Zwan is the band of singer and guitarist Billy Corgan, who was best known as the frontman of Smashing Pumpkins. This alternative rock band broke up in 2000, after selling tens of millions of CDs in America. Only drummer Jimmy Chamberlin is here again. The other members of Zwan have a past in relatively obscure bands like Chavez (guitarist Matt Sweeney), A Perfect Circle (bassist Paz Lenchantin) and
… Tortoise (guitarist David Pajo). However, it is again Corgan who leaves the most important mark on the music with his thin, recognizable voice from thousands. Where the Pumkins sounded less and less as a unity towards the end of their existence, Zwan comes across as a close band, where all members play in the service of Corgan's songs. The result is an energetic, melodic rock record, in which, admittedly, little new territory is explored, but which does invite you to set up anew and sing along loudly. Not enough can be made of such records. (MS)more