Zeitgeist is more of a disappointment than “bad,” if that makes sense. It’s disappointing because The Smashing Pumpkins have seemingly completely abandoned their layered, psychedelic sound. I liked Machina II, but Zeitgeist comes off as mostly standard modern alternative rock.

The things that keep it above that are Corgan’s distinctive voice and excellent guitar playing, and naturally, Jimmy Chamberlin’s powerful percussion. These do not completely save some of the bland rockers and overly-loud production (which as always, really takes a toll on the drums), but they do help.

“That’s the Way (My Love Is)” is certainly the winner on this album, containing melodic swirling guitars, reminiscent of some of the Pumpkins’s shoegaze roots. I even like some of the more typical rockers such as “Doomsday Clock,” “Bleeding the Orchard,” and “Tarantula.” It’s no Siamese Dream (most alternative rock albums aren’t that level of quality…), but Zeitgeist still stands far above most alternative rock. I think if it wasn’t for the embarrassingly, childishly pretentious album cover priming people to hate Zeitgeist, it would have a better reputation.