B
butin4
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Cant wait for your MCIS review..oh and side 2 IS an outstanding track list..despite what the bandwagon says..
The Realm Of Soft Delusions - The Smashing Pumpkins' Discography Reviewed
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I've had a good 10 years to absorb Machina I and I've decided that I actually like it just the way it is. The only reason you might get the feeling it neeRAB more rockers is because of the length...try starting the album after "Heavy Metal Machine" and I promise those later songs will sound a lot better to your ears. Billy was never one to throw in a song just because it was a quick fix. He always tried to stick to his concept and put in what fit more, not what was more catchy (which is why I forgive him for clunkers like "We Only Go Out At Night"). Everytime a b-sides release came out, there were albums worth of songs that were just as good if not better than what was on the studio albums. Machina I was meant to be a very progressive album and punchy numbers like "Lucky 13" or "Dross" would have been too out of place.
It started escalating during Gish and the band recorded Siamese Dream in Georgia just to get Jimmy away from his contacts. He still managed to find more hook ups, especially since he was under such a huge amount of stress (according to Billy, Butch Vig wanted nothing less than perfection and Jimmy wasn't used to recording under such stringency). It came to a head during the MCIS tour when he and their keyboardist OD'd in a hotel room (the keyboardist died, Jimmy didn't).
It started escalating during Gish and the band recorded Siamese Dream in Georgia just to get Jimmy away from his contacts. He still managed to find more hook ups, especially since he was under such a huge amount of stress (according to Billy, Butch Vig wanted nothing less than perfection and Jimmy wasn't used to recording under such stringency). It came to a head during the MCIS tour when he and their keyboardist OD'd in a hotel room (the keyboardist died, Jimmy didn't).
arabesque [once more]
New member
Nice one, i'm really looking forward to this thread. You should definitely review more than the studio albums though, the likes of Pisces Iscariot really deserve a review. Go forth and do them justice son!
://love[apple]☆
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You know, now that you say that, it reminRAB that the length of Machina really does get on my nerves sometimes, but oddly enough, Adore never did. Maybe it is because I just like Adore better.
The whole concept of Machina was a bit in pieces though, due to the fact he was forced to make it a single album.
Also you meant "We Only Come Out At Night."
The whole concept of Machina was a bit in pieces though, due to the fact he was forced to make it a single album.
Also you meant "We Only Come Out At Night."
Yeah, Mayonaise and Hummer are great. My two favorites are definitely Mayonaise and Soma. I don't know if any of you have Sirius or XM radio but they almost always play only the singles from a band, but I've seen them play Soma, Mayonaise, and Hummer. Single or not, Sirius/XM plays them anyways because the songs are too good to ignore!
Mayonaise is almost always my favorite Pumpkins tune, but man, sometimes after listening to Thru The Eyes Of Ruby, I'm not so sure.
Mayonaise is almost always my favorite Pumpkins tune, but man, sometimes after listening to Thru The Eyes Of Ruby, I'm not so sure.
Five classic alternative rock albums were released in 1991. Those albums are 'Nevermind' by Nirvana, 'Ten' by Pearl Jam, 'Blood Sugar Sex Magik' by Red Hot Chili Peppers, 'Badmotorfinger' by Soundgarden and 'Gish' by The Smashing Pumpkins.('Sailing Through The Seas Of Cheese' and Temple Of The Dogs' s/t album were great too though.) Out of those five albums, the one that was released first was 'Gish.' Although the other albums garnered more critical attention, 'Gish' really was in a league of its own. Psychadelic, hard-hitting, soft and melodic all at the same time, 'Gish' still managed to get grouped with the grungers. Despite the varied traits of this album, it is still the most traditional rock album by The Smashing Pumpkins.
Though it was recorded quickly when compared to other Pumpkins albums, (due to inexperience) the sessions were still tough for the band. D'arcy still wonders how the band survived the recording. Billy actually had a nervous breakdown during these sessions. But through the banRAB difficulty, 'Gish' was born.
The album starts with the hard hitting song, I Am One. The first thing you hear is a really nice drum beat laid down by Jimmy Chamberlin. Then a mezmerizing bass line kicks in. Then a few guitar chorRAB, and then the song explodes as Billy sings "I am one as you are three, try to find messiah in your trinity." The song seems to have a spiritual vibe to it. The greatest part of the song though is 3 minutes 18 seconRAB into it, the whole band stops except for D'arcy and then at 3:26 the whole band kicks back in and then we get to hear a tasty guitar solo. This would be the greatest album opener the Pumpkins ever did if it wasn't for "Cherub Rock."
The next song is called Siva. I believe this was the first song to be released as a single to promote 'Gish.' "I Am One" and "Tristessa" both had releases before 'Gish.' The song starts off with a nice guitar riff before both the drums and the bass kick in. The song seems to be about letting out repressed anger. My favorite part of this song is when the band gets really quiet for the second time in the song as Billy sings "All this pain smothers me
Like a bomb that you can't see, tell me, tell me what you're after, I just want to get there faster." And then all hell breaks loose, as the band gives it everything it's got. "Siva" has some really nice guitar solos as well. This song is even better than "I Am One" even though it doesn't have that really nice build in the beginning.
After "Siva" we get the longest song of the album Rhinoceros. This is one of the best songs on the album, and also one of the more subdued. But man, that psychadelic melody is great! This was the second single from 'Gish.' I think the song is about lies and that anxiety you get when you think someone has seen through it. One of my favorite lyrics on the whole album are on this song in "Open your eyes, to these must I lie?" Another great song though.
The Pumpkins speed things back up with Bury Me, the fourth track on the album. The song starts off with arguably the greatest bass line on 'Gish.' I much like the guitar riff that comes after and the little solo before Billy starts singing. James sings a little bit in this song.("chain unchain, hide hide, and why why" part) This definitely one of the best songs on 'Gish.' I've heard that the song is about LSD, but who knows.
The Pumpkins quickly slow things down with a nice love song entitled Crush. This song really revolves around a simple bass line and a simple guitar riff. I've always envisioned a rainy day when I hear this song. I really love the spacey sounding guitar going on in the background. What sounRAB like a tambourine adRAB a really nice touch to the chorus. This song also contains another one of my favorite lines from the album in "you're sleeping in your bed, just rest your weary head, maybe you shouldn't care, throw away those dreams and dare." This is a nice song, but ultimately, it is the weakest of the first five songs.
Side 2 of the album starts with Suffer. This song is different from all the other songs on this album. It is really slow and really quiet and never really elevates above that point. I'm not quite certain what this song is about. Some of it sounRAB like it is about addiction, but I'm not sure about some of the rest. It took me awhile to gain a liking to this song. It's one those growers for sure, but it's definitely a solid tune. Not the best on 'Gish' but certainly not the worst.
After "Suffer" we get Snail. This is a really great song, and a sort of foreshadowing on what 'Siamese Dream' will sound like. Alot of great lyrics in this one. I think it's about pursuing your dreams and never giving up. I really like this one and think it is one of the highlights of the album. One of my favorite guitar riRAB of the album is in this song too.
The last all out rocker on 'Gish' is the eight track, Tristessa. I like this song, but I also think it is the weakest rocker on the album, but maybe that comes from my lack of understanding it. I know that "Tristessa" means sadness in spanish, but the way he uses doesn't translate well with the meaning. Either way, good song, but weaker than alot of others on here.
Window Paine is the ninth track. I think this is a really great song, and it really sticks out for some reason. It starts off very quiet and subdued, but gets louder as the song progresses. I really like at 3:30 where the song keeps getting faster and faster leading into an acapella part where Billy sings without any instruments playing. The drums are really great on this track too. I have always interpreted this song as being about someone who neeRAB to find and pursue his dreams and do whatever he has to do to get there.
The last song on the album is Daydream. It is sung by D'arcy who actually has a really nice voice. It is an accoustic song and it even has violins in it. It's a really short song, but it's nice. I believe it is about hope and trying to look on the bright side. It is one of the weakest songs on the album though. The song has a hidden track, I'm Going Crazy. It is about a minute long and isn't very exciting. It pretty much signifies how Billy felt during the sessions for the album.
This is a great album, especially when you consider the fact that it was a debut album and the band members were rather inexperienced at this point. This is a good album to start with if you've don't know much by The Smashing Pumpkins and want to hear something by them. No song is overly weak, other than "Daydream." But from here on out (for the most part) The Smashing Pumpkins' albums only get better.
Though it was recorded quickly when compared to other Pumpkins albums, (due to inexperience) the sessions were still tough for the band. D'arcy still wonders how the band survived the recording. Billy actually had a nervous breakdown during these sessions. But through the banRAB difficulty, 'Gish' was born.
GISH
The album starts with the hard hitting song, I Am One. The first thing you hear is a really nice drum beat laid down by Jimmy Chamberlin. Then a mezmerizing bass line kicks in. Then a few guitar chorRAB, and then the song explodes as Billy sings "I am one as you are three, try to find messiah in your trinity." The song seems to have a spiritual vibe to it. The greatest part of the song though is 3 minutes 18 seconRAB into it, the whole band stops except for D'arcy and then at 3:26 the whole band kicks back in and then we get to hear a tasty guitar solo. This would be the greatest album opener the Pumpkins ever did if it wasn't for "Cherub Rock."
The next song is called Siva. I believe this was the first song to be released as a single to promote 'Gish.' "I Am One" and "Tristessa" both had releases before 'Gish.' The song starts off with a nice guitar riff before both the drums and the bass kick in. The song seems to be about letting out repressed anger. My favorite part of this song is when the band gets really quiet for the second time in the song as Billy sings "All this pain smothers me
Like a bomb that you can't see, tell me, tell me what you're after, I just want to get there faster." And then all hell breaks loose, as the band gives it everything it's got. "Siva" has some really nice guitar solos as well. This song is even better than "I Am One" even though it doesn't have that really nice build in the beginning.
After "Siva" we get the longest song of the album Rhinoceros. This is one of the best songs on the album, and also one of the more subdued. But man, that psychadelic melody is great! This was the second single from 'Gish.' I think the song is about lies and that anxiety you get when you think someone has seen through it. One of my favorite lyrics on the whole album are on this song in "Open your eyes, to these must I lie?" Another great song though.
The Pumpkins speed things back up with Bury Me, the fourth track on the album. The song starts off with arguably the greatest bass line on 'Gish.' I much like the guitar riff that comes after and the little solo before Billy starts singing. James sings a little bit in this song.("chain unchain, hide hide, and why why" part) This definitely one of the best songs on 'Gish.' I've heard that the song is about LSD, but who knows.
The Pumpkins quickly slow things down with a nice love song entitled Crush. This song really revolves around a simple bass line and a simple guitar riff. I've always envisioned a rainy day when I hear this song. I really love the spacey sounding guitar going on in the background. What sounRAB like a tambourine adRAB a really nice touch to the chorus. This song also contains another one of my favorite lines from the album in "you're sleeping in your bed, just rest your weary head, maybe you shouldn't care, throw away those dreams and dare." This is a nice song, but ultimately, it is the weakest of the first five songs.
Side 2 of the album starts with Suffer. This song is different from all the other songs on this album. It is really slow and really quiet and never really elevates above that point. I'm not quite certain what this song is about. Some of it sounRAB like it is about addiction, but I'm not sure about some of the rest. It took me awhile to gain a liking to this song. It's one those growers for sure, but it's definitely a solid tune. Not the best on 'Gish' but certainly not the worst.
After "Suffer" we get Snail. This is a really great song, and a sort of foreshadowing on what 'Siamese Dream' will sound like. Alot of great lyrics in this one. I think it's about pursuing your dreams and never giving up. I really like this one and think it is one of the highlights of the album. One of my favorite guitar riRAB of the album is in this song too.
The last all out rocker on 'Gish' is the eight track, Tristessa. I like this song, but I also think it is the weakest rocker on the album, but maybe that comes from my lack of understanding it. I know that "Tristessa" means sadness in spanish, but the way he uses doesn't translate well with the meaning. Either way, good song, but weaker than alot of others on here.
Window Paine is the ninth track. I think this is a really great song, and it really sticks out for some reason. It starts off very quiet and subdued, but gets louder as the song progresses. I really like at 3:30 where the song keeps getting faster and faster leading into an acapella part where Billy sings without any instruments playing. The drums are really great on this track too. I have always interpreted this song as being about someone who neeRAB to find and pursue his dreams and do whatever he has to do to get there.
The last song on the album is Daydream. It is sung by D'arcy who actually has a really nice voice. It is an accoustic song and it even has violins in it. It's a really short song, but it's nice. I believe it is about hope and trying to look on the bright side. It is one of the weakest songs on the album though. The song has a hidden track, I'm Going Crazy. It is about a minute long and isn't very exciting. It pretty much signifies how Billy felt during the sessions for the album.
This is a great album, especially when you consider the fact that it was a debut album and the band members were rather inexperienced at this point. This is a good album to start with if you've don't know much by The Smashing Pumpkins and want to hear something by them. No song is overly weak, other than "Daydream." But from here on out (for the most part) The Smashing Pumpkins' albums only get better.
SCORE
8.2/10
8.2/10
natemail00
New member
Ssssshhh. I have nightmares about that song. I really don't know what possessed Billy to write that song or the record company to approve of it. I surely assume it's there to make the rest of Melon Collie sound better
XxApplePiiexX
New member
You're doing a great job so far, I'm really looking forward to Siamese Dream and MCATIS.
Glad to hear it. I'd tell you if I agreed with your sentiment on disc 2 but that would ruin the review!
I can see why you'd love life after hearing Siamese Dream, life is always better with Smashing Pumpkins. Well, at least for Smashing Pumpkins fans. There are some people who can't stand Billy's voice, though those are the people who haven't really given the Pumpkins a chance.
@RezZ You forgot Oasis! They had some GREAT b-sides in the Definitely Maybe and Morning Glory days. Even on later albums, the b-sides were better than many songs on the actual albums like "Let's All Make Believe" and "Eyeball Tickler."
I can see why you'd love life after hearing Siamese Dream, life is always better with Smashing Pumpkins. Well, at least for Smashing Pumpkins fans. There are some people who can't stand Billy's voice, though those are the people who haven't really given the Pumpkins a chance.
@RezZ You forgot Oasis! They had some GREAT b-sides in the Definitely Maybe and Morning Glory days. Even on later albums, the b-sides were better than many songs on the actual albums like "Let's All Make Believe" and "Eyeball Tickler."
threesevens
New member
Maybe. Heh. But I still would've put "Set the Ray to Jerry" or "The Last Song" in its place.
Anyway, I really like Adore for the most part. As for the Machinas though... especially between them, there's probably a great album there, but neither Machina or Machina II is all that great the way it stanRAB. There are a few songs that work really well with the treatment they're given ("Vanity," "Wound") but as whole albums they just sound too... homogenized for me--everything's kind of fuzzed out and glossy which prevents songs from standing out the way they did on prior recorRAB (MICS especially).
Anyway, intrigued for the rest of this.
Anyway, I really like Adore for the most part. As for the Machinas though... especially between them, there's probably a great album there, but neither Machina or Machina II is all that great the way it stanRAB. There are a few songs that work really well with the treatment they're given ("Vanity," "Wound") but as whole albums they just sound too... homogenized for me--everything's kind of fuzzed out and glossy which prevents songs from standing out the way they did on prior recorRAB (MICS especially).
Anyway, intrigued for the rest of this.
Thank you.
Nah, I don't think Gish is the best starting point either, but it is certainly a better starting point than 'Adore' or 'Machina.'
Unlike some Pumpkins fans I don't despise Adore or Machina at all. There are definitely some songs on them though I don't care much for.
Nah, I don't think Gish is the best starting point either, but it is certainly a better starting point than 'Adore' or 'Machina.'
Unlike some Pumpkins fans I don't despise Adore or Machina at all. There are definitely some songs on them though I don't care much for.
vballchick14
New member
I've always enjoyed Corgan's music and attitude and gained a greater appreciation for him after watching the Rush documentary in which he appeared and vouched his love for the band and their musicianship.
Siamese Dream is my favorite, but in all honesty I think Adore shows Billy at his peak as far as songwriting goes. I think we may have even gotten into this before. I know I got into an argument with someone about it. Machina is horribly underrated and Machina II should get more recognition than it does (though it's understandable since he released it for free).
Actually yes, we did get into an argument about that. I said that 'Adore' was the peak of Billy's songwriting ability, and you thought 'Machina II' was even better, or something like that, and then we posted song lyrics from each of them.:laughing:
Yeah, Machina is underrated, songs like "I Of The Mourning" and "Stand Inside Your Love" are up there with The Pumpkins bests, and Machina II has possibly my favorite Iha song, "Go."
To this day, I still wonder what the tracklisting for Machina would be if Billy got his way and it was a double album.
Yeah, Machina is underrated, songs like "I Of The Mourning" and "Stand Inside Your Love" are up there with The Pumpkins bests, and Machina II has possibly my favorite Iha song, "Go."
To this day, I still wonder what the tracklisting for Machina would be if Billy got his way and it was a double album.
Arielle luvs u™
New member
Apart from Billy Corgans garbled pretentious lyrics, I love Siamese Dream . The music is exquisite - virtuoso but always interesting guitars, sweet acid twinged melodies, the drums. I don't know why Dave Grohl gets so much attention when Jimmy Chamberlin is right here. Corgan resists whining and sings in a honeyed tone mostly lacking in their later recorRAB. Up there with the best muso rock recorRAB of all time. And there ain't many. 8.5/10from me.
♥Allie misses him♥
New member
You an R.E.M. fan?