TheFutureEmbrace
Encyclopedia
TheFutureEmbrace is the only solo album by Billy Corgan
, frontman of the alternative rock
band The Smashing Pumpkins
. Released in June 2005, the album's sound was markedly different than most of Corgan's earlier work, eschewing his characteristic "drums, bass, (and) big-guitars sound" in favor of an electronic
sound punctuated with heavily distorted guitar parts reminiscent of shoegazing
.
of Nitzer Ebb
. There is an absence of live drums, and guitar overdubs are kept to a minimum. Regarding the atypical sound of the album, Corgan remarked,
The album also features a collaboration with The Cure
lead singer Robert Smith
on a cover of the Bee Gees
' song "To Love Somebody
", while "DIA" features electronic drums played by Corgan's longtime collaborator, Smashing Pumpkins drummer Jimmy Chamberlin
, as well as the violin and backing voice of Emilie Autumn
.
Also of note is the cover art and booklet photography, by P. R. Brown
, which focuses on parts of Corgan's body that he has traditionally and publicly been ashamed of, most notably the port-wine stain
that covers his left hand and much of his left arm, and his poorly aligned teeth.
TheFutureEmbrace was Corgan's second album to be largely recorded at his Pumpkinland studio, the first being the 1995 Smashing Pumpkins album Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness
.
The album was preceded by the release of a single and music video release of "Walking Shade
". Corgan, with his touring band, performed "Mina Loy (M.O.H.)" on Late Show with David Letterman
the day before the album's release. Corgan also appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, and played "To Love Somebody."
Those who pre-ordered the album from the iTunes store received a bonus track from the TheFutureEmbrace recording sessions, "Tilt." "Tilt" was also included on the Target retail stores exclusive release, Red Room Vol. 4.
Billy Corgan, with Matt Walker
, Brian Liesegang
, and Linda Strawberry
, embarked on a club tour in support of the album in the summer of 2005.
of the Chicago Sun-Times
said the album represented Corgan's "most distinctive and consistent music." To punctuate the importance of the release date, Corgan also took out full-page ads in the Sun-Times and the Chicago Tribune
promoting the album and announcing his intention to reform The Smashing Pumpkins, even going so far as to say that TheFutureEmbrace "picks up the thread of the as-of-yet-unfinished work of the Smashing Pumpkins." Despite these efforts, it charted at #89 in the UK and peaked at #31 in the United States. As of February 2006, the album's domestic sales were a mere 69,000 units sold.
Bonus track
Production
Billy Corgan
William Patrick "Billy" Corgan, Jr. is an American singer, songwriter, guitarist and occasional poet best known as the frontman and sole permanent member of The Smashing Pumpkins. Formed by Corgan and guitarist James Iha in Chicago, Illinois in 1987, the band quickly gained steam with the...
, frontman of the alternative rock
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
band The Smashing Pumpkins
The Smashing Pumpkins
The Smashing Pumpkins are an American alternative rock band that formed in Chicago, Illinois in 1988. Formed by Billy Corgan frontman and James Iha , the band has included Jimmy Chamberlin , D'arcy Wretzky , and currently includes Jeff Schroeder Mike Byrne , and Nicole Fiorentino The Smashing...
. Released in June 2005, the album's sound was markedly different than most of Corgan's earlier work, eschewing his characteristic "drums, bass, (and) big-guitars sound" in favor of an electronic
Electronic music
Electronic music is music that employs electronic musical instruments and electronic music technology in its production. In general a distinction can be made between sound produced using electromechanical means and that produced using electronic technology. Examples of electromechanical sound...
sound punctuated with heavily distorted guitar parts reminiscent of shoegazing
Shoegazing
Shoegazing is a subgenre of alternative rock that emerged from the United Kingdom in the late 1980s. It lasted there until the mid 1990s, with a critical zenith reached in 1990 and 1991...
.
Overview
TheFutureEmbraces instrumentation and programming were mainly performed by Corgan and Bon HarrisBon Harris
Bon Harris is an English composer, producer, singer/song writer, and multi-instrumentalist. He is a founding member of the quintessential British EBM group Nitzer Ebb, programming Nitzer Ebb's signature sound...
of Nitzer Ebb
Nitzer Ebb
Nitzer Ebb is a British EBM group formed in 1982 by Essex school friends Vaughan "Bon" Harris , Douglas McCarthy , and David Gooday .-Band name:...
. There is an absence of live drums, and guitar overdubs are kept to a minimum. Regarding the atypical sound of the album, Corgan remarked,
The album also features a collaboration with The Cure
The Cure
The Cure are an English rock band formed in Crawley, West Sussex in 1976. The band has experienced several line-up changes, with frontman, vocalist, guitarist and principal songwriter Robert Smith being the only constant member...
lead singer Robert Smith
Robert Smith (musician)
Robert James Smith is an English musician. He is the lead singer, guitar player and principal songwriter of the rock band The Cure, and its only constant member since its founding in 1976...
on a cover of the Bee Gees
Bee Gees
The Bee Gees are a musical group that originally comprised three brothers: Barry, Robin, and Maurice Gibb. The trio was successful for most of their 40-plus years of recording music, but they had two distinct periods of exceptional success: as a pop act in the late 1960s and early 1970s, and as a...
' song "To Love Somebody
To Love Somebody (song)
"To Love Somebody" is the second single released by the Bee Gees from their third LP, Bee Gees 1st.The band's manager Robert Stigwood wanted Barry Gibb to write a soul song for Otis Redding. Barry, along with Robin wrote "To Love Somebody," a soulful ballad in the style of Sam & Dave or The Rascals...
", while "DIA" features electronic drums played by Corgan's longtime collaborator, Smashing Pumpkins drummer Jimmy Chamberlin
Jimmy Chamberlin
Jimmy Chamberlin is an American drummer, songwriter, and producer. He is best known as the former drummer for the alternative rock band The Smashing Pumpkins. After a drug-related incident with touring keyboardist Jonathan Melvoin in 1996, Chamberlin was fired from the band and joined The Last...
, as well as the violin and backing voice of Emilie Autumn
Emilie Autumn
Emilie Autumn Liddell , better known by her stage name Emilie Autumn, is an American singer-songwriter, poet, and violinist. Autumn draws influence for her music—the style of which she has alternatively labeled as "Victoriandustrial" and glam rock—from plays, novels, and history, particularly the...
.
Also of note is the cover art and booklet photography, by P. R. Brown
P. R. Brown
Paul R. Brown is a graphic designer, photographer, and music video director.In 1996 he founded Bau-da Design Lab, which currently operates out of Los Angeles and New York. P.R. Brown is well-known for his album designs for musicians such as Mötley Crüe, Korn, Godsmack, and early in his career he...
, which focuses on parts of Corgan's body that he has traditionally and publicly been ashamed of, most notably the port-wine stain
Port-wine stain
A port-wine stain or naevus flammeus is a vascular anomaly consisting of superficial and deep dilated capillaries in the skin which produce a reddish to purplish discoloration of the skin. They are so called for their colour, resembling that of port wine...
that covers his left hand and much of his left arm, and his poorly aligned teeth.
TheFutureEmbrace was Corgan's second album to be largely recorded at his Pumpkinland studio, the first being the 1995 Smashing Pumpkins album Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness
Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness
Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness is the third album by American alternative rock band The Smashing Pumpkins, released October 24, 1995 on Virgin Records. Produced by frontman Billy Corgan with Flood and Alan Moulder, the twenty-eight-track album was released as a two-disc CD and triple LP...
.
Promotion
In the lead-up to the album, Corgan generated considerable attention when he started publishing an autobiography, The Confessions of Billy Corgan, on his website, piece-by-piece. The postings are notable for Corgan's candor regarding his family, personal relationships, and activity during different eras of The Smashing Pumpkins. Corgan updated the Confessions on a frequent basis, but after posting an entry titled "Following the Moon (1974)" on July 1, 2005, the entries stopped.The album was preceded by the release of a single and music video release of "Walking Shade
Walking Shade
"Walking Shade" is the first and only single from Billy Corgan's first solo album, TheFutureEmbrace. According to Corgan, " was a little too strait-laced in my eyes...
". Corgan, with his touring band, performed "Mina Loy (M.O.H.)" on Late Show with David Letterman
Late Show with David Letterman
Late Show with David Letterman is a U.S. late-night talk show hosted by David Letterman on CBS. The show debuted on August 30, 1993, and is produced by Letterman's production company, Worldwide Pants Incorporated. The show's music director and band-leader of the house band, the CBS Orchestra, is...
the day before the album's release. Corgan also appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, and played "To Love Somebody."
Those who pre-ordered the album from the iTunes store received a bonus track from the TheFutureEmbrace recording sessions, "Tilt." "Tilt" was also included on the Target retail stores exclusive release, Red Room Vol. 4.
Billy Corgan, with Matt Walker
Matt Walker (drummer)
Matt Walker is a musician and former drummer for Filter, The Smashing Pumpkins and current drummer for Morrissey.Matt Walker began his career in Chicago in the mid 80s, when Matt began playing drums for the already well known Scott Bennett of Scott Bennett & The Obvious and did double duty playing...
, Brian Liesegang
Brian Liesegang
Brian Liesegang is an American guitarist and programmer, and a founding member of the Industrial rock band Filter.-Biography:Liesegang was born in New York City, where his father Dr. Thomas Liesegang was attending medical school...
, and Linda Strawberry
Linda Strawberry
Linda Strawberry is the nom de plume of a Los Angeles singer, best known as Billy Corgan's touring bandmate on the Future Embrace Tour. She signed to Chrysalis Records with a publishing development deal, but announced in her blog in October 2006 that she has since left the label, citing artistic...
, embarked on a club tour in support of the album in the summer of 2005.
Reception
TheFutureEmbraces critical reception was mixed. Jim DeRogatisJim DeRogatis
James "Jim" DeRogatis is an American music critic and co-host of Sound Opinions. DeRogatis has written articles for magazines such as Spin, Guitar World and Modern Drummer, and for fifteen years was the pop music critic for the Chicago Sun-Times.He joined Columbia College Chicago as a full-time...
of the Chicago Sun-Times
Chicago Sun-Times
The Chicago Sun-Times is an American daily newspaper published in Chicago, Illinois. It is the flagship paper of the Sun-Times Media Group.-History:The Chicago Sun-Times is the oldest continuously published daily newspaper in the city...
said the album represented Corgan's "most distinctive and consistent music." To punctuate the importance of the release date, Corgan also took out full-page ads in the Sun-Times and the Chicago Tribune
Chicago Tribune
The Chicago Tribune is a major daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, and the flagship publication of the Tribune Company. Formerly self-styled as the "World's Greatest Newspaper" , it remains the most read daily newspaper of the Chicago metropolitan area and the Great Lakes region and is...
promoting the album and announcing his intention to reform The Smashing Pumpkins, even going so far as to say that TheFutureEmbrace "picks up the thread of the as-of-yet-unfinished work of the Smashing Pumpkins." Despite these efforts, it charted at #89 in the UK and peaked at #31 in the United States. As of February 2006, the album's domestic sales were a mere 69,000 units sold.
Track listing
All songs written by Billy Corgan except where noted:- "All Things Change" – 3:59
- "Mina LoyMina LoyMina Loy born Mina Gertrude Löwry was an artist, poet, playwright, novelist, Futurist, actress, Christian Scientist, designer of lamps, and bohemian. She was one of the last of the first generation modernists to achieve posthumous recognition. Her poetry was admired by T. S...
(M.O.H.)" – 3:53 - "The CameraEye" – 3:04
- "toLOVEsomebodyTo Love Somebody (song)"To Love Somebody" is the second single released by the Bee Gees from their third LP, Bee Gees 1st.The band's manager Robert Stigwood wanted Barry Gibb to write a soul song for Otis Redding. Barry, along with Robin wrote "To Love Somebody," a soulful ballad in the style of Sam & Dave or The Rascals...
" (Barry GibbBarry GibbBarry Alan Crompton Gibb, CBE , is a singer, songwriter and producer. He was born in the Isle of Man to English parents. With his brothers Robin and Maurice, he formed The Bee Gees, one of the most successful pop groups of all time. The trio got their start in Australia, and found their major...
/Robin GibbRobin GibbRobin Hugh Gibb, CBE is a British singer and songwriter. He is best known as a member of the Bee Gees, co-founded with his twin brother Maurice , and elder brother Barry....
) – 4:00 - "A100" (Billy Corgan/Bon Harris) – 4:23
- "DIA" – 4:20
- "Now (And Then)" – 4:43
- "I'm Ready" – 3:44
- "Walking ShadeWalking Shade"Walking Shade" is the first and only single from Billy Corgan's first solo album, TheFutureEmbrace. According to Corgan, " was a little too strait-laced in my eyes...
" – 3:14 - "Sorrows (In Blue)" – 2:48
- "Pretty, Pretty Star" – 3:46
- "Strayz" – 3:31
Bonus track
- "Tilt" (iTunesITunesiTunes is a media player computer program, used for playing, downloading, and organizing digital music and video files on desktop computers. It can also manage contents on iPod, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad....
exclusive)
Chart position
Album| Year | Album | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | The Future Embrace | New Zealand Albums Chart | 25 |
| The Billboard 200 | 31 | ||
| UK Albums Chart | 89 |
Personnel
- Emilie AutumnEmilie AutumnEmilie Autumn Liddell , better known by her stage name Emilie Autumn, is an American singer-songwriter, poet, and violinist. Autumn draws influence for her music—the style of which she has alternatively labeled as "Victoriandustrial" and glam rock—from plays, novels, and history, particularly the...
- VocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
and violinViolinThe violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
on "DIA" - Jimmy ChamberlinJimmy ChamberlinJimmy Chamberlin is an American drummer, songwriter, and producer. He is best known as the former drummer for the alternative rock band The Smashing Pumpkins. After a drug-related incident with touring keyboardist Jonathan Melvoin in 1996, Chamberlin was fired from the band and joined The Last...
- DrumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
on "DIA" - Billy CorganBilly CorganWilliam Patrick "Billy" Corgan, Jr. is an American singer, songwriter, guitarist and occasional poet best known as the frontman and sole permanent member of The Smashing Pumpkins. Formed by Corgan and guitarist James Iha in Chicago, Illinois in 1987, the band quickly gained steam with the...
- Vocals, guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, programming, producer, mixing - Robert SmithRobert Smith (musician)Robert James Smith is an English musician. He is the lead singer, guitar player and principal songwriter of the rock band The Cure, and its only constant member since its founding in 1976...
- Vocals and guitar on "ToLoveSomebodyTo Love Somebody (song)"To Love Somebody" is the second single released by the Bee Gees from their third LP, Bee Gees 1st.The band's manager Robert Stigwood wanted Barry Gibb to write a soul song for Otis Redding. Barry, along with Robin wrote "To Love Somebody," a soulful ballad in the style of Sam & Dave or The Rascals...
"
Production
- Todd Brodie - Assistant engineer
- P. R. BrownP. R. BrownPaul R. Brown is a graphic designer, photographer, and music video director.In 1996 he founded Bau-da Design Lab, which currently operates out of Los Angeles and New York. P.R. Brown is well-known for his album designs for musicians such as Mötley Crüe, Korn, Godsmack, and early in his career he...
- Photography and design - Nikola Dokic - Assistant engineer
- Bon HarrisBon HarrisBon Harris is an English composer, producer, singer/song writer, and multi-instrumentalist. He is a founding member of the quintessential British EBM group Nitzer Ebb, programming Nitzer Ebb's signature sound...
- Programming, producer - Roger Lian - Final digital editing
- Brian LiesegangBrian LiesegangBrian Liesegang is an American guitarist and programmer, and a founding member of the Industrial rock band Filter.-Biography:Liesegang was born in New York City, where his father Dr. Thomas Liesegang was attending medical school...
- Additional programming - Ron Lowe - Mix engineer
- John Maschoff - Assistant engineer
- Alan MoulderAlan MoulderAlan Moulder is one of Britain's premier alternative rock record producers. He has worked with such artists as Depeche Mode, Erasure, Elastica, Gary Numan, The Jesus and Mary Chain, Curve, Ride, Lush and My Bloody Valentine, Lostprophets, Shihad, Ivyrise and Placebo, as well as with many American...
- Mixing - Dave Rieley - Assistant engineer
- Bjorn ThorsrudBjorn ThorsrudBjorn Thorsrud is a music producer and audio engineer. He has recorded musicians such as: David Coverdale, Billy Corgan, The Dandy Warhols, Bruce Dickinson, Marianne Faithfull, The Frogs, Monster Magnet, Sleeping at Last, The Smashing Pumpkins, Linda Strawberry, Whitesnake and Zwan.-List of...
- Producer, mixing, engineer - Matt Walker - Additional programming
- Paul PDub Walton - Recording of Robert Smith's parts
- Howie WeinbergHowie WeinbergHowie Weinberg is a music mastering engineer who has worked with numerous bands.- Career :He has worked at Masterdisk, New York City, since 1977...
- Mastering