Mary Star Of The Sea by Zwan
January 30, 2007 by Jo Minor
Zwan was the brainchild of Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan during the times after the bands imminent demise after the Machina and Machina II albums (the second Machina was released free as a download online, most likely due to the band’s fallout with their record label, Virgin). After having said that, I’m not really sure if the second Machina album counts as an official release by the band - just one of many mysteries surrounding the Smashing Pumpkins - and even I haven’t had the pleasure (or displeasure, depending on the quality of the album) of listening to it.
Anyway, back to Zwan and Mary Star Of The Sea.
This effort, a clever, eclectic mix of folk and acoustic rock blended with some Pumpkins-era songwriting, is undoubtedly a Billy Corgan brainchild. At the time, he was probably still recovering from the demise of his beloved Pumpkins - his greatest contribution to the alternative rock world - and needed the comfort of writing songs and jamming with other musicians.
Thus the forming of Zwan: including the likes of Pumpkins drummer Jimmy Chamberlin, and yet another female bassist in the form of Paz Lenchantin.
Zwan can be considered as a one-time project, since the band was dismantled after the release of this album - with Billy blaming the other members for not being committed to the band. Understandably so, since the other members devoted a lot of their time with their own projects as well when Billy would have wanted them to focus on nothing else but Zwan.
The album, however, is a pleasant listen - and can be summed up by listening to the enchanting single Honestly - a refreshing tune blessed with Billy’s penchant for a brilliant tune and pleasant lyrics. For those who have seen the video accompanying this single, you can actually experience the feeling of unbridled bliss weaved into the song.
It’s a sad thing that Billy disbanded Zwan, as it could have been a more pleasant, radio friendly sibling of the great Smashing Pumpkins - capable of exposing the brilliant songwriting of Billy Corgan to the world; and injecting the dull mainstream with some noteworthy singles.
With the resting of Zwan, Billy went on to release a techno-tinged solo album - which was nothing like Zwan but was more of a continuation of the modern sounding Machina albums. He soon told the world how much he wanted his band - the Pumpkins - back, and got what he wanted. They have now reunited, and we can only hope that they can once again scale the great heights they enjoyed during much of the 90s.
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