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| [LICD Review] Iha CD less than smashing; [CITY Edition] |
| March 25, 1998, 12:00 am |
Source: Mark Faulkner Iha CD less than smashing; [CITY Edition] Mark Faulkner, Times-Union staff writer. Florida Times Union. Jacksonville, Fla.: Mar 25, 1998. pg. C.6 Abstract (Document Summary) Buy Smashing Pumpkins' guitarist James Iha's new solo release expecting it to be similar to Pumpkins' albums, and you'll be looking for a refund. Instead of the hard edged alternative rock anthems the Pumpkins are known for, this is a collection of melodic pop rock love songs. Songs such as Sound of Love, Beauty or Silver String fit more in the '70s music scene. Full Text (299 words) Copyright Florida Times Union Mar 25, 1998 Buy Smashing Pumpkins' guitarist James Iha's new solo release expecting it to be similar to Pumpkins' albums, and you'll be looking for a refund. Instead of the hard edged alternative rock anthems the Pumpkins are known for, this is a collection of melodic pop rock love songs. Songs such as Sound of Love, Beauty or Silver String fit more in the '70s music scene. It is a natural rite of passage for a band that established itself to have members who want to put out a solo album or a single. Members of the Rolling Stones, R.E.M., U2 and Drivin' n' Cryin' have all done it. Iha's Let It Come Down, (Virgin Records/America) seems to be an experiment in creating a sound different from Smashing Pumpkins and an effort to pay tribute to his musical influences. Many of Iha's songs sound like a rehash of John Lennon's solo work with a little early Motown sound mixed in. All the songs sound similar and distinguishing them from each other is hard. What's really missing on Let It Come Down is a reason to care about the stories Iha tells in his songs. The most memorable pop love songs pull listeners in and make them care about the characters. Iha just never compels listeners. Probably the closest he gets to a real emotional impact is on One and Two, when Pumpkins' bass player D'arcy adds a harmony vocal. Let It Come Down is a collection of music suited for dinner parties, quiet times or late night talks. It is good to see Iha exploring the music that he grew up with in the 1970s, but why he never infuses it with some of the power and energy he has grown famous for with the Pumpkins remains a mystery. Final Grade: C Credit: Times-Union |