OK it's been a whole week since Zeitgeist arrived home.
Boy have my impressions changed through out this past days.

Initially I almost disregarded the whole album, just acknowledging a couple of songs as decent.
I am pretty sure there's endless SP fans like myself that just started judging if the album sounded like the old ones, or just listened to it with an unfair ear/disadvantage just because we knew James and D'arcy were not a part of it.
Make no mistake, I truly Miss James and D'arcy as small as their input could have been they were critical in the blend that made TSP what we loved back in the day.
But that was 7 years ago, this is a different world, different music, and above all Billy and Jimmy have evolved as musicians and it reflects on the album.
Having that in mind I gave the album a couple more chances, and as expected it really started growing, specially 3 or 4 songs which, for me, are among their best work ever.

Yes first of all, still now after the first week, this new album just doesn't fit in with their 91-00 ones, the new sound, being totally honest, gives me a (TSP+Zwan)/2 feel, an almost perfect balance of both bands. Is this a bad thing, certainly not, at least not for me as I really liked Zwan.
Even though I am a much bigger fan of TSP than Zwan, it's the latter influence that provided my favourite cuts in the album.
That's the way, Starz, Neverlost and For God and country are truly and by far the best tracks and they would all have felt right at home in "Mary star of the sea" IMO.

The rest of the songs in the album specially the ones that sound heavier, well, they come in feeling like "tired" (don't know if this is the best word to describe it) songs, I don't know if it's the 90's angst that is missing or just the evolution itself within the band that explains the musical changes, it could be, as I said earlier, that half of the band is missing.
Don't get me wrong, I still think the album and the band are head and shoulders above 90% of what the industry has to offer now a days, I just can't help it and I still compare them to their previous glories.

This is not a professional review, I won't go into sonic details, just writing what I fell as an all time fan.
Jimmy well he's still outstanding and adds his trademark drumming to the album, Billy, his guitars and voice are intact, my only complain is with the arrangements or structures of the heavier songs they feel uninspired to me... don't know some songs.. Tarantula, 7 shades, Bring the light... they just didn't click...

I would love to see a second album of TSP pt.2 featuring at least James again but even if that doesn't happens (I'm sure he has plans of his own APC/Start a band/Record producer) next record will have a tighter Jimmy/Billy interaction on their new Smashing pumpkins and will give us a much better record, that or we'll be much more into their new sound and will enjoy the next one better.

Whether you see it as a smashing pumpkins reunion or a Zwan one, it really doesn't matter which name Billy and Jimmy decide to stick with, as long as they keep on creating music together we'll all win. (This last idea taken roughly from the rolling stone mag review)

Well those are my impressions on the new album, cheers.
PS: Who knows, after a few more spins even the heavier songs might start growing in me.

Thanks for the comment on the video. I think its crucial that we understand whats going on around us and not let controlled media be our guide. Sadly, I believe things are on their way to becoming much worse for the people of the world, let alone in the US. Only time will tell. Thanks again.

CB