Track Listing

1. All Things Change
2. Mina Loy (M.O.H.)
3. The CameraEye
4. ToLoveSomebody
5. A100
6. DIA
7. Now (And Then)
8. I'm Ready
9. Walking Shade
10. Sorrows (in blue)
11. Pretty, pretty STAR
12. Strayz

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #86437 in Music
• Published on: 2005
• Released on: 2005-06-21
• Number of discs: 1

Album Description
The first solo album ever released by Billy Corgan-the revered singer/songwriter/guitarist whose groundbreaking work with The Smashing Pumpkins defined modern rock-is shockingly affirmative, even romantic. Corgan's most intimate set of songs yet, the hauntingly beautiful TheFutureEmbrace brings together Corgan's astonishing past and promising present.

Amazon.com
Odd it may seem, Billy Corgan is wearing his heart on his extremely long sleeve, in his first proper solo album since dismantling the Smashing Pumpkins five years ago. Maybe it took that long to process the enormity of that loss, since The Future Embrace sounds like nothing so much as a break-up album. But having said that, it's rather difficult to determine whether it's the absence of James Iha, Jimmy Chamberlain, and D'Arcy Wretzky or just something much more mundane than the shattering of an affair of the heart that his sent him on this 12-song confessional. To his extreme credit, Corgan isn't trying to obscure his pain and uncertainty behind layers of guitar distortion and sonic dissonance the way he did with the Pumpkins, instead he's employed a rather restrained hand as he tries to work his way out of this psychic maze of his own making, cavorting with the ghosts of his past, present and future on such kinetic panoramas as "All Things Change," "DIA," or the rather wrenching "The Camera Eye," where the musician wrestles with his fear of aging, his burgeoning religiosity as and the necessity of transformation. Don't miss Robert Smith singing rather angular back-ups on the Bee Gee's skewed ode to love, "You Don't Know What It's Like." A tremendous and noble effort from a major talent. --Jaan Uhelszki

Customer Reviews

Soothing Yet Familiar
As a fan of the the Smashing Pumpkins, I feel that Billy Corgan simply cannot make it with the full band. While this album reminds me of Adore, it is lacking a quality and uniqueness that comes with the band. This album is relaxing and good for driving, I suppose, but nevermind just sitting down to listen. It's merely mediocre.

Its okay but nothing great
I'm going to take a different approach to reviewing albums on Amazon. Instead of going in depth on each album and describe each album in detail, i'm going to simply rate each album with how many stars I feel each album is worth based on the below criteria. I hope this helps you make a better decision on purchasing this album with a simple individual rating. If it doesn't help read another review.
5 stars- Classic, Album goes beyond description, Perfect in every way, Could remind you of a certain time or place, Lifetime replay value.
4.5 stars- Near Classic, Incredible album, Maybe only one song that is skippable or just overall doesn't quite deserve classic status. High replay value.
4.0 stars- Awesome album. Very solid album from start to finish. Met every expectation and more. Maybe only one song or two that is skippable or just doesnt' quite deserve a classic or near classic rating. High replay value.
3.5 stars- Above average album. Solid from start to finish but there are a few songs worth skipping. Met expectations, minimal replay value.
3.0 stars- Average album. Nothing bad but nothing great either. After the initial appeal will collect dust.
2.5 stars- Major disappointment. You had high expectations that were ruined as this album is not good at all. There might be only one or two songs worth listening to. No replay value.
2.0 stars- Below average album. This album doesnt bother you to hear as background music but you would rather not listen to it if you didnt have to. No songs really appeal. No replay value.
1.5 stars- Terrible album. Makes one sick to hear it. No songs really appeal but there might be one song that you could stand to hear. Would rather throw in garbage than even waste space in your collection.
1.0 stars- Makes one cringe and the ears bleed!
*keep in mind, each album review might not be based on opinion of the band but the album itself in the bands discography

Marches to his own electronic drums
The song "All Things Change" could sum up just about anybody's life, and for Billy Corgan, it seems to sum up his new musical direction as a solo artist. The clipped electronic drums and Cure-ish background synth that drenches the first track indicates this won't be the The Smashing Pumpkins - Greatest Hits. Still, with its shrill background guitars and exciting yet downbeat aura, the following tune, "Mina Loy (M.O.H.)," does have a latter-day Pumpkinesque vibe: "Can I give my old heart to you?" wails Corgan, just above the din of a swirling mess of guitars.

Speaking of the Cure, Robert Smith adds his morbid background vocal to the interesting cover tune "To Love Somebody," written by Barry and Robin Gibb of the Bee Gees. And Corgan's old pal Jimmy Chamberlain of the Pumpkins provides the sparse drumming on "Dia," one of the album's more unremarkable selections. "Now (And Then)," however, might be the best song on the CD, a slow dirge with pleasingly atmospheric guitars and echoey vocals.

Despite the sheen of "TheFutureEmbrace," the album's grittiness comes from Corgan himself, who bares his soul in the lyrics and sound. This isn't a very commercial CD, for the most part, and Corgan seems just fine dabbling with cutting-edge music that's different. On the album's sparse and simple closer, "Strayz," he sums up the bold mentality that's always served him well: "You know I'm true/I wasn't born to follow." Still, though Corgan's heart-on-his-sleeve approach has always worked for him (and his fans), "TheFutureEmbrace" might suffer some from a sonically impersonal style, with lyrics that have become too introspective and claustrophic. Perhaps the best remedy for Corgan's next solo or group project would be the addition of outside musicians to give the record a more open and inclusive feel. Nonetheless, this is commendable music, and true fans of Corgan and the Pumpkins will certainly get what he was going for here.