ATUM

Continuing the MCIS/MACHINA narrative concept, with the Zero/Glass character evolving into the Shiny persona, ATUM weaves an intergalactic tale through space and time. An epic tale that spans from the heart of the sun to the depths of the heart, it’s a 33-track amalgamation of all The Mighty SP have come to represent. Lyrics that question what it means to be human, what it means to be moral, what sacrifices an individual or a society may consider making for security (or the illusion of security…), what free speech means, what love is and isn’t... Ambitious and lofty this is, but accessible and worthy as well.Production-wise the album is most definitely shiny, as on-the-nose as that term here may be. Layered synths dominate the bulk of the work, echos of CYR for sure, but also different and ambient, really setting the tone for the retro-futuristic world that Billy Corgan has conceived. There are also guitar-heavy tracks, virtuosic instrumentals and solos, and acoustic passages. Billy’s voice and singing are fantastic, and the background vocals as well. The dynamic shifts one would expect of The Pumpkins are aplenty. The melodies, both vocal and instrumental, throughout the album are beautiful, catchy, and unique.Since the album is a narrative I will refrain from singling out tracks. It’s one huge body of work and speaking in detail about any one song would be like breaking down a scene or two in a film, which doesn’t give the overall gist of the film as a whole, or at least may misdirect more than inform. (Though I will say if ‘Hooray!’ doesn’t bring a smile to your face, you may not be ready for this spaceship ride…)I would highly recommend listening to the ‘Thirty-Three Podcast with William Patrick Corgan’ in which WPC really breaks down the story of the album by introducing the songs individually, episode by episode. It’s a deep dive and a lot to take in, but well worth the time one might invest.One reason The Smashing Pumpkins endure is their artistic integrity has never faltered, even if some of their results from experimentation along the way have (always an interesting debate). For some, ATUM will be a masterpiece; a watershed moment, ushering in a new era for the band. For others, a letdown and a frustrating test in patience. For open-minded fans, eager to give a listen/chance, and without much in the way of expectations, I believe this risk-taking work will be given its own special place in their SP album collection.

If you enjoyed Adore or Machina, you may find this to your liking. If Gish -> MCIS were more your thing, probably less likely, unless your tastes have shifted since then.I had been following the 33 podcast since September, 2022, so I had heard each individual track prior to Friday's official release when I received the vinyl version. My reactions to the individual songs released separately ranged from "fine" to "great," but the piecemeal release method wasn't doing the overall album much justice.I've now listened to the album several times straight through from beginning to end and am eager for my next trip around. Since I invested in my turntable last fall, I've been listening to music more in this fashion than I ever had before and it has breathed so much fresh air into my collection. This album benefitted tremendously from that table setting, as it completely undermines cherry picking favorites and encourages a complete journey through the work as a whole.One of the elements of Atum that I appreciate the most at this point is the balance it strikes between thematic fidelity (there is a strong Atum motif/aesthetic) and compositional diversity. The album feels unified, but also has tremendous range. In typical Pumpkins style, heavier tracks like Moss and In Lieu of Failure are counterpointed by the delicate arrangements of The Canary Trainer and Cenotaph, with a fairly even distribution of dynamics and styles in between.With all of that said, I found myself enjoying Atum most once my mind shifted to conceptualizing it as a continuous, sequential experience like a film or the "rock opera" it purports to be, rather than a compilation of songs of various levels of quality/resonance. While I also have the complete album digitally, my enjoyment of each individual track has benefitted so greatly from listening to the work straight through from beginning to end that I am reluctant to flip the switch to ingest in smaller doses.Long story short, time will always tell for how long these sentiments will endure, but my first few sessions with Atum have been an immensely enjoyable experience. I wholeheartedly recommend to anyone partial to the album format and post-Mellon Collie SP.