Siamese Dream

I just can't get past my dislike for Billy Corgans voice. I've always thought the Pumpkins were a bit boring, but I was wrong and there is actually some good tracks on here, with a different vocalist this could be a pretty good album. But. It's still a good 3* album.

When i first listened to this album about 12 years ago (15 year old me decided to start seeking the good music, Nice Try Iggy Azalea!), my mind was blown and genuinely, this was one of my favorite first listens ever to this day. The main critique is Billy's voice, or just his overbearing fingerprints on this album in general (Band was obviously a mess behind the scenes). And there's no doubt that later on it was just too much to overcome. But Their first 3 albums are 3 of the absolute best. So as far as this one goes? All these years later, this still holds up for all the right reasons for me. Cherub Rock, Today, Disarm, Mayonnaise, Rocket, Soma are all still unskippables to this day. The depth beyond the big hits still really holds up as well, Geek USA being a prime example of that. Most will say Mellon Collie was their best, some will even argue Gish. But to me, this was the best of the bunch. Siamese Dream has the best guitar work, the most polished and focused record, an absolute emotional roller coaster and in my opinion, the perfect pace for the average listener to appreciate. No doubt in my mind, 5/5 (P.S, this is album 5/1089 for me, and ive gotten Thriller, 2 Beatles albums and this, does this mean im about to get some absolute bizarre records going forward? oh goodness)

Not bad

"Words defy the plan. When I can I will" There's a poetic symmetry between Mayonnaise and Pink Floyd's Fearless that is eternal. Just like this album is eternal. I love every note, every sonic fuzz, every word and every song. I begged a friend of mine to let me borrow the cd in fifth grade (back when cds were like 24 dollars or some other insurmountable amount of money to a 10 year old. And when he finally relented and I was able to move beyond the Cherub Rocks, and the Disarms and the Todays I had heard hundreds of times on the radio I rapidly had a new favorite band that lasted at least through MCIS and maybe even through Adore.

My dislike of Billy Corgans voice made listening to the entire album such a chore. The songs aren't bad by any means, but the whiny vocals are difficult to overlook when it comes to Smashing Pumpkins. 2.5 rounded down.

A solid start. The album had good range, and I particularly enjoyed the grungier tracks like Quiet. Top Tracks: Quiet, Mayonaise

Great sounding album. Couldn't quite click with the style of the singing personally but can't deny there are some good songs on there.

Such a great album, I mean you got Cherub Rock, Luna, Disarm, Spacebar, all on here. Amazing. It's such a unique vibe for me that I just cannot get enough of.

A few good ones

I think I enjoy this enough to give it a light 3. It's punk, it's distorted, but it also has a modern sensibility and harmonic style that I like. In its best moments, the album can sound almost like shoegaze, kind of like my bloody valentine. But there are also several tracks that fall flat as tends to be the case with these longer albums.

Just as I (partially) came around to liking my former hometown (Jacksonville) band, Lynyrd Skynyrd, I've also (partially) come around to liking my current hometown (Chicago) band, Smashing Pumpkins. I was already living here when this came out (1993), and have heard plenty of them on the radio ever since. This was their second album, and launched them to major popular success; tracks 3 and 6 still get a lot of play on WXRT. Billy Corgan's voice is an acquired taste which I still haven't fully acquired, but I guess I've become inured to it, via repeated long-term exposure. Anyway, how do I rate this? Gonna go with a high 3. Don't think I can quite justify a 4 (the voice problem, plus not a style of music that I love), although I will say that they combined hard/guitar-driven rock and alternative rock in an interesting way - which, come to think of it, is, I guess, kind of what grunge is -- so I can see why they're sometimes lumped in with that).

I'm surprising myself by giving four stars here. I don't like the whiny singer, and I don't like music that has a wash of guitars the whole time. It's a low four for those reasons. But this album is more than that. It's more ambitious than just a rock album. "Disarm" is a beautiful message, great song. Same with "Today." The album effectively conveys different emotions and moods. Melancholia is the most common one, and one that I admittedly have a soft spot for. Also, there are some good riffs It should have ended with Silverfuck, it's a bit too long

always amazing

One of the best album intros ever Sort of sands the edges off of shoegaze to deliver these phenomenal walls of layered (seriously layered, like nearly 100 times apparently on some songs?) guitar in a more straightforward alt rock grungy package. But then some of the quieter tracks like disarm and luna are fantastic too, and kind of tease what songs like “tonight tonight” were going to sound like on mellon collie Today has such a catchy yet simple riff running through it, and I really like most of the other tracks, though it’s not quite an album I’ve played to death, which I suppose is a good thing. Mayonaise (sic) might be my favourite, stood out more to me after hearing it in the finale of that Netflix show Beef a few years ago

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While the album's overall mastering feels noticeably compressed and a bit unusual at times, Siamese Dream by The Smashing Pumpkins remains a strong and captivating alt-rock showcase driven by memorable songwriting and stellar guitar work. The tracklist is hit-and-miss across its runtime—stretching from uninspired spots like "Rocket" and "Disarm" to overlong entries like "Hummer"—yet its highest points deliver tremendous payoff. Standout tracks shine bright through beautiful melodic hooks ("Today," "Soma"), energetic and title-defining drives ("Geek USA"), and explosive, unforgettable climaxes ("Silverfuck"), all anchored by impressive solos and surprisingly intimate vocal moments ("Spaceboy"). Ultimately, despite its slightly bizarre audio production, the sheer quality and dynamic variety of the music make Siamese Dream a thoroughly enjoyable listen.

Band I should like but don't: round 2. It's fine. Bit of the guitar and drum work stood out from time to time but otherwise I still don't find The Smashing Pumpkins to be all that interesting. I was too young in '93 to go for depressing teen angst so I guess I just missed the boat with these guys.

Ok

One song covers it.

Skilful guitar riffs by Corgan, good variety in the album whilst maintaining sonic cohesiveness throughput. This is a blast of nostalgia back to the 90s accompanied with Corgan’s nasally vocals, which grow on you.

Liebs, dass ein Song namens Mayonnaise auf dem Album ist

5/10

Thumbs up!

I can see why this was big in the 90s, but unfortunatly an hour of this doesn't really do anything for me

Wow.

Practicamente solo habia escuchado Today, grata sorpresa

Listened before? No, but I know several of the songs. Familiar with the artist? Yes Thoughts: - I never really got into the Smashing Pumpkins for some reason, but I do like all the hits. - Today is the greatest.. song on this album (sorry) - Wait maybe Disarm is actually the greatest song. I think I prefer their slower songs because I can actually understand what he's saying, lol. Spaceboy is also great. Favorite track(s): Today, Disarm

Siamese Dream — Smashing Pumpkins Pre-listening: Know it like my family phone number. Let’s avoid the classics (Cherub Rock, Today, Disarm) for the top 3. Best: Hummer Runner-up: Silverfuck Third: Mayonnaise Post-listening: Absolutely love this album and my bias will show. Always have. It roped me in from the very beginning with one of my favorite album openers of all time; Cherub Rock. A heavy guitar sound with a running base line with loud ass drums and lyrics like “Who wants honey? As long as there’s some money!” How can it not glue you in? The album covers all grunge the bases: angry (Cherub Rock), sad (Soma), really sad (Disarm), happy-sad/sad-happy (Today), existentialism (Hummer), oddly appreciative (Spaceboy), inner tranquility/acceptance (Quiet/Mayonnaise), mistaking love for lust (Luna — FU Courtney Love), and alienation (Geek UsA). While I always love listening to it, I do realize that Corgan is off-putting to many. But you can’t deny this album. It’s just too essential to grunge, the 90s, and allowed for emo, shoegaze, and alternative to grow. The album reminds us about the beauty of looking deeper than the surface. While most of the catchy songs are sadder than the melancholy songs, it begs you as the listener to dig deeper. And if lyrical analysis isn’t your gig, they give you a fallback with instrumentation that’s both obtainable but mastery. What I love so much about Siamese is that Corgan isn’t and absolutely is the focal point of the album. Almost all of the songs are about some aspect of his life, painting the troubled upbringing and (at the time) current situations of his life, but the instrumentals are what make it so melodic and make you want to put the album in your rotation again and again. This is The Smashing Pumpkins at their best. I will die on that hill. It might not have the hits of Melancholy and might not have the ready for radio quality that Adore had, but it isn’t as hard to get through as Melancholy or as forgettable as Adore. My only critique is that they should have ended the album on Silverfuck that ends with a sound that screams the essence of grunge music and not Luna (some bullshit profession of love to Courtney Love (pre-Cobain)). Rating: 10/10 Stars: 5/5

Legendary 90's release, solid from top to bottom. Starting off with a banger in "Cherub Rock" and finishing with the slow "Luna" after an exhaustingly good 10 songs in between. 5 stars, easily. This album encapsulates the 90's sound, it was such a huge hit album and you couldn't get away from it at parties, at bars, on the radio. This is their finest album and is so creative with not just hard grunge songs and screaming guitars but with lovely melodies and heartfelt lyrics. "Today" (425M listens), "Cherub Rock" (233M) and the timeless "Disarm" (333M) were the big radio hits but glue tracks and fan favs like "Mayonaise", "Spaceboy" (personal fav), "Luna" & "Rocket". The only song I'd jettison is "Silverfuck", it just never fit and still doesn't. Masterpiece. 5 stars

Ok - I'll admit it, not a Pumpkins fan. They came out when music was doing its upheaval in early 90's - sort of a grunge/alt/prog band. meh

My main take away from this project so far is that I don’t really like rock, but I can at least say this one didn’t sound like all the other rock albums I heard from the list so far

A good album from start to finish with the non-singles equally sounding like they could have been interchangeable with the actual singles. I’ve come to realise as I do this that in general I prefer shorter albums but this hour went quickly which I think says to me that there is little to no waste on the album.

"Today", "Disarm", "Mayonnaise"... Mange godbiter her.

Hello darkness, my old friend. :)

🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃

I'm not sure if I have much to say about this album because for some reason my ADHD decided that I'm not going to actually pay attention to the album I'm listening to and enjoying today. As usual, I like the guitar a lot. The vocals sound kind of like some of the other dream pop artists I've heard which is pretty nice as well. Also I love the effects and weird sounds that appear sometimes. I can't say much about the actual songwriting because I was having a really hard time focusing on this album for some reason, but from what my brain let me process, it was pretty good. :3

A 70 minute cd album with all the noise levels that has 1990s written all over it. This is certainly more than a grunge album and has more of an alternative rock approach and, despite Butch (Nevermind / Garbage) Vig producing it, the music has a nice balance of melody, meaty rock sound and misfit vocal sound. I remember the album on the CD shelves back in '93 and have friends who cite this as the classic album by the Pumpkins. I was pleasantly surprised by this listen and think it serves a strong rating - totally up there with Nirvana.

This and Melon Collie are both high 4*’s for me. Feels weird giving neither 5* but they are very good, yet lacking something. 4/5

All sounded quite similar, had a cool vibe but not really what I would pick. 2.5/5

I never thought the Pumpkins should have been included in the list of top Grunge bands of the day. This album, while a decent Pumpkins album, reminds me of why I didn't really like them then, and not now. Corgan's voice is a grating whine. The music itself isn't bad but its time is done. While Nirvana will be timeless, the Pumpkins, besides a few select songs, will be forgotten ("Today" is still great, err, today). 3.

Favorite songs : - Disarm - Geek USA

A bit brutal but solid rock.

Good album. The double disk album they put out next wasn't as good

It's TOO MUCH!!!! It started at three starts but devolved to two stars. This album was getting longer and longer and louder and louder.

I like guitar-based rock as much as the next man… but nothing grabbed me. Oh, maybe Silverfuck

Pretty unnotable.

Honestly expected to not like this, but it was okay. Probably won’t listen again though.

Album #173: Siamese Dream - The Smashing Pumpkins Genre (W): Alternative rock, grunge, alternative metal, indie rock, hard rock Singles: Cherub Rock, Today, Disarm, Rocket I have not listened to this album before. Thoughts?: This is a decent album. Billy Corgan is a decent writer but I feel like a lot of the tracks aren’t that memorable. Favorite tracks: Cherub Rock, Quiet, Today, Rocket, Disarm, Geek U.S.A, Mayonaise

Lately, I have been having a hard time enjoying hard rock. This was a good album some of the slower songs are my favourites (Luna and Spaceboy). Not really a fair way for me to judge, though I am being upfront about my recent preferences.

No es el mejor de los Smashing pero tiene algunas canciones icónicas

Spaceboy, luna & mayonnaise! Pretty album

Fantastic album, although I'm not a huge Smashing Pumpkins fan, they influenced so many of my favourite bands and albums that followed. Siamese Dream starts brilliantly with Cherub Rock and follows with a real eclectic collection of tracks. A mixture of banging riffs, soaring melodies, incredible drumming. The production is fantastic throughout and I love the way the mood swings from track to track, sometimes within a single song. Love Disarm, Today, Rocket and Geek USA but every track brings something 5/5

I enjoyed this one a lot. Best one I've gotten on this website so far. Favorites: Today, Mayonaise 8.5/10

გამოგაყლევებს ისეთია

I enjoyed this more than I thought I would, though I will probably never listen to it again. "Soma" is really nice!

This album is so 90's I got a spontaneous soulpatch listening to it.

3.5

One of the great albums of the 90s.

Interesting cover, a little weird to have in the library. This album is great though, some of the best guitar solos ive heard, almost one per song. Some great songs on here too, Today, Rocket, and Hummer were some of my favorites. I really enjoyed how the guitar and drums on Rocket genuinely felt like a rocket taking off. Unfortunately not the biggest fan of the voice, thats the only reason why this album is not a 5. Absolutely understand how someone gives this a 5 though. Best Song: Rocket. Worst Song: Quiet.

This album rocks! Don’t overthink it, add to your playlist and crank it up!!

Siamese Dream is an alternative masterpiece with an abundance of unskippable songs. Distinctive, passionate vocals deliver emotion-packed lyrics overtop densely-layered instrumentals in a breathtaking display of talent and creativity. Complex compositions hide introspective songwriting which delve into themes such as the loss of childhood innocence and depression. Ranging from roaringly powerful to soothingly gentle, every song is uniquely enjoyable.

This is an incredible album if you just never think about who Billy is as a person.

Charisma is a weird thing. Because Billy Corgan is such an egotistical prat, but he keeps stringing me along anyway. I guess it's sort of like people who dig Morrissey, except WPC largely seems to be just cracked enough and self important enough to take any platform he can, while Moz is a malignant tumor of a man. This is a love note to this album, by the way. It opens perfectly. That dual drum roll, right into one of the most iconic buildups in rock and roll, and then some of the best harnessing of disaffected youth anger in a decade chock full of it. Corgan brings his dreamiest and snarliest to the vocals. An acquired taste? Probably. As a kid I used to snark on Disarm, the second go-round where he says “what I choose is my voice.” And you chose that, eh? asked barely teen me. But I was enthralled. You start an album with something that allows a deeply distinctive fuzzmaster and one of the most powerful 90s drummers show off their best, and how can you not want to get in? You have someone demand “let me out,” and you think yes, surely this is what i feel too. It's worth noting that Corgan is narcissistic enough to really go deep into his own guitar genius, but he's probably right on that count. This was probably the last era of regular guitar gods on the radio, and goddamn is that missed. This of course has the mega hits. Disarm, for sure, is a highlight, with its big bells and big drama. Today, well, the sheen is less shiny (and oh so bright) for all of its overplay, but it's still such a big damn sound for such an ubiquitous and saccharine idea. But to me the biggest hit should have been Rocket. It's probably good it wasn't. If I heard Rocket as often as Today, maybe that fuzzed out drop at the end wouldn't still give me chills. But it was a treat when this came on the radio, much rarer. But depending on who you are, this album probably came down to Mayonaise or Silverfuck. The former felt like every feeling you couldn't risk letting out as a teen, beautiful and vast and yearning and swirling and accented with wails, both Billy's nasal ones and those punctuating harmonics. That was me, for sure. The catharsis of emotion. But Silverfuck is the catharsis of anger (“Isn't anger an emotion?” Let me finish). You get the feeling Corgan leaves it all on the floor, you get the feeling he may as well have run a marathon, may as well have smashed the guitar, taking the quiet and loud vocals of Cherub Rock and reversing them, his lows as menacing as Billy has in him, the chorus howling and then, cold as anything, “bang bang, youre dead.” Chamberlain carries this one as well, that drumming getting nigh ritualistic before dropping off for Billy to do some world class seething. I think the real sign of a great album, though, is when the “filler” feels classic. Like, is Luna a basic love song? Sure. Could the album end a better way? Maybe, but I wouldnt risk it. Does Geek USA resonate like the best tracks here? No. Could it be removed? Not on your life. The album isn't the same without the groove-for-groove's-sake of Hummer, the keening of Spaceboy, the slow burn and navelgaze of Soma. Even “Sweet Sweet” acts as a palate cleanser, inessential but how else do you decompress from Silverfuck? This album is a wonder, deeply uncool but deeply resonant with the pimply weirdness of being uncool, rough and imperfect but impeccably produced and virtuosic. Don't say it too loud, but it's an unmitigated ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ from me

1080 - "Here's your juice box and orange slice. Thanks for coming."

Sweet sounds of the 90s. This was a fun listen the hits are classics and I enjoyed the ones new to me

I don’t know why, but I’ve always got The Smashing Pumpkins confused with The Lightning Seeds. Chalk and cheese or what? For that reason I’ve never really listened to any Smashing Pumpkins, and perhaps in hindsight I’ve been missing out. Strong opener, and it pretty much carried on in that vein. The extended distortion at the end of Silverfuck got on my nerves a little, but overall I really enjoyed this on first listen. Definitely one I’ll come back to.

When I was teaching my daughter to drive, she grabbed this CD and it ended up being our soundtrack for her lessons because we both kept forgetting to get something new before getting in the older car kept for her to drive. At the time, I probably would have associated the album with fear, but now that we are finished, I find myself associating it with love and a bit of melon collie thinking about my youngest growing up. The latter is appropriate for the band, I suppose. Billy Corgan was showing the first signs of future troubles, but he still managed to create a rocking masterpiece with “Siamese Dream”. Every track on this album is solid. Any lover of guitar, particularly the shredding variety, really does need to listen to this album before they die. The fact that I’ve been listening to this album for over thirty years and still love it as much as I did on my first listen makes this an easy 5 for me.

Fitting that my first album by the Smashing Pumpkins is their debut! I was so turned off by Billy's voice when I listened to "Mellon Collie" for the first time (by first time I mean last year). So when I heard "Siamese Dream", it still didn't click for me but the listen was more tolerable with the reverb and instruments soaking Billy's voice in an echo. That was until Spotify put on "Mayonaise" and I felt chills throughout the song earlier this January. The more times I listened to it, the more Billy's singing felt familiar to me. So it wasn't merely tolerable anymore, the vocals were an important part of the record itself. I'm so glad this album clicked for me when it did. I didn't know I could enjoy alternative music for someone who was always on pop mode for the longest time. I did grow up listening to Christian rock on our local station so maybe that was just hidden inside waiting to be rediscovered in a different form. Now when I listen to it (on vinyl!!), the album doesn't feel too long. I love how the Smashing Pumpkins were able to take similar sonic elements and put them together to create new takes on each song. The guitars, reverb, and drums were still there but they were arranged in a way that just felt fresh. It's also kinda poppy in a way where I can hum the melodies to a few of the songs (i.e. Spaceboy, Today, Cherub Rock, etc.). Since this album really clicked for me this year, I'll give this a 5. I'm glad I listened to it when I had. It makes me realize music can hit in so many different ways, you just have to be open to the experience (and have your playlist on shuffle too).

Did not finish listening (stopped after Geek U.S.A.). The constant scream/whispering singing was not my vibe but I appreciated the instrumentals (they were insane) and I can see how so many artists I love may have been inspired by this record. I am really not a fan of Corgan's voice and I know if another artist had sung the vocals of this album it would have at least 4 star potential. Personally, each song sounds the same and feel like how I imagine walking in wet cement would feel.

The three bangers on this one (Cherub Rock, Today, Disarm) carry the album through. Really liekd the high points but don’t care to revisit this outside of the hits.

Cherub Rock, Today, and Disarm are all greats and favorites of mine. A solid album all the way through.

Massive massive massive album for me. What a sound. So much intense distortion that you find melodies and waves of sound you didn’t know could exist. 5.0/5.0 Best Song: Mayonnaise

YES YES YES FUCK YES. One of my all time favourites. The best grunge album by a mile for me. SO GOOD. Best Track: Mayonaise

It was interesting to listen to. It sounds very early 90s, but you can hear hints of what their sound ends up becoming.

Huh how did I not hear this before this is pretty good!

★★★★★★

Damn its just about perfect. What can I say? The pumpkins had some classic classic record back in the day. I also like melancholy as well but this is probably more consistent. They use every second of this hour to the best of their ability. I dont know if alot of what they are doing here is 100% original but they made some sounds very popular. Id say they borrow a bit of the loud soft dynamic from something like the pixies but they made it a smash hit. Today doesnt exist without debaser. But speaking of there are some all time greats in this tracklist. I mentioned today already, there is also disarm, and cherub rock. All mega hits classics. And many many more smaller songs thay damn well could have been big. Mayonnaise, quiet, spaceboy. All sick ass songs. Silverfuck. Wow. Just wow. What a great record with every peice firing on all cylinders. That distorted guitar is so sick. Billy's nasaly vocals. The driving drums. Its just a dance that all works hand in hand with one another. One of the better records of this time and of all time. Amazing

Number: 265 Familiarity: Extremely (5) Rating: 5 Before: ======= It's probably going to be a 4 or 5. After : ======= So, on a song basis is comes out to 4.5. All of the songs are either a 4 or 5 for me. This is one of those albums that I never get tired of listening to the whole thing. For these reasons it's a 5 for me.

Might be closer to a three

Tellement bon

I had never heard Mayonaise before!

Flawless best album oat

Would've given it a 3 for being a fairly middle of the road alt-rock album but it kept going on and on and on. An hour of meandering buzz guitar and obnoxious vocals. And I like buzzy guitars!

Probably my favorite Smashing Pumpkins album. Melon Collie is more interesting but way too long.

7.8/10

Good not great - I wouldn’t choose to listen to this genre

I get why some people could be annoyed by Billy Corgan’s voice (my buddy can’t stand them and would hate whenever I played them), but I really enjoy their music

What an album. Listened to it before but it always hits. Great vocals from Billy the goat.

Banger after banger. I was listing out my favorites songs from it and was just putting almost all of them down. It’s loud in all the right places. Just a gold mine. I was sad when it ended.

It's a great album, but one I came too much later, and in that sense have found the Smashing Pumpkins to be a slightly distant American idea.

Great

Classic album from a fav 90s band it's so good loved listening to this again love Billy's voice so unique and all the instrumentation is high class and great song writing

One of my favorites, forever and always. The soundtrack to being a moody teenager stuck in a suburban bedroom wondering what life will hold. Love the fuzzy guitars, Billy's vocals switching between soft and rough, the sheer longing and loneliness and emptiness of it all. One of those albums that just gets me and resonates somewhere deep inside. Everyone needs a Siamese Dream 🖤

One of my favourite all time songs “ Cherub Rock”, didn’t catch on to the Pumpkins straight away, but once heard, that was enough, really loved the album, I don’t think I have owned it, but not 100%

yippeee soma and today are two of my favorite songs ever. also love cherub rock and disarm. the other ones are ok

yep it's really good

Interesting listen, very layered, complex music and there is passion, care, and ambition there. It did take me a few meetings to wrap my head around it, and that is something I like and dont about it. It is intelectual music, its interesting, but it doesnt hit my feels in quite the same way, it's a bit overwhelming, quite dense, complexe and stuffy. However, I do find it a work of passion, and I did enjoy it when I was able to take my time. It's diverse, yet quite cohesive. I think I want to like it more than I actually do, but I recognize it as great

this had a surprising number of songs i liked on it 4/5

might be the best smashing pumpkins album. even over melancholy

Soft grunge indie rock despite Billy Corgan's woeful singing delivery.