Smashing Pumpkins' latestalbum saga

Thu 17th Sep, 2009 in International News

Billy Corgan, the last remaining original member of The Smashing Pumpkins, has announced on the band’s website that work has begun towards a new album – a bold 44-track epic entitled Teargarden by Kaleidyscope.

Perhaps the boldest move of all in a market where music is becoming less of a physical commodity is Corgan’s plan to release each song for free online as the band completes them.

“Free will mean free,” his statement reads, “you won’t have to sign up for anything, give an email address, or jump through a hoop. You will be able to go and take the songs as you wish, as many times as you wish.”

It’s big gamble by the frontman, who watched drummer Jimmy Chamberlin leave the group reportedly due to a “lack of income”. The album will still be released commercially as eleven individual four-track EPs, with a full album release due after this process has run its course.