CYR
| The Smashing Pumpkins
CYR
Cyr (stylized in all caps) is the eleventh studio album by American alternative rockband The Smashing Pumpkins, released on November 27, 2020, on Sumerian Records. Produced by band leader Billy Corgan, the album was preceded by the release of ten of its songs as singles, and features a synth-pop aesthetic, with Corgan actively seeking out a "contemporary" sound during the recording process. -Wikipedia
Critic Reviews
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NME
rock heroes reinvent themselves on poppiest record to date.
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Beats Per Minute
When taken as a whole, Cyr provides the variety and daring nature always inherent to The Smashing Pumpkins, finally resulting in the modern pop album that Corgan has always longed for, while also opening the door for new storytelling possibilities with In Ashes.
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Kerrang!
The Smashing Pumpkins continue to be “the band we’ve never been before” on the synthy Cyr.
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Louder
The mystical imagery of phoenixes, devils and ancient kings trace a through line to the Pumpkins’ roots in the sweeping and epic, while the album’s electro-pop clarity highlights Corgan’s sharpest collection of melodies in some years.
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Pitchfork
Billy Corgan reenlists the creative core of James Iha and Jimmy Chamberlin for a lengthy synth-pop excursion that is clinically competent and rarely as thrilling—or thrillingly weird—as their previous work.
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Clash Magazine
‘Cyr’ is, of course, far too long and more pretentious than a Met Gala soiree, but the innate contradiction between the essence of The Smashing Pumpkins and the music they have decided to make does keep the listener engaged for much longer than it has any right to. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you Billy Corgan, boogie-ing confusedly.
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DIY Magazine
granted, it’s refreshing to see that the band aren’t content to solely focus on nostalgia trips, and there are some great moments here - the dark driving force of ‘Wyttch’ stands out - but with such a hefty run time, it’s difficult to really tap into the heart of ‘Cyr’.
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The Guardian
infinite flatness.
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Sputnik Music
almost all these songs are dynamically stolid and melodically immemorable to the point of interchangeability; the drum parts are phenomenally disappointing coming from a musician as talented as Jimmy Chamberlain; Corgan’s voice still sounds like old tarmac with inconsistent numbers of cars passing over it; and every song follows an identical progression from midtempo verse to homogenous chorus.
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mxdwn Music
Overall, most of the songs in Cyr don’t really take off, but instead remain safely at the same consistently flat wavelength, lacking the luster to reach the luminosity it seems to strive for.
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Evening Standard
Most of the music is melodic and energetic, especially Starrcraft and the bouncing title track. Chamberlin, if it is him, sounds more like a drum machine on the robotic, relentless Adrennalynne.
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musicOMH
Corgan, then, has made the contemporary pop record his heart has been chasing.
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The Student Playlist
Smashing Pumpkins’ ambition exceeds their grasp on ‘CYR’, but at least it’s admirably and respectably different for them.
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Cryptic Rock
Their unique sound never ceases to impress, but rather nurtures and ignites sparks of creativity in every listener. And the complexity of the arrangements that make up Cyr only serves to again prove the might of their creative minds and musical talent yet again. Enjoy this piece of art.
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Bourbon and Vinyl
This album is, in a few words, a huge disappointment. I think we were all waiting for a great Smashing Pumpkins’ album. Sadly, this isn’t it. I can’t imagine Iha and Chamberlin will stay on with the Pumpkins if all they’re going to do is pose for publicity photos. This one is a hard pass for me.
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The Boar
The Smashing Pumpkins are edgeless on their synth-pop experiment.
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Sonic Abuse
An unexpected delight, CYR sees a reinvigorating Pumpkins exploring the boundaries of their influences with remarkable aplomb and the results are frequently blissful.
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The Times
a dull, atmospheric blur.
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Dead Press
‘Cyr’ sees The Smashing Pumpkins tackle a new soundscape with strong results as they don’t lose their identity throughout and create tracks that stand on their own regardless of the legacy of its creators. Granted, some moments do blur into one another, but ‘Cyr’ still has a place amongst its contemporaries.
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Hysteria Magazine
CYR as an album is more synth driven than it is riff driven.
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Vinyl Chapters
There are obviously a variety of tracks within this album to suit every mood, however I’m not sure a lengthy 20 tracks is necessary. Nevertheless, if you like The Smashing Pumpkins sound then this is definitely a record to try.
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Spill Magazine
The latest double album release by The Smashing Pumpkins, Cyr, featuring 20 new songs written by leader Billy Corgan, was bound to be a hit-and-miss affair with a recording project this ambitious and prolific.
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The Courier Online
CYR is like an essay that significantly flaunted the word count. It is probably most kindly judged if you only listen halfway. If you stop after ‘Wyttch’ and leave behind any expectations of being drawn into the creepy dreamscape of Mellon Collie And The Infinite Sadness and Siamese Dream, then CYR can be viewed not only as a significant improvement on SHINY AND OH SO BRIGHT, but as an enjoyable album.
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Rolling Stone
Nostalgia be damned, the band goes full electro-pop on its second reunion album.
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The Spokesman-Review
For fans of the classics, this album is a little unexpected, but if you give it a chance, “Cyr” is sure to please. Plus, when we one day get to see Corgan live again, these songs will be stadium ballads.
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Under the Radar Magazine
CYR is a record that so obviously chasing mainstream appeal yet sabotages itself by being too long a self-indulgence.
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The Independent
On ‘CYR’, The Smashing Pumpkins struggle to offer anything that matches the songs of their heydey.
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Slant Magazine
Smashing Pumpkins’s Sprawling CYR Is Marred by Unchecked Ambition.
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Stereoboard
Smashing Pumpkins continue to be square pegs that people try to fit in round holes.
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Sputnik Music
While ambitious in scope, Corgan’s latest outing is searingly bloated, lethargic and the perfect sequitur to yet another forgettable concept venture.
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Spectrum Culture
Billy Corgan pays his bandmembers disservice by forcing them to guest star on another one of his failed solo records. It’s trite, boring, and worst of all, makes no sense.
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XS Noize
When technology plays a minor role and at times and equal role on CYR there are some impressive results.
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Gigwise
After years of declaring guitar music dead and admiring from afar the ability of electronic musicians to capture the zeitgeist and hold attention of a younger listenership, Cyr sounds like the modern-day Pumpkins record he set out to make from the start, when he taught himself how to use Logic and played around with making his own beats
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Drew's Reviews
Cyr doesn’t disappoint, but probably won’t rise to the level of Mellon Collie, producing several viable hits along with some filler and what perhaps amounts to experimentation exercises. In some respects, Cyr delivers a set of solid songs along with a few too many that perhaps Corgan was unable to leave on the cutting room floor because of the time and energy spent on them along with a temperament that can’t let go. No doubt a common occurrence with artists, but Corgan also produced the album.
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Riff Magazine
Fans will find something to like on this record, and who knows, maybe their new sound will bring them new fans in the 21st century.
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