Smashing Pumpkins ‘Solara’ is a decent song, it’s the production that needs work

So I read the whinging of the brats on Reddit about the first single from the Smashing Pumpkins in 18 years and so, when I hit Play on the song’s YouTube video, I expected it to be shit.

Surprise, surprise. It’s not.

The brand new Smashing Pumpkins single is called ‘Solara‘, it is from the entire reunited original band (Billy Corgan, James Iha, Jimmy Chamberlin, minus D’arcy Wretzky (shame!) plus Jeff Schroeder) and, overall, it’s a pretty solid effort.

Sure the production needs a bit of work because, while the drums are the best part, the guitars and the vocals are too thin — so the whole thing just sounds tinny. But ‘Solara‘ itself is a decent song, and quintessentially Smashing Pumpkins.

The newly reunited band themselves are also kicking off a two-month Shiny and Oh So Bright tour scheduled for July 12th, with the goal of playing mainly Pumpkins classics from the band’s first five albums, as well as new stuff from their first EP in a couple of decades.

The EP, more than likely featuring ‘Solara’, although hopefully in a better produced form, is due to be released soon. Another will follow at a later date this year.

Meanwhile, listen to Smashing PumpkinsSolara‘ in the video below, and see what you think. Is it as bad as the Reddit dudes think? Worse? Bad production, but a decent song?

There’s a comment box below the video if you’d like to have your say.

And you’ll find the complete dates for the Smashing Pumpkin’s ‘Shiny and Oh So Bright Tour‘ below.

July 12 — Glendale, Ariz. @ Gila River Arena
July 14 — Oklahoma City, Okla. @ Chesapeake Energy Arena
July 16 — Austin, Texas @ Frank Erwin Center
July 17 — Houston, Texas @ Toyota Center
July 18 — Dallas, Texas @ American Airlines Center
July 20 — Nashville, Tenn. @ Bridgestone Arena
July 21 — Louisville, Ky. @ KFC Yum! Center
July 22 — Atlanta, Ga. @ Infinite Energy Arena
July 24 — Miami, Fla. @ AmericanAirlines Arena
July 25 — Tampa, Fla. @ Amalie Arena
July 27 — Baltimore, Md. @ Royal Farms Arena
July 28 — Philadelphia, Pa. @ Wells Fargo Center
July 29 — Uncasville, Ct. @ Mohegan Sun Arena
July 31 — Boston, Mass. @ TD Garden
August 1 — New York City, N.Y. @ Madison Square Garden
August 4 — Pittsburgh, Pa. @ PPG Paints Arena
August 5 — Detroit, Mich. @ Little Caesars Arena
August 7 — Montreal, Quebec @ Centre Bell
August 8 — Toronto, Ontario @ Air Canada Centre
August 11 — Columbus, Ohio @ Schottenstein Center
August 13 — Chicago, Ill. @ United Center
August 16 — Kansas City, Mo. @ Sprint Center
August 17 — Indianapolis, Ind. @ Bankers Life Fieldhouse
August 19 — St. Paul, Minn. @ Xcel Energy Center
August 20 — Omaha, Neb. @ CenturyLink Center
August 21 — Sioux Falls, S.D. @ Denny Sanford Premier Center
August 24 — Seattle, Wash. @ KeyArena
August 25 — Portland, Ore. @ Moda Center
August 27 — Oakland, Calif. @ Oracle Arena
August 28 — Sacramento, Calif. @ Golden 1 Center
August 30 — Los Angeles, Calif. @ The Forum
Sept. 1 — San Diego, Calif. @ Viejas Arena
Sept. 2 — Las Vegas, Nev. @ T-Mobile Arena
Sept. 4 — Salt Lake City, Utah @ Vivint Smart Home Arena
Sept. 5 — Denver, Colo. @ Pepsi Center
Sept. 7 — Boise, Idaho @ Ford Idaho Center

 Related: Smashing Pumpkins ‘Today‘ is a deceptively happy track, but it’s actually far from it

About Michelle Topham

I'm a Brit-American journalist, former radio DJ at 97X WOXY, and Founder/CEO of Leo Sigh. I'm also obsessed with music, anime, manga, and K-dramas. Help!

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