Atum
by The Smashing Pumpkins
  • Record Label: Marthas
  • Release Date: May 5, 2023
Metascore
72

Generally favorable reviews - based on 7 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 7
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 7
  3. Negative: 0 out of 7
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  1. musicOMH.com
    May 15, 2023
    60
    The album, when taken as a whole, is simply too much. When taken as individual pieces, it works much better – and there’s simply no reason for it to be this long.
  2. Beats Per Minute
    May 11, 2023
    52
    ATUM is the most controversial and strangest of all Smashing Pumpkins albums: a record that defies expectations but often disappoints in how prosaic and calculated it is.

Awards & Rankings

45
#45 Most Discussed Album of 2023

User Reviews

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User Score
7.7

Generally favorable reviews- based on 22 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 18 out of 22
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 22
  3. Negative: 3 out of 22
  1. Chrisothoulos
    May 9, 2023
    5
    You are getting all era's of the Pumpkins in one, large, well crafted 33 song album. You want heavy Pumpkins? It's here. Soft Pumpkins? Yup!You are getting all era's of the Pumpkins in one, large, well crafted 33 song album. You want heavy Pumpkins? It's here. Soft Pumpkins? Yup! Experimental? Absolutely. Synth? You bet.… Full Review »
  2. bramble1214
    May 9, 2023
    10
    This is a late career 4XLP studio concept album that is pretty much unprecedented in modern music. In terms of sheer scale there is almost noThis is a late career 4XLP studio concept album that is pretty much unprecedented in modern music. In terms of sheer scale there is almost no other band putting out such a grandiose project, much less from what is essentially an indie band now. Initially SP released this album one song a week on Corgan's podcast which really does the whole album a disservice. This is a work that is much better digested as a whole and either on vinyl or a high-quality lossless digital format. There is a lot of detail in these songs.

    The album is divided into 3 acts of 11 songs each (as well as an audio story with an orchestral version of act 1 on the vinyl release). I was going to include a list of highlights but honestly I love the entire album (particularly acts 2 and 3). Roughly half of the album are rock songs and the other half are relatively synth heavy with some songs containing a good mix of both. The synth heavy songs are a good deal better than Cyr's (which I still enjoyed).

    Overall I'd give this a 9.5 but since that isn't an option I'll round up. Astounding return to form for the band and their best album since Adore which is a masterpiece.    … Full Review »
  3. Tallmainia
    May 9, 2023
    9
    If it's rare for double albums to have more killer than filler, then triple albums may as well be unobtainium. Don't tell that to Billy CorganIf it's rare for double albums to have more killer than filler, then triple albums may as well be unobtainium. Don't tell that to Billy Corgan though! He's beat all the odds and created the most vital-sounding Pumpkins album since the 20th century (and this is coming from a fan of 'Cyr'!).… Full Review »
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