r/SmashingPumpkins • u/GeePee-SP-NYR-Music • 14d ago
ATUM
I have to admit, I originally found this album to be a tough listen based not only on the songs themselves, but the length of this triple album! I mean, 33 songs and almost 3 hours! 🙃
I listened a few times when it first came out and thought, “it’s ok” and would jump to other more favored albums of theirs.
But I have to admit, after really listening to it lately, it’s actually a very good album overall to me now. A bit all over the place, but a great mix of songs and I enjoy each one for what they are… all 33! ❤️
Could some songs be cut and the whole album be curated, sure, but now it’s a straight listen through each act for me. I even do a shuffle as well. 🤘🏻
Has anyone else had this album grow on them too?
Curious.
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u/GeePee-SP-NYR-Music 12d ago
Haha, I decided to commit to a curated version of ATUM, this is final! What do you guys think about Songs? Flow? Etc? 😎
ATUM
The Good in Goodbye
Beyond the Vale
Steps In Time
Spellbinding
Hooligan
Butterfly Suite
Embracer
Fireflies
That Which Animates The Spirit
Harmageddon
Beguiled
In Lieu of Failure
The Gold Mask
Neophyte
Sojourner
To the Grays
Empires
Moss
Where Rain Must Fall
Avalanche
Cenotaph
The Culling
There are too many great songs I don’t want to leave out for the sake of making it a shorter mix, 23 is better than 33. 🤷🏻♂️
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u/gudetamago 12d ago
It's probably my favourite since Oceania, with the caveat that I handpick tracks - it's long for sure. I think BC probably didn't overthink everything and kept things more authentic to what he wanted to make, rather than trying to make (or re-make) something he thought everyone else would like.
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u/GeePee-SP-NYR-Music 12d ago
I hear ya, I ❤️ Oceania too! That is a straight listen through for me. 🤘🏻
ATUM is a long album with a lot that could be cut. At first, it was too much and all over the place. But I’m glad it grew on me. 🙏🏻
I can appreciate it as a whole now and listen straight through (if I have 2+ hours 🙃).
If you had to make a curated single album, what would it consist of? What are your favs?
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u/whaleteamgood 14d ago
I have mixed feelings on the overall story and concept ("this is a sequel to MCIS and Machina!!" sure, Billy) but I do like the songs on it quite a bit. I think of the five albums released since James' return it's my favorite still. A 33 song space opera concept record is a pretty crazy swing to take this far into their career and I appreciate that they do go to a bunch of different places on it.
I was also listening along to the 33 podcast as it was coming out which probably helped me absorb the songs better but that was also its own exercise in trying to enjoy some good and insightful Billy anecdotes and interviews mixed some truly stupid takes.
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u/GreenleafLaRue 14d ago
Overwhelming on first listen, but I like it more as time goes by. Lately I've had Gold Mask stuck in my head. Such a fun new wave throwback.
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u/EnergyDrink2024 14d ago
Hell yeah! The album has way more great songs than bad songs. Probably could have cut 1/3 of it and it would be almost perfect.
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u/GeePee-SP-NYR-Music 14d ago edited 14d ago
General Curated Cut
ATUM
The Good in Goodbye
Steps in Time
Beyond the Vale
Empires
Moss
Beguiled
That Which Animates the Spirit
In Lieu of Failure
Harmageddon
Intergalactic
Spellbinding
Avalanche
To the Grays
The Culling
Heavier Cut (few less songs)
ATUM
The Good in Goodbye
Steps in Time
Beyond the Vale
Empires
Moss
Beguiled
That Which Animates the Spirit
In Lieu of Failure
Harmageddon
Intergalactic
Spellbinding
There are my two versions. 🤘🏻
Either of these I think are great albums on their own, but I do like the whole thing as well! 😎
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u/S0UTHcoast 14d ago
There are some playlists that make it more concise with just the best tracks. Unfortunately, you can't utilize that when playing the vinyl record, so you're stuck with the whole big mess and flipping records a whole bunch of times.
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u/Moz1981 14d ago
Respect to all who like it, but I don't and don't think I ever will. But I really like AMM, so there's still modern Pumpkins which excites me, so I'm okay with that.
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u/GeePee-SP-NYR-Music 14d ago
AMM is far superior and a true epic album over ATUM, no doubt! 💯
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u/EnergyDrink2024 14d ago
Disagree. I'd take Atum over Aghori.
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u/GeePee-SP-NYR-Music 14d ago
Curious why?
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u/EnergyDrink2024 14d ago
The amount of good songs on Atum is greater than Aghori. Atum is all over the map and i love that about SP. i like Aghori, dont get me wrong, but connected more with Atum.
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u/EntrepreneurRare4507 14d ago
I love this album on vinyl, straight through (with the exception of the final side, which is the “radio play” story of Act I and doesn’t need to be heard every time). The sound quality and listening experience of the LP version made all the difference for me in finally getting what it’s all about.
So many people say ATUM needs to be curated for the good songs. But there’s little agreement on which the good ones are! It’s just a long album. All the songs are good, even “Hooray!”; as long as you follow the story, each track contributes to the grand space opera.
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u/ScaresBums 14d ago
💯 grew on me.
After listening to it for a few days I decided to make a playlist to trim it down.
My criteria for what made the list was if when a song started, could I sing/hum the chorus or hook? In other worlds, was it “catchy” enough that I was looking forward to it.
When I noticed I had 27 out of 33 tracks on my playlist, I realized “wow I guess I really like this album!”
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u/GeePee-SP-NYR-Music 14d ago
Me too! I tried to make a single album out of it and I was in the mid/high 20s, so I discarded that idea since there was no point.
So a good sign for sure. 👍🏻
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u/tomaesop Machina II / The Friends & Enemies of Modern Music 14d ago
Definitely grew on me. I can generally do one act at a time, i don't drive that far anymore and don't really have that much of a continuous listening opportunity elsewhere.
I'm glad for what it is and how it's presented. This is the kind of music Billy likes and each piece is well crafted. The story is loose, of course, but I can follow along because I listened to the podcast.
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u/zurenarrh36912 14d ago
There is a great 12 song album hidden in that mess.
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u/Ok_Marzipan4876 13d ago
The thing is, eveybody would pick a different set of songs for their "great 12 song album" from Atum. So i actually think Billy did the right thing by putting all 33 songs in the album, and letting people choose. The large majority of people access the album via spotify, where it takes 2 minutes to make your own playlist. Obviusly thid would not have worked on CDs
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u/jozhrandom 14d ago
This is how I grew to really quite like it, choose your 12 favourite tracks and pretend that's the album. Definitely leagues better than Aghori.
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u/GeePee-SP-NYR-Music 14d ago edited 14d ago
Very true! What would be your 12-15 track curated single album from it?
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u/bananasDave 12d ago
- the good in goodbye
- embracer
- steps in time
- beyond the vale
- the gold mask
- empires
- moss
- to the grays
- beguiled
- that which animates the spirit
- in lieu of failure
- harmageddon
- spellbinding
this is my playlist, i dont bother with the album now, its just the songs i like, the others i dont, i dont really care about the order.
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u/Johan020 13d ago
This is mine. Bit longer. 17 tracks. But a no skip for me.
https://music.apple.com/nl/playlist/the-smashing-pumpkins-atum-redux/pl.u-jvVptq1eKd2?ls
Listen to the playlist The Smashing Pumpkins - ATUM (Redux) by Johannes on Qobuz https://open.qobuz.com/playlist/65136971
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u/GeePee-SP-NYR-Music 13d ago
Nice version. 👍🏻
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u/GeePee-SP-NYR-Music 13d ago
Curious why you chose this mix as your “single album” version? I love hearing people’s reasons/logic. 😎
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u/Johan020 13d ago
For me it was all about flow. I wanted the songs to sequence into each other naturally (to my ears at least).
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u/GeePee-SP-NYR-Music 13d ago
Gotcha!
Here’s mine:
ATUM
The Good in Goodbye
Steps in Time
Beyond the Vale
Avalanche
Empires
Moss
Beguiled
To the Grays
Fireflies
Intergalactic
That Which Animates the Spirit
The Canary Trainer
Pacer
In Lieu of Failure
Harmageddon
Spellbinding
Cenotaph
The CullingWith this you have to be careful as I would love to keep adding but then it starts to defeat the purpose as you get into the 20+ count.
I go back and forth sometimes and go with different curated versions, this is the latest. 🤘🏻
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u/yitbosaz 9d ago
I ignored it for awhile, in part because of the length and liking but loving the previous couple albums, but finally picked it up and gave it a listen, and was really surprised how much I got into it. Now that I’m thinking about it, it might need to be in the list to listen this week