[11-20-97 Thurs] This February, guitarist James Iha of the Smashing Pumpkins will be releasing his first solo album, which will show his 'sensitive side.' The album is supposedly full of love songs and power-pop ballads, for the most part sounding pretty different from the epic, edgy rock sound that the Pumpkins have made famous.
The new album, "Let It Come Down," is an 11-track mix of melodic rockers and mid-tempo softer tunes that are not as highly produced as the Pumpkins' hit albums. Veruca Salt's Nina Gordon and Pumpkins bandmate D'Arcy both help out on the album; Gordon does backing vocals on one track, and bassist D'Arcy sings on another.
Iha starts of the album with the Raspberries-like power pop of "Be Strong Now," where Iha first demonstrates his high voice. The album also features the Beatles-like mid-tempo ballad "Beauty," on which Iha's singing resemble the mid-period of Paul McCartney. One thing is for sure: it won't sound like the Smashing Pumpkins.
Smashing Pumpkins - November 20, 1997
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