Jimmy Complex Chamberlin Life Begins Again CD

Fans of the Smashing Pumpkins are already familiar with Jimmy Chamberlin's formidable skills, and those who've listened closely know the drummer's arsenal of tricks contains much more than average hard-rock chops. In fact, Chamberlin was trained as a jazz drummer, a foundation that shows in the inventiveness and facility of his stickwork. LIFE BEGINS AGAIN is the debut by the Jimmy Chamberlin Complex, a style-synthesizing collective that, like the leader's drumming, combines jazz, pop, experimental, and hard rock into an appealing, muscular fusion.

Multi-instrumentalist Billy Mohler, guitarist Sean Woolstenhulme, and keyboardist Adam Benjamin lend distinctive textures to these varied compositions. Highlights include the post-rock-tinged instrumental opener "Streetcrawler, and the rolling, dreamy "Loki Cat" (featuring a guest vocal from Chamberlin's former bandmate Billy Corgan). These songs contrast with the post-bop workout "Owed to Darryl" and the shoegazer sheen of "Newerwaves." Other guest vocalists, including Catherine Wheel frontman Rob Dickinson and Righteous Brother Bill Medley, flesh out the heavy-yet-nuanced sonic melange here. Chamberlin's busy, progressive drumming is front and center throughout, so that LIFE BEGINS AGAIN is a treat for drum fiends as well as experimental-rock enthusiasts.

Though it's billed as his band first and foremost, in ways it's more accurate to call the solo debut of Jimmy Chamberlin, the brilliant jazz-into-hard rock drummer who helped make the Smashing Pumpkins deservedly famous, a collaborative effort growing out of jams with a guy named Billy. Not with Billy Corgan, though he does show up to do vocals on the gently moody "Lokicat" -- interestingly, with lyrics from Chamberlin, who wrote them throughout, aside from one song. Instead, Chamberlin's partner is one Billy Mohler, a journeyman songwriter and musician who's worked on a variety of efforts before this project. Chamberlin's sonic stamp, however, is the unsurprising core of Life Begins Again, as one listen to the rolling, rapid-fire fills on the opening "Streetcrawler" demonstrates; the similar deftness of touch mixed with power is on display throughout, showing that if anything his abilities haven't suffered even after personal and professional upheaval. This said, some songs can sound, well, a lot like the Smashing Pumpkins -- not constantly and entirely (guitarist Sean Woolstenhulme can crank up the feedback but even the often-brawling "Cranes of Play" doesn't turn into monstrous riff mayhem), but there's the same sense of aggro and delicious melancholia on display, more than once suggesting what a version of Adore with Chamberlin on drums might have sounded like. One of the most inspired moves on the album is the use of guest vocalists as the album alternates between instrumentals and vocal numbers. Besides Mohler (on the shoegaze-tinged "Neverwaves") and Corgan's turn, there's a guest spot by Righteous Brothers legend Bill Medley on "Lullabye to Children." Perhaps most enjoyable of all, however, are the two songs sung by Catherine Wheel frontman Rob Dickinson, whose warm, aching voice fits in perfectly on the title track and "Love Is Real." Meanwhile, among the instrumental highlights are "P.S.A.," which besides being a fine showcase for Woolstenhulme gives Chamberlin a chance to go drum crazy on the break, and the more overtly jazz jam of "Owed to Darryl." [Sanctuary issued an 11-track edition in 2008.] ~ Ned Raggett

Former Smashing Pumkin Drummer

Jimmy Chamberlin: Jimmy Chamberlin (drums); Sean Woolstenhulme (guitar); Adam Benjamin (Fender Rhodes piano); Billy Mohler (bass guitar).

Additional personnel: Rob Dickinson, Bill Medley, Billy Corgan (vocals); Corey Wilton (guitar); Paul Chamberlin (drums); Linda Strawberry (background vocals).

This is an Enhanced CD, which contains both regular audio tracks and multimedia computer files.Rolling Stone (No. 967, pp.81-2) - 3 stars out of 5 - "[Chamberlin's drumming skills] are the starring attractions here..."
Uncut (p.92) - 3 stars out of 5 - "[Chamberlin's] jazz chops align the Complex with Chicago's avant-jazz and post-rock scenes."
Magnet (p.87) - "The strongest tracks on LIFE BEGINS AGAIN are the instrumental, which meld sonic polish and woozy shoegaze distortion, with Chamberlain occasionally offering a peek at his depth by flirting with free jazz."