In a blogpost on the official Smashing Pumpkins website, Billy Corgan has announced the plans for the new Smashing Pumpkins album, entitled "Teargarden by Kaleidyscope". Described as being "absolutely groundbreaking" Corgan announces that the band's new album will be available for free. The free part might not be that groundbreaking perhaps, but interesting to know is that the album will count no less than 44 songs. Corgan so far has already written 53 songs for the record of which 4 are now being recorded. But quite unusual is the following aspect: they will be released a song at a time beginning around Halloween of this year. Each song will be made available absolutely for free, to anyone anywhere. Billy Corgan: "There will be no strings attached. Free will mean free, which means you won't have to sign up for anything, give an email address, or jump through a hoop. You will be able to go and take the song or songs as you wish, as many times as you wish. The commitment that is most important is the one I'm making to you: that the music of 'Teargarden by Kaleidyscope' will be available for free to everyone. All 44 songs: free for ALL." But...Smashing Pumpkins will however sell highly limited edition EP's (of 4 songs each times 11); details of how those EP's will be made available are still being worked out. Because the songs themselves will be free, the EP's will be more like collectors items for the discerning fan who will want the art itself, along with the highest possible audio quality available. The EP's will be more like mini-box sets rather than a normal cd single.
They may also offer other variations for sale, but that is also still being worked out. Ideas are for example a digital single with a demo version of a song and others. When the entire album is finished, it will be compiled into a deluxe box set which will also be made available for sale. Those who have bought the EP's need not worry, as the box set will not be a recompilation of the limited edition pieces.
The story of the album is based on 'The Fool's Journey', as signified in the progress of the Tarot. Corgan: "It is my intention to approach this by breaking down the journey of our life here into four phases as made by these different characters; the Child, the Fool, the Skeptic, and the Mystic."
Soundwhise the music of "Teargarden by Kaleidyscope" harkens back to the original psychedelic roots of The Smashing Pumpkins Corgain says being "atmospheric, melodic, heavy, and pretty".
Source: Side Line Magazine
