Solara (song)
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"Solara" is a song by American
rock Rock most often refers to: * Rock (geology), a naturally occurring solid aggregate of minerals or mineraloids * Rock music, a genre of popular music Rock or Rocks may also refer to: Places United Kingdom * Rock, Caerphilly, a location in Wales ...
band
Smashing Pumpkins Smash may refer to: People * Smash (wrestler) (born 1959), professional wrestler * Moondog Rex, another professional wrestler who briefly wrestled as the original Smash, before being replaced by the above. * DJ Smash, DJ and music producer Art, ...
. It was the band's first song to be released after reforming three fourths of the band's original lineup in 2018, featuring
Billy Corgan William Patrick Corgan Jr. (born March 17, 1967) is an American musician, singer, songwriter, and professional wrestling promoter. He is best known as the lead singer, primary songwriter, guitarist, and only permanent member of the rock band the ...
, James Iha, and Jimmy Chamberlin performing on a track together for the first time since 2000's ''
Machina/The Machines of God ''Machina/The Machines of God'' is the fifth studio album by the American alternative rock band the Smashing Pumpkins, released on February 29, 2000, by Virgin Records. A concept album,Interview with Billy Corgan, May 24, 2000, KROQ-FM it marked t ...
'' album and subsequent non-album single " Untitled" prior to their original breakup. It was released as a single on June 8, 2018, as the first song from a set of two upcoming
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that were set for release in 2018 before a full-length album titled '' Shiny and Oh So Bright, Vol. 1 / LP: No Past. No Future. No Sun.'' was announced in September. The song peaked at number 47 on the US
Hot Rock Songs Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (formerly known as Rock Songs and Hot Rock Songs) is a record chart published by ''Billboard'' magazine. From its debut on June 20, 2009, through October 13, 2012, the chart ranked the airplay of songs across alternati ...
chart.


Background

The song was first released on June 8, 2018, making it the first song to be released by original members
Billy Corgan William Patrick Corgan Jr. (born March 17, 1967) is an American musician, singer, songwriter, and professional wrestling promoter. He is best known as the lead singer, primary songwriter, guitarist, and only permanent member of the rock band the ...
, James Iha, and Jimmy Chamberlin in 18 years. The song does not feature original bassist D'Arcy Wretzky, but does feature long-time guitarist
Jeff Schroeder Jeffrey Kim Schroeder (born February 4, 1974, Los Angeles, California) is an American musician who plays guitar in the alternative rock band the Smashing Pumpkins—initially replacing co-founder James Iha in 2007 and remaining in the band aft ...
, who has been with the band since 2007. The song was produced by
record producer A record producer is a recording project's creative and technical leader, commanding studio time and coaching artists, and in popular genres typically creates the song's very sound and structure.Virgil Moorefield"Introduction" ''The Producer as ...
Rick Rubin, who the band had previously worked with on the '' Adore'' track " Let Me Give the World to You". The song made its live debut on national television on ''
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'' on Monday, June 11, 2018.


Writing and composition

The song was originally written and demoed for band's ninth studio album, ''
Monuments to an Elegy ''Monuments to an Elegy'' is the ninth studio album by American alternative rock band The Smashing Pumpkins, released on December 9, 2014 on Martha's Music. Band leader Billy Corgan noted that—like the band's previous release, ''Oceania''—the ...
'' (2014), with Corgan noting: "Jeff chroederand I were the only people in the band at that time and we just couldn’t find the magic. We always thought the song was strong ..so when we came in, in this situation, the minute we put it in Jimmy Chamberlin's hands, it’s like, 'Oh, there’s the magic.' It got a lot easier after that." Guitarist Jeff Schroeder elaborated: "We didn’t over-intellectualize it and try to write a song that would reintroduce the band. I think that we just played, and I think certain characteristics that are strong points of the band came into play, and so I think that what you hear is very classic Pumpkins, because that’s kind of everybody doing their job and doing it well and it just works."


Music video

A
music video A music video is a video of variable duration, that integrates a music song or a music album with imagery that is produced for promotion (marketing), promotional or musical artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a m ...
directed by Nick Koenig was released on June 28, 2018, containing "classic horror imagery". ''
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'' described the video as "utterly bizarre", in which lead singer Corgan is "being held captive in an otherworldly asylum." The music video was not released in conjunction of the song's release, despite Corgan teasing a still frame from the video as early as May 2018.


Reception

'' Consequence of Sound'' had a mixed response to the song, praising Chamberlin's drumming, but ultimately feeling that "'
Tarantula Tarantulas comprise a group of large and often hairy spiders of the family Theraphosidae. , 1,040 species have been identified, with 156 genera. The term "tarantula" is usually used to describe members of the family Theraphosidae, although ...
' was a far more memorable reunion jam". ''
Billboard A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertise ...
'' described the song's sound as a "chest-out rock song, loaded with grinding guitars, a pounding rhythm section and big fills. The song was described as have "chugging" and "stuttering" sound in the verses building into a soaring and multi-layered
chorus Chorus may refer to: Music * Chorus (song) or refrain, line or lines that are repeated in music or in verse * Chorus effect, the perception of similar sounds from multiple sources as a single, richer sound * Chorus form, song in which all verse ...
, with Corgan singing "Tear down the sun/Bring down the sun/I'm not everyone/I'm not everyone/I'm not everyone." ''
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'' noted that the song sounded more like the band attempting to tap into their established sound and "write a track that's fun" than push the boundaries of their sound artistically.


Personnel

Band *
Billy Corgan William Patrick Corgan Jr. (born March 17, 1967) is an American musician, singer, songwriter, and professional wrestling promoter. He is best known as the lead singer, primary songwriter, guitarist, and only permanent member of the rock band the ...
– vocals, guitar, bass * James Iha – guitar *
Jeff Schroeder Jeffrey Kim Schroeder (born February 4, 1974, Los Angeles, California) is an American musician who plays guitar in the alternative rock band the Smashing Pumpkins—initially replacing co-founder James Iha in 2007 and remaining in the band aft ...
– guitar * Jimmy Chamberlin – drums Production * Rick Rubin
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Charts


References

{{Authority control 2018 singles 2018 songs The Smashing Pumpkins songs Song recordings produced by Rick Rubin Songs written by Billy Corgan