Jimmy Chamberlin Complex: Life Begins Again : Music Reviews : Rolling Stone

Album Reviews

Drummer Jimmy Chamberlin brought an iron crash and precision timing to Billy Corgan's metallic-Beatles dreams in the Smashing Pumpkins and the short-lived Zwan. Those gifts are the starring attractions here, although the strange blend of genres makes Chamberlin's debut as a leader (co-produced with multi-instrumentalist Billy Mohler) sound like a nice pair of EPs. Chamberlin's jazz-rock roots bloom in the vintage-fusion instrumentals "Streetcrawler" and "Owed to Darryl"; he hits the fierce rolls in "Cranes of Prey" like he's fighting for the drum seat in King Crimson. The vocals are a mixed blessing: Rob Dickinson's Brit-goth intonation carries "Love Is Real" but fails the title track, and there is an incongruous cameo by Bill Medley of the Righteous Brothers. But Corgan's piercing croon in "Loki Cat" suits the fatalism in Chamberlin's lyrics and dark swing -- and reminds me why I had such high hopes for Zwan.