Mary Star of the Sea - Zwan
Mary Star of the Sea Image
Metascore
79 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 21 Critics What's this?

User Score
8.4 out of 10

Universal acclaim- based on 41 Ratings

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0 out of 10
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  • Summary: 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).

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 19 out of 21
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 21
  3. Negative: 0 out of 21
  1. E! Online
    100
    Even the geeky ballads will put a smile on your face and a Bic lighter in your hand.
  2. Uncut
    80
    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]
    All this publication's reviews
  3. New Musical Express (NME)
    80
    '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.
  4. Pitchfork
    48
    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.

See all 21 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 18 out of 23
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 23
  3. Negative: 2 out of 23
  1. HeCtiCB
    10
    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.… Expand
  2. NickS
    8
    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.… Expand
  3. NickC.
    7
    Fairly underwhelming music from Zwan's one and only album. There are several great melodies and it's all very catchy, compared to Siamese Dream or Melon Collie, doesn't compare. (Better than Machina though...)… Expand
  4. ChrisR
    4
    Mmm, Pumpkins lite. Though I'd rather eat it with all the pulp and seeds of the original group(s).

See all 23 User Reviews

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