Ogilala [CD]

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• Rated 5 out of 5 stars

  Quiet Bliss

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  The artist formerly known as Billy Corgan lets loose his second solo album, maintaining his trend of not repeating himself. Stylistically, this is closest to 'Adore' in its hushed tone. But the melancholy found in the songs here are more often than not tinged with hope, rather than bleak undercurrents. These songs are also much more stripped down than that or any other of Corgan's works to date. But as he is quick to point out, Corgan has always written songs like these, just never done a whole album of them. Going back to 89's 'Bye June' to the iconic 'Disarm' to 'Pale Horse' on the Pumpkins' 2012 album 'Oceania', each of 'Ogilala's songs would feel right at home on almost any previous album with Corgan at the helm. My personal favourites are the opening trio (the cinematic 'Zowie', the James Iha-reunion 'Processional' and the mellotron ballad 'Spaniards', each of which segue into each other), but there's really not a weak track on the album. Some are growers ('Long Goodbye' and lead single 'Aeronaut' required a few listens before taking hold), but I already know the entire album beginning to end as if it were an established classic. Any fan of Corgan's softer side would be doing themselves a favor by picking this up.

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  Posted 8 years ago by Redmond

• Rated 5 out of 5 stars

  Best showcasing of Billy Corgan, "the songwriter"

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  This is essentially an "acoustic solo record" by Billy Corgan, with the primary instrument of choice being the piano (though one would expect it to be the guitar, but who knew?). Nonetheless, the stripped down instrumentation and minimal studio production add up to a very intimate sounding album that is arguably the best showcasing of Billy Corgan, "the songwriter". That is not to say by any means that this is a "better" record than the classic Smashing Pumpkins records, and songs like "Disarm" and "1979" will always rank among my favorite SP songs. What I am saying is that, unlike the aforementioned classic records and songs, there are no elaborate string sections, layered guitars, blistering volume, heavy drumming and fast tempos going on here - only the songs - and they're played in a more acoustic (even pensive) way.. The best test for any song, no matter how elaborately produced, is how it sounds when stripped down to its bare essentials. If it still stands on its own then, well then you have a song written by a bonafide "songwriter". This album exposes that talent in Billy Corgan in the best possible way on this album (in which he uses his formal birth name on the cover). It's no secret that Corgan became one of the best alternative/hard rock songwriters of his generation a long time ago. However, here, on this record and its moody setting, that legacy is just getting bolstered a bit more - only in a more gentle way.

  Posted 8 years ago by drummerartist1966

• Rated 5 out of 5 stars

  Billys 2nd solo album is excellent...

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  From the albums opener to the 2 singles that video were made for (Areonaut and The Spainiards) are phemoninal. The album has that softer side of Corgan that one would hear on the 1st solo album (Future Embrace) - Its solid straight through and a must hear for any fan of Smashing Pumpkins or Zwan. The best hes done since Oceania. Definitely worth the purchase and support of a great musician.

  Posted 8 years ago by SPIZZARRI