Unprepared for Ogilala's stripped-bare approach, it should neither shock nor stir those who will follow him through his ostentatious eight-hour musical homage to Herman Hesse's Siddhartha. In fact, Rick Rubin's laissez-faire production chops permits Corgan to showcase the breadth of his compositions.
Ogilala is nothing particularly new or revolutionary for fans, more a strong reminder that there’s a reason why Corgan managed to shift millions of units with his brand of moody rock.
The anger and frustration that characterized his most famous work melts away on Ogilala, which stands out as his most centered, vulnerable, and soothing music yet.
Most of Billy 2.0’s low-key lullabies are pleasant enough. Indeed, you could place any one of them in the middle of a big rock record as an eyebrow-raising, spine-tingling palate cleanser. Enduring them all in one sitting is, unfortunately, less fun than consuming 11 consecutive courses of the same pumpkin-flavoured sorbet.
beautiful album, I'm liking this new path that billy is starting, success, as if necessary, this album and as a new beginning, what is alwaysbeautiful album, I'm liking this new path that billy is starting, success, as if necessary, this album and as a new beginning, what is always good, peace for all…Expand
It really is a very pretty album, some songs like Zowie, Aeronaut, Mandarynne and Archer even reaching Adore levels of quality and charm thatIt really is a very pretty album, some songs like Zowie, Aeronaut, Mandarynne and Archer even reaching Adore levels of quality and charm that the production in Billy's albums have been lacking for quite a while in my opinion. If this is where his sound stays for a while I'll be A-Okay with that, I do miss many of the quirks in his vocals that he either grew out of or forgot was one of his huge selling points back in the day - whispers, whines, rasps and snarls that add layers and personality which has been sadly lacking since Machina, now in its place a steady often repetitious tone and prominent vibrato that somehow manages to not get old but certainly won't draw you in and tug at your heartstrings like he once could with ease. For what it is though, I can't fault the album for its vision and for being a perfect atmospheric companion for the Fall season.…Expand
For those who haven't delved past the Smashing Pumpkins biggest singles, you'd be forgiven for predominantly associating Billy Corgan withFor those who haven't delved past the Smashing Pumpkins biggest singles, you'd be forgiven for predominantly associating Billy Corgan with angst fuelled, hard hitting rock. Long time Pumpkins fans will know that this is very much only half of the story with buckets of gentler numbers in his back catalogue ranking amongst some of his greatest work. To me, Corgan is one of the all time greats and I can see the good in everything he does. To be fair, despite his stellar status, his output has been hit and miss over the past 15 years or so. He's promised so much but has underwhelmed in delivery so expectations were somewhere in the middle for "Ogilala". While the fans still sticking around will take what they get in terms of new material, I'd be amazed if the album garnered Corgan any new fans. It's low key, acoustic guitar and piano but dominated by his distinct and it has to be said, polarizing voice. Personally, I think "Ogilala" is a solid and an appropriate release for Corgan at 50. The focus is on the songwriting which is to be commended but for me the songs, while not the most memorable are still very strong in their own way. "The Spaniards" is the only song you could imagine making the cut of a peak Pumpkins album. Still, "Ogilala" is Corgan having moved on from that time and there is plenty to get into and enjoy here.…Expand
As a huge Pumpkins fan, I was curious to hear Billy's (going by his birth name William Patrick) new solo album. I wasn't expecting anotherAs a huge Pumpkins fan, I was curious to hear Billy's (going by his birth name William Patrick) new solo album. I wasn't expecting another Siamese Dream or Mellon Collie or even Adore, just a mastermind for one of my favorite bands to make a singer-songwriter album in his unique touch. And I certainly got that. This does sound a lot like one of the Smashing Pumpkin's acoustic songs like 1979 and a less luscious Disarm, so it wasn't hard for me to dig this album. In fact this is basically a less ambitious Pumpkins album. It does sound like one, but it does have the grandiose reach of an album like Mellon Collie. That's basically where I come down on this album. It's not groundbreaking when compared to other singer-songwriter records, nor is it challenging to Billy's sound. But that doesn't mean it's bad. Far from it. If you are a Pumpkins fan, you will enjoy this album, but it really does depend on what kind of a fan you are. If you are a diehard fan and are interested in a more stripped back version of the band's sound, you will enjoy this album. If you are a fan but prefer the band's signature alt-rock sound, then give this a spin if you are curious but know that this is not a typical sound from Billy.
I know it's unfair to compare the Smashing Pumpkins to this, but really all I have been reminded of is Billy making a Pumpkins album by himself. It's too safe of an album really to stand on it's own, which is a problem with a lot of artists from a famous band trying to make a solo album, they usually make the same thing. And again it's not terrible. There are times where the songs are generic singer-songwriter music like the lead-off single Aeronaut, but there are a ton of standouts like Processional (which features old Pumpkins bandmate James Iha), the Spaniards, and the Long Goodbye. I wasn't expecting a record that wows my socks off, but a solid solo record from Billy. And that's what I got.…Expand
