The Smashing Pumpkins: Oceania 3D Live in NYC (Video 2013)

The Smashing Pumpkins: Oceania 3D Live in NYC: Directed by Milton Lage. With Billy Corgan, Jeff Schroeder, Nicole Fiorentino, Mike Byrne. The Smashing Pumpkins Oceania 3D IN NYC was filmed last December at New York City’s Barclay’s Arena, where the group performed their new Oceania album in its entirety, along with a selection of the band’s biggest hits. The PUMPKINS’ shows included visuals prepared by Sean Evans, whose most recent project was assisting Roger Waters on the newest staging of “The Wall.” THE PUMPKINS used new technology in video-mapping to create something new and previously unseen, all of which is expertly captured in 3D and recorded 5.1 Surround Sound for the ultimate audio visual sensory experience!

“It took the better part of a decade and a myriad of line-up changes to pull it off, but with the release of last yearu0026#39;s u0026quot;Oceania,u0026quot; Billy Corgan finally achieved commercial and critical acceptance again with The Smashing Pumpkins. As alternative rocku0026#39;s self-appointed curmudgeon, Corgan has fought an uphill battle to be taken seriously for decades now, and itu0026#39;s with that mindset that he took to the road with his current line-up (Jeff Schroeder on guitar, Nicole Fiorentino on bass and Mike Byrne on drums) and an expansive (and expensive) stage set-up to perform u0026quot;Oceaniau0026quot; in its entirety, from front to back, night after night. Whether they wanted to or not, audiences would have to ultimately accept this version of the Pumpkins as the real deal. This set captures their December 10th performance in New York City, completely unedited at 24 tracks long.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eSounds like: A healthy compromise of Corganu0026#39;s past and his vision for the future.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe Good: u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eu003culu003eu003cliu003eNot only are you getting the rock-solid u0026quot;Oceaniau0026quot; in its entirety, but a good chunk of Pumpkins classics. The second half of the set is as devoted to well-worn radio staples like u0026quot;Disarmu0026quot; and u0026quot;Tonight, Tonightu0026quot; as it is to slightly deeper cuts like u0026quot;X.Y.U.u0026quot; and u0026quot;Hummer.u0026quot; – The u0026quot;newu0026quot; Pumpkins more than hold their own, effortlessly pulling off u0026quot;Oceaniau0026quot; while giving new life so the classics as well.u003c/liu003eu003c/ulu003eu003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eu003culu003eu003cliu003eThe visuals are a real treat, especially during u0026quot;Tonight, Tonightu0026quot; which recalls the songu0026#39;s iconic music video.u003c/liu003eu003c/ulu003eu003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe Bad: u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eu003culu003eu003cliu003eBillyu0026#39;s skin-tight wrestling shirt gives way to copious amounts of muffin top and coin-slot. Next time, leave the skin-tight outfits to Nicole.u003c/liu003eu003c/ulu003eu003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eu003culu003eu003cliu003eBilly is clearly phoning it in on the likes of u0026quot;Bullet With Butterfly Wingsu0026quot; and u0026quot;Cherub Rock.u0026quot; Donu0026#39;t like playing the Pumpkins tunes? Stop calling it Pumpkins. Itu0026#39;s time to reconcile what you think the band should be and what everyone else wants it to be.u003c/liu003eu003c/ulu003eu003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eu003culu003eu003cliu003ePointless cut-scenes of the New York Subway system in action are vexing. This visual addendum has all the appeal of a high-school studentu0026#39;s film-class project.u003c/liu003eu003c/ulu003eu003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eHits: u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eu003culu003eu003cliu003eNew track, u0026quot;The Dream Machineu0026quot; is absolutely stunning. A big, bold and moody prog-rock jam that recalls the lost u0026quot;Gossameru0026quot; and u0026quot;As Rome Burns.u0026quot; Even if this song never gets recorded, you get a professionally recorded version of it with this set.u003c/liu003eu003c/ulu003eu003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eu003culu003eu003cliu003eThe u0026quot;Oceaniau0026quot; title-track surpasses its studio counterpart, which gives hope to this u0026quot;youngu0026quot; bandu0026#39;s future.u003c/liu003eu003c/ulu003eu003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eu003culu003eu003cliu003eThe set closes out with u0026quot;Hummeru0026quot; (before the prerequisite encore, of course). Let that sink in for a second. u0026quot;Hummer.u0026quot; The only song that would have made for a better exit would be u0026quot;Mayonaise.u0026quot; Sometimes, just sometimes, Billy really knows how to reconnect with his past.u003c/liu003eu003c/ulu003eu003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eMisses: u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eu003culu003eu003cliu003eA cover of David Bowieu0026#39;s u0026quot;Space Oddityu0026quot; is fine and all, but with so many Pumpkins classics to sift through, it seems a waste of time. It works well in transitioning from the u0026quot;Oceaniau0026quot; material to the u0026quot;Classicu0026quot; set, but perhaps this is where u0026quot;Starlau0026quot; could have fit in.u003c/liu003eu003c/ulu003eu003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eu003culu003eu003cliu003eNothing from u0026quot;Gishu0026quot; or either of the two u0026quot;Machinau0026quot; albums. For shame Billy, for sh-sh-sh-sh-sh-shame. Then again, nothing from u0026quot;Teargarden,u0026quot; so thatu0026#39;s something, right? u003c/liu003eu003c/ulu003eu003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eBest Seen When: You have some nostalgia pains but want to hear something current at the same time.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003ePersonally: The Smashing Pumpkins have always been a favorite and all criticisms aside, Billy Corgan is still one of the greatest song-writers of his era. Having seen this exact same show in Portland, ME (minus the orb), itu0026#39;s a nice treat to have this memento. Granted, as far as all-time greatest Pumpkins shows go, you could do better. Check out the u0026#39;93 Metro show from the u0026quot;Siamese Dreamu0026quot; re-issue for proof.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe Bottom Line(s): The u0026quot;Oceaniau0026quot; tour was a nice compromise between old and new Pumpkins, and if you still nurse a soft spot for the u0026quot;Siamese Dreamu0026quot;/u0026quot;Mellon Collie u0026amp; The Infinite Sadnessu0026quot; days, this performance is likely to win you over.”