 
I have a problem with this CD already and I haven't even heard it yet and here's why: my review copy of the CD is packaged in a generic square sleeve emblazed with yellow and black colors, warning colors. At first you think that this is some tie-in with the theme of the CD.but I doubt it. The front reads the following in bold black lettering: "RESTRICTED RELEASE! WATERMARKED DISC! The Music on this CD has been watermarked with a unique identifier that allows us to identify the intended recipient (you) as the source of any unauthorized copies." I don't even want to open this thing. Here I was all geared up to enjoy some good, quality music, ready to get into a real mood with my boy Billy Corgan (my generations' second spokesperson) and I'm scared, intimidated even. The CD isn't even out of its womb yet and I'm getting yelled at. The back is sealed with one of those paper zipper things and it says: "WARNING! BY OPENING THIS SEAL YOU ARE AGREEING TO THE TERMS BELOW" And below are at least 150 words of more scare tactics and threats and even a phone number to call. A lot of big words are thrown around like "transmit", "organization" and "promotional". The last sentence reads as follows: YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY UNAUTHORIZED USE, REPRODUCTION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF THE MUSIC ON THIS DISK." In the bottom left corner are the four symbols of Warner Brothers, Maverick Records (that's Madonna's label, folks), Reprise Records and Sire Records. They smile up at me.pretty little flowers in a junkyard. Alright, I'm going to open up my review copy of Billy Corgan's first solo CD, TheFutureEmbrace now and God, I hope I do it right, don't want to get into trouble here.this better be good. I think I'm gonna puke. Okay, here we go. Alright, everybody relax, nothing blew up.but the sound that paper zipper made was deafening. Now that I've taken this giant leap there is a message under the flap that reads: "Thank you for agreeing to out restricted release terms. Please enjoy the music!" Aw, now they're playing nice. The CD itself is covered with more cautionary words. And get this: near the right side is the name of a former employee who worked in promotions for this establishment. THEIR NAME. Not hand written by a hapless Warner Brothers intern but digitally printed by some HAL 2000 SuperComputer that knows who they are and that they work HERE. That's downright creepy. The future's embrace, indeed. My generation's Vice Spokesperson doesn't waste any time on this one as his distinctive voice hits after only four seconds into the opening song, "All Things Change". It's a thick sounding tune with multi-tracked guitars stacked up with layers of synths and an expensive sounding drum machine clacking away somewhere between his voice and the wall of sound that is the music bed. There may be an actual drummer on some of these tunes but it's so lifeless it just doesn't matter.either way it sure isn't Jimmy Chamberlin. And, basically, that's how the rest of the CD sounds. Oddly enough, Corgan has always wanted complete control of his records and, now that he has it, guess what? That's right, everything sound the same! Some are drenched in that early 1980's synth/pop sound that seems popular again while a few others are closer to a Nine Inch Nails vibe, a bit more menacing. The only tangible difference is the song's titles that are pretentious as always, my favorite being track #10 "Sorrows (in blue)". He's sad on that one. "To Love Somebody" is hilarious, a perfect illustration that he didn't learn anything from covering that silly Fleetwood Mac songs a while back. Is he serious? Look folks, the original Bee Gee's original ain't bad and both Nina Simone Gram Parsons have already covered it so why bother? By the way, track #8 is called "I'm Ready" and, thankfully, it's not the Muddy Waters song. TheFutureEmbrace is a relatively quiet CD from an overrated guy who
used to be in a fairly successful band from Chicago. I'm sure Rolling
Stone will love it and Spin will put him on their cover (he'll wear
black.) This stuff is harmless. There is nothing going on here that
merits the crazed, doomsday verbage on the CD's packaging because there's
nothing here that anyone will want to copy. I give it four out of five
yawns. - Andrew Lau
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Billy
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