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Retrospect can be a filthy bitch, and it’s interesting to see what ultimately becomes of bands that were gigantic in their moment.  It seems like the Smashing Pumpkins are one of those bands that are doomed to be remembered, but that time is just not going to treat well.  Maybe it’s because frontman/tyrant Billy Corgan’s controlling has been so well documented over the years.  Maybe it’s because after two pretty good albums (Gish, Adore) and two fucking fantastic albums (Siamese Dream, Mellon Collie), everything seemed to blend into the same faceless alt-metal space rock hybrid.  Maybe, in the end, the expectations for the Pumpkins to be what they could have been exceeded the output.  Either way, I’ve noticed that if they’re ever mentioned anymore – it’s almost as a joke.

Regardless of what 2010 logic dictates, Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness made the Pumpkins the biggest band in the world for a short time – and it was deserved.  Don’t be one of those people who leans on the past decade to say that Mellon Collie wasn’t a deep and fantastic album.  You’re lying to yourself and you know it.  And you don’t like those types of backward-looking people, anyway.  It’s not becoming of you, and you’re better than that.  There are worse things to admit.  It’s not like you were wearing silver pants, after all. 

You can love this record (and the Pumpkins, for that matter).  Mellon Collie is littered with glittering pop-radio gems.  There are sickly, androgynous, piano-driven ballads that are depressing and hopeful.  The loud, heavy guitar tracks are backed by Corgan’s disturbed and crushing lyrics.  A band this loud has never been so epic, tuneful, vulnerable and confidently fucked up all at once. 

Zeppelin Division:  The Pumpkins were loud and heavy first.  They didn’t hit their pop stride until later.  For all the radio success that Mellon Collie had, it kicked ass between the lines.



mp3: Bodies
mp3: Stumbeline
 


Comments

Vinnie

Mon, 01 Mar 2010 10:40:29

I love this album bro. I still listen to it, especially the 2nd half of disc two - Thru the Eyes of Ruby, We Only Come Out at Night, Lily and By Starlight are some of the most underplayed songs on an extremely underated album that really defines the era. However, favorite Pumpkins songs are not on these discs: Whir & Mayonaise. Keep up the blog bro.

 

Philly

Fri, 16 Apr 2010 19:06:41

Hell yeah, Vinnie. Thanks for reading brotha!

 



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