We kick off with "Lyric", which sets the tone, skillfull instrumentation turned it the brilliant pop melodies that Corgan's always relied on. Yet we get an album full of traditional rock styles for the next eleven tracks, which is nicer than it sounds. My problems are with "El Sol", which is not poppy or rocking enough, and "Heartsong", accopmanied by string sections that, make me sick. But no way are those flaws going to bring down the jamble of lead single "Honestly" or sweet lush baladry from "Of a Broken Heart". It gets fast, fun, serious, and just better for about thirty minutes than STOP. We can here all three of Zwan's guitarist fighting for the melody, it slowly makes itself present. "Jesus, I've taken my Cross!", sings Corgan, and we know, the title track is here. The opening melody is catchy, but emotionally effective. We make are way through but unlike most Zwan songs it dosen't stop, it breaks down into a prog like jam session, resulting in the opening guitar line reprised, than it starts getting better, as if it wern't good enough. That Siamese Dream buzz no one person could recreate dominates the last half of "Jesus, I/Mary Star of the Sea". Than, for an epilogue, we get a sweet folk closer where Corgan begs you to come with him. Do it, trust me.

Something New or Zwan Song?
I am writing this as a huge Smashing Pumpkins and Billy Corgan fan and must say that I was very exited to be on the hunt for Mr. Corgan's latest offering. In my opinion this is a good album which has the potential to grow on me. The first track had me sold when I heard it in the record store, the beats and rhythms are very much like the "old" Smashing Pumpkins and to be honest there are two other tracks which have the same swirling guitar and even a hint of the baselines and sonic quality that made Siamese Dream such a fantastic album.

Listen to "Desire," and "Mary Star of the Sea" and you will notice echoes of the past (Siamese Dream, Gish), in fact there are moments that it feels like you are listening to the Pumpkins. "Jesus, I/Mary Star" is a 14 minute song that has a lot of interesting things going for it, however in my opinion it has too dramatic and slow of a pace, (if it were only half as long I think it would be an epic song). The remainder of the album really shows of having Corgan up front and at times makes you wish he was less important on the album (his vocals are a bit repetitive sounding).

Sounds like a luke warm review? It is. But don't get me wrong, the album is enjoyable to listen to and one which you have to simply grow with. It doesn't have the overdubs and sound quality of the Pumpkins, but then again THIS IS A NEW BAND!

I say buy it if you like Corgan's songwriting as there is a lot to like on the album, but be prepared for a new more traditional pop sound. And by pop, don't expect orchestrations, pianos, and strings like the Melancholy album. Its much more straight ahead ROCK and ROLL.

Zwan is pretty gay but....
(...)Either you take Zwan as it was or go f*** yourself.

This is their only album and it has a lot of strong songs. Tracks 1-3 are excellent. I don't really care for "Honestly" anymore. "El Sol" is good. "Ride a Black Swan" should have been a single. "Yeah" should have been another single. "Jesus I/Mary Star of the Sea" is long but it's nice to hear Billy's guitar work. "Come With Me" sucks.

I like this record alot. But I can understand why people don't like it. So I recommend you borrow this from a friend first, or from you local library, and then decide whether you want to buy it.

What happen Billy?
My favorite band of all time happens to be The Smashing Pumpkins. I didn't get into them till about a year ago. I just found out about Zwan not to long ago so I decided to download it. I was extremely disappointed. I was expecting them to be nothing like The Smashing pumpkins and I was right about that. Most of it is very mellow, with guitar rifts you might hear in a dentist office.

There are a few okay songs on the cd. "EL Sol", "Baby Lets Rock", and "Yeah". But the best on on the cd would likely be "Ride a Black Swan", if it was song like he was in sunday school. What happened Billy? You go from trashing God in songs like "Zero" and "The Everlasting Gaze" to praising his name. I hate hearing mainstream songs about god. If I wanted to hear songs about god I would go to church or my local christian bookstore to buy some talentless music. Same problem with "Jesus I/Mary Star of the Sea". It starts out "Jesus I pick up my cross... Jesus I pick up my cross and follow thee". BURF!!! Then I move ahead to hear Mary Star of the Sea (they are one 14 minute song)and this song f*ckin rocks. Why did you do that Billy? So everyone would be forced to listen to you sing about Jesus just so you can hear the best song on the CD. What happen Billy?

This is why I don't listen to P.O.D. and is why I am not likely to buy Billy Corgan's solo album that comes out later this year. I am so glad I didn't pay for the album, so I can just delete from my hard drive. Or maybe I will burn it to some data cd and hope I start like songs about God..... NOPE, never going to happen. DELETE!!!!!!!

Corgans back
Best album I've heard in a long time. Its so refreshing and happy, and good to listen in the car when your driving by, staring up at the clouds. Sweet solos. Chamberlin is as good as ever.

GET IT
Having dramatically misjudged their audience's loyalty to skewed, art-damaged heavy metal, the Smashing Pumpkins called it a day shortly after the release of 2000's low-grossing Machina/The Machines of God. Three years later, frontman Billy Corgan returns with an all-star team of mostly Chicago indie rockers at his side, including Slint/Tortoise guitarist Dave Pajo, Skunk guitarist Matt Sweeney, A Perfect Circle bassist Paz Lenchantin, and fellow Pumpkin Jimmy Chamberlain on drums. But Zwan has not blunted the singer's flamboyant edge. His bonkers vocal gymnastics and whisper-to-a-scream choruses remain at the black heart of Mary Star of the Sea, as the group works its way through the rich melodies of new classics like "Honestly" and "Endless Summer," and pleasingly shifts into downtempo mood on the gorgeous "Of a Broken Heart" and gripping "Desire." And while Corgan's tendency toward self-indulgence results in the tedious 14-minute "Jesus, I/Mary Star of the Sea," it is just a minor lapse considering the rest of the big, glamorous rock on display here. --Aidin Vaziri
Billy Corgan is back - and he smashes all rock hype into understatement with Zwan. Arena-folk-metal-punk, a rampaging triple-guitar attack and pop melodies, glam grandeur and sophisticated twists, Zwan is the band he's wanted from the moment his Smashing Pumpkins hit the big time. Reprise. 2003.