When I heard that the Smashing Pumpkins were reuniting, the first thought that came to my mind was "D'arcy Wretzky and James Iha can actually tolerate Billy Corgan?" Keep in mind, I was a Pumpkins fan from the get-go. I was only five when they hit the scene, but as soon as I listened to the wonder that is the celebrated Siamese Dream, I made sure to acquaint myself with everything Pumpkins. So when it became evidently clear that the make-up of the newly resurrected alt-rock outfit will only include two original members - Jimmy Chamberlin and head master Corgan himself - plus a few newbies, I knew I was in for a shaky ride.

Corgan added three new elements to the lineup - Jeff Schroeder on second guitar and Ginger Reyes on bassist (which, has any noticed they look strikingly similar to Iha and Wretzky?), plus Lisa Harriton as the Pumpkins' resident keyboardist - and released Zeitgeist, the Pumpkins' first album since 1999. There is still that signature Pumpkins (or should I say Corgan?) sound - guitar-laden, distorted, densely layered tracks, and Corgan's unmistakeable crooning - that finds its way into Zeitgest. But unlike Gish, the aforementioned Siamese Dream, and 1995's Melacholy and the Infinite Saddness, Zeitgeist is painstakingly rubbish..

It's not all bad (a part of me does indeed enjoy it). It's just not awe-inspiring or impressive. Maybe it's wrong to expect something more after an almost decade-long absense, but what Zeitgeist lacks is the zeal, the zest, of the larger-than-life Corgan bravado that he is so fondly known for. Instead, Corgan comes off as arrogrant, with the wall-to-wall guitar overdubs, cascading riffs, and thundering drum bashes of "Starz," "Doomsday Clock," "Bring the Light," "Tarantula." And the lyrics are still overly wordy poetic verses from his personal diary - a open door view into his glimmering, emotional heart.

So, should I have expected (or even have the right to want) old Pumpkins? No. But what I did expect was a different sound, a sound that is as new as the band itself, and that is what Zeitgeist failed to deliver.