MusicRadar

Corgan has some songs - 44 of 'em - coming your way (© Jared Milgrim/Corbis)

View in gallery

"I have a lot of favorites, so I guess it would be easiest to talk about one I am finishing right now called A Stitch In Time. I wrote it sitting around backstage on one of the SP tours in 2008, and it is pretty simple in that the whole song is built around a very driving acoustic guitar, with no drums or bass.

"When we were playing the song on the Spirits tour, it was just acoustic plus mandolin and violin, which I really liked because of its bluegrass vibe.

"In the studio it's totally changed and now sounds like some kind of gothic Indian orchestra is playing the song with the same original guitar part. I'm pretty surprised by how it has turned out to be so psychedelic - I didn't expect that but guess it is just where my head is at right now."

By releasing 44 songs one at a time, or in batches, you just might qualify for some kind of Guinness Book of Records award. Where did you get this idea?

"The songs will be recorded in batches of 4 to make the 11 EPs, so 11 times 4 equals 44. The number just felt right to me to tell the story I want to tell. Where my ideas come from I'll never know. Hopefully from a good source!"

"There are many songs where I feel I really missed the boat on the recording or production"

What do you actually use to write and demo with? I assume you have a pretty sophisticated home setup, but while traveling, do you ever use anything like GarageBand?

"I honestly have no demo setup other than maybe using a hand-held tape recorder. I am not so good at writing on the road so I don't really try, which relaxes me enough that occasionally one will just show up. I have a good memory for the basic ideas, so a lot of times I'll just work on a tangent for months."

I know every song, every album, is part of a musical journey. But are there any albums that you wish you could take back? Any moments where you think, "Nah, I really didn't get it right there"?

"Yes, there are many songs where I feel I really missed the boat on the recording or production. I trust my songwriting a lot as it is usually an accurate portrayal of wherever I am standing in my life at any given moment for better or worse."

You're a monster guitar player. But for some reason, people don't accord you with the same reverence they do some other players. Does that bug you at all?

"The only thing that has ever bothered me about the idea of credit is when credit is purposely withheld where credit is due. There are many musical pioneers who have been forgotten or overlooked, and that really saddens me for them and their families.

"I personally have let go of the idea that my musical life will be seen with any real clarity by anyone anytime soon. All I can say with a smile is...I am still here."