Pitchfork

Two down, ? to go. A second member of the reunited Smashing Pumpkins lineup, drummer Jimmy Chamberlin (surprise, surprise), has been confirmed (the first is obviously Billy Corgan). The drummer recently posted two blog entries on the Pumpkins' official MySpace page, notifying readers that the group's new album, the follow-up to 2000's MACHINA/the Machines of God, is coming along just fine.

"I'm here to tell you that great things are on track for the future," Chamberlin wrote. "As some of you know we are indeed creating music again. Music that comes from a place so pure it will burn the lies off the very souls of those who try to discount it. We have arrived at a place in our lives where truth and honesty prevail and we are creating from that place."

Who, exactly "we" are is still unclear.

The drums for the record are currently being tracked, and according to Chamberlin, "things are sounding fantastic." The band recently finished up work with producer Roy Thomas Baker (Queen, the Cars), and claims the partnership to be "one of the best musical experiences we have ever had."

The Pumpkins have now teamed up with Terry Date, who has worked with Pantera, Soundgarden, and, uh, Limp Bizkit. Great.

Chamberlin explained, "The universe has a way of letting you know that things are right by introducing people like RTB (Roy Thomas Baker) and Terry into the fold. It's all part of one big cosmic journey, in so that everyone reading this is hitching their silver chord to the Great Pumpkin Space Train! Hope this helps clear some things up for you. Don't forget to cast your eyes skyward this weekend.... You may see a shooting star." On it, Jimmy.

While the album's label home has not yet been announced, we suspect it to be Warner/Reprise, as that is the company running the online mailing list linked from the Smashing Pumpkins' official website.

In related news, Billy Corgan reportedly contributed to Courtney Love's forthcoming solo album, and will perform at a special show at Los Angeles' Hotel Cafe on November 7 alongside Pete Townshend of the Who and E of the Eels.