By turns arched, ambitious, intriguing and expressive this sprawling 20 song set recalls the band’s earlier epics with melodies that boast the same elevated intensity that’s driven their signature sound from early on.
It's another epic statement rife with troubled beauty, presented from a slightly different angle but true to the spirit of longing and restless wonder that has defined the Smashing Pumpkins for over 30 years.
For the most part, the songs furrow a similar path throughout the 20 tracks and, unlike most double albums, which are either loaded with fillers or come in two bloated parts, ‘CYR’ feels like a single complete record crammed full of pop anthems. Pumpkin detractors may well hate this record’s simplicity, and they’d be right to criticise it for sounding same-y to a point. But there’s no denying Corgan’s ability to craft a tune.
None of Corgan’s definitive qualities as a musician—symphonic grandeur, needling immediacy—translate to his production, which burdens CYR with out-of-the-box anonymity; a Smashing Pumpkins album that sounds like it was handed off to a guy at the Genius Bar. The production’s clinical competency only highlights the assembly-line songwriting of CYR’s back half.
I originally gave this a 9 but I’m having to come back and upgrade to 10.
These 20 tracks all reward repeated listening and then some. II originally gave this a 9 but I’m having to come back and upgrade to 10.
These 20 tracks all reward repeated listening and then some. I appreciate not everyone will give them that chance (and to read some of the other reviews here it’s clear most can’t be bothered) but if you just stick this album on repeat you’ll find parts of the melodies beginning to penetrate your waking life unbidden. And once you reach that point each listen gives you something more, be it the fantastic electronic production, the haunting sidles of guitar sound, the blending of Corgan’s voice with the backing singers and instrumentation, or just the emotion hidden away beneath the polished exterior.
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The critics hate it because it's not ✨perfect✨ like SD or MCIS, but for me, it's UNSPEAKABLY perfect.
The best songs for me are:
Save Your Tears, Telegenix, Purple Blood, Ramona and CYR.…Expand
Plenty of critics are paid to write that a double album is “too long” before they’ve even heard it. Even more critics are paid to pan thePlenty of critics are paid to write that a double album is “too long” before they’ve even heard it. Even more critics are paid to pan the Pumpkins or Billy Corgan personally based on the fact every album isn’t Siamese Dream and Billy refuses to continually answer dumb questions. Anyway, CYR is essentially the Pumpkins’ pop record, and it’s a damn good pop record. If you can’t open your mind to that idea, you probably won’t like it. But the song writing is brilliant, and the songs hook you in with every listen. Well worth the investment.…Expand
This is yet another solid record from the modern era of the Smashing Pumpkins. Katie Cole and Sierra Swan's vocal harmony work so well withThis is yet another solid record from the modern era of the Smashing Pumpkins. Katie Cole and Sierra Swan's vocal harmony work so well with Billy's lead vocals; it's honestly mesmerizing to hear how their voices interact with each other and how dynamic they are together. The drum machine can be a bit tiring on some songs on the album, but sometimes that's what drives a few songs forward. There were a few songs that I don't fully understand yet, but overall I think the Pumpkins nailed it with this record. I also think that this is an improvement from their previous album "Shiny and Oh So Bright, Vol. 1 / LP: No Past. No Future. No Sun.", which is my least favorite Smashing Pumpkins record.
A bit monotonous. Should've been a single LP. Corgan's vocals and lyrics have grown to be grating throughout the mostly synth-driven tracks.A bit monotonous. Should've been a single LP. Corgan's vocals and lyrics have grown to be grating throughout the mostly synth-driven tracks. While better than most of what he's produced in the past 20 years, it's still a far cry from the Pumpkins' previous greatness.…Expand
Billy Corgan (at least I think it's him - has anyone seen him and Corey Feldman in a room together?) has stated that his goal with "Cyr" wasBilly Corgan (at least I think it's him - has anyone seen him and Corey Feldman in a room together?) has stated that his goal with "Cyr" was to make a contemporary album. So why is it stuck in the Eighties? Despite the relative simplicity of the songs, the pretension level is often still a 10 when it comes to titles. Ooh, let's spell it differently, genius? (No.) And for every uptempo gasser, there's at least one awkward ballad to blow the momentum. The much-heralded return of James Iha for the last album seems anticlimactic now, as he's buried in aging synths for some reason. Female backing vocals aside, the best things here are (1) Jimmy Chamberlain can still slam, though he doesn't get enough chances to show off that prowess, and (2) Corgan's voice is mostly stabilized - his annoying tendency to veer from baby stripper voice on soft notes to snotty whine on the loud ones has found a happier medium - still a bit brash, but you don't have to turn the treble down to 2 anymore. "I know I'm ruthless," Corgan sings on "Ramona", which would make more of an impact if it weren't such a lightweight mid-tempo thing. Bottom line: edit, Billy, edit. This could have been a great EP. You'll definitely play it more than once, though - otherwise the single is all you'll remember a week from now.…Expand
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This is so bad. Reviewers comparing it to singles. But this is the band who put out Geek USA, Hummer, Obscured, Shame, The Camera Eye, I of The Mourning, Ruby, Porcelina, Mayonaise, Snail and over 100 more 10/10 songs. I f***ing love The Future Embrace btw.
Anyone raving about this I'm pretty sure is a Corgan sycophant or hasn't heard any new music for some time. It's so weak. Why not check out some new music. [Link omitted per site rules]
Meant to say check out The Microdance and Holy Fawn. Links not permitted here. Both bands have phemoninal songs s, tommes of varie, music with passjon, spirit and ambition. What we used to expect from SP.…Expand