Search - Zwain :: Mary Star of the Sea (CD & Dvd)

Theyre all back, and better than ever

Alex Mills | Portland, ME | 02/01/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"It was a sad day when the Smashing Pumpkins broke up, but it seemed that we wouldn't be seeing the very last of Billy. After becoming one of the biggest 90's alternative rock bands, it seemed a bit too ambitious for Billy to start another great band. But ambition is something Billy has. I remember when Zwan started playing little shows across the US, and I saw hope of a great band. Sure enough, here they are! Zwan consists of Jimmy Chamberlin (Smashing Pumpkins) on drums (which he does with enormous and beautiful energy), Paz Lenchantin (A Perfect Circle) on bass as well as vocals, David Pajo (Slint and Tortoise) on guitar, Matt Sweeney (Skunk) on another guitar, and of course Billy Corgan on vocals and guitar. So what is Zwan? Billy Corgan described it best, as a group of musicians from a variety of backgrounds trying to create one complete harmony in a disharmonious world. It's precisely that. MARY STAR OF THE SEA is a beautiful combination of hard rock combined with an undescribable and enchanting feeling that will change one's mood to the very mood of the song. All in all, it's a great album. Perhaps the best of 2003. So far, it's gotten rave reviews all around, and it gets one from me too. Here's a description of the songs w/ a rating:
1.LYRIC-a perfect opening for the album, to set in an awesome guitar riff with a happy and toe-tapping rythm...9/10
2.SETTLE DOWN-the opening reminds me of Joy Division. A great song, fun vocals by Billy, I love the la de das...8.5/10
3.DECLARATIONS OF FAITH-the title described it all. a cool rock love song...8/10
4.HONESTLY-the first single, a great rock song, very catchy...9/10
5.EL SOL-means the sun, in spanish. this is my favorite song with some very deep writing in the lyrics...10/10
6.BROKEN HEART-so sad, so sad. a very depressing and heavy song, but a great one, very unlike previous live songs...10/10
7.RIDE A BLACK SONG-a great happy fast paced rock song with a catchy chorus, one of the best songs...10/10
8.HEARTSONG-acoustic lovesong, pretty good, not the best though...6.5/10
9.ENDLESS SUMMER-wow, it reminds me of summer. ha, this is a great song very fun...9.5/10
10.BABY LETS ROCK!-very catchy and fun to listen to, love the way the band works together in this song-9/10
11.YEAH!-i love this song, a guiter but kick[ing] song...10/10
12.DESIRE-a heartaching song, slower but still good...8/10
13.JESUS I/MARY STAR OF THE SEA-the peak of the album, a combination of two great songs with AMAZING guitar solos and work, a 14 minute masterpiece...10/10
14.COME WITH ME-a good ending for the album, and a great song, kind of sttange with harmonics but its all good...8.5/10
Overall this is a great album, and a must have. Definitly try and checkout the band live, as they are awesome live. There is a limited edition DVD with the CD, full of 40 minutes of unreleased songs, interviews with the band (hahaha), live stuff (a must have for their rendition of GODS GONNA SET THIS WORLD ON FIRE), the band riding bikes, and tons of backstage stuff. Great stuff for any true fan. A must have album."

Not quite a reinvention, but a decent album nonetheless

metheb | Seattle, wa United States | 01/28/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"A few years following the demise of the Smashing Pumpkins, Billy Corgan finally releases a studio album with Zwan, the band that magically formed less than a year after the Pumpkins swan song. The Zwan debut contains the signature Pumpkins layers of heavy guitar, but also includes more of the thoughtful songwriting that Corgan began to seriously explore on Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness and Adore. Unfortunately, we are missing some of the great songs that the band debuted in several live shows (Crysanthemum and Glorious) in favor of more mellow fare. This new material is good, but after a few tracks you might find yourself wanting a "Quiet" or "Geek U.S.A." and that's not going to happen.Overall, the album is solid from start to finish with the exception of the title track which is a little self-indulgent and could have been replaced with a couple of the rockers we are missing from the early Zwan live sets. Corgan and his new band-mates have matured in their outlook and songwriting, but sometimes you just want to RAWK!!"

Great Album, a refreshing sound of things to come.

zdjj | Delaware, OH United States | 01/29/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Given the wealth of songs Zwan has made in their 1 and half years of existence choosing the songs for their debut album, Mary Star of the Sea, must have been difficult. Hard-core were no doubt dissapointed to some extent when they didn't see rock anthems such as 'glorious' on the album. However what they got was a near perfect hook driven set of songs that do more for the soul than one would think after a first listen. Coming in at 65 minutes MSOTS is a hard album to appreciate after one listen. But give the album a week and you'll love it forever. With the album art and billy corgan's near-joyous lyrics Zwan can be seen as a deliberte and successfull departure from The Smashing Pumpkins. Mary star of the sea is a fantastic sonic adventure that gives it's listener many times the price of admission . The songs will soothe you and invite you to listen on. As billy corgan sends you on a guitar driven ride of a lifetime on track 13, the penultimate track "Jesus, I / Mary Star of the Sea" and then urges you to "come with me" on the album's final track, it is clear Zwan is a band with much more to offer in the future. Choice tracks: Lyric, Declarations of faith, honestly, ride a black swan, endless summer, baby lets rock!, Desire, and Jesus, I / Mary Star of the Sea."