Billy Corgan: The Future Embrace

  • Brian Thomas
  • Jul 11, 2005
  • Series: Music
    Billy Corgan: The Future Embrace

    This past year has been a busy and creative period for the former front man of the bands Smashing Pumkins and Zwan. After releasing his first book of poetry, “Blinking with Fists,” an ongoing extremely personal online autobiography on MySpace, Billy Corgan has just unleashed his first solo record: The Future Embrace.

    Although not much of a departure from later Pumpkin albums, the Future Embrace relies more on synth textures and quiet reflective melodies than on the distorted guitar driven Goth-pop Corgan is famous for. If you haven’t liked his past bands, it is highly unlikely that you will embrace (pun intended) this album. He still has the same nasally voice and clichéd lyrics that have driven many listeners away. What has changed over the past few years is a burgeoning spirituality in Billy’s life and lyrics that reflect faith, hope and love. Although I won’t presume he is a Christian, because he has not outright confessed to be one - in recent interviews, online posts, and lyrical content, he seems to imply it.

    In a Risen magazine interview I was happily surprised by some of his answers:

    Risen: How would you describe God?

    BC: Well, I don’t think they’re kidding around when they talk about infinite and omnipotent and…

    Risen: Creator?

    BC: Sure, I think that’s what they mean when they say we’re created in God’s image. I don’t think they mean a nose and a penis. I think they mean like creator, an active participant.

    Risen: Do you pray?

    BC: All the time.

    Risen: What would be a typical prayer for you?

    BC: There’s this beautiful prayer that someone taught me recently. It’s, um –

    “I am as God created me, I cannot change my dwelling place. I’m now releasing and surrendering to God any imperfection that I’ve experienced or will experience. Jesus Christ is my light, my life, my love, my peace, my health, my joy, my vitality, my purity, my unity, my perfection and my freedom.” That’s a very powerful prayer to me, because I’m constantly unhappy about any imperfections.

    billy-corgan.jpgAdmittedly, it would be hard for any rock star to confess Christ, especially if you were the 90’s poster child of Goth angst. Fans have told told him, “I wish you’d go back to being depressed cuz I like your music better.” Thankfully, he has grown as a person and as an artist, the one reflecting the other as art should.

    I personally am a fan that is glad to see Billy embracing a future of hope and love. Although many critics have already written this album off as shoe gazing electronica, I enjoy the cryptic spiritual language of his lyrics: Oh Lord I’m ready now. I’m ready to throw away the world from your life, cast away the pearls that bring their swine to us, whatever shatters light has no right (track 8). Many of these songs can be understood as intimate conversations between two people or with God, or both. Although purposefully vague, throughout the Future Embrace’s 12 tracks there is a sense of relief, a sense of lifted guilt, a sense of confession and reconciliation. I hope this album will not fall on deaf ears, because these are the things that all mankind desires and needs.

    Maybe one day, the Smashing Pumkins will rise again from the ashes to rock our world (we can only hope). But until that day, enjoy the ambient textures and happy synth pop of the Future Embrace. It’s okay to be happy, kids.

    Chris Ahrens, Risen Magazine (Vol. 3, Issue 4- Nov-Dec 2004), p. 47.

    Brian Thomas is the chief musician for KaleoChurch where he leads the band Bezalel who also released a recent album: Fidelity on High. To hear or purchase the album, check-out www.cdbaby.com/bezalel or itunes.

    2 Comments | Login to Post Comments

    Renee Ambrosino on Nov 1, 2007 11:10am

    I love music,and I love to have fun I don't want to be misunderstood here but I met Billy once and we played around a little with each other in a bathroom in Brooklyn N.Y And one day I saw this video and I didn't realize who he was because in his video he didn't look like the same guy something was lost or really evil looking about him,so I prayed for him because I was afraid that nobody really prayed for him and maybe just took from him he has stay on my heart ever since

    Kristi Weber on Mar 5, 2008 8:03pm

    man, it makes me so happy that billy corgan prays and does believe there is a creater(God). my sister recently passed away and billy was her idol:)