Album: Look to the Sky

Introduction
"Look to the Sky" is the second solo studio album by American artist James Iha, who is best known as the guitar player and co-founder of the rock band The Smashing Pumpkins. The album was launched on September 18, 2012, through The End Records. "Look to the Sky" comes 14 years after Iha's first solo album, "Let It Come Down", which was released in 1998. This album showcases Iha's growth as a songwriter and musician, with a mix of alternative rock, psychedelic pop, and shoegaze affects.

Album Background
Following his departure from The Smashing Pumpkins in 2000, Iha concentrated on different jobs consisting of playing guitar for A Perfect Circle, forming the supergroup Tinted Windows, and opening his own recording studio, Stratosphere Sound, in New York City. In an interview with Rolling Stone, Iha discussed that it took him a long period of time to develop "Look to the Sky" because he was "not extremely focused" and was involved in numerous other jobs. He decided to work on this album just when he felt the motivation to produce new music.

Partnerships and Musical Guests
"Look to the Sky" features numerous visitor artists who are significant in their own right. This includes Nina Persson from The Cardigans, Tom Verlaine from Television, and Karen O and Nick Zinner from Yeah Yeahs. The cooperations contributed in producing the album's diverse soundscapes and musical designs.

In addition, Iha collaborated with Shudder To Think's Nathan Larson and Whiskeytown's Mike Daly in the songwriting and production procedure of "Look to the Sky". They had actually previously worked together on other tasks such as Tinted Windows, a band formed by Iha, Larson, Taylor Hanson of Hanson, and Bun E. Carlos of Cheap Trick.

Album Reception
"Look to the Sky" got blended to favorable evaluations from music critics. Andrew Leahey of AllMusic ranked the album 3.5 out of 5 stars, commending Iha's songwriting skills, along with the contributions from the album's guest artists. Repercussion of Sound's Alex Young offered the album a C+ rating, praising Iha's attention to detail and range of musical influences but ultimately discovering the album less cohesive than his previous offering. Pitchfork's Ian Cohen ranked the album 4.8 out of 10, slamming its lack of distinctiveness and sensation that the collaborations did not contribute to the album's quality.

Some critics also drew contrasts between "Look to the Sky" and the work of Iha's previous band, The Smashing Pumpkins. Regardless of the similarities in sound and design, lots of reviewers noted that "Look to the Sky" shows Iha's own musical identity, independent of his time with the band.

Conclusion
"Look to the Sky" is a diverse and innovative job that showcases James Iha's flexibility as a musician, songwriter, and producer. Although it might not measure up to the legacy created by his work with The Smashing Pumpkins, the album shows Iha's growth as an artist and stands as a satisfying listen for fans of alternative rock and psychedelic pop. With its partnerships and knowledgeable songwriting, "Look to the Sky" is a fascinating and rewarding addition to Iha's body of work.