So this past week as you can tell I’ve been back on a Smashing Pumpkins kick. I was searching through covers that they did over the years and wanted to do something in those regards. So while looking up Smashing Pumpkins covers I remembered that Bush also covered Stevie Nicks “Landslide.” So what one do you think is better?
Smashing Pumpkins- Landslide:
Bush- Landslide:
Stevie Nicks:
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.
Smashing Pumpkins- Adore:
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.
Machina II:
Oceania:
Machina:
Monuments To An Elegy:
Pisces Iscariot:
Zeitgeist:
Gish:
Adore:
Siamese Dream:
Mellon Collie And The Infinite Sadness:
Hailing from San Francisco is Sidewave. Their music is best described as a cross between shoe gaze, post hardcore and alternative. Pretty much if you can picture Failure, Siamese Dream era Smashing Pumpkins, and Hum mixed together then you can get a glimpse of how Sidewave sounds. Their most recent release “Big Time” is full of lush sounds and powerful guitars and drums. the vocals are sail through each song in a soothing way as to not distract from the music. The songs “sundrop” “illusion of light” and “new attack” are quite provocative. Sidewave are the real deal with something to show and tell everyone.
https://www.facebook.com/Sidewave.music
By: Brian Lacy
AUDIOECLECTICA 