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Mary Star of the Sea
by Zwan

Zwan reviews
Critic Score
Metascore: 79 Metascore out of 100
User Score  
8.4 out of 10
based on 21 reviews
Read critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
based on 37 votes
Read user comments
Rate this album

The new group led by Billy Corgan of The Smashing Pumpkins features a lineup including fellow Pumpkin Jimmy Chamberlin on drums and guitarists Matt Sweeney (Chavez, Skunk) and David Pajo (Slint, Tortoise).

LABEL: Warner Brothers / Reprise
RELEASE DATE: 28 January 2003
DISCS: 1 disc
GENRE(S): Alternative, Rock

NOTES: Some versions include a bonus DVD.


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...

100
E! Online
Even the geeky ballads will put a smile on your face and a Bic lighter in your hand.
Read Full Review
91
Entertainment Weekly
Mary Star of the Sea may be the least ambitious album Corgan's ever made -- and yet his most satisfying since the Pumpkins' heyday.
Read Full Review
90
Launch.com
Zwan is Billy Corgan's triumph, an unrepentant glam-rock/prog-pop bacchanalia, an album of stadium happy singles and up-with-people wonder anthems.
Read Full Review
90
Playlouder
Stripped of the Pumpkins' pomp angst and invested with a new pop-rock sensibility by fellow cohorts David Pajo and Matt Sweeney, in Zwan Corgan has simply formed the perfect band.
Read Full Review
85
Stylus Magazine
It's an album that is filled with plenty of big hooks, ample rock crunch and a loving attention to detail.
Read Full Review
80
Uncut
The results sound as if Corgan plundered a few moves from Dave Grohl, since the songs keep one boot in heavy metal but mostly get straight to the point while piling on the hooks and harmonies. [Mar 2003, p.95]
80
New Musical Express
'Mary Star Of The Sea' has that kind of miracle-working effect: a euphoric and consistent hour of genetically-tweaked stadium rock that re-establishes Billy Corgan as a great, rather than ridiculous, frontman.
Read Full Review
80
Blender
As Zwan create a louder and less obviously pop eclat than the Pumpkins, they also turn more minimal. Their first record has one theme: the electric guitar. [#14, p.140]
80
Alternative Press
A welcome return to form in which [Corgan] plays rock music not out of obligation, but out of celebration. [March 2003, p.83]
80
Q Magazine
This genuinely feels like a fresh start rather than time-killing. [Mar 2003, p.100]
80
All Music Guide
[Corgan's] joyful spirit surges throughout Mary Star of the Sea, even during its many intricate instrumental sections, and it's hard not to get swept up in the momentum, especially since it's married to his best set of songs since Siamese Dream.
Read Full Review
80
Rolling Stone
Zwan are more straightforward (and much less histrionic) than the Smashing Pumpkins, so a few of the songs in the middle are pretty but not very dramatic.
Read Full Review
80
Spin
[Corgan's] the closest thing our generation has to John Fogerty--a control freak who actually knows what the fuck he's doing. [March 2003, p.118]
80
The Onion (A.V. Club)
Zwan's biggest and most pleasant surprise is how unassuming it is.
Read Full Review
70
Delusions of Adequacy
Mary Star of the Sea doesn't come close to SP's best work, but it absolutely obliterates everything Corgan has done since Mellon Collie.
Read Full Review
70
Amazon.com
While Corgan's tendency toward self-indulgence results in the tedious 14-minute "Jesus, I/Mary Star of the Sea," it is just a minor lapse considering the rest of the big, glamorous rock on display here.
Read Full Review
70
Splendid
Equal parts prog-rock pretension, spiritual rejuvenation and glam rock harangue.
Read Full Review
70
Mojo
Neither miraculous nor wholly divine, but it does mark Corgan's return to form. [Mar 2003, p.102]
70
Billboard
While Zwan sometimes displays the anguished heart of the Pumpkins, the band also has a leaner, upbeat sound that is, at times, downright sweet and playful.
Read Full Review
48
Pitchfork
The problem lies with the songs themselves, which simply lack outstanding or memorable hooks: Most are content to meander behind a curtain of big rock guitars and bigger rock cliches, infinitely repeating themselves or, in some cases, never saying much of anything at all.
Read Full Review
40
PopMatters
The candied pop that characterized much of the Pumpkins later work is still out in full force.
Read Full Review

What Our Users Said

Vote Now! The average user rating for this album is 8.4 (out of 10) based on 37 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Nick S gave it an8:
This is a very underappreciated album, especially amongst Smashing Pumpkins fans. In my opinion this album is superior to Zeitgeist and both Machina's. It's Billy Corgan's only truly happy-sounding album. It makes me sad that this band is gone since they had so much unreleased material that is actually even better than what's on the album. Still, Mary Star is solid.

HeCtiC B gave it a10:
Splendid album, the variety from HeartSong to Honestly display a Pumpkinesque ability to shower us with unbridled melodies layered with lyrics that have that feel-good quality we need.

Joris gave it a9:
Happy Pumpkins would be the best description for this good and solid album within its style. Takes catchiness to a higher level, however can't meet up to any of his Pumpkins' albums.. Standout songs are Endless Summer, Declarations of Faith (with those very Pumpkinesque feedback guitars), Ride A Black Swan and Yeah!

Ali C gave it an8:
At last, Billy Corgan returns from the creative desert that was the Smashing Pumpkins after Siamese Dream. This really is a great record, with barely a duff song, that gets right under your skin. But whilst it's consistently good, hitting the spot time and again, it's hardly revolutionary. Siamese Dream threatened to change the world, this just wants to entertain it.

Billy O gave it a 10:
The best CD of the year. Billy Corgan does an excellent job in this catchy CD. The guitars (especially in "Mary Star") are incredible. This really is an amazing CD. Go out and buy it now!!!!

Tom H gave it a 0:
This album is almost comical. The fact that such a mediocre compilation of throwaway pop music has been so well received is baffling. Only one good song in the whole mess, which drags on for entirely too long.

[Anonymous] gave it an 8:
Pure melody, Billy and his guitar are the front and center. The wonderfully melodic "settle down" is a great example, with Billy's one and two, carrying the melody in unison, was a memorable performance on Leno (for a Corgan fan at least). Over all it is just a rich volume of Corgans beautiful anthemic works, without the angst and angier-than-thou that seemed to consume him for a while there.

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