New stuff from old favorites

I was delighted to hear the release date on the new Smashing Pumpkins CD is July 10. The first single off it, Tarantula, is reasonably badass and after all these years they still sound like the old Pumpkins. Billy Corgan said the first half of the CD is from the grunge days, with detuned guitars and heavier sounds. The last few tracks are Depeche Mode-inspired. Interesting.

Fuel's new material will take some getting used to. This is their first release in 7 years and first with the new singer, Toryn Green. Wasted Time is the first single and while it's okay, I'm not jumping up and down for it. I'll get their new CD in August, just because they're Fuel.

Collective Soul hasn't gone as long without a new CD, it just feels like they have. A friend sent me a link to listen to the new CS song, Hollywood. The vocals are unmistakenly Collective Soul. But after hearing the song, I remarked...

Holy crap, this new CS song sounds like something from a Lizzy McGuire* movie. I can see it clearly, she's riding in the back seat of a convertible, holding on an oversized hat, looking around in awe, waving at random people.

...it really does sound, musically, like something for a soundtrack. And lyrically, since it has no substance or story, only backs that up. When their CD comes out, I'll buy that too though. Bands are like cigarettes. They influence you when you're young and they got you for life.

Live should be playing a few new songs while on tour this summer. I'm seeing them with Collective Soul on one of the first dates, July 8th. I hope they work the new stuff into the setlist by then. And even more I hope the new stuff is better than their last CD.

*I HAVE NOT seen any Lizzy McGuire movies to be able to say that from experience.