Teargarden By Kaleidyscope: Vol. 1 [EP]
by The Smashing Pumpkins
Metascore
65

Generally favorable reviews - based on 5 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 5
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 5
  3. Negative: 0 out of 5
  1. AllMusic
    70
    None of these songs have the concise punch of a single, but that's surely intentional: they're not designed as hooky statements of intent, they're dreamy teasers for what promises to be Corgan's most varied set of music since the days of Mellon Collie & the Infinite Sadness, whose title is quite deliberately echoed in the very name of Teargarden by Kaleidyscope.
  2. Chicago Tribune
    63
    Without Chamberlin's freight train roaring behind him, the hurtling "Astral Planes" never quite achieves liftoff. And one can only imagine how Chamberlin might've combusted the six-minute "Son of a Sailor," which sounds like a promising sketch for a "Stairway to Heaven"-style epic. Corgan's at his best when he takes a lighter tack and develops two of his more engaging melodies on the remaining tracks.
  3. Los Angeles Times
    63
    That fixation on headphone-trip arcana doesn't mean the new songs lack hooks: "A Stitch in Time," for example, opens with a folky acoustic figure that openly echoes "Disarm," one of Smashing Pumpkins' biggest hits. But "Songs for a Sailor" seems indifferent to what's happening on the radio right now. It's a blast of arty alt-rock escapism, short and not so sweet.
  5. Kerrang!
    60
    It has one or two fine songs, A Song For A Son is probably Billy's best since Adore in 1998 but , decent though it is, it's not a Smashing Pumpkins record. [5 Jun 2010, p.50]
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  6. Drowned In Sound
    50
    He only truly nails it on one track out of four doesn't bode especially well, but as I say, there's some reason to hope, and if you really don't have anything better than the Pumpkins to pin your musical hopes onto, you probably shouldn't be too nervous about checking out the next EP.

User Reviews

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User Score
6.1

Generally favorable reviews- based on 37 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 18 out of 37
  2. Mixed: 12 out of 37
  3. Negative: 7 out of 37
  1. dystopia
    Sep 16, 2010
    10
    It's clear the band is finally back to where it was pre-breakup, Teargarden Vol. 1 is a wonderful little EP, all 4 tracks are strong and wellIt's clear the band is finally back to where it was pre-breakup, Teargarden Vol. 1 is a wonderful little EP, all 4 tracks are strong and well produced and really paint a glorious picture of what the entire project is going to be once it's completed.… Full Review »
  2. Ricko
    May 14, 2012
    8
    The first EP from Billy Corgan's ambitious 44 track Teargarden project. I seriously doubt the whole thing will ever come to light. Even withThe first EP from Billy Corgan's ambitious 44 track Teargarden project. I seriously doubt the whole thing will ever come to light. Even with the upcoming Oceania album within the Teargarden project, the thing will be half complete after over 2 years of work. In general the songs on Teargarden are good enough but don't compare to the Pumpkins in their prime bar one or two tracks so far. The first EP has the very promising Song for a Son. Widow Wake My Mind isn't bad ok. A Stitch in Time is good and Astral Planes has potential but goes nowhere in the end. I'll be interested to see what Oceania offers but over the last few years BC is just showing us glimpses of what he can do.… Full Review »
  3. 7dogguy
    Apr 13, 2012
    5
    eh these songs on this are ok but there not memorable at all nor is this even close to what the smashing pumpkins are about luckly even thougheh these songs on this are ok but there not memorable at all nor is this even close to what the smashing pumpkins are about luckly even though it doesnt really sound like them there is one good song and one decent song and the other 2 are horrible… Full Review »
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