Cyr
by The Smashing Pumpkins
User Score
6.9

Generally favorable reviews- based on 67 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 43 out of 67
  2. Mixed: 11 out of 67
  3. Negative: 13 out of 67
Buy Now
Buy on

Review this album

  1. Your Score
    0 out of 10
    Rate this:
    • 10
    • 9
    • 8
    • 7
    • 6
    • 5
    • 4
    • 3
    • 2
    • 1
    • 0
    • 0
  1. Submit
  2. Check Spelling
view
per page
  1. DanielWarren
    Nov 30, 2020
    6
    Several catchy tunes here, including "Wyttch" and "Colour of Your Love", as well as some more sensitive tracks such as "Birch Grove." No horrible, must-skip tracks. But overall, just a decent listen, nothing phenomenal.
  2. EmCBC76
    Nov 30, 2020
    5
    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.
  3. fernandopas
    Nov 27, 2020
    4
    Something that defines post breakup Pumpkins is Billy singing "well". Melodically and sweetly. Away are the angst and power of the 90's albums. This album is mostly this kind of singing on top, with synthesisers and some cheesy backing vocals by guest female singers. James Iha's return is still unnoticeable, and Jimmy Chamberlin's drumming is robotical, devoid of any emotion. This formulaSomething that defines post breakup Pumpkins is Billy singing "well". Melodically and sweetly. Away are the angst and power of the 90's albums. This album is mostly this kind of singing on top, with synthesisers and some cheesy backing vocals by guest female singers. James Iha's return is still unnoticeable, and Jimmy Chamberlin's drumming is robotical, devoid of any emotion. This formula is repeated over 20 songs. The result is not a bad or unlistenable album, it's just remarkably dull.… Expand
  4. JLuis_001
    Jan 22, 2021
    5
    This album is unfortunately one of the deepest disappointments I've had this year.
    Once again Billy Corgan proves that his ambition far exceeds his talent and clearly no one in the band knows how to say to him: "Stop it."
    Cyr is a double album although it doesn't have an excessive length, however, it's so monotonous that you feel that it's much longer than it is and than it really    This album is unfortunately one of the deepest disappointments I've had this year.
    Once again Billy Corgan proves that his ambition far exceeds his talent and clearly no one in the band knows how to say to him: "Stop it."

    Cyr is a double album although it doesn't have an excessive length, however, it's so monotonous that you feel that it's much longer than it is and than it really should.

    If this set was missing, something that something was an editor.
    Someone who should have said: There's a lot of disposable stuff here.

    But it didn't happen and the album is pretty boring.
    A total disappointment that makes me think a lot about that long sequel that Corgan announced to Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness.
    Because if this is a preamble to what's to come, then I'm very scared.

    Notable Tracks

    > Cyr
    > Wyttch
    > Minerva    … Expand

Awards & Rankings

64
#64 Most Discussed Album of 2020

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
61

Generally favorable reviews - based on 21 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 21
  2. Mixed: 14 out of 21
  3. Negative: 0 out of 21
  1. Classic Rock Magazine
    Dec 8, 2020
    70
    It's a concoction that shouldn't work but does. ... Disarming. [Jan 2021, p.82]
  2. American Songwriter
    Dec 4, 2020
    80
    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.
    Read full review
  3. Rolling Stone
    Dec 2, 2020
    40
    Rather than a through-line back to the Pumpkins’ trip-hoppy Adore, Cyr often sounds like Corgan was going for a new-wave sound that recalls Talk Talk, and unfortunately he has neither the singular vision he had in the Nineties nor the melodic savvy of Talk Talk’s Mark Hollis to pull it off. Instead, most of the songs, all filled with neo-goth romantic lyrics, stumble and fumble over meandering melodies with no sing-along choruses to buttress them.
    Read full review
See all critic reviews »