Smashing Pumpkins Patched Up

In April of '06, Billy Corgan expressed that breaking up the Smashing Pumpkins probably wasn't the best call, but that they had 'reunited'.

Today, it was announced that the band is in the studio, recording with Roy Thomas Baker, who has also produced the Darkness, Queen, and the Cars. Eh. You can't expect much from the Pumpkins at this point (use their last album, 2000's MACHINA, as a launch pad for predictions). Considering the typical politics of an older band reunited and their choice to use a fairly bland producer, I just can't see them measuring up to something like Siamese Dream, ever.

There's been no update on the lineup, still. Drummer Jimmy Chamberlin is the only confirmed returning member. Bassist Melissa Auf Der Maur made indications in April that she'd always be interested in playing with the band again, so long as she's not on tour. Who does that leave? Fuckin' James Iha. What's the band without Iha? A side project. Something like Zwan, I guess. I think we can all agree that we don't need to hear anymore of the Pumpkins' sound filtrated through a soiled maxi-pad. I think Corgan could be insinuating that he wants to rehash that old and tired sound. Obviously, the only sound he's good at producing is the one he perfected over a decade ago, but you gotta change if you want to keep people interested. What I'm getting at here is, I'd be shocked if the upcoming album is even listenable. Besta luck, kids.