So up next on the chopping block is another band that I can honestly say is past due. The band I am talking about is The Smashing Pumpkins. I hadn’t heard much of them except for their popular radio friendly songs (which by the way are so overplayed). I will say I think I put them off for so long because I wasn’t a big fan of Billy Corgan’s vocals but I feel like it’s time. So let’s take a look…….
Gish- I will say that with this album, the production on it is really good. Like it’s some of the best. It doesn’t sound like one of those debut albums that doesn’t need remastering. The sound of the album is a great hard rock record and while Billy’s vocals do take some getting used to but if you can get past that, they actually fit with the music. Anyway, a really good debut album and I give it 9/10.
Standouts: I Am One, Snail, Bury Me
Siamese Dream- this one feels like it’s got a mix of hard rock and prog rock mixed together. I think that it was around this time is when I started hearing the song Today on the radio. Aside from that song, the rest of the album is really good. The opening song Cherub Rock is probably my favorite Pumpkins song too. Definitely an album to pick up and a great place to start if you are getting into this band. I give it 10/10
Standouts: Cherub Rock, Mayonaise, Silverfuck
Mellon Collie And The Infinite Sadness- so this is probably the album that I remember seeing in record stores. Man that poster for the album was everywhere and the radio friendly songs were always being played. On top of that back when MTV actually played music, they were always playing that Bullet With Butterfly Wings song. Now for the album, it feels like a double album. The version on Spotify has all the demos and remixes on it. I mean seriously this is a long album and if you listen to it from start to finish it’s like a 5 hour album. Aside from the overplayed songs, the rest of the album is quite good and it’s easy to see why this one is regarded as their best album. Another classic album and it gets a 9+1/10.
Standouts: Jellybelly, Here Is No Why, An Ode To No One
Adore- so this album is probably their most mellow/softest album and after reading about this one, it’s easy to see why. I mean a lot of shit was going on here. Billy Corgan lot his mother to cancer, he was getting divorced, and drummer Jimmy Chamberlain left the band. Personally, I found this album to be a bit boring and honestly couldn’t wait for it to end. However, after reading up on the history of the record, I have a greater appreciation for it. That being said, it’s and album that should be listened to especially of you are aware of the history of it. I give it 8/10
Standouts: Ava Adore, Once Upon A Time, Pug
Machina/The Machines Of God- ok so here we are back to the rock sound that they had on the couple albums. I actually want to say that this one has some industrial elements on it too. Aside from this being a rock record, it does seem to have elements of Adore mixed in with it. This album to me seems a little all over the place. Like it just seems unfocused. Anyway, it’s not a bad album by any means but it’s not their best. I give it 8/10
Standouts: The Everlasting Gaze, This Time, Wound
Zeitgeist- ok so this review of this album is going to be different because this one is not on Spotify and the only version of it I could listen to was the live album on YouTube. For some reason, it’s not on Spotify but from the live version of it, it’s a really good album. So between this one and the last one, the band took a seven year break and came back with this album. It’s a very good comeback album and I really liked the songs but at some point, I will listen to the studio version of it. I give this album 9/10
Standouts: Doomsday Clock, Tarantula, Starz
Oceania- this one has that sort of grungy sound that was present on Gish. Like if you put Gish and Mellon Collie together, then this album would probably be the end result. To me it’s an album that showcases what The Pumpkins do best and that is make a straightforward rock record. I give this one 9.5/10
Standouts: The Chimera, Quasar, Pinwheels
Monuments To An Elegy- this one is like a continuation of the Oceania album and according to Corgan, it was supposed to be a three part project. It definitely picks up where the last album left off and what’s notable for this album is that Tommy Lee from Motley Crüe plays drums on this album. I don’t think it’s quite as strong as Oceania but it’s still an album worth checking out. I give it 7/10
Standouts: Tiberius, Drum + Fife, Anaise!
Shiny And Oh So Bright- I actually remember when this came out. They premiered the song Silvery Sometimes on the Kevin and Bean show on Kroq and I actually remember liking it. The rest of the album is also pretty good too. One thing I will say is that the songs are catchier than the last album and it also seems more focused too. If you haven’t checked this one out definitely do so and I would say that it’s a prefect representation of where these guys are at currently. I give it 9/10
Standouts: Marchin’ On, Alienation, Seek And You Shall Destroy
Well that was my look into The Smashing Pumpkins and I have to say that I really enjoyed these albums. Yes Corgan’s vocals are a bit on the nasally side at times but they do fit the music quite well. Kind of like how Dave’s vocals fit Megadeth. Anyway, I can safely say that I hope to catch these guys on tour when this whole COVID thing is over because I’m pretty sure these songs are fantastic live.
Final Grade: A+
Album Rankings:
- Siamese Dream
- Mellon Collie And The Infinite Sadness
- Gish
- Shiny And Oh So Bright
- Oceania
- Zeitgeist
- Adore
- Monuments To An Elegy
- Machina/The Machines Of God
Sinister Reviews 