I’m sure most of you know about the 3/4 reunion of The Smashing Pumpkins. They have announced a full scale US Tour and will be releasing a new album (their first with Billy, James, and Jimmy in over 18 years) to coincide with the tour. The first song released by this newly reunited Pumpkins along with longtime Corgan collaborator Jeff Shroeder is called “Solara.” It’s a very Pumpkins sounding track. The real highlight of the song is Jimmy Chamberlain’s drumming on it. Jimmy is seriously one of the most underrated drummers of the last 25-30 years. That guy is a beast behind the kit. Anyways check out the song below. I’m interested to know what you all think of it.
20 years ago, there was a travesty of a movie released that put the final nail in the Batman franchise until Christopher Nolan and Christian Bale resurrected it to perfection. The travesty was Batman and Robin. You know, the one with George Clooney as Batman and Arnold Schwarzenegger as Mr. Freeze. I still remember going to see it with one of my oldest and best friends and then after it was over being very disappointed. The thing that I always think about most when this movie comes up is, the inclusion of 2 wonderful songs by The Smashing Pumpkins, “The End is the Beginning is the End,” and “The Beginning is the End is the Beginning.” Those songs still get me every time, especially “The Beginning is the End is the Beginning.” Something else that is interesting about these songs, back in 2009 when Watchmen was released, “The Beginning is the End is the Beginning” found new life as it was the theme for the trailer for the film.
Back in 1997 when David Lynch and Trent Reznor were putting together the soundtrack to Lost Highway, Lynch suggested Billy Corgan as a contributor to the compilation. At first Billy submitted the song “Tear” (which is on the Unsung Masterpiece, Adore) but Lynch turned that down. Not long after, Billy completed “Eye,” and David Lynch gladly accepted it for the film, which was placed during the nightclub scene. “Eye” has been one of my favorite Smashing Pumpkins songs since I heard it. There is something about the song that is really gripping and dark. I’m kind of glad that it only appeared the Lost Highway soundtrack.
Smashing Pumpkins- Eye:
Smashing Pumpkins- Eye (Live with Marilyn Manson):
They don’t make videos like they used to. Way back, when the budgets for videos were HUGE, we the fans got some nearly cinematic pieces. I genuinely miss those days. Thinking about all that made me make this list of the best videos The Smashing Pumpkins ever did.
In anticipation of me going to see The Cure next week, I thought I’d delve a little deeper into Robert Smith’s career. Below are a few of the songs that he has guested on over the years.
This has always been one of my favorite Depeche Mode songs. When I heard Smashing Pumpkins cover it many many years ago, I loved the song even more. There is something to the way that Billy Corgan arranges songs, to make them his own. Enjoy this wonderful cover!
The process of following up a career defining album is a very serious task. The amount of pressure that is put on a band to follow that up with a great deal of success is overwhelming. The Smashing Pumpkins follow up to Mellon Collie and The Infinite Sadness, Adore is one of the most daring and intriguing albums in the bands discography. Recorded following the death of Billy Corgan’s mother and his divorce, this was a significant change of style from the bands guitar driven albums. Adore saw the band venture into more electronic territory. This was in part to drummer Jimmy Chamberlain being fired from the band before the recording process. Instead the drums on the album were cut from drum machines and the assistance of drummer Matt Walker who toured with the band following Chamberlains release. During this time as well, the bands image shifted toward a more darker gothic sensibility.
Adore is the type of album that when you first listen to it, you are taken aback by it. There is a purity and solemnness to it, that delves even deeper than the bands previous works. Songs like “To Sheila,” “Crestfallen,””For Martha,” exhibit this notion. The more electronic driven songs like “Ava Adore” and “Perfect” show some similarities to classic Pumpkins material. Then there are songs like “Tear,” “Appels & Oranjes,””Pug,” “Behold! The Night Mare,” that show an added maturity to Billy Corgan’s writing.
Adore was obviously not the album that fans of the band wanted, but it was necessary to reinvigorate the band to come to terms with their issues. Over time, Adore has been one of those albums that with time and age has truly become a wonderful album. It really has a sense that if you’ve lived life and been through hell to an extent, then this album will really hit the mark. Take it for another listen, and you’ll see what I mean.
Since The Smashing Pumpkins released their great new album Monuments To An Elegy late last year I’ve been on a huge Pumpkins kick. While on this journey I’ve looked into all the songs that Billy Corgan has been apart of with other bands, whether it’s co-writing, lending his vocals and guitar talents to. Here are a few of the songs that I found interesting that he guested on in someway.
Since it’s been 20 years since Smashing Pumpkins double album Mellon Collie And The Infinite Sadness came out, I thought this would be a great topic for an album debate. Since it’s a double album the debate is between what disc you prefer. Disc 1 is entitled Dawn to Dusk and features classic like “Zero,” “Bullet With Butterfly Wings,” and “Tonight, Tonight” along with some great deep cuts like “An Ode To No One,” “Jellybelly,” and “Muzzle.” This part of the album is heavier and filled with more rage. Disc 2 entitled Twilight To Starlight is loaded with songs that show a more mellow side of things. Songs like classics “1979,” and “Thirty-Three,” really set the tone of this side of the album. Other deep cuts like “XYU,” “Bodies,” “Where Boys Fear To Tread,” also give this side a kick in the teeth to break up the solemn mellowness.
I for one am a big fan of the album and depending on my mood it differs on which one I pick. I will say though that if I ha to pick one side, I would absolutely pick Disc 1: Dawn To Dusk. I just love the way the songs all flow into each other and the way that you can get so wrapped up in the angst but all the while there is a calming sense nestled in each song. Not to take anything away from Disc 2: Twilight To Starlight, which is an entirely different beast all on it’s own.
What side do you pick?
Smashing Pumpkins- Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness:
I’ve had a very complicated relationship with The Smashing Pumpkins over the years. I go through phases when I think wow, This is great, and then on the other hand I think gosh I can’t stand this. Lately I’ve been back to wow, this is really great. So, with that in mind, I present you the album rank of Smashing Pumpkins albums from not their best to their best.
