Album: Smashing Pumpkins, Oceania (Martha's Music/Virgin)

Frontman Billy Corgan insists the new album from 'Smashing Pumpkins' (no survivors from the classic line-up) is one in which we must "immerse" ourselves as a whole, free of the "claptrap" of expecting a single.

A case of getting your excuses in first? In any case, he's wrong. In truth, Oceania is best listened to in bits. Like, for example, "One Diamond, One Heart", "The Celestials" and "My Love is Winter", on which the Pumpkins' pomposity becomes a positive. SP