Smashing Pumpkins - Siamese Dream
|
List Price: Our Price: $14.32 You Save: $3.66 (20%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $1.99 (click here) Category: Music CD See more new music releases 
|
|---|
Buy this Music CD at online store in your country
Canadian Music Store
Canadian Music Store
Free Music Notes for Siamese Dream
Free Music Review: Their best and only really good album!
Hit: 5 Stars
Siamese Dream isn't that innovative as some say, and SP never were that influental or innovative as many claim, the influence is mostly from The Pixies and Zeppelin. And basically SP remind much of Nirvana in some songs too, but Corgan always hated Nirvana, but yet said they were competing against them in popularity, and that's what I don't like 'bout the guy, the competing (?), that wasn't the point with grunge (since bands worked together all the time and were friends), but Corgan said he had to compete against other grunge bands and be better ? dumb! and yeah, they were better than many definitely, but not that original...okay, that's my introduction...
To the songs; "Cherub Rock", an awesome riff and great vocals and melodies, an awesome track with probably the sweetest guitar solo of the whole 90's! "Disarm", is a little cheesy and easy, but it's beautiful, it's probably the most personal track here, and slightly touching, the powerful strings and an easy acoustic guitar plus some bells make this an interestingly beautiful, however simplistic song, truly a masterpiece, maybe even a little overdriven, this song is at the line, if you should cry or laugh to it, it's so weird but yet makes a lot of sense, however. "Mayonaise" ,"Rocket" and "Today" are harder songs with mellow singing and crunchy thick guitars, and these type of songs were I think the best part of SP, easy, yet inventive and extremely powerfull riffs and mellow and sensitive singing by Billy Corgan, great! Lyrically I think the band fails to bring anything that extraordinary, but the songs are never statement songs, mostly personal themes, or themes that get in the shadows of the music, I guess those songs with deeper meanings often are too hard to understand, while the easy ones are really easy indeed, like "Today". I think the Pumpkins have taken the most influence by The Pixies, but are very aware of the "grunge" sound, if you know what I'm saying, Nirvana and especially Alice In Chains does ring a bell. All in all I think this album is a masterpiece, I don't think the most innovative music's never been the best, like Radiohead, who always try to be so original, but they're so boring, I think the very best songs of all time are songs that have a tight structure and that are after all very simplistic, not too cryptic or slow, powerfull and majestic riffs and some almost childishly sensitive singing by Corgan made the magic of Smashing Pumpkins. I think "Mellon Collie", was still okay, but "Machina" and "Adore", were boring, especially with over-experimenting and electrics, I guess the Pumpkins never figured out how to make great music after this and the follower, guess they didn't want to repeat and they made some crappy music, but this one here is a timeless and epic classic, a must-have for 90's rock diggers!
Free Music Review: Classic Dream
Hit: 5 Stars
When the Smashing Pumpkins first came on the scene who could have predicted this? Yeah, Gish was good, won debeut album of the year, but who would have thought that this amazing album would be next. With an amazing explosion of fury in the opening track "Cherub Rock" its clear Billy Corgan knew where he was going on this album. Gone was the mellow lulls of Gish. This albums was to rock, and it succeded.
Siamese Dream is an amazing album not only for the amazing quitar and drum parts, but also due to the overlooked fact it's an amazing piece of concept art. It's all about the title. Siamese Dream is Corgan's fantasy or being attached to someone. Throughout almost every song he states how he's been abandoned and hurt all his life, and all he wants is someone who can't leave him, a siamese twin, so to speak. It's heartbreaking and powerful.
The abandonment begins with "Quiet" an abrassive second track with awesome quitar solos and biting lyrics about Corgan's parents. "Be ashamed of this mess you've made" he sings bitterly. The album goes on to the hit "Today" which although many equate with being a happy song is anything but. "Today is the greatest day I've ever known." It may sound happy, but the song is sarcastic and bitter, basically the tone for the entire album. It's hard to pick highlits on this album since every song is one of their best. "Disarm" however does stand firmly in the middle and provides a beautiful respite from the rest of the album. The haunting violins are beautiful behind Corgan's angry lyrics. "Disarm you with a smile and leave you like they left me here to wither in denile." Perhaps the best track is "Soma" a blistering and emotional ballad that turns into a stormy quitar tornado. The theme of the album is stated so perfectly in this song. Corgan wants to be with someone no matter what the cost, even if it means being miserable. "So let the sadness come again, I'm glad you can depend on me yeah, until the bitter end of the world, when God sleeps in bliss. I'm all by myself."
The album's last half is just as powerful with the ballad "Mayonaise" and the uptempo rock of "Geek USA" and "Silverf**k". The later is basically the finale a final bitter angry rant that sums up this album.
What's so amazing is the final track. After all the angriness, loneliness, and bitterness, "Luna" is an amazing ballad of love which simply states he's finally found what he's been looking for. After all the angriness its nice to have this beautiful track last.
This album is a must have. One of the best albums of the 90's, it stands apart from all other albums of its time. It may not have spurned many rip off bands like Nirvana did, but the Pumpkins brought something to the table that had never been done before and has rarely been emulated since.
Free Music Review: "We Are The Fossils And The Relics Of Our Time"
Hit: 5 Stars
Those who often wonder why the Smashing Pumpkins were so highly regarded back in the day need look no further than their second effort, 1993's "Siamese Dream." Not only did it prove to be a commercial breakthrough for the band, but it was also breaking new ground musically and set a standard for many bands to follow onward. While Gish got the band started on the right foot, this is truly the album where the Pumpkins' signature wall of sound was created, paving the way for the many experiments the band would exercise in it's troubled future.
Sure, you coud attribute this album's greatness to a lot of smoke and mirrors, due to the studio wizardy of Butch Vig, who creates an orchestra of guitars on many of the album's meatiest songs. But even at the core, the songs are still strong on their own. Whether "Siamese Dream" was recorded by layering electric guitar over electric guitar or simply put to tape on an acoustic guitar, the end result would have been equally as effective. In between massive rock songs like "Cherub Rock" and "Geek U.S.A." are the more tamer, lyric-driven "Mayonaise" and "Soma" which stand as proof that the Pumpkins can still keep it together stripped down. "Today," the album's biggest hit, is a perfect testament to Corgan's gift of crafting the perfect song, with it's infectious pop chorus driven by heavy guitars and seemingly sunny subject matter. Elsewhere, on the ironically titled "Quiet," Corgan digs into some old school Sabbath riffing, with it's guitars tuned lower than low, creating a signature sound. One thing that Smashing Pumpkins never got credit for is the riffs they created, and "Siamese Dream" is chock full of some of the best of the 90's.
Front to back, "Siamese Dream" is the kind of album you will keep coming back to, years and years after your first listen. Even fourteen years later, it's still an impressive piece of music that stands alone in it's genre. If the rumors are believed to be true, and Billy really did record all the strings himself, then he deserves a massive chunk of credit for crafting a perfect record which still sounds fresh today. Since the Smashing Pumpkins have reunited without reuniting, perhaps we don't have to worry about Billy messing things up. Regardless, "Siamese Dream" remains a cornerstone of any rock collection. Since it's not as dense as the sprawling Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness or as edgy and experimental as the latter day albums, it's definitely THE album for new fans to discover the Pumpkins.
Free Music Review: Relic of its time
Hit: 5 Stars
The Smashing Pumpkins were the perhaps the first rock 'n' roll band whose music really reached me on more than just a feel-good level, and I think the same thing can be said for many others as well. For the first time, rock music sounded great AND had meaning! For me, it all started with the band's morose tune "Drown" on the Singles: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack. Soon after, I picked up Gish, the Pumpkins' uncompromising debut album that features 10 solid songs worthy enough to be part of anyone's CD collection.
Nothing prepared me, however, or anyone else, for the masterpiece of "Siamese Dream" that awaited in 1993. This is simply beautifully melodic music from the heart. Billy Corgan and his band mates specialize in both dreamy atmospherics and razor-sharp moments of hard-hitting guitars. The Pumpkins revel in lullaby effects that often transform to crashing waves of sonic power -- indisputable stuff. Corgan's voice follows suit with the music; one moment he's crooning sugar-coated sweet nothings, and the next moment he's wailing with abandon as if his life depended on it.
The songs and lyrics on "Siamese Dream" are outstanding and practically hypnotic. Contrary to its name, "Quiet" is anything but; Corgan plays a buzzing guitar while Jimmy Chamberlain taps in his slap-happy way on drums at a near frantic pace. "Today" is an inspiring composition, a song about respecting and loving each and every day, no matter how odd or difficult that may be at certain times. "Hummer" contains the same heartfelt theme, plus features dreamily constructed atmospherics that are hard to resist.
To me, the Pumpkins' non-hit songs over the years often exceed the songs released for radio airplay -- and the tunes on "Siamese Dream" are no exception. If you haven't heard songs like "Soma," "Mayonaise," "Spaceboy," "Sweet Sweet" and "Luna," then you're missing out on some good stuff. Corgan is probably a musical genius who A) always says something meaningful within his lyrics; B) has a knack for mixing the pretty and the profane; C) never compromises his style; and D) knows the value of a good song and how it pleases his fans.
Free Music Review: Favorite album by my all-time favorite band...
Hit: 5 Stars
Everything wonderful I could say about this album has already been said repeatedly.. but the Smashing Pumpkins are my FAVORITE band and this is probably their best album, although Gish, Mellon Collie and Adore tie a close second. Every track is incredible.. Silverf*ck is the only one I never got that into and I'm not sure why.. but all the songs flow together seamlessly, which is unusual due to the fact that the album alternates between soft lullabies and pretty hard rock. It's hard to choose favorites but some "stand-out" tracks are Mayonaise, Spaceboy, Quiet, Geek U.S.A, Disarm, Today... see I'm just naming them all.. but that's a good sign! I get goosebumps every time I listen to Quiet and Geek U.S.A! And this album is truly special.. I can only allow myself to listen to it under special circumstances. Of course, I need a full hour of time so I can listen to it in its entirety. Secondly, it needs to be when I'm laying in my bed in the dark or in the car. This album doesn't reach its full potential until you listen to it in the dark; your other senses (eyes and such) aren't distracted, and you can fully concentrate on the music! I cannot tolerate interruptions during my listening of it, especially during a breathtaking guitar solo. I may sound crazy.. but I really believe it is just THAT good! Siamese Dream happened to be the 4th Smashing Pumpkins album I've become acquainted with. If you're new to SP, I want to say buy this album first, simply because I believe it's their best.. but then you may fall into the same position others have.. you will inevitably compare this album to their others and some are very different, so that can't be done! I feel you wouldn't fully appreciate the other Pumpkins' albums for all that they're worth.. so it's a tough call. But disregarding order of introduction, you definately need this album if you are a fan of rock.. no matter what particular subgenre you favor because SP incorporate numerous styles. Although many compare them to grunge bands of the 90's, such as Pearl Jam and Nirvana, their sound is pretty different. However, one thing I must recommend, is don't stop listening to it if you're turned off by the first listen. I was totally unimpressed upon my first listen but it grew on me, and eventually became my all-time favorite album! So don't give up!