Music reviews: The Smashing Pumpkins, Justin Bieber, Glen Hansard

The Smashing Pumpkins "Oceania"

“Oceania” originally was to be released last fall. No explanation was given for the delay, which Billy Corgan tweeted about late last year. But the album was worth the wait in terms of making the Smashing Pumpkins a viable rock band regardless of what random musicians are playing with Billy Corgan these days. “Oceania” is part of The Smashing Pumpkins’ “Teargarden by Kaleidyscope” project. The band started releasing songs from the project one-by-one online in 2009. Now it looks as though the band once again is putting out albums instead of being an Internet-only project. “Oceania,” while grandiose at times, isn’t too over-the-top like some other Smashing Pumpkins albums in recent memory. “Oceania” has some truly sincere moments, too. “One Diamond, One Heart” is a pure love song with Billy Corgan assuring “I’m always on your side.” Other touching moments are sprinkled throughout. Unfortunately, the sincerity is lost in the 9-minute title track placed halfway into the album’s sequence. The song features a mix of alternating keyboards, bells, acoustic guitar and pounding drums before plugging back in for an extended guitar solo to wrap things up. That’s a lot of elements to package in one track. Corgan and his random band of replacement players fail to find a way to smoothly bring it all together. The Smashing Pumpkins are at their best when the songs are concise. “The Chimera” isn’t as complex and, therefore, is a much better song. The track also helps prove the Pumpkins haven’t lost that familiar wall of guitar sound no matter what names fill the band’s roster. “Inkless” follows a similar path and has that classic Pumpkins sound. “Oceania” isn’t perfect by any means. But it definitely proves Corgan hasn’t completely lost it. NOTE: Reissues of 1995’s “Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness,” 1996’s “The Aeroplane Flies High” and 1998’s “Adore” also are slated to come out this year.

Justin Bieber "Believe"

Let’s get this out of the way early. Yes, “Believe” sounds like an album made by another famous Justin. Only Bieber keeps things a little more PG than Timberlake ever did. “I just want to kiss you, I just want to hug you ’til the end” Bieber sings while playing it safe on “Right Here.” He’s joined on the track by Drake, who overshadows Biebs. The song comes off as a possible throwaway tune from the last Drake album instead of something that should be Biebercentric. Other guest spots from Ludacris and Big Sean don’t seem as intrusive. Ludacris fits right in on the club song, “All Around The World.” The Big Sean rap on “As You Love Me” also doesn’t seem out of place even if his words are kind of lame. Both songs are predictable as they are cut from the same mold – dance beat, Bieber vocals, guest rapper, Bieber vocals, end song. Despite the guest spots, which also include Nicki Minaj and Bieber BFF Jaden Smith, this album is still all about Justin. “Believe” feels a little more grown up in terms of the dance beats and Bieber’s vocal style. It also might be the first step toward Bieber being taken seriously as a legitimate pop artist by a more-adult crowd.