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The Washington Post
The Smashing Pumpkins, "SHINY AND OH SO BRIGHT, VOL. 1 / LP: NO PAST. NO FUTURE. NO SUN." (Napalm Records)
It's no question The Smashing Pumpkins has had a tumultuous past. Multiple iterations, breakups and solo careers later, three founding members of the 90's Chicago-rooted rockers — Billy Corgan, James Iha and Jimmy Chamberlin — are back to release their first collaborative album in 18 years, "SHINY AND OH SO BRIGHT, VOL. 1 / LP: NO PAST. NO FUTURE. NO SUN."
The title of the LP is fitting, considering there's a past the band likely wants to leave behind.
The Smashing Pumpkins has teetered between dissolution and reconciliation since 1996, after the overdose death of touring keyboardist Jonathan Melvoin and the firing of Chamberlin. Members have been in flux ever since, with the current roster featuring Corgan, Iha and Chamberlin with guitarist Jeff Schroeder.
Ahead of their latest tour, one founding member, bassist D'arcy Wretzky, was left in the dark. The circumstances surrounding her exclusion from the band's reunion started a feud between Wretzky and Corgan, complete with publicized text message screenshots and name-calling.
Peel away the dramatics and dysfunction that marked the launch of "SHINY AND OH SO BRIGHT" — and the Pumpkins' past, for that matter — and you're left with an album that stays true to the band's classic sound with the help of legendary producer Rick Rubin.
Triumphant strings and distorted vocals open the album, as "Knights of Malta" crescendos to a choir singing with the guttural Corgan singing, "We're gonna make this happen/I'm gonna fly forever."
While the album captures the nonconforming spirit of eccentric frontman Corgan — swinging between manic, obsessive and edgy tracks like "Solara" and delicate, trance-like songs such as "With Sympathy" — overall, "SHINY AND OH SO BRIGHT" is no masterpiece. Songs build then fizzle, like "Silvery Sometimes (Ghosts)," a catchy tune lacking the chorus to be considered vintage Smashing, despite its nostalgic and distinctive Pumpkins feel.
Highlights on the 8-track album include "Travels" and "With Sympathy." The optimistic "Travels" affirms the album's commitment to "No Past. No Future." in a fluid reality where Corgan sings, "See love, see time/see death, see life" before unfolding into a chorus of, "It's where I belong/but far from here or else I'm gone." There's an element of opacity, common to Pumpkins lyrics, but one that manages to feel pleasantly unresolved by the anthemic track. "With Sympathy" pleads, "Please stay confused/disunion has its use," but wraps itself in a comforting, steady melody.
"SHINY AND OH SO BRIGHT" brings hope that the band's dark days are distant. Millions of Pumpkins fans certainly hope so.
It's no question The Smashing Pumpkins has had a tumultuous past. Multiple iterations, breakups and solo careers later, three founding members of the 90's Chicago-rooted rockers — Billy Corgan, James Iha and Jimmy Chamberlin — are back to release their first collaborative album in 18 years, "SHINY AND OH SO BRIGHT, VOL. 1 / LP: NO PAST. NO FUTURE. NO SUN."
The title of the LP is fitting, considering there's a past the band likely wants to leave behind.
The Smashing Pumpkins has teetered between dissolution and reconciliation since 1996, after the overdose death of touring keyboardist Jonathan Melvoin and the firing of Chamberlin. Members have been in flux ever since, with the current roster featuring Corgan, Iha and Chamberlin with guitarist Jeff Schroeder.
Ahead of their latest tour, one founding member, bassist D'arcy Wretzky, was left in the dark. The circumstances surrounding her exclusion from the band's reunion started a feud between Wretzky and Corgan, complete with publicized text message screenshots and name-calling.
Peel away the dramatics and dysfunction that marked the launch of "SHINY AND OH SO BRIGHT" — and the Pumpkins' past, for that matter — and you're left with an album that stays true to the band's classic sound with the help of legendary producer Rick Rubin.
Triumphant strings and distorted vocals open the album, as "Knights of Malta" crescendos to a choir singing with the guttural Corgan singing, "We're gonna make this happen/I'm gonna fly forever."
While the album captures the nonconforming spirit of eccentric frontman Corgan — swinging between manic, obsessive and edgy tracks like "Solara" and delicate, trance-like songs such as "With Sympathy" — overall, "SHINY AND OH SO BRIGHT" is no masterpiece. Songs build then fizzle, like "Silvery Sometimes (Ghosts)," a catchy tune lacking the chorus to be considered vintage Smashing, despite its nostalgic and distinctive Pumpkins feel.
Highlights on the 8-track album include "Travels" and "With Sympathy." The optimistic "Travels" affirms the album's commitment to "No Past. No Future." in a fluid reality where Corgan sings, "See love, see time/see death, see life" before unfolding into a chorus of, "It's where I belong/but far from here or else I'm gone." There's an element of opacity, common to Pumpkins lyrics, but one that manages to feel pleasantly unresolved by the anthemic track. "With Sympathy" pleads, "Please stay confused/disunion has its use," but wraps itself in a comforting, steady melody.
"SHINY AND OH SO BRIGHT" brings hope that the band's dark days are distant. Millions of Pumpkins fans certainly hope so.
NEW YORK (AP) — New York Fashion Week has opened its glamorous tent wider to feature models with disabilities wearing adaptive clothing designs by Tommy Hilfiger, Nike and Target.
Organized by the Runway of Dreams Foundation, the show on Wednesday included a catwalk welcoming to wheelchairs, crutches, walking canes and more. Actor and model RJ Mitte of "Breaking Bad" was host.
Mitte said he understood the importance of inclusion on a personal level, having been diagnosed with cerebral palsy at age 3. "I'm really excited to see all this inclusivity and all of these strides to be diverse," he said.
The founder of Runway of Dreams, Mindy Scheier, was inspired to start her foundation when her son, Oliver, who has muscular dystrophy, told her he wanted to wear clothes like everyone else. His request was for blue jeans_a clothing item that would prove difficult to pull on and off with his condition unless the pants were modified. She decided to make him an adaptive pair on her own and realized the need for more adaptive clothing lines for individuals with disabilities.
"Fashion is a direct correlation to how we feel about ourselves, our confidence, our self-esteem," said Scheier. "And if you don't have that, if you don't have options, it can really affect how you feel about yourself. So truly, clothing is a basic need. So, shouldn't we all feel really good and have options like everybody else?"
Model Mama Cax, recently featured on the cover of Teen Vogue's September issue for "The New Faces of Fashion," lost her leg during a battle with cancer. She is now an advocate for inclusion in the fashion industry and walked the runway Wednesday.
She said she wanted to see people with disabilities cast in movies and TV in lead roles or as love interests but without any "inspiration piece attached to it," adding: "We want to see them in a normal role, average role, like we do in our everyday lives."
Jason Redman never expected to find himself at a fashion show. Redman was a U.S. Navy SEAL who suffered injury to his face and body when he was struck by machine gun fire during a special operative mission in Iraq. He received the Inspirational Achievement Award for the clothing company he founded, Wounded Wear.
"People underestimate the power of clothing, the power of wanting to feel good and look like everybody else around us. And that's what this organization does. So to be here, to be an awardee, to be a part of it, it's pretty awesome."
Organized by the Runway of Dreams Foundation, the show on Wednesday included a catwalk welcoming to wheelchairs, crutches, walking canes and more. Actor and model RJ Mitte of "Breaking Bad" was host.
Mitte said he understood the importance of inclusion on a personal level, having been diagnosed with cerebral palsy at age 3. "I'm really excited to see all this inclusivity and all of these strides to be diverse," he said.
The founder of Runway of Dreams, Mindy Scheier, was inspired to start her foundation when her son, Oliver, who has muscular dystrophy, told her he wanted to wear clothes like everyone else. His request was for blue jeans_a clothing item that would prove difficult to pull on and off with his condition unless the pants were modified. She decided to make him an adaptive pair on her own and realized the need for more adaptive clothing lines for individuals with disabilities.
"Fashion is a direct correlation to how we feel about ourselves, our confidence, our self-esteem," said Scheier. "And if you don't have that, if you don't have options, it can really affect how you feel about yourself. So truly, clothing is a basic need. So, shouldn't we all feel really good and have options like everybody else?"
Model Mama Cax, recently featured on the cover of Teen Vogue's September issue for "The New Faces of Fashion," lost her leg during a battle with cancer. She is now an advocate for inclusion in the fashion industry and walked the runway Wednesday.
She said she wanted to see people with disabilities cast in movies and TV in lead roles or as love interests but without any "inspiration piece attached to it," adding: "We want to see them in a normal role, average role, like we do in our everyday lives."
Jason Redman never expected to find himself at a fashion show. Redman was a U.S. Navy SEAL who suffered injury to his face and body when he was struck by machine gun fire during a special operative mission in Iraq. He received the Inspirational Achievement Award for the clothing company he founded, Wounded Wear.
"People underestimate the power of clothing, the power of wanting to feel good and look like everybody else around us. And that's what this organization does. So to be here, to be an awardee, to be a part of it, it's pretty awesome."
NEW YORK (AP) — Bejeweled bodices, thigh-high platform pumps, stiletto nails and seductive fishnet stockings brought a new level of femme fatale among Disney villains onto the catwalk.
The catwalk of the design duo The Blonds, that is. David and Phillipe Blond, known for edgy, provocative collections and runway shows, collaborated with Disney to merge the wicked and the sleek among its most famous villains — Ursula, Maleficent and more.
Paris Hilton was Cruella de Vil in a studded silver bodysuit, carrying a Chihuahua down the runway Friday, long black and, of course, blonde, hair extensions cascading down. She wore one black thigh-high boot and one in white.
The Disney collaboration, the Blonds told The Associated Press, took them even more over the top than usual.
"It just gave us license to have a lot more fun," David said.
Phillipe agreed: "Yeah, it gave us a lot of creative license. Our shows are theatrical already."
Guests were eating it up.
"I love that they have no limits," said "13 Reasons Why" actress Ajiona Alexus. "I love that they always push it over the edge and do what they really feel. I'm all about color, expressing yourself, and I think that's what fashion is about, especially for me, so I love that they're just different and they really push the boundaries."
Barron Hilton and new wife, Tessa, were on board. He and sister Paris have attended shows by The Blonds in the past.
"I've been here with Paris before and there's always like the craziest stuff, and I love it. It's like art," Barron said.
Tessa added: "The outfits, definitely. It's a live walking art show."
Also on the runway was model Shaun Ross, YouTuber Patrick Starrr (that's not a typo) and 10-year-old drag kid Desmond Napoles, the creator of the first drag club for children.
David Blond said he and Phillipe had been inspired by Disney villains since they were both children.
"Plus they have the coolest wardrobe, you know," said Phillipe. "The Villains. The Blonds. Like, how perfect is that?"
So who are their favorite Disney villains?
"My favorite's Maleficent, I think. Or Cruella. One of those two, or both, I guess," Phillipe said.
"I think you're a combination of both," David added.
For Patrick Starrr, getting to play Ursula, was "beyond my wildest dreams."
The catwalk of the design duo The Blonds, that is. David and Phillipe Blond, known for edgy, provocative collections and runway shows, collaborated with Disney to merge the wicked and the sleek among its most famous villains — Ursula, Maleficent and more.
Paris Hilton was Cruella de Vil in a studded silver bodysuit, carrying a Chihuahua down the runway Friday, long black and, of course, blonde, hair extensions cascading down. She wore one black thigh-high boot and one in white.
The Disney collaboration, the Blonds told The Associated Press, took them even more over the top than usual.
"It just gave us license to have a lot more fun," David said.
Phillipe agreed: "Yeah, it gave us a lot of creative license. Our shows are theatrical already."
Guests were eating it up.
"I love that they have no limits," said "13 Reasons Why" actress Ajiona Alexus. "I love that they always push it over the edge and do what they really feel. I'm all about color, expressing yourself, and I think that's what fashion is about, especially for me, so I love that they're just different and they really push the boundaries."
Barron Hilton and new wife, Tessa, were on board. He and sister Paris have attended shows by The Blonds in the past.
"I've been here with Paris before and there's always like the craziest stuff, and I love it. It's like art," Barron said.
Tessa added: "The outfits, definitely. It's a live walking art show."
Also on the runway was model Shaun Ross, YouTuber Patrick Starrr (that's not a typo) and 10-year-old drag kid Desmond Napoles, the creator of the first drag club for children.
David Blond said he and Phillipe had been inspired by Disney villains since they were both children.
"Plus they have the coolest wardrobe, you know," said Phillipe. "The Villains. The Blonds. Like, how perfect is that?"
So who are their favorite Disney villains?
"My favorite's Maleficent, I think. Or Cruella. One of those two, or both, I guess," Phillipe said.
"I think you're a combination of both," David added.
For Patrick Starrr, getting to play Ursula, was "beyond my wildest dreams."