Zeitgeist
by The Smashing Pumpkins
User Score
7.7

Generally favorable reviews- based on 306 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 234 out of 306
  2. Mixed: 38 out of 306
  3. Negative: 34 out of 306

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  1. spacecadet
    Jun 6, 2011
    5
    good enough album... doesnt reach the levels of smashing pumpkins... not even the same ball park... it sounds like a better zwan album... where is all the shoegazing? the loads of guitars? the sweet innocent lyrics? the whispering lulluby voice? or for that matter - the screeching voice (rat tat tat.... kaaaabooom!)
    this is not the smashing pumpkins... it's a good band.. but not as good as    good enough album... doesnt reach the levels of smashing pumpkins... not even the same ball park... it sounds like a better zwan album... where is all the shoegazing? the loads of guitars? the sweet innocent lyrics? the whispering lulluby voice? or for that matter - the screeching voice (rat tat tat.... kaaaabooom!)
    this is not the smashing pumpkins... it's a good band.. but not as good as the smashing pumpkins.
    after all that is said... i like it.. it's nice.. but ill take any other smashing album any time    … Expand
  2. Chris
    Jul 3, 2007
    6
    It's alright if a bit disappointing. I don't hear much emotion or interesting and experimental music like I've come to expect from Corgan, and I feel this album was basically built to be as catchy as possible to win over a lot of new fans. I don't think this matches up to their earlier works at all...even Machina which gets way too much flack is better than this. But It's alright if a bit disappointing. I don't hear much emotion or interesting and experimental music like I've come to expect from Corgan, and I feel this album was basically built to be as catchy as possible to win over a lot of new fans. I don't think this matches up to their earlier works at all...even Machina which gets way too much flack is better than this. But all in all, I don't hate this album. I've just come to expect more from my favourite songwriter. The production and especially the multitude of vocal harmonies are huge minuses here. Please refrain from overcooking the next album Mr. Corgan.… Expand
  3. ElT
    Aug 2, 2007
    6
    It's got good and crap stuff in almost equal measure, and it's disappointing given the SP legacy. Brendan D: nobody cares what you think
  4. CP
    Aug 9, 2007
    6
    I don't care who wrote the album, played the parts and the politics surrounding it. Based on the music itself, I find it a satisfying album. If the heavier songs are "modern rock", it's far better than the current understudies are producing. A point deduction for Billy feeling the need to tell me he's found Jesus again in no less than two songs. Don't care. Otherwise, I don't care who wrote the album, played the parts and the politics surrounding it. Based on the music itself, I find it a satisfying album. If the heavier songs are "modern rock", it's far better than the current understudies are producing. A point deduction for Billy feeling the need to tell me he's found Jesus again in no less than two songs. Don't care. Otherwise, decent album with the second half of United States standing out especially.… Expand
  5. LucasR.
    Jul 11, 2007
    5
    I have been a pumpkins lover (Billy Corgan fan) since I was 13. I am now 26. I bought all the albums, flew from California to Chicago for their last show at United Center. Stood 8 hours at Tower records like the other crazies just to shake the guys hand and tell him that I loved his music. I bought Zwan's Mary of the whatever.... and went to their show. I even went drove to Hollywood I have been a pumpkins lover (Billy Corgan fan) since I was 13. I am now 26. I bought all the albums, flew from California to Chicago for their last show at United Center. Stood 8 hours at Tower records like the other crazies just to shake the guys hand and tell him that I loved his music. I bought Zwan's Mary of the whatever.... and went to their show. I even went drove to Hollywood to get his poetry book signed. Saw his "solo" act, although I relented to buy the album. I did buy Zeitgeist, and I have listened to it all the way through..and all I can say is I'm done, and here is why. Moment of Truth: I have been lying to myself about my undying love for this guys music/talent. Not only has my love for anything this guy (Corgan) does diminished. I can honestly say I can't stand it anymore. When I heard of this reunion I was excited...but as soon as I realized it was not without the other members...I lost all hope in it. Billy Corgan is living up to his own idea of who he should be. However, he has let the press/media dictate and influence everything he has done after Adore...suprisingly that was his last great effort. Machina II should have been the album he released after Adore...but no! We got Zwan and whatever was supposed to come after that. ( to his credit "for your love" was one of the most beautiful songs I have ever heard-NOT ON THE ALBUM THOUGH IS IT?) Corgan punishes himself with what he thinks others should think about him and whatever legacy he will leave behind, he wants to write his own history, and as much as he says he could really give a fuck what people say, guess what Corgan!? You do give a fuck. Unfortunately I don't anymore. Cheers P.s. Darcy and James (you are loved wherever you are) I'm gonna go listen to Volta now....… Expand
  6. Pumpkinsboy
    Jul 10, 2007
    5
    As a huge Pumpkins fan, I can't say I was overly hopeful for this album, based on Corgan's solo output and the debacle that was Zwan. However, I was pleasantly surprised by `Doomsday Clock`, which launches the album with a crunching riff and catchy chorus. I also found myself nodding away to `7 Shades of Black` and the crisp guitars of `Bleeding the Orchid` were evocative of the As a huge Pumpkins fan, I can't say I was overly hopeful for this album, based on Corgan's solo output and the debacle that was Zwan. However, I was pleasantly surprised by `Doomsday Clock`, which launches the album with a crunching riff and catchy chorus. I also found myself nodding away to `7 Shades of Black` and the crisp guitars of `Bleeding the Orchid` were evocative of the Siamese Dream era. A fantastic opening threesome. However, as I listened further, I had a sinking feeling...the spectre of Zwan loomed large in most of the tracks, which are too poppy, and when an attempt is made to reconnect with the classic Pumpkins sound, we get a meandering dirge called `United States` which is possibly the most boring song the Pumpkins have ever recorded. The album is roughly on the same level as `Machina`, although without a song as rocking as `Everlasting Gaze` or beautiful as `Stand Inside Your Love`, you would probably have to say it's weaker, and, as such, is the worst album the Pumpkins have yet recorded.… Expand
  7. Antongiu
    Jul 12, 2007
    5
    I was a huge SP fan, I still listen at the old records and I think I will stick with them as Zeitgeist is pretty average. The SP's soul is definitively missing, it's like B. Corgan took some singing lessons or maybe he is finally happy, but i still wonder where all that beautiful, powerful, depressed and epic songs are gone . I reckon their last record (and masterpiece) is I was a huge SP fan, I still listen at the old records and I think I will stick with them as Zeitgeist is pretty average. The SP's soul is definitively missing, it's like B. Corgan took some singing lessons or maybe he is finally happy, but i still wonder where all that beautiful, powerful, depressed and epic songs are gone . I reckon their last record (and masterpiece) is Mellon Collie, they should have retired since then. This is just an attempt to copy themselves, some bits are quite catchy though, but the overall is letting me down (although they are waaay better than some overhyped new alt rock bands). I'm definitely missing the 90's and the grunge!… Expand
  8. jeffrey
    Jul 21, 2007
    5
    I made the large mistake of wanting to love this album and should have known if will never reach the pinacle of before. I feel like billy is caught in between trying to please himself and his fans of old. This in turn produces what has turned out to be a very medieocre record that has a distinct heavier side to it, but nothing new and inspiring that you would expect from billy like he I made the large mistake of wanting to love this album and should have known if will never reach the pinacle of before. I feel like billy is caught in between trying to please himself and his fans of old. This in turn produces what has turned out to be a very medieocre record that has a distinct heavier side to it, but nothing new and inspiring that you would expect from billy like he gave us in machina and ava adore....not to mention his solo album (which I quite liked) 3 of the 5 points go towards that hot new bassist....damn!… Expand
  9. NM.
    Jul 4, 2007
    5
    How anyone (whether they be a Pumpkins addict or a passing fan) can rate this album as a 9 or 10 out-of-10 is beyond me. Even 8 seems far too generous but I suppose this band just has that type of fan. This is a bland and disappointing LP. There are some flashes of brilliance, but on the whole the album is astonishingly bad. Although I have listened via compressed means, the vocal How anyone (whether they be a Pumpkins addict or a passing fan) can rate this album as a 9 or 10 out-of-10 is beyond me. Even 8 seems far too generous but I suppose this band just has that type of fan. This is a bland and disappointing LP. There are some flashes of brilliance, but on the whole the album is astonishingly bad. Although I have listened via compressed means, the vocal recordings are lack-lustre and the production could have been stepped-up a notch or two. Won't bore you with a break-down of songs, but the fact that BC thought that 'Pomp and Circumstance' was good enough for release is amazing. Pretentiousness is back.… Expand
  10. MichaelS.
    Jul 4, 2007
    5
    Poor production and some bland tracks. Disappointing.
  11. JamesN
    Jul 6, 2007
    5
    It no doubt has it moments, but let's be honest here folks, if this were a Zwan album or a Corgan solo effort fans alike would be saying wtf? A Smashing Pumpkins logo does not automatically create a great album. It's simply mascarades what this release truly is, a mediocre effort.
  12. NickG.
    Jul 7, 2007
    4
    I really wanted this to work and I understand all Pumpkins fans wanting this badly, but the overly positive comments about this album really bemuse me. Although there are a few good tunes this is not a even a Pumpkins record & I think that it's a telling sign that many critics are not even talking about the music but the way this so called 're-union' happened and the I really wanted this to work and I understand all Pumpkins fans wanting this badly, but the overly positive comments about this album really bemuse me. Although there are a few good tunes this is not a even a Pumpkins record & I think that it's a telling sign that many critics are not even talking about the music but the way this so called 're-union' happened and the motives behind it. This record is simply not good enough to talk about, it is mediocre at best and embarrasing in parts.… Expand
  13. BoL.
    Jul 9, 2007
    6
    First, let's remember that 6 is better than average. I think the first thing that struck me was that after several listens I was still having problems telling the songs apart. "Bleeding the Orchid" is excellent. "United States" is a bloated mess that doesn't go anywhere. I see a lot of comments elsewhere that hail "United States" as ambitious and far reaching, but I can't First, let's remember that 6 is better than average. I think the first thing that struck me was that after several listens I was still having problems telling the songs apart. "Bleeding the Orchid" is excellent. "United States" is a bloated mess that doesn't go anywhere. I see a lot of comments elsewhere that hail "United States" as ambitious and far reaching, but I can't see that. I am a fan of long epic songs and this has none of that grandious. It just goes on and on and on. "Taranlula" is fantastic, but it is nearly the only song on the album (with the exception of "Bleeding the Orchid") That has any dynamic to the song writing. People will trash "Pomp and Circumstance" but I think it is pretty ambitous, if not a bit dated sounded (Peter Gabriel anyone?). The Pumpkins have never really sounded the same twice and this is really no exection, but it seems they forgot that in addition to writing face melting riffs they also have some beauty to offer the world.… Expand
  14. JuanR.
    Jul 9, 2007
    6
    Corgan's attempt to find the Smashing Pumpkins of old is lost somewhere between his greedy wallet and his "new and improved" lineup.
  15. dmandman
    Jul 9, 2007
    4
    Kind of sucks. They don't seem to be having any fun. The sound, the songwriting, even the video confirm this. Funny, if songs like 'Tonight' and '1979' came out now they would probably still be big hits. Corgan used to write good songs and his guitar solos would support the song. Now the songs merely serve the solos. It comes off sounding self indulgent. Corgan Kind of sucks. They don't seem to be having any fun. The sound, the songwriting, even the video confirm this. Funny, if songs like 'Tonight' and '1979' came out now they would probably still be big hits. Corgan used to write good songs and his guitar solos would support the song. Now the songs merely serve the solos. It comes off sounding self indulgent. Corgan needs to get his sense of humor back before he drowns in his own ego.… Expand
  16. MikeD.
    Jul 9, 2007
    6
    Something is missing. I don't care for the production and the songs are mediocre when compared to Corgan's past work. Sounds a bit rushed, lacks a center, and is missing some of the magic and unique charm that made ALL past Pumpkin albums memorable.
  17. AndrewM
    Jul 9, 2007
    5
    It's not very good. The songs are empty and passionless, and don't retain any of the magic of the older material. It's all a blistering attack lacking the softness to contrast it. Corgan used to be able to blend both of these elements seemlessly in one song, but seems unable now. And on the half-assed attempts at softness, they're cold and icy a la TheFutureEmbrace. It's not very good. The songs are empty and passionless, and don't retain any of the magic of the older material. It's all a blistering attack lacking the softness to contrast it. Corgan used to be able to blend both of these elements seemlessly in one song, but seems unable now. And on the half-assed attempts at softness, they're cold and icy a la TheFutureEmbrace. It's a mashup of Machina, Zwan, and his solo album, and in this instance, no one wins. It does show promise, though, and leads me to believe that the next album is going to be something special.… Expand
  18. Arin
    Aug 24, 2007
    5
    Honestly, this album would be a terrific freshman release. Feels deflated and humdrum, compared to the songwriting brilliance and dynamic brilliance of Dream and even Melloncollie... Very much feels like SP, but without the 'fist in the air' 'careening off the road' adolescence that made the older stuff so much better. It's just ok.
  19. NeilS
    Jul 12, 2007
    6
    I'm hopeful that this is is the working the kinks out of a new lineup and the next record will take the music further. So far the only two tracks that really stands out to me are That's the Way (My Love Is), Starz, and United States. Overall this record is not as varied as I would be used to from a Pumpkins output. Corgan's talented enough that he can incorporate piano, I'm hopeful that this is is the working the kinks out of a new lineup and the next record will take the music further. So far the only two tracks that really stands out to me are That's the Way (My Love Is), Starz, and United States. Overall this record is not as varied as I would be used to from a Pumpkins output. Corgan's talented enough that he can incorporate piano, acoustic, electric, etc. and it seems I'm only hearing one. I'm yet to determine if this continues the trend of more mature themes that Zwan and his solo album pushed. In short I'm enjoying new pumpkins, but I'm waiting for album 2.… Expand
  20. gabrield.
    Jul 12, 2007
    4
    This album sounds like it was recorded in the restroom or something.
  21. nickc.
    Jul 15, 2007
    5
    As a long time pumpkins fan, 13 years to be precise, I had mixed feelings about a new album. My suspicions were confirmed when i heard "Tarantula" online, featuring Billy's blaring voice completely overshadowing the music. And after hearing the whole album, that is certainly its biggest flaw--production and mixing. Its mixed like Fall Out Boy, My Chemical Romance and Green Day. In As a long time pumpkins fan, 13 years to be precise, I had mixed feelings about a new album. My suspicions were confirmed when i heard "Tarantula" online, featuring Billy's blaring voice completely overshadowing the music. And after hearing the whole album, that is certainly its biggest flaw--production and mixing. Its mixed like Fall Out Boy, My Chemical Romance and Green Day. In other words, it sounds like shit--stream-lined and radio-friendly. Corgans vocals, once sublty complimenting the music, are ridiculously too loud, detracting from the music itself. Producers Terry Date and Roy Thomas Baker are inevitably overshadowed by Corgan, who co-produced the album, and is probably responsible itr's crappish sound. The long and short of it this: it rocks more than Machina, but the song-writing is not as good. The first six songs on Zeitgeist are actually pretty awesome, but it's all down hill from there (with the exception of the beautiful, minimalistic "Neverlost"). "Pomp and Circumstance" is probably the worst song Billy has ever written, the worst in the entire pumpkins catalogue. So my reccomendation is this: Listen to the first six tracks of the album and then stop! **Tracks 1-6: 7/10** **Tracks 7-12: (excluding "Neverlost") 2/10**… Expand
  22. WayneB.
    Jul 18, 2007
    5
    Bla, bla, bla! "This album is better than Adore or Machina." That is simply not true. If your favorite cut on gish was "I am one" and you hated "Rhinoceros;" if your favorite cut on on Siamese Dream was "Silverfuck" and you hated "Disarm" or "Mayonnaise;" or if you you always skipped over "Tonight Tonight" on Mellon Collie and went straight to "Zero" then maybe I could see why one might Bla, bla, bla! "This album is better than Adore or Machina." That is simply not true. If your favorite cut on gish was "I am one" and you hated "Rhinoceros;" if your favorite cut on on Siamese Dream was "Silverfuck" and you hated "Disarm" or "Mayonnaise;" or if you you always skipped over "Tonight Tonight" on Mellon Collie and went straight to "Zero" then maybe I could see why one might think that this album is better than Adore or Machina. Now I love "I am One" and "Zero" as much as anyone. But the genius and true beauty of the first three Pumpkin Albums was how they captured the full gamut of human emotions: Happy, sad, mellow, angry, and well melancholy. Look, Pumpkins were one of the only 90's alternative band to write several straight up love songs. Now we just have Billy singing his 'I'm not angry anymore' message of Zwan over music (and with a record cover) that makes expext the most aggressive album to date. It all seems a little bit contrived and a tad bit irrelevant (especially for an album named Zeitgeist). But I still give it a 5 because Billy is still my favorite song writer to come out of the last 20years and one can still hear traces of that genius here.… Expand
  23. MInh
    Jul 20, 2007
    5
    I've been a pumpkin fan since 1992 and I've grown weary of Corgan's attempt to be "great" again. This album sounds like Zero b-sides part 2 extended special edition except the mix is worse. What is up with the mix? The vocals are in your face double tracked to hell and the guitars/drums/bass are compressed afterthought. What happened Billy? Now go back and listen to Zwan I've been a pumpkin fan since 1992 and I've grown weary of Corgan's attempt to be "great" again. This album sounds like Zero b-sides part 2 extended special edition except the mix is worse. What is up with the mix? The vocals are in your face double tracked to hell and the guitars/drums/bass are compressed afterthought. What happened Billy? Now go back and listen to Zwan and ask yourself what sounds more like the "pumpkins".… Expand
  24. LuisC
    Jul 3, 2007
    5
    The album grabs you instantly with the first song. But it immidiately releases you when it's over. It's clear that Corgan has lost whatever great talent he had in the 90's. Tarantula is still the stand-out and United States is like the child of Silverf***. I hope that this album is a grower.
  25. DG
    Jul 13, 2007
    4
    Good God. Seriously, if this is the best they can come up with, then they shouldn't bother. Not worthy of the Pumpkin name, and given some of the crap they put out at the end (MACHINA 1, I'm looking at you) that's saying something.
  26. PedroM
    Jan 26, 2008
    5
    An equal of good and unappealing stuff. It will NEVER be another Siamise and Mellon Collie but it has some good stuff. Just another case of mid-age rockers trying to find their "steam" after 7 long years of zip. A 50/50 album: Not their worst but not their best.
  27. pumpkinmate
    Nov 6, 2010
    4
    Zeitgeist is missing the emotion and originality of previous albums from the Smashing Pumpkins. Nothing feels new, its like a pre-packaged version of the band. And despite the title its the furtherest from the 'zeitgeist'/current attitudes that Billy Corgan has ever been. That being said, Smashing Pumpkins are a brilliant band usually and a Billy Corgan a defining songwriter of our generation

Awards & Rankings

7
#7 Most Discussed Album of 2007

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
59

Mixed or average reviews - based on 29 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 29
  2. Mixed: 16 out of 29
  3. Negative: 4 out of 29
  1. Amazon.com
    80
    Overall, Corgan's captivating effort to mine both the spirit of these turbulent times and the soul of his defining band is a smashing success.
    Read full review
  2. Blender
    60
    Zeitgeist’s orgy of avalanche rhythms, cascading riffs and sky-licking guitar is as grandiose as ever (the solo on "Tarantula" sounds like a nuke hitting a Guitar Center), but the bombast is softened as Corgan reaches out for shame-sharing community.
    Read full review
  3. New Musical Express (NME)
    50
    It's best treated as a curio in the Smashing Pumpkins' legacy; and for those who grew up on 'Today', '1979' and 'Ava Adore', you're better left with your memories.
    Read full review
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