Teargarden By Kaleidyscope: Vol. 1 [EP]
by The Smashing Pumpkins
User Score
6.1

Generally favorable reviews- based on 37 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 18 out of 37
  2. Mixed: 12 out of 37
  3. Negative: 7 out of 37

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  1. dystopia
    Sep 16, 2010
    10
    It's clear the band is finally back to where it was pre-breakup, Teargarden Vol. 1 is a wonderful little EP, all 4 tracks are strong and well produced and really paint a glorious picture of what the entire project is going to be once it's completed.
  2. MIchael
    Jun 11, 2010
    0
    This isn't really a review of the music (mainly the package), because i really love the music. That said though i'm going to begin with the track 'Teargarden Theme'. It sounds nice enough, but it's an empty shell, it sounds like music that should be filling out the background of a fully developed song. It sounds kind of empty on it's own, a completely This isn't really a review of the music (mainly the package), because i really love the music. That said though i'm going to begin with the track 'Teargarden Theme'. It sounds nice enough, but it's an empty shell, it sounds like music that should be filling out the background of a fully developed song. It sounds kind of empty on it's own, a completely pointless inclusion and totally self indulgent putting it on a 7' inch marble vinyl 45. This 'package' retails for $60 in Australia which is around $50 USD. For that price, i find this package very very very empty. 1 cheap looking marble 7 inch 45 marble vinyl... or supposedly marble vinyl. The colour looks more like baby blue with a grey tinge. With only 1 track 'Teargarden Theme' on side A, There is no 'Side B'. It doesn't even come housed in a sleeve to protect it! A stone oblsique is also included... Why.... I have no use for one! I doubt many people do. Then under the vinyl... a 4 track EP CD in cardboard sleeve of songs available for free on the internet through the Smashing Pumpkins official website. The box looks cheap... the imitation purple velvet inside looks cheap. The vinyl looks ugly and cheap too. Basically this is such a pointless release, completely self indulgent... Maybe it would be tolerable if it was an ALBUM released in this fashion, but this is a damn 4 Track EP!! That's all!! A real nice way to kick fans in the face considering how bad 'Zeitgeist' was. A simple CD EP would've done the trick for this physical release. I got sucked in because i love owning a physical copy of the music.... don't do the same. Save your cash -- Hell when this album is done, it will probably come out as a double CD anyway! Which is something that should've occurred to me before i bought it.… Expand
  3. VaughnA
    Jun 7, 2010
    2
    Billy Corgan is a sad douche-bag. Listening to his whiny voice is like wiping your ass with sandpaper. 44 songs of this drivel? I'd rather take a long swim in the Gulf off Mexico.
  4. JohnM
    May 29, 2010
    9
    While this first 4 tracks from Teargarden aren't perfect they do present a unique atmosphere that goes hand in hand with the album by album evolution The Smashing Pumpkins have made a career out of, an evolution we will almost surely see in the small scale now as each following EP is released.
  5. EdR
    Jun 1, 2010
    10
    Each song is different, unique, and not just filler. Definitely will keep me paying attention to the next set of songs.
  6. Joris
    Jun 7, 2010
    6
    Song For A Son is classic, and contains one of Corgan's better solos since Mellon Collie but besides that track the other 3 ones are a let down. I applaud what he is doing anyhow here, it's unique and a big f*** you to radiofriendly rock but in general the songs just lack (for the first time in Pumpkins' history. So let's wait for the next EP
  7. PaulM
    May 31, 2010
    10
    Great EP.
  8. AServ
    May 25, 2010
    8
    You'd think the writer for the Chicago tribune would have a little more intelligence about the Smashing Pumpkins and the new EP SONGS FOR A SAILOR, being that the Pumpkins are from Chicago. The comment about Chamberlain adding to "Song For A Son" is ridiculous becuase Chamberlain was in the band when this was played live and written. The recorded version actually sounds a little You'd think the writer for the Chicago tribune would have a little more intelligence about the Smashing Pumpkins and the new EP SONGS FOR A SAILOR, being that the Pumpkins are from Chicago. The comment about Chamberlain adding to "Song For A Son" is ridiculous becuase Chamberlain was in the band when this was played live and written. The recorded version actually sounds a little better. Furthermore, I see this EP as a pleasant departure from the Pumpkins of old. What is it that critics generally harp on....Evolution. That is indeed what Billy has done. I'm sorry my friends of old, but Billy is into evolving his music and has done quite a good job at that. If you are frustrated with Billy's ego and what has become of the Pumpkins, that belongs nowhere in a review about a piece of music. Rate the music not the individual.… Expand
  9. centurysleuth
    Sep 30, 2010
    5
    So I listened to some early Smashing Pumpkins, then some old. And I'd place this in neither catagory, but it's not terrible. So I'm hoping this develops into something good. I just hate being patient for artists. But it must be tough, having created both Siamese Dream & Mellon Collie. Set the bar a little high Billy?
  10. thisname
    Nov 11, 2010
    5
    2 good songs came out of this "Song For A Son" and "A Stitch In Time" and two very wrong songs "Astral Planes" and "Widow Wake My Mind". Both of those songs should have not seen the light of day! I am very disappointed in this, I hope the best if yet tom come.
  11. Ricko
    May 14, 2012
    8
    The first EP from Billy Corgan's ambitious 44 track Teargarden project. I seriously doubt the whole thing will ever come to light. Even with the upcoming Oceania album within the Teargarden project, the thing will be half complete after over 2 years of work. In general the songs on Teargarden are good enough but don't compare to the Pumpkins in their prime bar one or two tracks so far. TheThe first EP from Billy Corgan's ambitious 44 track Teargarden project. I seriously doubt the whole thing will ever come to light. Even with the upcoming Oceania album within the Teargarden project, the thing will be half complete after over 2 years of work. In general the songs on Teargarden are good enough but don't compare to the Pumpkins in their prime bar one or two tracks so far. The first EP has the very promising Song for a Son. Widow Wake My Mind isn't bad ok. A Stitch in Time is good and Astral Planes has potential but goes nowhere in the end. I'll be interested to see what Oceania offers but over the last few years BC is just showing us glimpses of what he can do.… Expand
  12. 7dogguy
    Apr 13, 2012
    5
    eh these songs on this are ok but there not memorable at all nor is this even close to what the smashing pumpkins are about luckly even though it doesnt really sound like them there is one good song and one decent song and the other 2 are horrible
  13. CalR
    Feb 19, 2012
    5
    It's sort of a step in the right direction after Zeitgeist, but Billy forgot that when people complained that he was trying to hard, that it didn't mean to take your full foot of the pedal and drive in the opposite direction. Structurally and lyrically there is zero substance here, but the vocals at times commit better to the music than the wreck of Zeitgeist. Fortunately the promise ofIt's sort of a step in the right direction after Zeitgeist, but Billy forgot that when people complained that he was trying to hard, that it didn't mean to take your full foot of the pedal and drive in the opposite direction. Structurally and lyrically there is zero substance here, but the vocals at times commit better to the music than the wreck of Zeitgeist. Fortunately the promise of 'Oceania' already looks set to redeem a decade of poor choices.… Expand

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
65

Generally favorable reviews - based on 5 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 5
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 5
  3. Negative: 0 out of 5
  1. Kerrang!
    60
    It has one or two fine songs, A Song For A Son is probably Billy's best since Adore in 1998 but , decent though it is, it's not a Smashing Pumpkins record. [5 Jun 2010, p.50]
  2. Chicago Tribune
    63
    Without Chamberlin's freight train roaring behind him, the hurtling "Astral Planes" never quite achieves liftoff. And one can only imagine how Chamberlin might've combusted the six-minute "Son of a Sailor," which sounds like a promising sketch for a "Stairway to Heaven"-style epic. Corgan's at his best when he takes a lighter tack and develops two of his more engaging melodies on the remaining tracks.
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  3. Drowned In Sound
    50
    He only truly nails it on one track out of four doesn't bode especially well, but as I say, there's some reason to hope, and if you really don't have anything better than the Pumpkins to pin your musical hopes onto, you probably shouldn't be too nervous about checking out the next EP.
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