Smashing Pumpkins - Mellon Collie & The Infinite Sadness
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Free Music Notes for Mellon Collie & The Infinite Sadness
Free Music Review: Its Amazing ...
Hit: 5 Stars
Its amazing what most people say when they review this album, or even speak of it in general conversation. Most people will highlight songs such as "Bullit with Butterfly Wings", "Zero", "Tonight, Tonight" and "1979" as the only great points of the album and speak ill of such songs as "XYU", "They Only Come Out Night" and "Cupid de Locke". Its really no surprise considering the calibre of music that's shoveled down your throat by MTV and radio these days. Of course most people will speak highly of the first list of songs above simply because they were drilled home as singles and loved for primarily that reason alone. The same could be said about "Today", "Rocket" and "Disarm" from Siamese Dream; none of which were above average for that album, but memorable to the masses because of their abundance of radio play.
To further prove my point, most people who only like the singles will also probably never mention one word about Pisces Escariot--which was the first follow-up to Siamese Dream, not Mellon Collie, which followed over a year later--or may have never even heard of it. This album (to my knowledge) never produced one single on the radio or MTV, but was fantastic from beginning to end. Yet it will never get the recognition it deserves from mainstream audiences and I see the same for Mellon Collie.
The point of all this is simple. If you are not a musician or one who appreciates true music, the album probably can't keep a hold on your attention-span very long. If the singles do it for you, enjoy them. However, those that fall into the above two categories will be those who can also appreciate similar material by the Beatles, Pink Floyd, The Who and many other rock bands that made a major impact on music and will remain timeless so long as human society stands. The latter tracks mentioned above are not filler, they are songs in their own right--short, to the point and fitting perfectly within the space alloted them and are integral to producing a feel and completion that could not be presented without them.
Short does not mean "filler" and long does not mean "boring" even though most modern music will lead you to believe. Give me this album (or any other Smashing Pumpkins album, sans Adore) any day over Linkin Park, Disturbed or the rest of the mindless, talentless and uninspired noise that comprises the majority of air-time these days--all their ilk will always eventually find their place in rock history: the trash can.
Free Music Review: An album in it's greatest
Hit: 5 Stars
I can't believe I didn't used to like The Smashing Pumpkins, well, actually, I had just never listened to any of their music. I downloaded every album from them on my computer, they're all spectacular, but this is the first one I listened to. This album goes right up there with Garbage's "Version 2.0". Both of these albums have changed my life. They're made me see music in a new light, and made me get new role models. Billy Corgan is, by far, the best male singer in the world. A lot of people think he has a whiney, annoying voice, but it's that voice that makes every song he sings into pure heaven. I have been so inspired by Billy and the rest of the Pumpkins, they're incredible.The songs:
Disc 1
Mellon Collie & The Infinite Sadness- A beautiful classical piece. I love this song, it's some of the best piano player I've ever heard.
Tonight, Tonight-Not my favorite song, but it's very good. The video for this song is so cool.
Jelly Belly-I love this song. I love all their songs. But this is a very good song
Zero-My favorite Smashing Pumpkins song EVER! This song is perfect, I love it.
Here Is No Why-I love the lyrics to this song. It's perfect
Bullet With Butterfly Wings-This songs chorus has so much anger in it. Which makes it an awesome song.
To Forgive-A sad, slow song. I really like this one too
... (An Ode to No One)-Billy Corgan called this song pure frustration. He says it's the song based on that mood you can be in when you're like "... my friends. ... everything" I looovvvee this song.
Love-I also love this song. I love every song though. Every song is great
Cupid De Locke-I love this song too. It's very classical and beautiful. Unlike most songs dissing Cupid, this one is kind of giving him credit.
Galapagos-Another slow song. Billys voice is very transitional, it can go from loud to soft, which makes him a great artist. Good song
Muzzle-VERY good song, the lyrics are amazing
Porcelina Of The Vast Oceans-This song is very beautiful, it's also a little sad. But very good, of course
Take Me Down-I think this is my least favorite song on the album. It's just kind of boring. It's good, but boring.
Disc 2
Where Boys Fear to Tread-Amazingly loud guitar playing, great lyrics, a little bit of anger, what else do you need? Great song
Bodies-Very good song. I can't explain how it is, but it's very good.
Thirty-Three-A slow song, but it's good.
In THe Arms of Sleep-Slow song..Good song
I'll do the rest later
TERRIFIC ALBUM!
Free Music Review: Why is this album only 4.5 stars?
Hit: 5 Stars
I have one question to ask all of the reviewers out there: Why only 4.5 stars? This is clearly a landmark album, with the art to match meeting such melancholy needs. The album artwork is almost as 'psychodelic' as The Frogs' first album with the two cats eating watermelon on a porch. And the music, whooaho...dont even go there, man. It will absolutely, positively, without a doubt, BLOW YOU AWAY. Okay, to the review.If you haven't noticed already by my other reviews, I am a straight-forward pumpkinhead. I love the pumpkins, and my love for them grows along with all of their music. This, in fact, was my first Pumpkins CD, and I had to scramble all my $2 bills up and my $15 on-cue gift certificate to buy this piece of artwork. The night before, a fellow friend/person i know was driving around in his car with his subs to the max, listening to the Pumpkins (Mellon Collie And The Infinite Sadness). He told me who he was listening to, and the next day i got to go to on-cue. I bought Mellon Collie at first sight, and I knew I made the right choice, because when the store clerk saw me coming at 10 feet away with the MELLON COLLIE AND THE INFINITE SADNESS double disc in my hand for $24.95 he quickly started mumbling "oh yeah..." and I came to the counter and he said "Ahh...yeah. Good choice you won't regret it. I bought mine the day it came out and to this day I listen to it at least once a week." And my father was standing there and said "So this is a good choice for my son, huh?" and he quickly replied with "definately." Obviously, the guy didn't lie, and I love this cd so much. I want to thank the guy who ran that little barcode across the scanner for me, and for the Pumpkins for their continued work (most people think they stopped, but they continue with bootlegs). I love these guys, and you should too. Although I did find a better cd, called "Siamese Dream", this is still in my top collection. And if you haven't guessed already, Siamese Dream is a Pumpkins album...of course! I'm gonna buy an extra Mellon Collie And The Infinite Sadness and Siamese Dream and put them in plaques. Coming straight from a music lover and Pumpkinhead all together, I leave you with these words:
As far as you take me, that's where I believe; The realm of soft delusions, floating on the leaves...-Porcelina Of The Vast Oceans. BRILLIANT LYRICS FROM A BRILLIANT LYRICIST. BILLY CORGAN WHOM I KNOW AND LOVE. THANK YOU BILLY.
Free Music Review: Billy Corgans' Infinite Sadness
Hit: 5 Stars
...Musically, the album bounces back and forth as well. There are extremely heavy songs (Tales of a Scorched Earth). Slow love song types (Beautiful, Lily (My One and Only)). Experimental, somewhat psychedelic songs (Porcelina of the Vast Oceans). Melodic acoustic songs (Stumbleine). Emotional, orchestrated songs (Tonight, Tonight). Billy Corgans musical genius and versatility are proven once more with this album.
If you still don't own Mellon Collie after all these years, you are probably like me. You love the Smashing Pumpkins' popular singles, and likely have them downloaded. The problem is you don't think the other, less popular songs on the album can be nearly as good. You (and I) are wrong! On only my first listen, there were songs that to me were much better than many Pumpkins singles! In fact, my favorite song on the album is one that is never played on the radio, and not very widely known. The song is X.Y.U. This song is, in my opinion, the best Pumpkins song. It has a slow, heavily distorted riff that is repeated throughout most of the song, up until the bridge, where it gets quiet and Billy sings what can best be described as a rewrite of Mary Had a Little Lamb. Then suddenly the music stops and Billy screams "and in the eyes of the jackal I say KAAAAABOOM!" and Billy and the guitars are speeding up faster and faster with the drums going crazy in the background until Billy stops it again with a gut-wrenching scream, and the bludgeoning bluesy riff from the beginning is back, with a feedback drenched solo to close out the song. There are many other songs such as this that weren't radio hits, but instantly will grab you. I would name some, but it would be redundant to name almost every song on the album.
Double albums are notorious for filler. Even Pink Floyd had a couple small throwaway songs on The Wall. The closest that Mellon Collie comes to filler is We Only Come Out at Night, a light hearted, sing-a-long type song that sounds even odder coming directly after X.Y.U. As clichéd or stupid as it may sound, nearly all the songs are amazing.
This album is a tried and true classic, from one of the top bands of the nineties, and the best band to come from the grunge era. No self-respecting music fan should be without it. Fans of the less depressing Pumpkins songs should check out Billy's new band, Zwan. Otherwise more Pumpkins greatness can be found on their other classic album, Siamese Dream.
Free Music Review: Best album ever?
Hit: 5 Stars
This album is easily the best of the 90's (although Nevermind competes with it). It is phenomenal. When I first heard it, I thought only about half the songs were good. Now the album has grown on me and I can only think of one that should be scrapped (Tales of a Scorched Earth).I do think that this is the best album ever. My choice usually alternates between this and the Beatles' Sgt. Pepper. Sgt. Pepper has a lot to offer, but some tracks are almost ordinary (Lovely Rita). Abbey Road is another contender, but its high points nearly aren't as high as Mellon Collie. As of now I haven't delved that deep into Dylan so I couldn't really make a clear judgement on him. His Highway 61 Revisited blew me away but is still a bit inferior of Mellon Collie. I don't have any other of his albums. The last major contenders are the Beach Boys. Pet Sounds is hard to argue with and may even be technically better than Mellon Collie, but my heart isn't as deep into it. Smile, the Beach Boys' unrealeased psychedelic album, is a lot like Mellon Collie. It is grand, sweeping, experimental, and fascinating. It is also far better harmonically and melodically, but its experimentation doesn't show up with the results the Mellon Collie has. As for other greats like Hendrix and Led Zeppelin, they don't come at all close.
Finally, here is the case for Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness:
Billy Corgan has created a sweeping, atmospheric work that runs into, at some point, almost every emotion klnown to man. Yes, there are some bad or just plain weird songs, but they are right in step with the spirit of the album. This is an album to be explored forever, to mature with.
I don't want to enumerate the virtues of every song, but I would just suggest: BUY THE ALBUM! You won't regret it; just give it a chance. Bullet with Butterfly Wings is the best song and an accessible one. In terms of other SP albums, Siamese Dream is excellent and you might even want to start it with it first. Nevertheless, I started out with MCIS and am glad I did. Gish is a good album too; not on the same level as the others, but good. Adore was panned by both the critics and the fans, but it is actually better than any other SP album aside from MCIS. Machina is not as good as SD or Adore, but it is superb nevertheless.
The bottomline is that Mellon Collie is the greatest album of the Smashing Pumpkins, possibly ever.