Smashing Pumpkins - Siamese Dream
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Free Music Notes for Siamese Dream
Free Music Review: Smashing Pumpkins Cherub Rock To the Top of Alt. Rock
Hit: 5 Stars
Siamese Dream(1993). Smashing Pumpkins' Second Album.Around 'Siamese Dream''s release in 1993, Grunge was ruling the airwaves, with bands like Nirvana, Pearl Jam, and Soundgarden achieving massive sucsess, and the Smashing Pumpkins set out to achieve the same sucsess as their counterparts. Instead of combining Heavy Metal, Alternative Metal, and Punk like the other bands, Billy Corgan set out to do something totally original, combining influences of Heavy Metal, Alternative Rock, Goth Rock, Progressive Rock, Goth Rock, and even Psychadelia, mixed with creative and heartfelt vocals, and a swirling, distorted guitar, and frequent solos. Because of disagreements inside the band, Corgan played almost every instrument besides the drums, which Jimmy Chamberlain played. He vowed that if Siamese Dream didn't do well(Like the previous album 'Gish'), Corgan would disband. He didn't have to worry. 'Siamese Dream' quickly rocketed into the Top Ten, eventually selling over 4 Million copies in the progress. It spawned the Alternative Anthems "Cherub Rock" and "Today", while the soothing ballads "Rocket" and "Disarm" also became big hits. Although not quite as sucessful or inspired as 'Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness', 'Siamese Dream' stands as a definite triumph for the Smashing Pumpkins. Read on to find out why...
Track Ratings-
Cherub Rock- The Pumpkins start the album well, blending Corgan's distorted guitar and vocals to create Alternative gold. Very heartfelt!
Quiet-Chamberlain and Corgan thrash 'Quiet' out, and Corgan's vocals are very soothing behind the chugging distortion.
Today- 'Siamese Dream''s biggest hit, and why not? My favorite also, Corgan's oddly symphonic vocals behind the gothic guitar riff blend to create a masterpiece. Not as dark as it sounds, but actually very heartfelt.
Hummer- One of 'Siamese Dream's longest, "Hummer" is a blend of Alternative Rock and Prog Rock, and the end result is a hard rocking ballad that is simply beautiful. Love the solos!
Rocket- Corgan belts out guitar chords and vocals reminiscent of "Today", except adding more depth to the chords and riffs. Great songwriting!
Disarm- Corgan's brooding lyrics and solemn acoustic guitar, blended with cello's and violin's in the background, create a surreal ballad that is totally original. Superb.
Soma- Prog Rock at its best, "Soma" chugs along slowly at the start, but soon the distorted guitars sweep in, and soon Corgan belts out impressive vocals and an even better solo. Another "Hard Rocking" ballad, this song is very good.
Geek U.S.A.- After two ballads, the Pumpkins come back with a heavy Alternative Rocker, combining Corgan's spontaneous riff(He changes it often) behind his vocals works well. The song goes through many different musical measures, from slow to fast, and this song shows sophisticated talent. Great solo.
Mayonaise- Another ballad, Corgan's pained heartbroke vocals, behind the slow melodic guitar riff create an amazing song. Great solo!
Spaceboy- Once again, Corgan blends his syphonic vocals along with the cello and the violin, not to mention the oddly distorted acoustic guitar to craft yet another superb ballad.
Silverf*ck-Tied with "Today" for my favorite, "Silverf*ck" is Alt Rock at its best! Corgan's Metallic riff sweeps in at blistering speeds, and Corgan's whispery vocals mix well. The song slows down for a while, but at the end Corgan and Chamberlain showcase their incredible speed. Prog Rock + Alt Rock= Masterpiece!
Sweet Dreams- Another ballad, Corgan's melodic vocals, sinfully sweet acoustic guitar riff, and the deep lyrics keep this short song from being filler.
Luna- "Luna" ends the album slowly, and the Smashing Pumpkins remind me a little of Coldplay, using Corgan's vocals primarily while adding in odd instrumental beats. Easily Siamese Dream's worst, it's a little too slow, yet it manages to still be good
Overall, I found 'Siamese Dream' to be an Alternative Rock milestone, and Corgan's clever mixture of Melodic vocals and Distorted guitars never fail to please. 'Siamese Dream' has a little something for everybody, ranging from Hard Rock, Alt Rock, Hard Rocking Ballads, and Soft Ballads, and the range of the songs is impressive. Though not quite as good as 'Mellon Collie And the Infinite Sadness', 'Siamese Dream' should appeal as much as the other.
HIGHLY RECOMMENED! FANS OF PROG ROCK, METAL, ALT ROCK, AND THE SMASHING PUMPKINS WOULD HIGHLY ENJOY THIS ALBUM! ALTHOUGH NOT QUITE AS GOOD AS PEARL JAM, THE SMASHING PUMPKINS WERE ONE OF THE 90'S DEFINING ALT ROCK BANDS!
Also Recommended-
Mellon Collie And the Infinite Sadness-Smashing Pumpkins
Ten-Pearl Jam
Superunknown-Soundgarden
Thanks For Reading!
Free Music Review: An Alternative Masterpiece!
Hit: 5 Stars
Oh Where To Begin!!!!
The best compliment to give this true work of art is that it means more and more with each listen. For the past 9 years I don't think a month or two goes by when this album doesnt work it's way back to my CD player only to be rediscovered. Kind of a wierd thing to say right....? If listened to THAT often how can it be "rediscovered". The answer of course lies within the complexity of the songs on the album, the placement of the songs on the album, and the moods the album takes the listener through.
When I bought this album back in the nineties I was a 60' and 70's classic rock kid, nothing but the oldies, modern music just didn't interest me that much. I had my reasons, but that's not the point here on this review. Anyway, one day flipping through channels I came across the promo video for the song "Today", and something happened. I put the remote down and just listened....stunned. THAT GUITAR SOUND!! It started out so pretty with the intro, and then it transformed into some butal distorted assault on power chords, yet it still sounded messy and beautiful at the same time. I'd NEVER heard anything quite like that. And those vocals, they were so strange, but interesting.
Later on that week at the record store, searching around I came across the album, even the Cover Art was mysterious and intruiging. I had to get it, see what was contained in the other songs!
The album didn't leave my stereo, or headphones, for about 5 months. It was all I listened to. And, it wasn't that I was obsessed with the music or the band, it was just so DAMN interesting after each listen. Each of these songs has so many different layers and elemnts that you just dont catch with only a few listens. The songs are almost like little operas with time changes, ups and downs, different emotions conatined, and each song bridges almost perfectly into the next. You just can't put it on for one song, it'll suck you right into the next one. Sometimes with a haunting little interlude.
I think one of the main reasons for my curiosity with this album was that I would consistanly listen to it with headphones, bringing me closer to the sounds and atmospheres that the album conatins. One of the legendary thing about this album is thatit has SO MANY layered guitar parts, so as a guitarist it makes for a very exhausting listening experience (see "Silver F*%K"), trying to figure out each part and layer.
Of all the songs on the album "Cherub Rock" is probably going to always remain my persoanl favorite, for all the reason listed above. The guitar lines on this song, I feel, are some of the best the nineties had to offer, and the drum intro gives the album a perfect start. Plus, it's just the 1st song I heard when i put the album on for the 1st time, and it had a huge musical impact on me, so I'm a little biased toward it I guess.
"Mayonaise" is a VERY close second, if anything beacuse of the dramatic changes in the song throughout it's run. It kind of comes back to what drew me into the song "Today", it starts out with a very good clean guitar line, that actually goes on for quite a while, it appears to be a slower ballad type song. Then half way through, somebody kicks up the volume, slams the distortion peddle, and BAM magic happens, the song turns into something completey different, yet it fit's perfectly together. Which in a way is a good discription of the entire album.
I assume that "Siamese Dream" has worked it's way into pretty much any rock/alternative music listeners collection. If it hasn't go for it, you wont be dissapointed, and if you are, give it a second spin, maybe with headphones, and concentrate on what it actaully happening in the structure of these songs.
Billy Corgan and The Smashing Pumkins made some fantastic albums after developing "Siamese Dream", it's unfair to compare those to this one because each one is it's own musical statement. However, I will say this, I dont think that any of the other ones have quite the same lasting musical impact as this one though.
Free Music Review: Total Classic
Hit: 5 Stars
Man, remember the early 90's when bands that didn't suck were occasionally allowed to play on the radio? Now, don't get me wrong, the vast majority of grunge and alternative bands were garbage, but a few legitimately great bands were allowed to have immense popularity, and The Smashing Pumpkins were one of the best of 'em. 'Siamese Dream' was their real break out album, is a severely classic cd.
This is just a two man show, Corgan and Chamberlin, which is fine cause those other two members were just designed to make the band look distinctive. (Actually, I think that story is apocryphal, but it's totally plausible, anyway.) There's a painful lack of interesting drummers in mainstream rock, and Jimmy Chamberlin is one of the most obvious exceptions to the rule. He's at the absolute top of his game here with tons of energetic beats and frenetic, jazz-fusion rolls and fills. Corgan sings and plays guitar and bass here, but he's mostly significant as a songwriting, of course. The songs here consist primarily of acoustic ballads and huge sheets of guitar noise which still manage to have an undeniable melodic edge which are used to create both driving rockers and loud, very loud ballads. Corgan does all this very well. His vox are severely limited and an acquired taste, but I think he fits the music nicely. And, most shockingly of all, he writes teen-angsty lyrics that don't fill me with bitter rage and aren't painfully juvenile.
Great though this album is, it could stand a little pruning. Most notably, the bizarre, largely instrumental 'Silverf*ck' could stand to go. It's not a bad song, and is fairly interesting, but with 12 other tracks it seems to drag things out a bit too much and doesn't really fit. Pacing is also a slight problem in that each of the first 9 songs is a classic, and the last 4 tracks are still good, but definitely not as good.
The album opens with 'Cherub Rock', one of the definitive SP songs. Massive, layered guitars, cryptic vocals and fantastic, snare intensive drumming from Chamberlin. 'Quiet' is one of the darkest, most rockin' tracks here. It's excellent all around, but the wild drumming really takes it to the next level. Next we have 'Today' which is *the* definitive SP song, and arguably the definitive non-grunge alternative song. You've heard it many times, you must've, and how you feel about it'll probably determine how you like this album. I think it's a classic, one of the best uses of the standard, loud-soft-loud template in alt-rock. 'Rocket' is a somewhat different track, one of the more driving songs but with a happier feel to it. Another fantastic song which comes to a fun crescendo, and it's actually somewhat inspiring in its way. 'Disarm' is an acoustic track with strings, and a very effective one. It's got some of Corgan's best vox on the album. 'Geek USA' is the best rocker on the album. Chamberlins drumming here is even better than on 'Quiet'. Finally we have 'Mayonaise', which is probably the best ballad here. It's just another fine illustration of Corgan's ability to make a wall of guitar noise into something beautiful, and it's got a nice bit of unexpected acoustic guitar thrown in.
I could go on, but ehh, that's enough. A great album, definitely.
Free Music Review: Arugably one of the greatest Pumpkins Albums ever made..
Hit: 5 Stars
Admittedly my foray into the world of the Smashing pumpkins has only come fairly recently. But I was wisely advised to start my investigations into their music with this album, and it's very easy to see what all the fuss was about. For a band that were threatening to implode, from internal anguish (`Corgan' suffering from depression, `Chamberlin' battling drug addiction, and `D'arcy' & `Iha' suffering a relationship breakdown between each other). The band were to dig deep despite themselves and still able to deliver an album that not only delivered on the extremely promising debut "Gish", but comfortably surpassed it."Cherub Rock" builds with a gradual escalation of sound, with layers of sound applied, with dense guitar slowly gathering in stature, until Corgan's voice punctuates the instrumentation, with a precious, angst-ridden vocal....that is as emotional and Melancholic as prime era "Nirvana", it's a moving expressive, loud sound that although a anthem in its own right, proved to be a soaringly energizing track, which is not only one of the pumpkins finest ever moments, and for me became my defining Pumpkins track, but became one of the greatest songs amongst the Alternative Rock genre.
The pumpkins themselves seemingly have the ability to tread a fine line between Theatrical emotionally charged dense alt-rock, and bombastic riff driven widescreen epic sonic assaults. But are able to change direction effortlessly and flesh out their considerable sound with more contemplative moments that feel interspersed with quieter sombre elaborate slower songs ("Mayonaise", "Spaceboy" & "Luna" aptly demonstrate the Quiet/Loud song dynamic that the band are easily able to move through). That not only show a band that can deliver a sound that sound unlike anyone else and uniquely theirs, but remain accessible for people outside the alt-rock, grunge genre to penetrate (many people I know that didn't embrace the genre, but picked up a copy of `Siamese Dream'). But irrespective of that, the pumpkins with always be best known for their fierce, explosive, dynamic wall of sound barrages, looping fierce guitar tracks, and highly charged ambitious, abrasive performances (and exceptional drumming). And for an album that contains the almighty anthems of "Cherub Rock", "Today" & "Rocket" with their rousing metallic riffs, self absorbed indulgent lyrical confessions, dynamic bass playing, and detailed arrangements. Each listen to the album revealed a layer of depth...not only in the song writing, but also contained in the subtlety of composition of tracks, and thus never fails prey to repetition under close scrutiny, that deftly enabled the pumpkins to (largely) sidestep criticisms of being predominately focused on alienation.
For those that have arrived at the pumpkins several years later then everyone else (myself included), if you are considering making the purchase, it can't be stressed enough that this album and "Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness" are largely considered the two best albums that the pumpkins ever committed to disk. But starting with this album for those completely new to the pumpkins....this would be a very wise decision indeed ......in plain words "exceptional".
Free Music Review: Out of 170 CDs...The best damn CD in my whole collection
Hit: 5 Stars
Words cannot describe this album as a whole...so I will rate the songs as follows:1.Cherub Rock: 5 out of 5...amazing...from the drums to the clashing guitar and whines of billy's voice saying "who wants that honey" it is a perfect song...it still gives me goosebumps when I listen to it.
2.Quiet: 4.5 out of 5...VERY GOOD...it is near a perfect song...it cries out with guitars so well, and Quiet will be remembered in my heart.
3.Today: 5 out of 5...the most controvercial song and popular song off the album...Thank GOD for that! Perfect song with awesome guitar riffs...my fav. part is the lil intro at the beginning.
4.Hummer: 5 out of 5...I LOVE this song...so beautifully masterminded and put together by the well known supernatural genius billy corgan.
5.Rocket: 4.5 out of 5...another popular song...I love this also...I just hadn't managed to find room to put it on my SP greatest hits 2 cd set.
6.Disarm: 5 out of 5...BEAUTIFUL, HEARTBROKEN, LOVING song that will grab your eyesockets every time and force tears out...never have I heard a more loving beautiful song.
7.Soma: 4.5 out of 5...Love the song...they could have shortened the softness at the beginning though...the hard part 3 min into the song is my fav.
8.Geek U.S.A.: 5 out of 5...Awesome song...just didnt put it on my greatest hits cuz i didnt have room
9.Mayonaise: 10 out of 5.... MY absolute FAVORITE song by the Pumpkins and FAV song all together!!! I LOVE IT SO MUCH especially the intro and outro. It is so beautifully composed and if I ever met billy in real life I would mention this song over and over. A BEAUTIFUL song.
10.Spaceboy: 5 out of 5...this pisses me off because it is one of the best songs on my whole entire album and it skips near the 4:00 period...i think with various cd players the skip is between 3:47 and 3:56. it just makes me mad but it is such a beautiful song....LOVE IT!
11.Silverfuck: 5 out of 5 perfect song love it to death but because of it's 8 minute length i couldnt put it on my greatest hits.
12.Sweet Sweet: 5 out of 5 cute little lullabye running exactly 1 minute 38 seconds...beautiful
13.Luna: 5 and 3/4 out of 5...i love this song to death....it always puts me to sleep and it is so beautiful...it could put any crying screaming baby to sleep im serious!!!
You keep hearing me talk about MY "greatest hits" well i recently burned a double disc SP greatest hits. well...9 tracks out of 13 are on my greatest hits...1,2,3,4,6,9,10,12, and 13. That's more than I have from Mellon Collie! Wow! But this album is spectacular in its own little way and I would like to say it is my best cd i have ever owned and I want to get a second copy and put it in a plaque in its original shrink wrap!!! I had to do this review fast and if you've seen my other reviews you'd know im more serious or business-steadily like in them...but this one is so good, how could I begin to be serious? It RULES and i want to spill my emotions out on this review for it like red kool-aid on a white carpet with no Resolve handy....GET IT NOW OR I WILL COME HUNT YOU DOWN!!!-Joking, but it is a very good album and I highly, HIGHLY suggest you get it. you won't regret it.