A Song for a Son

"A Song for a Son" is a 2009 song by the alternative rock band The Smashing Pumpkins. It was the first track released from Teargarden by Kaleidyscope, Vol. 1: Songs for a Sailor from the band's 8th album Teargarden by Kaleidyscope.

"A Song for a Son"
Song by The Smashing Pumpkins
from the album Teargarden by Kaleidyscope
ReleasedDecember 8, 2009
Recorded2009
GenreArt rock[1]
Length6:02
LabelSelf-released
Songwriter(s)Billy Corgan
Producer(s)Kerry Brown, Billy Corgan, Bjorn Thorsrud

Recording and composition

The song contains an extended guitar solo, inspired by Jimi Hendrix and Jimmy Page, recorded live by Billy Corgan.[2] Written on an acoustic guitar, Corgan left the meaning of the song vague, but later realized it has a lot to do with his relationship with his father.[3] Corgan consciously set the song in 1975, the year he started listening heavily to rock music, considering Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, UFO, and Rainbow influences on the sound.[4]

Reception

Rolling Stone, after the release of "A Song for a Son" wrote, "Nothing in Corgan’s prolific recording history could have prepared us for the over five minutes of classic rock that is “A Song for a Son,” which starts off with a “Stairway to Heaven”-esque riff before exploding into the rest of ZoSo’s touchstones... If “A Song for a Son” is any indication of what we can expect from 'Billy', each EP will likely be the length of Exile on Main Street".[5]

Ryan Dombal of the online magazine Pitchfork Media described "A Song for a Son" "an epic" saying that "There's a contemplative intro, a shredding solo, and plenty of classic rock panache in between".[6] Matthew Perpetua of Pitchfork gave the song a 2 out of 10, saying the song "is not awful so much as it is bloated and dreary. It has all the signifiers of a big, serious art-rock ballad, but there's nothing to it but empty gestures."[7]

The song was also reviewed by About.com's Tim Grierson, who calls Corgan "charitable with Teargarden by Kaleidyscope":[8] "Led by a stately piano figure reminiscent of Adore, "A Song for a Son" eventually introduces electric guitars into the mix, climaxing with an ecstatic solo. Overall, it's a moody, vaguely psychedelic number that's a promising start to this ambitious, unconventional, and awesome album.[9]

Personnel
Musicians
Technical personnel

References
  1. Perpetua, Matthew (January 4, 2010). "The Smashing Pumpkins "A Song for a Son"". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on January 7, 2010. Retrieved January 5, 2010.
  2. Video of the second half of the solo being recorded Archived April 16, 2010, at the Wayback Machine. TwitVid account of Kerry Brown.
  3. Bosso, Joe. "Billy Corgan on The Smashing Pumpkins' new direction". MusicRadar.com. June 10, 2010.
  4. Mervis, Scott. "Smashed Pumpkins: Billy Corgan battles to keep the legacy alive". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. July 22, 2010.
  5. Kreps, Daniel (December 7, 2009). "Smashing Pumpkins Unveil New "Teargarden by Kaleidyscope" Track "A Song for a Son"". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on December 9, 2009. Retrieved December 10, 2009.
  6. Dombal, Ryan (December 7, 2009). "Hear the Epic New Smashing Pumpkins Track: "A Song for a Son"". Pitchfork Media. Archived from the original on December 13, 2009. Retrieved December 11, 2009.
  7. Perpetua, Matthew (January 4, 2010). "The Smashing Pumpkins "A Song for a Son"". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on January 7, 2010. Retrieved January 5, 2010.
  8. Grierson, Tim (September 16, 2009). "The New Smashing Pumpkins Album, 'Teargarden by Kaleidyscope,' Will Be Epic ... and Free". Tim's Rock Music Blog. About.com. Archived from the original on July 29, 2010. Retrieved December 10, 2009.
  9. Grierson, Tim (December 7, 2009). "Smashing Pumpkins Debut First 'Teargarden' Track, "A Song for a Son"". Tim's Rock Music Blog. About.com. Archived from the original on July 29, 2010. Retrieved December 10, 2009.
  10. "Ain't No Sleep When You're Living the Dream". Blog of Kerry Brown. Posted October 7, 2009.
  11. "Lisa Harriton in the studio with The Smashing Pumpkins Archived October 13, 2009, at the Wayback Machine". SmashingPumpkins.com. October 8, 2009.
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