The Smashing Pumpkins

New Release: The Smashing Pumpkins- CYR & The Colour Of Love

Smashing Pumpkins

For the past couple of weeks, The Smashing Pumpkins have been teasing something new in regards to their upcoming new album. Well, this morning they released two brand new songs, “CYR” and “The Colour Of Love.” They have an Adore feel to them along with an 80’s sensibility. It also kind of reminds me a little bit of where Billy was going on his solo album, The Future Embrace. Personally, I dig this a lot. It’s done well and the songs are well written. I look forward to this whole album which is supposed to be a double album with 20 songs. So I’ll reserve full judgement until it’s all out and I can hear it all in context. In the meantime, check out these two new songs!

CYR:

 

The Colour Of Love:

 

Alternate Versions: Billy Corgan- Tonight, Tonight (Acoustic)

Stern Show on Twitter: ".@Billy Corgan treats Howard to a rare ...

I’ve spent a lot of the past year or so doing a huge deep delve into The Smashing Pumpkins and rekindling my love for this band. It’s been pretty obvious, if you haven’t been able to tell by all the posts. Being able to watch so many different live performances of the Pumpkins of just Billy solo throughout the years has been truly awesome. There are so many great shows online as well as individual performances of certain songs. The other evening as I was falling asleep, I somehow wound up thinking about the song “Tonight, Tonight” and found myself drawn into a rabbit hole of different versions of the song on YouTube. One such performance really grabbed me for some reason and that would be from back in 2012 when Billy appeared on the Howard Stern show and performed “Tonight, Tonight” at Howard’s request and gave a little history on the song. This alternate version has been stuck with me and now you can enjoy it with me!

Billy Corgan- Tonight, Tonight on The Howard Stern Show/2012:

 

Memorable Live Performances: The Smashing Pumpkins- Live At The Metro 1993

Soma - The Smashing Pumpkins [1993] - Live @ Metro HD. - YouTube

There are certain bands that when they come out, hit a mark with such a sense of vigor and prowess that each era of the band, leaves a lasting impression. Some people tend to become very attached to “that era” and it becomes their be all end all. The Smashing Pumpkins have so many different eras and shades of themselves that have created some very dominant ones for many fans. I will say that yes, there are certain favorites of mine but, a band like this, and so many other of their peers, have this ability to forever take you on a journey as they and you grow. The Smashing Pumpkins are definitely a band that will do just that. On the bands super deluxe version of the Siamese Dream anniversary edition, there is a DVD in there from a legendary show in the band’s hometown of Chicago, at the Metro. This is one hell of a show.

 

The Smashing Pumpkins- Live At The Metro 1993:

 

Cover Song: The Smashing Pumpkins (Neil Young)- Cinnamon Girl

Cinnamon Girl (Ignoffo Sessions / 2012 Mix) - YouTube

One of the best things about going back through a band’s catalog is finding all the things you forgot about. Over the last couple years, I’ve rediscovered my love for The Smashing Pumpkins, and through my journey, I keep finding so many wonderful gems. For example, in the deluxe edition of Pisces Iscariot, there are so many great songs on the bonus disc. This cover of Neil Young’s “Cinnamon Girl” was one I forgot about. It’s really a very cool cover with a different vibe, a la 90’s. The Type O Negative cover of this song is still the best but, the pumpkins sure do a damn good job with it.

 

The Smashing Pumpkins- Cinnamon Girl:

 

 

Collaborations: The Smashing Pumpkins with Chino Moreno

 

Smashing Pumpkins Joined By Chino Moreno, Davey Havok, Courtney ...

This isn’t necessarily a “collaboration” but, it did happen and it was pretty magical. A couple years ago, The Smashing Pumpkins did a few shows to celebrate them being a band for 30 years. They invited a few people to come join them on stage, Chino Moreno of Deftones fame being one of them. They performed two classic Pumpkins songs that evening, “Bodies” from Mellon Collie and The Infinite Sadness and “Snail” from “Gish.” It’s almost like Chino was meant to sing “Bodies” and “Snail”when you listen to him sing them. I’d love to hear the soundboard audio of these songs but, these versions are pretty good.

 

The Smashing Pumpkins with Chino Moreno:

Bodies:

 

Snail:

Guest Musician: Tommy Lee

Image result for tommy lee playing drums

The other day while still on my Smashing Pumpkins kick, I was delving more into the album Monuments To An Elegy and remembered that all the drums on the album were played by Tommy Lee. Yes, Tommy Lee of Motley Crue played on a Smashing Pumpkins album. As usual with any of my delves, it got me thinking about what else Tommy has played on over the years. So, here are a handful that Tommy has guested on over the years.

The Smashing Pumpkins- Monuments To An Elegy:

Jack’s Mannequin- Everything In Transit (played on tracks 2, 3, 4, 8, 10, & 11):

Rob Zombie- Meet The Creeper (from Hellbilly Deluxe):

 

Rob Zombie- The Ballad of Resurrection of Joe and Rosa Whore (from Hellbilly Deluxe):

 

 

Fuel- Wasted Time (from Angels & Devils):

 

 

Post Malone- Over Now (from Beerbongs and Bentleys):

 

Alternate Versions: Billy Corgan- Stand Inside Your Love (Acoustic)

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For quite a while now, I’ve been delving deeper and deeper into The Smashing Pumpkins and Billy Corgan catalog. Along the way, I’ve discovered a plethora of songs that I forgot about and rediscovered my love of this band and what a truly great songwriter Billy is. One of the songs that I’ve really obsessed over is “Stand Inside Your Love” from the Machina album. Every time I come across a different version of this song, I get chills and find myself lost in a trance. This is truly an amazing song. Here’s a live solo acoustic version of it that I absolutely adore.

 

Billy Corgan- Stand Inside Your Love (Acoustic):

 

Same Name Songs: The Smashing Pumpkins vs The Sex Pistols- Bodies

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I really dig on these little comparison topics. The same name song one is always fun. Here we have two bands from entirely different genres with equally great songs. Which one do you enjoy more? Personally, I have to go with The Smashing Pumpkins on this one. As much as I dig on The Sex Pistols, the Pumpkins one just has a bit more substance to me. Granted that’s just my opinion though.

The Smashing Pumpkins- Bodies (from Mellon Collie and The Infinite Sadness):

 

The Sex Pistols- Bodies (from Nevermind The Bollocks…):

 

Memorable TV Performances: The Smashing Pumpkins on The Tonight Show

Smashing Pumpkins

Way back in the year 2000, The Smashing Pumpkins, released the second part of their (then) swan song, Machina II: The Friends and Enemies of Modern Music. This album never fully got the proper release and instead released for free on the internet on September 5, 2000. Plans for a standard physical release, bundled with the first part Machina I: The Machines of God,  was supposed to happen in 2013 but was postponed due to legal setbacks. In a recent Q&A on Instagram, Billy Corgan revealed that all legal issues had been resolved. The two albums are said to be remastered and released as one in 2020. That being said, The Smashing Pumpkins did do some promotion for the album back in 2000 with a very memorable performance on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno, which also ended up being the band’s final television appearance until their 2007 revival.

The Smashing Pumpkins- Cash Car Star (on Tonight Show with Jay Leno):

 

Anticipated Albums of 2020

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A new year brings new albums to be released. 2020 is sure to be chock full of new releases by your favorites. I’ve started to compile a list of the bands who I believe are releasing new albums this year as the most anticipated. I know I’m missing some, so with that in mind who are you looking forward to new music from?

 

2020 Anticipated Albums:

 

Deftones
The Cure
Guns N Roses?
Mastodon
Foo Fighters
The Smashing Pumpkins
Pearl Jam
ACDC
Spirit In The Room
Clint Lowery
Carcass
Gojira
Lamb Of God
Megadeth
Nine Inch Nails
Sevendust
Rob Zombie
Every Time I Die
Marilyn Manson
Power Trip
Dead Cross
Run The Jewels
Placebo