July 2 [12:00 EDT] -- The Smashing Pumpkins show no signs of lowering their great pumpkin profile anytime soon. The Chicago Tribune says the band will be heading into the studio with producer Brad Wood (Liz Phair, that dog) in August to record a new album.
Unlike the hi-tech "Lost Highway" and "Batman & Robin" soundtracks, the band has found a "low-key groove" on their recent sessions. The tentative release date is spring 1998.
Also expect a softer effort from guitarist James Iha, who's been working on his own solo album for Scratchie Records, the label he co-owns with bassist D'Arcy. Scratchie is also home to Fountains of Wayne and The Frogs. Iha recently told US magazine that he tends to write "quieter, more acoustic-y music" than Pumpkin head Billy Corgan.
Projects already in the can coming to light over the next few months are also not too over the top‹Corgan produced and played some guitar on five songs on the new Ric Ocasek solo album, "Troublizing," due out in August. He also performed an original song for a Christmas charity record being organized by veteran R&B producer Arif Mardin.