The Solstice Bare EP
Billy Corgan and Company are slowly but surely delivering on a promise made. That promise is the epic Teargarden by Kaleidyscope, a 44+ song collection released one at a time for free via the Smashing Pumpkins website. Every 4 songs a new collector’s edition EP is released. Teargarden by Kaleidyscope Volume II: The Solstice Bare was delivered on November 23 in a decorative box including an ornate 12″ picture disc of “Cottonwood Symphony,” a bonus track separate from the 44 song collection. The previously released “Freak” and the latest, “Tom Tom” are the highlights along with 2 other damn good tracks in “The Fellowship” and “Spangled.” The former delivers a powerful declaration in the form of New Order meets 70′s prog-rock while “Spangled” is a tender gesture of infatuation drenched in Sgt. Pepper style whimsy.
“Tom Tom” sounds tame and mature at first listen with the acoustic intro and catchy chorus. Further review extracts the changes, stops, and signature wall-o-guitar that Billy champions so well. The guitar strums and building drums that bring the song back from the quieter parts is classic SP although it comes across more subtle and nuanced. The new songs are simple, brilliant and these releases serve as a chronicle of an evolving band (the band now records together vs. the old Billy and a drummer model). Now if they can work in a 10 minute epic here and sprinkle some hard charging rockers there this will be another exquisite SP collection.
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