Smashing PumpkinsSiamese Dream- Virgin
Rating: 8/10
The Smashing Pumpkins are regarded by most music critics and historians as one of the biggest bands in the 1990’s. Additionally, most critics agree that that it was the Pumpkins’ second album, Siamese Dream, that put them in the mainstream of Alternative music culture. While their first effort, Gish, contained hard-hitting singles like Siva and Rhinoceros it lacked the overlapping guitar riffs that drive the Pumpkins’ more accomplished work. Finally, Siamese Dream solidified The Smashing Pumpkins claim to being the premier Chicago band during the 1990’s.
The lead track on the album, Cherub Rock, opens with a quiet drum roll. Eventually, after a mere twenty-second introduction, the track launches into complete guitar mayhem. As if the overpowering distortions of the guitars weren’t enough, lead singer Billy Corgan’s lyrics provide the song with an added edge. In this case, the lyrics to Cherub Rock deal with mob mentality and mind-control.
Freak out, and give in
Doesn’t matter what you believe in
Stay coolAnd be somebody’s fool this year
cause they know who is righteous, what is bold
So I’m told
Specifically, it appears Corgan is singing about how the music industry, journalists and record execs alike attempt to control the way people listen to music.
The second track on the album is a contradiction in itself; Quiet is anything but quiet. However, while the track is heavy metal at its core, Quiet doesn’t cease to encompass beautiful vocals coupled with a brilliant bass and guitar balance. The overly-distorted guitar combined with the stand-out bassline creates a musical irony that fits perfectly in a heavy metal song named Quiet.
Next is Today; another song containing dueling and contradictory themes. While Corgan sings happily about living in The greatest day I’ve ever known, the chorus drives home some very different sentiments;
I wanted more
Than life could ever grant
Bored by the chore
Of saving face
While Today is certainly one of the more complicated songs on Siamese Dream, it is usually regarded as one of the album’s stand-out tracks.
In reality, the first three tracks of Siamese Dream set a formula of sorts for the rest of the album to follow; hard rock driven by overlapping guitars with soft, melodic moments in between. A fourth noteworthy track on the album is the hit single Disarm; an acoustic guitar track which features a beautiful string section and chilling lyrics;
Disarm you with a smile
And leave you like they left me here
To wither in denial
The bitterness of one who’s left alone
Ooh, the years burn
A final song worth mentioning is Mayonnaise; a track built like a single that never made it onto main stream radio. As is the theme of the album, Mayonnaise is led off with a melodic guitar serenade before quickly exploding into a powerful arena-rock song. Between the Zeppelin-like guitar introduction and the softly-spoken yet painfully depressing Billy Corgan lyrics, Mayonnaise is Siamese Dream delivered in one song.
Siamese Dream is an album laced with brilliant ironies and contradictions, both lyrically and musically. In Today, Corgan sings sarcastically about having a positive outlook on life. Yet, he also conveys continuously throughout the lyrics the pains and obstacles that stem from depression. In a musical sense, even the album’s more optimistic tracks have a dark musical overtone. In most cases, the sense of depression is derived from the deep, bruising guitar riffs.
As for its impact on the Chicago music scene, Siamese Dream solidified The Smashing Pumpkins’ spot in mainstream music alongside alt-rock giants like Pearl Jam, Jane’s Addiction, and Nirvana. Finally, a city other than Seattle had bragging rights to an Alternative band of its own. The Smashing Pumpkins could have moved their band to a more convenient city like New York or Los Angeles, but instead, they opted to remain here in Chicago and rock out in a city whose music scene was beginning to fall off the national map.
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