Zwan

• Genre: Alt Metal

About

The post-Pumpkins project led by manic-overdubber Billy Corgan. The band is something of a supergroup: Corgan has enlisted former Slint and present Tortoise guitar player David Pajo, Chavez guitarist Matt Sweeney and A Perfect Circle bassist Paz Lenchantin. Musically, Zwan won't repulse fans of Smashing Pumpkins, while the strong melodies and guitar interplay are sure to bring them a whole new subset of fans. The best news for Pumpkins followers is that Corgan's once again writing the sort of gently heavy indie rock that won him so much respect when Siamese Dream first came out. Some very slight concessions to his pop star status haven't watered down his talent; Zwan represent an exciting return to form for Corgan, as the last couple Pumpkins records seemed to sag under the weight of that band's unbelievable success and subsequent identity crisis.

- Mike McGuirk