"Of A Broken Heart"

The Smashing Pumpkins were one of the most popular alt rock acts of the 90s. Lead by singer/guitarist Billy Corgan, the band covered much musical territory in a career that consisted of five albums. Their music was at times loud, raucous, melodic, and catchy as hell. Their career defining double CD, 95's Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness, is a must own for any serious fan of guitar-driven music.

After the band's demise in 2000, Corgan focused on songwriting and producing for other artists. His next band Zwan, emerged in late 2002 and released the excellent Mary Star of the Sea in January of 2003. The band featured members of the Pumpkins as well as some staples of the indie rock scene.

The 14 tracks featured on Mary Star of the Sea are some of Corgan's best. They represent a focus on songwriting, production, and musicianship that lend the collection a 70s feel, while at the same time sounding completely modern. Songs like "Lyric," "Honestly," "El Sol," and "Ride a Black Swan," also showcase a band that seems tighter than their short-time together would indicate.

A slower track from the album, "Of a Broken Heart" stands out as one of Corgan's most mature songs to date. The lyrics, like most of Corgan's, seem clear-cut and obvious, but upon further analysis hint at many different possibilities. Is he singing about a love not yet found, or one experienced and almost forgotten?

The instrumental bed, like the vocal track, is laid back and relaxed. The production is sparse and spacious, featuring a wonderful string arrangement and a Corgan solo that is full of melodic single-string bends, double-stops and an incredible amount of restraint.

Zwan broke up after a short tour, and Corgan is now focusing on a solo career. His future work will be promising, but sadly Zwan seems like a project unfulfilled. They had the potential to be even greater than the Pumpkins, and that makes their separation even more distressing.