Disbanding the Smashing Pumpkins would appear to have done Billy Corgan the world of good. Not only has he lightened up and found a degree of personal happiness, he's also found the time to form Zwan with some old musical friends - and what's more, their debut album contains some of the best songs he's ever written. The gothic rock of old has disappeared almost completely, and in its place is a shiny new pop-metal sound that suits Corgan's whiny voice amazingly well. Even more surprisingly, where once he sounded tortured, now he comes across as positively cheerful. Mary Star of the Sea may not be a particularly adventurous album, or even very subtle - but after the tiresome self-indulgences of the last couple of Pumpkins records, that can only come as a relief. In short, this is euphoric stadium rock of a very high order - and while the self-obsessed lyrics suggest that Corgan is still a bit of an egomaniac, for once it seems perfectly justified. One of the most impressive comebacks in years.
