Siamese Dream
The Smashing Pumpkins
1993
Album Summary
Siamese Dream is the second studio album by American alternative rock band the Smashing Pumpkins, released on July 27, 1993, on Virgin Records. The album has received widespread acclaim by audiences and critics alike, with the album's musical influences and lyrical material standing out compared to other alternative records released during its time. The album has since been considered "one of the finest alt-rock albums of all time".Despite recording sessions fraught with difficulties and tensions, Siamese Dream debuted at number ten on the Billboard charts, and eventually was certified 4× Platinum, with the album selling over six million copies worldwide, cementing the Smashing Pumpkins as an important group in alternative rock music. Four singles were released in support of Siamese Dream: "Cherub Rock", "Today", "Disarm", and "Rocket". In addition to receiving widespread critical acclaim upon its release, Siamese Dream has widely been regarded as one of the greatest albums of the 1990s, and one of the greatest albums of all time. Rolling Stone magazine has ranked it between numbers 341 - 362 on various versions of their 500 Greatest Albums of All Time list.
WikipediaEpic album from the Pumpkins. Not only one of their best pieces of work, but I feel it's one of the greatest rock records in existence. Packed full of killer writing and musicianship, emotional Siamese Dreams blows my mind on so many levels from beginning to end. I am so grateful to have gotten to see them perform many of these songs live on 3 occasions. Zowie!
"Siamese Dream" is pretty tortured. I'm not tortured now, and don't think I was in the 90s (although most teens feel tortured to some extent?), certainly not like Corgan (with abuse during his childhood and recent relationship issues framing much of early Pumpkins), but damned if this album doesn't just do it for me anyway. I really like this album, maybe even more than I did in the 90s. It is intense and filled with agonized passion - it's raw and exposed and vulnerable and electric - both in subject matter and musical vibe. Like a lot of 90s alt-rock and grunge, the lyrics are poetic and often indecipherable, but it doesn't matter (to me). Breathy when it needs to be breathy, screaming earnestly at just the right peaks. James Iha's guitar (though apparently Corgan was super controlling in the studio and recorded everyone's parts himself) is alternatingly crunchy, soaring, soft - for some tracks they apparently layered and overdubbed the guitar parts dozens of times. Whatever that means, they get an amazing rich sound out of it. Pretty sure back in the day I put on my headphones and zoned out to this album like Mitch at the end of "Dazed and Confused." (This is not the album on this list that I would have expected to be the first to make me think of that top 5 of all-time movie, but I am sure it won't be the last.) The first half of the album is filled with gems, hitting a crescendo with "Disarm," brilliant and haunting with its orchestral build hinting at the softer direction for parts of "Mellon Collie." But they interweave hard-edged rage with soft emotional rawness seamlessly in numerous places, even better on "Siamese Dream" than on "Mellon Collie." Smashing Pumpkins stands out sonically from other early 90s alt-rock - it doesn't really fit with the Northwest grunge sound, doesn't fit with punk rock, doesn't fit with lo-fi shoegaze, Smashing Pumpkins really carved their own unique space.
This one held up really well. Just a great album. The composition, instrumentation, and lyrics are all on point. I know a lot of folks hate on Corgan's voice but it's never bothered me and it matches the lyrics and feel of these songs so well. Just really great.
I dig it. Heavily distorted, but not at the expense of good riffs and melodies. It's a bit long, but not overlong, and I think its length reflects the hazy/grunge musical style. Of course, I'm all-too-familiar with the tracks "Cherub Rock" and "Today," thanks to Guitar Hero. They hold up, and there are a number of other great songs here, too. I'm not sure if I'd heard a Smashing Pumpkins album before today, but this one makes the appeal perfectly clear. Favorite tracks: Cherub Rock, Today, Sweet Sweet Album art: I like it. Looks like the original was just the photo of these two girls, and a reissue added the purple filter and orange background. Both look good to me, but I think I prefer the purple and orange. Filtering and reissuing an album cover like that seems to be a recognition of classic status. 4/5
This album makes me sad, there's some great, no amazing, melodies here and some really interesting ideas....but the execution is god-awful. I hate the lead singer's voice, I hate it with a passion. The man sounds like if Spongebob was doing a Kurt Cobain impersonation. It honestly hurts to listen to, it haunts my dreams, it's my waking nightmare. I don't know if I will ever find the words to properly describe my hatred of this man's singing. There's some beautiful songs here, but the fact that they're ruined so much makes this album even sadder to listen to. When I heard the opening lines of the first song my immediate freudean thought was "butt-rock" the singer sounds like he belongs in a shitty 3 doors down cover band. Overall I'm giving it 2 stars because the melodies are actually really good and the song progression and composition is interesting.
"Today" is one of the greatest songs ever written and the rest of the album holds up around it
Loved the guitar work - it seemed multi-layered and symphonic to some degree. Laidback and interesting music .
For me this album is their absolute high point - barely a step wrong in the entire album - brilliant stuff
Glad i finally got around to listening to the whole thing. Great stuff
"Billy Corgan, Smashing Pumpkins." "Homer Simpson, nodding politely." This is the best album that Smashing Pumpkins made and one of the most iconic albums in alternative rock history and a relic of the 90s.
OMG, this album used to mean so much to me. I've already played it to death, but here we go.
12/28 Phenomenal album. This is the hard rock I'm looking for, smashing instrumentals across heavy lyrics, the artwork ties the knot. Standout Tracks: Cherub Rock, Hummer, Soma, Geek U.S.A., Silverfuck
I loved this band back in the day, and for some reason fell out with them until I went back a few years ago. I know a lot of people don't like Corgan, and there's good reason for that, but this album rocks. Best track: Today
Amazing album with so much great songs. Every song is about something that goes on in his mind , about struggles with his past and how because of these struggles he is still affected until today. this and some amazing work on the guitar makes this a classic 9.3/10
I already knew this album. Its great. Cherub rock, Today are classics. Some new ones I never listened to: Rocket, Disarm, Soma, Geek U.S.A.
Dearie me, mass regret on not listening to this whole album before now. What a cracker- perfect mix of all instruments and vocal
I'm excited for this one! I like what I know from Smashing Pumpkins and looking forward to hearing more. Cherub Rock is a great way to start an album. Loved this from start to finish.
Prachtig! Van A tot Z goed. Hier en daar een tikje pathetisch, maar ach, dat was ik in de tijd ook.
Ja, dit is een van mijn all time favorites en nu al een classic voor mij. Kan deze plaat moeiteloos van top tot teen luisteren. Geweldige rauwe sound en catchy nummers. En probs voor Billy die alles zelf inspeelde terwijl die andere bandleden hun neus aan het poederen waren
Classic album. The Pumpkins arrive as grunge/alt-rock lords. Sludgy guitars, huge riffs, feline vocals and gigantic drums. Great stuff. Best Tracks: Cherub Rock, Geek U.S.A., Mayonaise
For me this album is their absolute high point - barely a step wrong in the entire album - brilliant stuff
ES BUENÍSIMO se volvió uno de mis álbumes favoritos es un placer de escuchar
JFC, I just listened to Smashing Pumpkins yesterday! This album is about 100 times better than that one. Somehow Corgan's voice works way better with these songs. They are harder hitting and are genuinely inspired. Especially, Cherub Rock which I love. But seriously, what kind of idiot thinks TWO smashing pumpkins alums need to be on a list of 1001 albums. They should have only included this one.
Siamese Dream is a quintessential 90s album that stands the test of time.
Today - First riff I ever played on guitar. The fuzzy harmonies of Cherub Rock's guitar.
Such a great album. Cherub rock is an incredible opener that sets the rest up perfectly
While, as others have pointed out, this album is less polished than melancholy, I find that to be a point in its favor. I like that’s it’s a little more raw, a little more rough around the edges. I love this album. I find Disarm to be hauntingly beautiful. All in all, this album is so quintessentially 90s and yet has so many levels it keeps me coming back.
Gish was about to takeoff and was eclipsed by Nevermind and then Siamese Dream was released. The Pumpkins really took off with Infinite Sadness which was their most polished and seemed to give everything to everyone. The relevance of the Pumpkins lies in Gish and Siamese Dream, even Pisces Iscariot to an extent (Landslide cover rivals the original). Soft and suspenseful song opens turn to raucous distortion and loose chaos. Similar to Infinite Sadness, there is range and it's not all gnarled mayhem and anarchy on SD. While Billy Corgan seems like a monster, Sweet Sweet is beautiful; the intro to Mayonaise; beautiful, Soma; lovely even Rocket's song open calms with a wonderful distorted repeater riff. Musically, every song is evocative despite the lyrics. From the first track... the slow peppy build to furious excitement is incredible. However, if there's one thing that I dislike about this album it's the song Disarm. What a blugh downer song. It sounds like Eeyore wrote it. And then there's the lyric... I always thought the lyric was "cut that little child, SODOMY is such a part of you" uhhhh BUZZKILL - you can't put that word and 'child' in a song!! WTF? (... though today the lyrics read "...cut that little child, INSIDE OF ME and such a part of you"). I dunno, Billy Corgan has always seemed to be a tortured artist with a bullhorn that's never big enough. Regardless, I've got a lot of great memories tied to this album. It was on repeat for months when I moved out and was living downtown Richmond. I may have evolved some (not much) but to me, this album will always be relevant.
A lot of TSP's songs sound very similar, so I typically don't realize just how many of them I really enjoy.
Disarm is the song that made me discover Smashing Pumpkins. Love the fuzzy guitars
The alt rock album of the 90s. The musicianship on this album is incredible. I’m particularly a big fan of the lead guitar lines and Jimmy Chamberlin’s drumming. Furthermore, Billy Corgan has a gift for melody that cuts through the albums heaviest moments
Great album - I knew the big hits, the ones with music videos, but the stuff deeper into the album is great as well. Geek USA got my 10 year old headbanging.
That feeling of nineties nostalgia. Brilliant album from start to finish.
I always choose for Gish and had not listened to this album fo many years. Never expected at the time that the Pumpkins would become so big. I thought they would reach a status like The Pixies or Sonic Youth but they went stadium-style starting with this album, without making any concessions to their music. OK, the production is more radio-friendly than Gish. But that's a big plus: this is one of the best-produced albums ever, the guitars on this album sounded great and they still do! And the songs are great too - unlike the OK Computer album from a few days ago, there is no single weak song on it. The lyrics are mwah but at least they are not annoying like on The Downward Spiral, so fine.
5+, great sound, great memories, great album. Still play it from time to time
Awesome album I have listened to it before but would listen to it over and over. This is my kind of music so it was a good start to this journey!
Absolute classic 90s alt album. Lyrically deep and musically dense. I love how layered it is. You can really hear the MBV influence.
This is an absolute monster of an album. “Today” is such a beautiful, tragic song. Peak Corgan sad boi brilliance. The whole thing is a solid listen all the way through, love it!
Great album, flows really well, numerous great songs, "Today" probably my favourite. I would definitely add to my physical music collection.
I had not heard the whole thing before, but I recognize a lot of the songs. I enjoyed it
This is just a great album through and through. The big hits (Today, Disarm) are great and the non-singles are just as good if not better. Mayonnaise is just amazing, but even better if you're in a brooding state of mind. Some of the songs might not quite be 5 star level, but the ones that are more than make up for it.
The first album I ever bought myself was not this one, but it was Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness. This is a great flashback.
5 This album brings me a tone of dream to memories that became raw by the way sometimes our actions decay in something less ideal and more true, but it still invites me to try and rediscover the dream, the emotions, the simple actions, what lasts and that's always a glimpse of what it is. The album reminds me people I like, and how "Soma" felt lovely and surprised me when I first listened to the song on the radio long years ago, driving home in a silent tired sleepy peaceful night.
The first album I've already heard!!! And I already know it's a 5/5 for me!!! Excited to relisten though!!! I adore the changes in pace and energy, the floaty instrumentals in the quieter bits are so dreamy and gorgeous, and the guitars in the louder bits are SO BLOODY GOOD!! Heck I forgot Silverfuck is almost 9min long, it just flies by (for me anyway) because it is so COOL I may be biased because this is an album I've been coming back to regularly since I was...15? There's a reason for that though
I love this album. So many good songs & sounds. Smashing Pumpkins sound like no one else. Rocket has always been my favorite pumpkins song, beginning of Hummer is amazing.
Ok, I'll squeeze this up to five. This is probably a nostalgia thing because I discovered them after this record, but for as much as I am a fan of the Pumpkins, especially Mellon Collie, followed behind by Adore, this album never latched on with me. It should have though. Every time I listen, I like it more, and wonder why I don't play it more frequently. There is some truly great rock here. Amazing guitars, dynamics, songwriting. Many things that stand out in later Pumpkins songs feel like they really started here.
The guitar sounds on this record are incredible. The way Corgan uses fuzz is so well done and adds so much to their sound that it makes everything he did sound thinner by comparison. Beyond that, the songwriting is perfect. 10/10
Drumming is next level. Screams 90's, but screams it so well. That baroque style terraced dynamics marks this as an early-ish grunge winner. Disarm is such a great tune and Today with that cool riff makes this album a classic.
Oh, pero qué decir de este disco. Llegué a los esmáchin con el Mellon Collie y me costó varios años entender este disco. Era menos sofisticado, menos ecléctico como el posterior disco doble, pero por allá en 1999 finalmente caí y se me abrieron esas joyas como Rocket, Soma, Mayonaise. Es un clásico de los 90 que alcancé a descubrir al final de esa década, cuando el desgano de los grunge ya se había disuelto.
If it weren’t for Mellon Collie and The Infinite Sadness, I’d say this is the best Smashing Pumpkins album. Still, it’s one of the best guitar and drum albums of all time.
I was instantly transported back to the 90s when the intro to Cherub Rock kicked in. This is a classic and still sounds amazing.
Just played the 'weaker' second half of the album and it's fantastic, every track a potential hit. Nirvana have the cool, the zeitgeist, the amazing live events, and the aura of tragic glamour - and the songs that defined a generation. But they never made an album as strong as this.
Woh! Smashing Pumkins are legendary. Billy Corgan is an absolute MONSTER singer. You can pick his voice out from anywhere. Not the best album they have but still has some huge songs on this album and they never forget their true rock feel with heavy guitar and drums.
are the pumpkins smashing as in the verb “to smash” or smashing as in the british adjective
5.0 + My musical ground zero - the band and the record that ushered me full-force into rock music as a teen. I listened to this album more than any other, and can sing it all the way through. So many amazing moments here - from the guitar solo in "Cherub Rock", to the contemplative end of "Hummer", to the drumming on "Geek USA", to the trippy middle of "Silverfuck", to the gorgeous homage to shoegazer rock with "Mayonaise"...Confronting past demons head-on, believing in a better tomorrow and swirling with psychedelic color.
Approached with some trepidation given my ambivalence for Melon Collie… I was surprisingly bowled over by Siamese Dreams. Tight, controlled, impactful and bold, this is as perfect an alt rock 90s album as you could wish for. Corgan brings his A game, the production is excellent and the album is an emotional experience without seeming histrionic and all the more powerful for that. 4.5 stars? But I’m in a generous mood so 5 it is.