But those are the ones that are fresher in my mind, so I can't really help it.
Most people's problems (mine included) with Zeitgeist come from the fact that the album has roughly one type of song: the barnburner. While there are a couple of songs that don't quite fit that (Neverlost being a nice ballad and Pomp & Circumstances being a piece of shit), the album breaks into your house with a boombox and a hammer and doesn't really leave.
The worry was that Billy was trying to revive the Pumpkins that everyone remembered, and couldn't remember all the things that made the Pumpkins the great band they were. He decided that people remembered them as a crushing rock band here to steal your children.
He'd be wrong if he thought that, but fortunately, he doesn't.
Stellar is the song that I feel captures the essence of the Pumpkins better than any other Zeitgeist-era song. It's rock, but it's got feeling, too. Most other songs on Zeitgeist feel bland and devoid of emotion, but Stellar manages to be powerful with guitars and sound, and also powerful with feeling.
I think that if all the bonus tracks for Zeitgeist (Death From Above, Stellar, and Zeitgeist) were included on the actual album (maybe remove Pomp & Circumstances for safety's sake), then Zeitgeist would be considered an album worthy to stand next to the old Pumpkins.
As a song by itself, Stellar is also great because it's a continuation of musical style for Billy. It's like a mix of Pumpkins and FutureEmbrace-style rock. That's why if it was on Zeitgeist it would have shown everyone that Billy's moving forward rather than searching for something behind him. And it's still Pumpkins at the core, with sad lyrics about failed love and waning life. And the guitar, too, seems old school, with Billy sounding like he's thinking about what James would play on it.
Man, it would have been great if this song was written for the Old Pumpkins. Hopefully it will grow into a new life with the New Pumpkins. I hope they start playing it live soon.
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