. Best Buy, Target, and iTunes will each have CDs with different tracks from those available at other retailers.

LABEL: Martha's Music/Reprise
RELEASE DATE: 10 July 2007
DISCS: 1 disc
GENRE(S): Alternative, Rock

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

80
Amazon.com
Overall, Corgan's captivating effort to mine both the spirit of these turbulent times and the soul of his defining band is a smashing success.
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80
PopMatters
The sort of vocal layering Freddy Mercury would be proud of, chord progressions that convey triumph as often as they do disenchantment, and the use of marimbas and orchestras (and is that a gong in “Pomp and Circumstance”?) all indicate a willingness to go beyond the formula even as they spend most of their time sticking to it like glue.
Read Full Review
80
Village Voice
Thanks in part to the presence of Pantera producer Terry Date, this is the Pumpkins' hardest-rocking record ever.
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80
Uncut
Zeitgeist comes on with a vicious energy, a jugular-grabbing intensity.
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80
Rolling Stone
The best thing about Zeitgeist is that Corgan is back to what he does best: hard-rock architecture.
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75
Entertainment Weekly
If you're nostalgic for the '90s, Zeitgeist is like curling up with a warm Marshall stack.
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70
The New York Times
The album is surprisingly effective in musical terms: drone-laden and distortion-jacked, it sounds about as tough as anything this band has produced.
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70
Sputnikmusic
While not enough to stand among the best the Pumpkins have to offer, Zeigeist nonetheless stands fairly well on it's own
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70
Spin
In the end, this is a loud, almost triumphant statement .
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60
Dot Music
Zeitgeist may not boast any platinum-plated singles of the kind that typified their peak, but it's mercifully far less flatulent than latter-day Pumpkins.
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60
Blender
Zeitgeist’s orgy of avalanche rhythms, cascading riffs and sky-licking guitar is as grandiose as ever (the solo on "Tarantula" sounds like a nuke hitting a Guitar Center), but the bombast is softened as Corgan reaches out for shame-sharing community.
Read Full Review
58
The Onion (A.V. Club)
Zeitgeist ends up sounding like a Corgan career retrospective in B-side form.
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55
cokemachineglow
Zeitgeist isn't a good record, but it is good work.
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50
Hot Press
The best you can offer is that it’s not a disaster – now do you want to tell Billy or should I?
Read Full Review
50
Under The Radar
Zeitgeist fails to capture not just the spirit of the cultural times, but of the true Smashing Pumpkins. [Summer 2007, p.84]
50
musicOMH.com
A record which stares back at you with the appeal of an ex you'd rather not have bumped into.
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50
New Musical Express
It's best treated as a curio in the Smashing Pumpkins' legacy; and for those who grew up on 'Today', '1979' and 'Ava Adore', you're better left with your memories.
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50
Drowned In Sound
Zeitgeist sounds like a watered-down version of the best bits from Mellon Collie…, meaning it just ends up being too similar to Machina… for its own good.
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50
Billboard
It's still a mess, though an ambitious and grandiose one.
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49
Pitchfork
Far more aggressive than any other record in their catalog - perhaps a preemptive response to charges of getting old and mellow. Unfortunately, that leaves the record rather homogenous.
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44
Filter
Zeitgeist is mostly a grinding, straightforward affair that demonstrates none of the innovation and vision of the band’s previous efforts.
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40
NOW Magazine
This is no-frills rawk that's been dumbed down for mass consumption.
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40
The Guardian
If you remember the unconsciously naff hilarity of late-period Suede, you will recognise that there's some fun to be had from Zeitgeist, albeit in small quantities.
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40
All Music Guide
Corgan repeatedly buries his threadbare melodies beneath squeals of guitar that are too processed to either soar or sear. More than anything, it's this digitally dulled sound that saps Zeitgeist from any impact it may have.
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40
Slant Magazine
Zeitgeist is the Pumpkins' most aggressively metal album to date. But heaps of guitars, vocal overdubs, and ridiculous effects don't mask a lack of inventiveness or even plain ol' quality songwriting.
Read Full Review
33
Stylus Magazine
It’s all just too "over-" - overcooked, overheated, whatever you want to call it.
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30
Hartford Courant
The title of the Smashing Pumpkins' new album seems like wishful thinking. So does the music, for that matter
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30
Tiny Mix Tapes
And the mixing problems extend far beyond Corgan’s voice. The Band of a Hundred Murderous Guitars has turned into a modern-radio-rock band.
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10
Delusions of Adequacy
This record is easily on par with Corgan's solo record as one of the worst things he has ever done.
Read Full Review

What Our Users Said

Vote Now! The average user rating for this album is 7.8 (out of 10) based on 275 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Corgan R. gave it an8:
This album is GREAT, however it still doesn't match up to some of their older albums such as Melloncollie. It's wonderful to see that the Smashing Pumpkins are back however I do wish the whole band came back instead of just Billy Corgan and Jimmy Chamberlin. Corgan's guitar playing was great in this album. From the creepy sounds of Turantula to the old school metal style in Doomsday clock, he really astounded me with his playing. Also Jimmy Chamberlin was amazing on drums in songs such as United States. Basically, this was a really, really good comeback for the Pumpkins and hopefully we will see much more of them in the future!

f4b gave it a7:
Maybe Corgan is no more trendy for the critics, but this is a nice return with some very high moments. If you doubt Pumpkins are still good, see them live they are awesome!

Slava P. gave it a10:
F*ck the "good old days"... Billy and Jimmy are back - angry and vigorous... Come on... Lets go...!!!

Pedro M gave it a5:
An equal of good and unappealing stuff. It will NEVER be another Siamise and Mellon Collie but it has some good stuff. Just another case of mid-age rockers trying to find their "steam" after 7 long years of zip. A 50/50 album: Not their worst but not their best.

Robert C. gave it a10:
A lot has changed since Billy, James, D'arcy, and Jimmy went their separate ways. But it is great to hear at least two of them back together in the present, playing live shows to bring back the good music of the 90's and early 2000's, but also bringing us something new and fresh to the present. This album was incredible and fresh for the Pumpkins. I can't wait for their next.

Max M. gave it an8:
I'm a very poor fan of heavy metal, but this is actually a very good album. I really enjoyed the guitar. It's a bit of a change from Smashing Pumpkins previous work.

Dipleased jerk gave it a1:
Where is James and Darcy? Corgin needs these limiters to keep his direction focused. Overall, this album sounds like a pitiful attempt from Corgin to prove himself, when he has already done this. Instead, he listens to a "hard rock" producer and tries and fails and politic rock. If you have fallen in love with earlier SP and their inward music than don't go and drown yourself in this disappointing buzz.

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