BILLY CORGAN HEARTS ISIS

April 2nd, 2012 at 11:30am
Axl Rosenberg

If I told you that the new Smashing Pumpkins album was called Oceania, and pointed out that the title sounds an awful lot like the one of an Isis record, Oceanic, you’d probably say, “Well, that’s true, but it’s not the same word, and it’s not as though Isis invented the word ‘ocean’ or ‘oceanic’ or any variation thereof, so I don’t think there’s any real connection there.”

And then if I told that there’s a song on The Smashing Pumpkins’ Oceania called “The Celestials,” kinda like the name of Isis’ album Celestial, you’d probably say, “Okay, yeah, I guess that’s a little weird, but they’re still different titles, and it’s probably just a funny coincidence.”

But THEN if I told you that there’s ALSO a song on The Smashing Pumpkins’ Oceania called “Panopticon,” which is the EXACT title of an Isis album, you’d probably say, “Okay, yeah, I guess Billy Corgan really loves Isis.”

And that’s not a crime. I’m not saying Corgan should be penalized for using these titles, and I certainly bare him no ill will for digging Isis.

I just think it’s, y’know, WEIRD to have three titles with allusions to the works of another band on one album. What’s going on here? Is there a thematic connection? Are the Smashing Pumpkins about to start emulating Isis’ sound? Are all of Corgan’s lyrics on the album going to be about how he wants to run his hands through Aaron Turner’s beard?