Panopticon (song)
| "Panopticon" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by The Smashing Pumpkins | ||||
| from the album Oceania | ||||
| Released | September 15, 2012 | |||
| Format | Digital download | |||
| Recorded | 2011 | |||
| Genre | Alternative rock | |||
| Length | 3:52 | |||
| Label | EMI/Caroline | |||
| Writer(s) | Billy Corgan | |||
| Producer(s) | Billy Corgan, Bjorn Thorsrud | |||
| The Smashing Pumpkins singles chronology | ||||
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"Panopticon" is the second single from The Smashing Pumpkins's eighth album Oceania.[1] It was originally released as a promotional single to radio airplay on September 15, 2012.[2]
Background and recording
In an interview with MusicRadar, Corgan stated, "It's similar to Quasar in that we had the opening riff and didn't know what to do with it. It sat for a while, but everybody felt strongly about it. It had a, dare I say, 'modern-feeling' to it, but still in the style of guitar that I like to play. Ultimately, I just sat down and wrote the song on the piano. Sometimes, when you've got a riffy song, it helps to just play the chords with no rhythm, and then you hear the 'song' in it. It's those very Paul McCartney/Wings-type chords – Broadway-type chords. What I'm most proud of from a songwriting standpoint is how it goes from D major to A minor. It goes from a very 'majorly' feel into something sorrowful, almost a Spanish feel. I don't know how the heck I did that, but it's one of my favorite things in the song, how you can keep the key but change the emotion."[3]
Reception
NME described the song as "elegant and dreamy".[4] Consequence of Sound declared that it was "heroic".[5] Spin magazine's review of Oceania focused on Byrne's drumming on Panopticon, stating "the impressive, tom-heavy rumble of "Panopticon" quickly asserts his lithe, explosive, decidedly Jimmy Chamberlain-esque ferocity, a deft balance of muscle and sinew."[6] Artistdirect also emphasized Byrne's contribution by describing his drumming as "flawless percussive propulsion".[7]
On Corgan's voice, the Chicago Sun-Times said, "He sings (not barks, not whines) melodious lines above the fray."[8]
The Seattle Post-Intelligencer noted Nicole Fiorentino's "highly musical bass lines".[9]
References
- ↑ "90's Alternative Rock News » Blog Archive » SMASHING PUMPKINS RELEASE ‘PANOPTICON’ AS SECOND OCEANIA SINGLE". GrungeReport.net. 2012-09-14. Retrieved 2012-09-20.
- ↑ "New SMASHING PUMPKINS Single "Panopticon" Arrives on Radio; Tour Kicks Off in October". tunes.broadwayworld.com. 2012-02-13. Retrieved 2012-09-20.
- ↑ Joe Bosso (2012-06-13). "Interview: Billy Corgan talks The Smashing Pumpkins' Oceania track-by-track | MusicRadar". Beta.musicradar.com. Retrieved 2012-09-20.
- ↑ "NME Album Reviews - Smashing Pumpkins - 'Oceania'". Nme.Com. 2012-06-12. Retrieved 2012-10-18.
- ↑ "Album Review: Smashing Pumpkins – Oceania". Consequence of Sound. 2012-06-19. Retrieved 2012-10-18.
- ↑ http://www.spin.com/#reviews/smashing-pumpkins-oceania-marthas-musicemi?utm_source=spintwitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=spintwitter
- ↑ "The Smashing Pumpkins "Oceania" Album Review — 5 out of 5 stars - ARTISTdirect News". Artistdirect.com. Retrieved 2012-10-18.
- ↑ Conner, Thomas (2012-06-15). "Review: Smashing Pumpkins, 'Oceania' - Music: Via Chicago". Blogs.suntimes.com. Retrieved 2012-10-18.
- ↑ Doherty, Charlie (2012-06-29). "Music Review: The Smashing Pumpkins - Oceania". seattlepi.com. Retrieved 2012-10-18.
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