Roy Thomas Baker confirmed as producer for next Smashing Pumpkins record

[slowdive]

From smashingpumpkins.com:

"The Smashing Pumpkins are currently in the recording studio with legendary producer Roy Thomas Baker (Queen, The Cars, The Darkness), at work on their first new album since 1999."

What do you think of this pairing of producer/artist?

As a long time fan of SP, I was pretty disappointed in the overall sound of the Machina and Zwan records. And don't even get me started on Corgan's solo album. Unfortunately, I'm still not that hopeful about this record, but part of me still hopes that Corgan has another great rock record left in him.

Time to go listen to Siamese Dream...

[ToddF]

Holy Crap! Big Pumpkins fan here. Also RTB fab.
Todd

[shipshape]

RTB is doing 4 songs and Michael Bienhorn is doing the rest of the record.
Shipshape

[vixapphire]

If that's true it'll be interesting to hear what two guys (corgan and baker) with finely tuned pop sensibilities can come up with together.

[Jeff16years]

I'm a big SP fan but i think for the most part thier records sound pretty awful. The worst guitar sounds, really scooped.
I would love to hear a good record from them, especially if it sounded great. but if they still write good songs I will like the record no matter how it sounds
-jeff

[eligit]

who actually plays in the smashing pumpkins now?

i heard they were looking at eric avery for bass.....

[vernier]

Watched Roy mix back in the day ..was like Captain Nemo playing the organ in 20,000 Leagues.

Note to RTB: dump digtal and go back to kick-butt sound!

[planet red]

Some friends of mine wanted RTB to produce their major label debut and had everything worked out with him and the label turned them down saying he hasnt had a hit record in years.. maybe thats why he isnt doing the whole record?

[84K]

I think it will be great but fall on deaf youth.

fuuck kids today

[thejook]

Didn't the Pumpkins break up? I remember their series of 'farewell' shows at Metro & the United Center - tix to the Metro went for thousands, IIRC.

[seaneldon]

i don't think they're any good. i think they came up during a time where not so good music was totally accepted and bought by the millions because it was loud and annoying. but hey, maybe i'm just a big jerk. still though...i think they're pretty much a major example of audio diarrhea.

[84K]

Originally Posted by seaneldon

i don't think they're any good. i think they came up during a time where not so good music was totally accepted and bought by the millions because it was loud and annoying. but hey, maybe i'm just a big jerk. still though...i think they're pretty much a major example of audio diarrhea.

Just not your thing. I think they were very good at doing their own slant on things.

[Led]

I'm not so sure about the Darkness album, but was it the production or the material....hmmm....maybe the novelty just wore off.

[pomoone]

Gish was the best album they did, was raw and real!!

They broke up numerous times but the lack of money coming in always persuades the multi million making artist to change their minds.

[slowdive]

as of now, avery is out. apparently they couldn't work it out with him.

the only confirmed members are corgan and jimmy chamberlin.

[max cooper]

Originally Posted by slowdive

as of now, avery is out. apparently they couldn't work it out with him.

This guy should be working regularly. Excellent rock bassist.

[Jim Williams]

A match made in heaven. Smashing Pumkins, meet smashing meters.

Jim Williams
Audio Upgrades

[slowdive]

Originally Posted by Jim Williams

A match made in heaven. Smashing Pumkins, meet smashing meters.

Jim Williams
Audio Upgrades

NOOOOOOO!!!!

Did you see the waveforms of the mastered Zwan record?! The whole thing was clipped like crazy!!

When confronted about the poor sound, Corgan claimed he wanted that sound...he wanted to make a record that was "loud at any volume"

hahaha

[eligit]

Originally Posted by max cooper

This guy should be working regularly. Excellent rock bassist.

if you listen to nothing's shocking and "ritual"...he wrote almost every main riff.

"the mountain song", "summertime rolls", "3 days"......he kind of WAS that band in a funny way.

when i got that last jane's record without him i realized how important he was to the sound.

[eligit]

Originally Posted by slowdive

NOOOOOOO!!!!

Did you see the waveforms of the mastered Zwan record?! The whole thing was clipped like crazy!!

When confronted about the poor sound, Corgan claimed he wanted that sound...he wanted to make a record that was "loud at any volume"

hahaha

ug.

i have a queasy feeling already....

their production choices have been all over the place in the past....really interesting sounds and ideas but as far as compression and limiting....i think this next one is gonna be crunched.

[84K]

Originally Posted by eligit

if you listen to nothing's shocking and "ritual"...he wrote almost every main riff.

"the mountain song", "summertime rolls", "3 days"......he kind of WAS that band in a funny way.

when i got that last jane's record without him i realized how important he was to the sound.

Eric A. is the man! Those (2) Jane's albums are my favorite albums of all time. BAR NONE

[eligit]

Originally Posted by 84K

Eric A. is the man! Those (2) Jane's albums are my favorite albums of all time. BAR NONE

too bad he's not on board with SP....he might have actually added some new blood into the songwriting/playing/arranging vibe. or maybe corgan and he would have murdered each other....

what has avery done since that side project with navarro (deconstruction?)?

it always bums me out that avery and kim thayl were central people in these cool popular bands (janes and soundgarden)and then.....?

[DarkstarII]

I think this is badazz, ive been a loyal pumpkins fan since '93 and i have to agree, the direction they took on the Adore and Machina albums surprised me--but i can't wait to see what they come up with this time around. I just hope they get Iha involved because Corgan + Chamberlain+ Iha is my Hetfield/Ulrich.

Let the loudness wars commence anew!

[slowdive]

Originally Posted by DarkstarII

I think this is badazz, ive been a loyal pumpkins fan since '93 and i have to agree, the direction they took on the Adore and Machina albums surprised me--but i can't wait to see what they come up with this time around. I just hope they get Iha involved because Corgan + Chamberlain+ Iha is my Hetfield/Ulrich.

Let the loudness wars commence anew!

See I actually love Adore, love all the quiet songs, the vocal harmonies, everything. Great album. From a production standpoint, things went VERY wrong beginning with Machina.

But yeah, the new album will most likely be clipped to hell in tracking AND mastering. "LOUD AT ANY VOLUME"

[dasoundjunkie]

Originally Posted by seaneldon

i don't think they're any good. i think they came up during a time where not so good music was totally accepted and bought by the millions because it was loud and annoying. but hey, maybe i'm just a big jerk. still though...i think they're pretty much a major example of audio diarrhea.

To be honest musically I thought they were decent, I just TRULY think that whoever told Billy Corgan he could sing did the rest of us a huge disservice, but hey, we all know what opinions are like. If ya likes it more power to ya but like someone else said here ,just not my thing..dfegad

[eligit]

Originally Posted by dasoundjunkie

To be honest musically I thought they were decent, I just TRULY think that whoever told Billy Corgan he could sing did the rest of us a huge disservice, but hey, we all know what opinions are like. If ya likes it more power to ya but like someone else said here ,just not my thing..dfegad

well, technically his singing is pretty shaky....but that's the sound, no way around it. if he was a technically more sound singer they might never have gotten signed because part of what makes it distinctive is the whiny singing.

i like the drums and guitars tho.

[dubrichie]

well,

i dunno.

i have a very personal and wonderful connection with siamese dream, i regard it as a feckin masterpiece.

i also totally agree that the sound quality / production of machina and particualrly zwan was not good. too squashed.

then i went to see corgan's solo show when his tour came to town a couple of years or so ago. i hadn't heard any of that new material before the show and walked out after 20 minutes because i felt insulted. the whole damn thing except for the vocals and his guitar was sequenced and he had some pretty boy model pretending to play an electronic drum kit. the cheek. i was furious. the music was crap too.

so, what the hell is he gonna do this time? redeem himself? i would be forever impressed if he did but i'm not gonna hope for it as it probably won't happen.

shame.

regards,

richie.

[Stitch333]

all I gotta say is..... Gish ......

[slowdive]

Originally Posted by dubrichie

then i went to see corgan's solo show when his tour came to town a couple of years or so ago. i hadn't heard any of that new material before the show and walked out after 20 minutes because i felt insulted. the whole damn thing except for the vocals and his guitar was sequenced and he had some pretty boy model pretending to play an electronic drum kit.

the sad thing is, that was matt walker, who is an excellent drummer. he used to play for filter, and later smashing pumpkins. i agree though, seeing him standing there pretending to play electronic pads was such a horror.

regarding his vocals, i felt like the singing was pretty strong on the solo tour. his voice clearly has gotten technically better (i know he was taking voice lessons for a while). however, the way it is recorded and produced makes it sound even worse. on his solo album, the vocal sound is really bad...

[Jack P]

Originally Posted by slowdive

the only confirmed members are corgan and jimmy chamberlin.

So it's just Zwan without Pajo etc...dfegad