Albums to watch

Shiny And Oh So Bright, Vol. 1: No Past. No Future. No Sun

The Smashing Pumpkins

Shiny And Oh So Bright, Vol. 1: No Past. No Future. No Sun

Recorded at Shangri La Studios with producer Rick Rubin, this is the band’s first LP in 18 years to feature founding members Billy Corgan, James Iha, and Jimmy Chamberlin, alongside longtime guitarist Jeff Schroeder

ADM rating[?]

6.4

Label
Napalm
UK Release date
16/11/2018
US Release date
16/11/2018
  1. 9.0 |   The Music

    Deliciously accessible yet acerbically Pumpkins-esque, Shiny is unexpectedly bright
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  2. 8.0 |   All Music

    Corgan delivers something unexpected: music that's rich but settled, music that plays to his strengths, music where he seems happy in his own skin
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  3. 8.0 |   NME

    Rather than a '90s-rock pastiche, the reunited Pumpkins' comeback album is a showcase in artful songcraft
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  4. 8.0 |   Exclaim

    Pumpkins fans have a lot to be excited about with Shiny and Oh So Bright Vol: 1 but perhaps the most exciting part of the new album is the inclusion of "Vol 1" in the title. We're ready for more, please
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  5. 8.0 |   Q

    There are moments of glorious burning distortion on Solara and Marchin' On, but its real riches are much more subtle. Print edition only

  6. 7.5 |   Consequence Of Sound

    Billy Corgan, James Iha, and Jimmy Chamberlin find balance together nearly 20 years later
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  7. 7.5 |   The Line Of Best Fit

    Smashing Pumpkins present a comeback album of surprising clarity
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  8. 7.4 |   Sputnik Music (staff)

    It clearly will not go down in anyone's book as a classic release, but for a change it's a Pumpkins album that's aware of that fact, cleverly baking that unassuming simplicity into every note and half-nonsense lyric
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  9. 7.0 |   Under The Radar

    All in all, it's a welcome return and one that suggests The Smashing Pumpkins' business is far from finished
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  10. 7.0 |   Clash

    Not blinding, but the lights are on and someone's definitely home
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  11. 6.3 |   Paste Magazine

    It’s a warm and welcomed reunion, with “Silvery Sometimes” guaranteed to make the meld into a Pumpkins’ fans permanent playlist
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  12. 6.0 |   Evening Standard

    It’s the sound of a band finding their feet once more, renewed and hopeful
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  13. 6.0 |   DIY

    Picking up where Billy left off with ‘Ogilala’
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  14. 6.0 |   PopMatters

    Thirty years on, the Smashing Pumpkins are (mostly) reunited and recording new music that displays the band's visionary spirit
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  15. 6.0 |   Slant Magazine

    A decade ago, Corgan’s arrogance kept him from turning the Smashing Pumpkins into a tribute to their former selves—to admittedly mixed results—but now that he’s finally giving the people what they want, one wonders if he has anything left to offer
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  16. 6.0 |   musicOMH

    Shiny And So Bright, Vol 1 / LP: No Past. No Future. No Sun. neither offers the chance to dent Corgan’s ego or inflate it in any significant way. As one that thrives on conflict and adoration in equal measure, this outcome will no doubt irk him
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  17. 6.0 |   The Skinny

    The Smashing Pumpkins' latest effort forces an emotional conflict that puts you on the fence; loving one half and despising the other
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  18. 6.0 |   Loud And Quiet

    Even with the limited tracklist, there’s still enough room for ‘Alienation’ to reach ‘November Rain’ levels of pomp, though, like a bad pre-game rendition of a national anthem. We’ll call this a slight return, then
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  19. 6.0 |   Mojo

    Corgan's ear for pop-hooks is keen throughout, but save for Knights Of Malta, with its piano, strings and backwards lead guitars, the music on Shiny And Oh So Bright... seems a tad under-imagined for its portentous title. Print edition only

  20. 5.0 |   Spectrum Culture

    Doesn’t really recapture the Smashing Pumpkins’ former glory
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  21. 5.0 |   Drowned In Sound

    The Smashing Pumpkins in 2018 are an anachronism. Whether that’s an anachronism to relish, or render them irrelevant is up for debate, but Shiny and Oh So Bright… sadly offers little to further their considerable legend
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  22. 4.0 |   Rolling Stone

    Save the few fire-breathing dragon moments of Lollapalooza-era churn, it’s the Smashing Pumpkins in name only, and that ice cream truck has long left the gas station
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  23. 4.0 |   The 405

    Shiny and Oh So Bright has a lot of work to do to appease the faithful and convert the lapsed. It will, unfortunately, do neither
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  24. 3.4 |   Pitchfork

    The legends of ’90s alt-rock have reunited only to bring this puzzling, indecisive husk of an album into the world
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