Shiny and Oh So Bright, Vol. 1: No Past. No Future. No Sun
by The Smashing Pumpkins
Metascore
65

Generally favorable reviews - based on 23 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 12 out of 23
  2. Mixed: 10 out of 23
  3. Negative: 1 out of 23
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  1. The Skinny
    Dec 19, 2018
    60
    Overall, Shiny And Oh So Bright, Vol. 1 / LP: No Past. No Future. No Sun. is a pleasantly nostalgic, brief album--half of which is sensational and the other is painstakingly poor.
  2. Kerrang!
    Nov 20, 2018
    60
    While what's here is good, there could have been more to get your teeth into. At eight songs in length, this collection feels a little slight. [17 Nov 2018, p.69]
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  3. DIY Magazine
    Nov 16, 2018
    60
    There’s not much in the way of stylistic cohesion, either, and you wonder whether that’s simply because the creativity was flowing out of the almost-fully-reformed lineup or simply because Billy felt confident in following his every whim.
  5. Slant Magazine
    Nov 13, 2018
    60
    As revived as the classic Pumpkins sound is on Shiny and Oh So Bright, though, the album can’t quite shake the sense of superfluity endemic to reunion projects: There isn’t anything here that the band hasn’t already done before--and better.
  6. musicOMH.com
    Nov 13, 2018
    60
    A pretty decent record if by no means a great one. Shiny And So Bright, Vol 1 / LP: No Past. No Future. No Sun. neither offers the chance to dent Corgan’s ego or inflate it in any significant way.
  7. PopMatters
    Nov 12, 2018
    60
    There is a marked contrast between the past-its-prime "Solara" and the electronic styling of "Alienation", a division that echoes the departure Smashing Pumpkins made starting with Adore. ... Beyond the instrumentation and the overall sound of the album relative to the band's past work, Shiny and Oh So Bright, Vol. 1 is, in the end, engaging with the visionary spirit of Smashing Pumpkins.
  8. Mojo
    Nov 9, 2018
    60
    Corgan's ear for pop-hooks is keen throughout, but save for Knights Of Malta, with its piano, strings and backwards lead guitars, the music on Shiny And Oh So Bright... seems a tad under-imagined for its portentous title. [Dec 2018, p.84]
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  9. Drowned In Sound
    Nov 15, 2018
    50
    The Smashing Pumpkins in 2018 are an anachronism. Whether that’s an anachronism to relish, or render them irrelevant is up for debate, but Shiny and Oh So Bright sadly offers little to further their considerable legend.
  10. The 405
    Nov 21, 2018
    40
    The main problem with Shiny is that half of its tracklisting is dedicated to mid-tempo rockers that are only fractionally better than 'Knights of Malta.’ ... With some more time and care, ‘Silvery Sometimes’ could have been an unimpeachable addition to the Pumpkins canon. As it stands, it suffers the fate of being packaged in what will likely go down as one of the worst albums in the band’s discography.
  11. Rolling Stone
    Nov 15, 2018
    40
    Save the few fire-breathing dragon moments of Lollapalooza-era churn, it’s the Smashing Pumpkins in name only, and that ice cream truck has long left the gas station.

Awards & Rankings

91
#91 Most Discussed Album of 2018

User Reviews

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User Score
6.5

Generally favorable reviews- based on 62 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 37 out of 62
  2. Mixed: 16 out of 62
  3. Negative: 9 out of 62
  1. Duke_Challenger
    Nov 16, 2018
    2
    This is by far the Smashing Pumpkins' worst album. There is no knockout song on here. Every song is trying to sound either like a mainstreamThis is by far the Smashing Pumpkins' worst album. There is no knockout song on here. Every song is trying to sound either like a mainstream pop band or a previous Smashing Pumpkins song. Billy should go back to working random musicians.

    Best song: With Sympathy (7/10)    … Full Review »
  2. DavidWasHere
    Nov 17, 2018
    6
    As a huge fan of the Pumpkins, I wanted to like this album a lot more than I did. And i'm not saying I wanted another Siamese Dream or MellonAs a huge fan of the Pumpkins, I wanted to like this album a lot more than I did. And i'm not saying I wanted another Siamese Dream or Mellon Collie, but I just wanted a solid album from the band. And what I got was just alright, not exactly terrible but I don't mind it too much. However for a band that was once ambitious it's hard not to see that once firey passion the band once had. Or more specifically, while Billy Corgan has been quite vocal about the direction of rock music has gone, he falls under the same trappings.

    The compositions and instrumentation are fine, they certainly sound like a Pumpkins song, there's no mistaking their signature sound, however the production guts it. It's too sanitized and polished. I'm kind of surprised Rick Rubin produced this album, because it doesn't have his infamous signatures when he produces a rock album. It feels more like the band wanted to go in a pop direction, and as a result what should sound big and anthemic comes off toothless. These songs beg for more crunch and grit! Like the percussion from Jimmy is pretty solid, but the mix does him no favors as the other instruments swallows the drums. Which ironically enough is typical for a Rick Rubin production!

    There really isn't much to talk about besides that for me really. It sounds like a Pumpkins album, and it kind of feels like Pumpkins on cruse control. Not exactly going fast, but just staying the same speed down a highway, but not in the passing lane. Most of the energy and passion just isn't there, even with returning members James Iha and Jimmy Chamberlin. It feels very much like the band's last record, Monuments. Except honestly I think Monuments is a far stronger album IMO because I could recall the singles off that album. Outside of Silvery Sometimes, which I feel is a solid pop rocker, there isn't much memorability too this album, even with the band's sound that I am very much fond of. Maybe that fondness is what is saving me from being too harsh on this album, besides I can't say it's flat out terrible and it does feel like the band did put in effort in making the songs here, like I said the compositions and instrumentation is great, but it's one of the band's least memorable albums, and definitely not the return to form so many fans wanted. At least for me.    … Full Review »
  3. Liminal
    Nov 16, 2018
    8
    I'll keep taking Smashing Pumpkins music as long as they continue making it. The world is much better for it.

    A few notes: 1. "Solara"    I'll keep taking Smashing Pumpkins music as long as they continue making it. The world is much better for it.

    A few notes: 1. "Solara" sounds significantly better within the context of the album and after repeat listens. Elements like "Starz" without the chorus of Billies, a tighter structure, and a better melody. 2. "Silvery Sometimes" is a hyper-listenable improvement and blending of Try, Try, Try and 1979 that doesn't feel like a retread. I can't listen to 1979 anymore, but I've been listening to this song on repeat for days. 3. "Alienation" stood out the most from my first few listens of the album as a whole. Reminiscent of "Stellar" and "Ma Belle" from the Zeitgeist era, both of which I really enjoy. Nice contrast of dynamics and propulsive tempo.

    If you added these songs into the mix with MTAE and split them up into two parts, you might have two stronger albums than either are on their own. Or perhaps the top ten songs from both albums would make a greater one: Tiberius, One and All, Being Beige, Drum + Fife, Monuments, Anti-Hero, Silvery Sometimes, Solara, Travels, and Alienation, maybe?

    I would expect the next full album effort from the band would be an improvement and will be eagerly looking forward to it. I like the potential for Billy, James, and Jeff to develop their guitar interplay in a way that has the potential to be greater than the wall of guitar sound that was constructed primarily by Billy himself in SD.    … Full Review »
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