THE DEATH OF THE MIX TAPE
​
Picture
  • Blog
    • Wordpress Feed
  • REACHING OUT:
  • SHOW PICS
  • MY TOP 100 SONGS OF ALL TIME

WITHOUT A CARE IN THIS WHOLE WORLD( OR THE TOP TEN SMASHING PUMPKINS SONGS)

11/23/2015

0 Comments

 
Among prominent bands of the 90’s, Billy Corgan, Jimmy Chamberlain, D’Arcy Wretzky and  James Iha stand up as one of the better and more groundbreaking ones. As the Smashing Pumpkins they had a mix of angst, polish, and on point instrumentation that make them stand out among their contemporaries. Seeing them live was vastly disappointing the times I witnessed it, but they easily make up one of the best on-album bands I’ve ever heard. Today we talk about their top ten best songs. Hope you enjoy!

10. Frail and Bedazzled, Pisces Iscariot
So after the massive success of  “Siamese Dream,” “Pisces Iscariot,” a B-Sides record not as good or in depth as the previous album was released. It actually did better initially than SD, but that’s neither here nor there. This song in particular though, showcases them much in the same way sonically that they appear in the groundbreaking former effort. It has all the technical aspects in terms of playing that you’d come to expect from the extremely proficient Corgan and Chamberlain, and because of that, it begins our countdown of the Smashing Pumpkins Top 10.


9. Geek U.S.A., Siamese Dream
This record, for the record, is easily the best work the band ever did, in my opinion. The whole album has this slick yet abrasive polish over it, and much like the rest of the tracks, “Geek U.S.A.” roars to life with a great drum opening right before the guitar comes screeching in and amps it up to a raucous level. The song speaks highly to my need to head bang when I was the appropriate age, but all these years later the song still really rocks. It’s placement near the end of the record also helps to keep up the momentum while still adding in gorgeously layered textures after all of the chaos has ignited our fire.


8. the Everlasting Gaze, MACHINA/ The Machine of God
Following the epic nature of “Mellon Collie,” the band began what I like to refer to as their Corgan-centric experimental phase. This song, while at first glance is typical Pumpkins, really pushes the limits of what the world had known of the band before it. The crunchy guitar part, and the slight synthy vibe permeating through the track show yet again that they were more than content with exploring new chasms in their sound. The chorus also is one of the better ones in their catalog, and the backing tracks and ominous keyboards all add to the jumble in a really cold, mechanical way.


7. Siva, Gish
“Gish” in my opinion is an rarely mentioned album that made possible the success of “Siamese Dream.” With each album they grew and grew, but without this initial step I doubt they would’ve come as far as they did. Finding us at number seven on the Top Ten Smashing Pumpkins tracks, “Siva” explores depths that most up and coming bands don’t really get to navigate. That’s just how good this band was in the early stages. Even snippets of the track showcase how well the can juxtapose soft ethereal backgrounds with in your face guitar focused rock. For me this song really helped prove to the band that they could mix those two elements, which ultimately helped to create “Soma” and “Porcelina of the Vast Oceans,” which we’ll get to shortly.


6. Disarm, Siamese Dream
Even if you’re a casual SP fan more than likely you’ve heard this hauntingly tumultuous song. I mean it's only been playing on modern rock radio stations for the last two decades or more. For me though I always remember hearing this in the car with my mom and being instantly drawn to the message of melancholy in the song. The song, meant as a message to Corgan's parents for the way he was treated, resonates with a multitude of people in similar situations, and that’s what draws me to the song, even today. Corgan pours his emotions out in “Disarm” more than in any other song I’ve heard from the band, and the echoing line of “Killer in me is the killer in you” serves as a cold sobering reminder of how much the anger our parents have is transmitted internally to us and how we have to fight to vanquish it.


5. Bodies, Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness
This probably isn't the most obvious choice, but infact this song kicks more ass than most of the songs on this magnum opus of a record. The heaviness is palpable throughout, and Corgan's howls perfectly fuse the instrumentation together and make the song an instant headbanger with much power and stamina behind it. Showing up very early on the records second disc, “Bodies” marries some of the more intense music the band ever created with a very eerie background that ultimately brings us back into the doom and gloom that make the song a killer intense song. For years it’s been one of my favorite “MC&TIS” tracks, and today it lands at the halfway mark of the Smashing Pumpkins Top Ten songs.


4. Cherub Rock, Siamese Dream
Everything from the opening drum beat to the flawlessly executed guitar opens makes the song what it is, which is a powerhouse force that brilliantly opens up what I think is their best, most well rounded album. It’s lo-fi in a somewhat abstract way, but overall the sound coming from the speakers speaks volumes on where the band was during this area. Billy’s vocals are crisp as well as murky, but it’s this back and forth that helps make the track so intriguing to me. Few bands could accomplish this back in the day, but it seemed as though the Pumpkins did it with ease. I mean, you have to be doing something right when you’re the headlining band of Lollapalooza over the Beastie Boys right?


3. Porcelina of the Vast Oceans, Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness
I think this song is only possible because with “Soma,” off of “Siamese Dream” the band figured out they could make long songs that weren’t difficult to get through. The Pumpkins have a few lengthy songs, but this is my favorite, without a doubt. The lush backgrounds of the music give way over time to a bombastic signature sound only they could achieve. And I mean all four of them, not just Corgan. It’s nearly three minutes before vocals come in, and while they’re great, the real story here is the perfection in terms of mixing. Corgan’s vocals are done in such a way that they just peek out during the verses, but come full force during the epic choruses. Jimmy Chamberlain meanwhile, is able to navigate the drums like a sail covering the black waters of the night. Among the amazing songs found on “Mellon Collie,” “Porcelina of the Vast Oceans” is among the most remarkable and triumphant.


2. Soma, Siamese Dream
And finally as we approach the number one spot, we’re treated to a wonderful monument of a song. “Soma,” number seven on “SD” but number two on this countdown, is one of the more mythological sounding songs I’ve ever heard from the band, I say mythological not in the Hercules way, but more in the way of being surrounded and living a beautiful, hazy life in a wonderfully plentiful garden that shines brilliantly in the starry night. The opening movements are splendid, and when the guitar exposes itself to the world, the song is truly part of the atmosphere. What they do here is incredible to say the least, and it’s because of its epic nature that it lands at number two on the Top Ten Smashing Pumpkins songs.



1. Today, Siamese Dream
They may have started to wane as the 90’s drew to a close, but there was once a time when the original Pumpkins were simply incredible. Especially on “Siamese Dream.” Even more especially on this track, “Today.” From the very first time I heard the opening guitar notes, and the overall nostalgic lyrics, it was like  I was transported to a different world. It was easily my favorite song period for years and years, and even if I hear it today, I still take the time to enjoy. All of the band really delivers a potent, classic alternative track. Corgan, Chamberlin, Iha, and Wretzky all bring something simple and pure to the song, and in the end, that’s why maybe the band worked so well, until Corgan officially took over and axed everyone. Having said that though, Today isn’t simply a great song by a great band, but it serves as one of the happiest musical memories i have from my teenager years, and it will likely always hold a special place for me. Thanks for reading!

0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    Landon Murray is a music connooisseur who craves sounds of all shapes and textures. He's seen over 2000 bands and looks forward to welcoming you into his world of sound, 

    Archives

    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    August 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014

    Categories

    All
    30 Seconds To Mars
    90's Rock Bands
    ALIVE 2007
    Al Jourgensen
    ALL THESE THINGS THAT I'VE DONE
    Animal Collective
    Animal Collective Merriweather Post Pavillion
    Anti-Christ Superstar
    Antics
    Arcade Fire Suburbs
    Arcade Fire Top 10
    Armenian Rock Music
    ART OF COMPOSING
    As The Palaces Burn
    Avalanches Since I Left You
    Badmotorfinger
    Beach House
    Beastie Boys Ill Communication
    Beck Odelay
    Best Albums Of 2015
    BEST ALBUMS OF 2020
    Best Albums Of The 1990's
    Best Albums Of The 2000's
    BEST ALBUMS OF THE 80'S
    Best Albums Of The 90's
    Best Bjork Songs
    Best Black Sabbath Songs
    Best Concerts Of 2015
    Best Converge Songs
    Best Driving Music
    BEST KILLERS SONGS
    Best Lamb Of God Songs
    Best Metal Albums
    Best Metal Albums Of The 2000's
    Best Slayer Songs
    BEST SONGS OF 2020
    Best System Of A Down Songs
    Bjork Homogenic
    Black Sabbath
    Bon Iver
    Bounce Music
    Canadian Music Duo
    Children Of The Grave
    Chris Cornell
    CHVRCHES
    Comeback Albums
    COURTNEY BARNETT
    Cradle Of Filth
    Daft Punk Great Album
    DAFT PUNK LIVE
    Dan Deacon Best Songs
    Dan Deacon Interview
    David Bowie
    David Bowie Guests
    Death From Above 1979
    Deftones
    Dimmu Borgir
    DISINTEGRATION ALBUM REVIEW
    EAGLES OF DEATH METAL
    FLAMING LIPS
    FOLKLORE ALBUM REVIEW
    Foo Fighters
    FOO FIGHTERS COLOUR AND THE SHAPE
    Great Albums Of The 90's
    Great Driving Records
    Great Interpol Tracks
    Great Southern Trendkill
    Halloween Weekend
    HANS ZIMMER
    Heartbroken Love Songs
    History Of Black Sabbath
    History Of Pantera
    Homogenic Songs
    Iceland Singer
    IDLES
    Interpol Best Songs
    Iron Maiden
    Jane Doe
    Jeff Buckley
    Joshua Homme Queens
    Judas Priest
    Kevin Parker Genuis
    KILLER MIKE EL-P
    Killswitch Engage
    LATERALUS ALBUM
    Liam Finn
    Loveless Great Album My Bloody Valentine
    M83
    MASSIVE ATTACK 100TH WINDOW
    Massive Attack Best Album
    Mastodon Leviathan
    MC HAMMER 2 LEGIT TO QUIT BAD VIDEO
    Mechanical Animals
    MEGAN THEE STALLION
    Mellon Collie And The Infinite Sadness
    Meshuggah Nothing
    Michael Jackson Dangerous
    Ministry
    MUMFORD AND SONS BEST SONGS
    Muse Top 10 Songs
    Neutral Milk Hotel
    New Orleans Music Festival
    New Orleans Republic
    New Wave Of American Heavy Metal
    Nineinch Nails
    Nine Inch Nails Sad
    Nirvana In Utero
    Nothingface
    Nothingface Violence Review
    Outkast
    Ozzfest
    Ozzy Osbourne Vocals
    Panda Bear
    Pantera History
    Paranoid
    POLITICAL RAP
    Portishead
    PORTISHEAD DUMMY
    Post Rock New York
    Queens Of The Stone Age Great Albums
    Queens Of The Stone Age Top Ten
    Queen Triumphant Songs
    RADIOHEAD Best Songs
    Radiohead Ok Computer
    RADIOHEADS BEST ALBUM
    Radiohead Top Ten
    Rage Against The Machine Debut
    RAMING DJAWADI
    Randy Blythe
    Reign In Blood
    ROBERT SMITH
    RUN THE JEWELS
    RYAN ADAMS
    Salem Metal Converge
    Shaky Knees Festival
    Shaky Knees Music Festival
    Shameless Love Of Taylor Swift
    Slayer
    Smashing Pumpkins Best Songs
    Songs For The Deaf
    Songs For The Deaf Queens Of The Stone Age
    Soulfly
    Soundgarden
    STORY OF NINE INCH NAILS
    Superunknown Album
    Tame Impala
    TAME IMPALA LONERISM
    TAYLOR SWIFT
    The Beatles Driving
    THE CURE
    THE CURE BEST SONGS
    The Downward Spiral Great Album
    THE KILLERS TOP TEN
    The Physical World
    The Strokes
    THE WEEKND
    Thrash Metal
    Tony Iommi Guitar
    TOOL
    TOOL GREAT ALBUMS
    TOOL TOP TEN
    Top 10
    TOP 40 ALBUMS OF THE 2010's
    TOP SONGS OF 2015
    Top Ten Bjork Songs
    Top Ten Black Sabbath Songs
    Top Ten Interpol Songs
    Top Ten Lamb Of God Songs
    Top Ten Ministry Songs
    Top Ten Slayer Songs
    Top Ten System Of A Down Songs
    Toxicity
    TRENT REZNOR
    Triumphant Songs
    Turn On The Bright Lights
    Tv On The Radio
    Type O Negative
    Valentines Day Songs
    Vinnie Paul Drumming
    Voodoo Music Experience
    Warpaint
    Watch The Throne
    Weezer Blue Album
    Yeah Yeah Yeahs Best Songs
    Yeah Yeah Yeahs Top Ten Songs
    YOSHIMI

    RSS Feed


    Are you looking for the old Wordpress blog posts?
    Wordpress Feed

Background Image
Site by Shake&Blur
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.