Reviews (page 3 of 14)
4.5 - Great
Не плохой альбом . Но я воспитан на роке 70-80 . Но все же имеет место быть!
Feels like a quite maximalist emo-style rock album. It feels ambitious in scope, but the instrumentation manages to deliver the promise. Billy Corgan's voice is weirdly annoying but fits perfectly for (what seems to me like) a self-hating depressing vibe
My brother played this album into the GROUND! It feels very nostalgic, reminds me of flipping through his CD book. This album has a great variety. I adore the mix of gritty grunge rock and melodic orchestra. I hadn't listened to this as an adult, so I paid more attention to the lyrics. Will be visiting this one again.
Amazing piece of work
5/5 - THIS ALBUM IS JUST BANGER AFTER BANGER!!! quite a few songs were already in playlists but reminded me just HOW good this album is!!! I love love love it!!! Such a good album!!!AAAAHHHH!!!! I would give it more than 5/5 if I could. Just such a flipping good album! Everyone should listen to it.
A musical masterpiece. Did not think Siamese Dream could be topped but here you are. The mix of genres is impressive, and keeps the 2h playing time very interesting. Listened to this on a flight from Paris to Lisbon, which was much longer than I had thought - hadn't brought a book or anything and it was in the early evening so not the best time to sleep. Stuck this on and kept me more than captivated. The first CD was so solid in its own right, I could not imagine where it would go next or how it would keep the same quality up - but somehow the second CD was even more special. Despite its lofty length, I felt the need to listen to it again - at first, I relistened to the last four songs a few times (beautiful ending), and then a couple of days later, while walking around Lisbon, I played the album through at different moments. Was assuming the album would be on this list, and I'd revisit it in a year or so, but it came up about a week later. Didn't want to get back into it straight away, but finally listened again and can undoubtedly confirm it's brilliance. More than 10m copies sold, no.1 album in the US, not bad for the longest album I've listened to. Definitely up there with the best double-albums of all time!
I am choosing to not penalize Billy for releasing a bloated double album instead of an excellent follow up to his masterpiece. I made a 15-song version of this 💿 that I still prefer. Jellybelly, Muzzle, Here Is No Why, Love, Porcelina, Ruby, Where Boys, Bodies, 33, 1979, Tales, beautiful, Lily… kinda insane when you think of the run he was on at this time.
A melhor fase da minha adolescência (1995/1996) junto com as melhores bandas do grunge/hard rock. Esse disco não cansou de tocar em casa!
Album is my teenage years loved this album
Reminds me of dad
I've listened to this album from start to finish possibly hundreds of times, but it must close to 10 years since I last did so so I'm interested to find out how it hits is 2025... Conclusion: still slaps hard
Kyllähän tämä yhä iskee lujaa.
So much better than I thought it would be. I knew some of the songs but I appreciated the music so much more.
This was a throwback to my middle and high school years. It remains as fantastic as it was then.
Nostalgia definitely influenced my rating, but to me this is one of the greatest alternative rock albums of the 90s. It is quite a feat to have an album this long that somehow doesn't feel bloated. 5⭐️
Goddamn. I was too young to really appreciate this album when it released, although its singles have followed me my whole life. It really is a masterpiece of moody, mid-90's pseudo-gothic alternative. The guitar work, the rawness of the vocals? Perfect.
Deep apologies to everyone I ignored when they said I’d like The Smashing Pumpkins. I was tempted to give this 4 for the ridiculous length, but it felt too much like a homecoming to get anything but a 5. Something that’s firmly in my rotation now.
10/10 GOATED SHIT EASILY THE BEST ALBUM OF ALL TIME.
Billy Corgan may be high on his own farts these days, but it's sometimes worth remembering that the Smashing Pumpkins did put out one of the best albums of the 90s and one of the best double albums of all time.
The first CD I ever bought. This album was kind of intimidating to me as an 11 year old, there was so much music to absorb, so much harsh dissonance and abrasive distortion, so many densely packed hyper compressed layers to every song, so many explosive riffs, such a singular and often repellent voice. But I must've listened to it a few hundred times, unpacking, exploring, getting more and more familiar with the songs between the radio hits letting it sink in and rework my circuitry. I haven't listened to it all the way through for decades, so I'm surprised how much I've retained and how well it all still works on me, swerving from sonic and emotional extreme to extreme, screaming catharsis and hushed intimacy, fuzz and fury, noise and melody, building pressure and easing off for a relentless 2 hours. The best songs on their earlier albums are better than the these, but this is insanely consistent for being so ranging (it touches on metal, prog, grunge, shoegaze, punk, indie pop, even alt country) - there are some gems buried in the sprawl and the guitars all sound so damn good. Favorites: Tonight, Zero, Bullet, Love, Muzzle, Take Me Down, thirty three, 1979, Eyes of Ruby, Beautiful, Lily
An unparalleled experience. It’s hard to put into words what makes this so special, but this album is a triumph of modern music. I can understand Corgan’s voice is not for everyone, but I think what he does here is incredibly impressive and intentional. Really looking forward to coming back to this one again.
Sometimes too much is exactly right. Too many songs, too many long songs, too many guitar solos....but just like Physical Graffiti here more is more. Is it better than Siamese Dream? It's certainly bigger. The killer singles are actually more killer than on SD so maybe yes. Any reason not to give it five stars? Can't think of one.
Some fav non singles: Here is no Why, Porcelina, Bodies, Starlight. Certainly a little pompous in its ambition, but fuck man, what a machine of ideas. All the scrapped material, plus pistachio medley? Fahgeddaboddit
28 songs on this double album. Two things that have held true (until now) involve my distaste for the same band to drone on for several hours straight (in a non-live sort of way). And my distaste for distinct styles to go song after song with little variety. This makes the idea of a double album daunting for any sort of casual and enjoyable listen. But the Smashing Pumpkins has been a second tier go to band of mine for over 30 years and after I finally saw them live, and was overwhelmed and blown away, they stepped up to my head table. Then, I was faced with a non-live double album... 28 songs... and I could have played it over again! That is when I realized why The Smashing Pumpkins has always been among my go to favorites, they are varied and never boring even with the strong distinct lead singers voice. (normally a distraction for me after a while). They have a sort of art gallery way of ordering everything to flow from soft and mellow to metal level hard and back again... and lyrically! Yeah. this is honestly great. What a great band!
a great album, pity about the rest of their work.
Incredible double album with crunchy, proggy guitar riffs, cheesy/melodramatic vox from Billy Corgan (that hit oh so perfectly) and blistering drum performances from Jimmy Chamberlin. What set me over the edge, however, was the concluding track "Farewell and Goodnight"... after losing a beloved family pet of 16 years last weekend, this one hit me like a tidal wave. Fuck you, SP, for making me feel things.
Despite all my rage… (In the arms of sleep was my highlight)
I liked it a lot
haven't heard of the artist, haven't heard of the album. 2 hrs of quality rock music. This is what the list is for. :-) Favorite track: bullet with butterfly wings other picks: tonight tonight, zero, love, thirty three, 1979
Best Song: Muzzle For full transparency, I bought this in 1995 and have listened to some songs off of this ever since. It very well may be nostalgia talking, but I love this album. A 5/5!
This album looms large in family memories. Great re-listen.
loved it back then - still love it now
This album is really good. Some songs were not much of my like, but, overall, the album is really enjoyable, and it's two hours long, which is something difficult to keep the interest of it during that time, so it's really worth listening to. I also loved the different textures on it. It's beautiful at many times.
Disc 1 is incredible, maybe the best album I’ve listened to so far. Disc 2 gets a bit tedious though.
Absolutely LOVE this album, and I mean pretty much every single song. Bought it when it came out, as I was already a big Pumpkins fan. LOVE LOVE LOVE!
Sounds of a analog world. Radio hits, and deep composures and wheezing Billy Corgan vocals
wtf i listened to this for the first time yesterday? are you fucing watching me get away fuck you stop it now. 2 hours of solid alt rock with a couple real generational songs (1979 is so good). Billy Corgan sounds like a goblin and looks like lex luthor. 96/100
Ultimate 90s sound
Masterpiece
Incredible album
Phenomenal, the Smashing Pumpkins greatest achievement. Not many bands can pull off over two hours of music and keep it high quality and interesting the entire time, but Billy and the gang sure did. Impressive how they don't really rehash their ideas and deliver a very ecletic set of songs ranging from angry metallic bangers, to dreamy excursions, to long prog epics, to whatever twee thing "We Only Come Out at Night" is. And all of it is at the very least pretty good, and at most some of the best songs ever written. Key tracks: Tonight, Tonight Jellybelly Zero Bullet With Butterfly Wings To Forgive Muzzle Bodies Thirty-Three 1979 Beautiful
Absolutely love this album as a teen. The first disc was just great song after great song, the second disc I don't know as well. But generally it's just a masterpiece. Siamese dream was just a notch above this though
Kind of wild they produced this double album with 28 total songs on it and literally every song is better than good. Like BANGER, BANGER, BANGER, just very good, BANGER, phenomenally good song, BANGER, BANGER, etc. This was a staple of my younger years and is still in my rotation today.
Best Pumpkins Record
An almost overwhelmingly good album. Even for a double album this feels particularly cram-jam with good music. The singles are all great and stand the test of time. I think it has a strong case for best album of the 90s. There's a good number of songs on this that I'm not crazy about, but this is overall an incredible achievement.
Normally I would complain about an album that made me sit through two hours of music. Anything more than 50 minutes is usually pushing it for me, with 60 minutes being an absolute maximum. However, not so for Mellon Collie. This album has absolutely no filler, which is insane for an album of this length. The only other double/triple LPs I can name off the top of my head that come close or equal to the quality of this one are George Harrison's All Things Must Pass (Gave it a 4/5) and The Who's Quadrophenia (Would give it a 5/5 if it were on the list). All this to say, I'm VERY skeptical of any album that thinks it can sustain quality over 50 minutes. And yet Mellon Collie could probably have a THIRD LP on it and still be great. Anyways, Mellon Collie. Absolutely a vibes album, and one of the best to ever do it. You basically have two types of songs. You have the Tonight, Tonights which exemplify the accompanying art of the record (Whether it's the album art or Tonight, Tonight's music video in all its A Trip to the Moon early 1900's glory), and you have the metal/noise rock songs. And all of it is perfect. The two LPs are pretty front loaded with the best tracks on the record (Tonight, Tonight, Jellybelly, Zero, Here is No Why, Bullet With Butterfly Wings; Bodies, In the Arms of Sleep, and 1979), but don't let that fool you, the rest are still insane. The Smashing Pumpkins knew when to add little flourishes and sounds to elevate everything on this. You could cut this double LP up in just about any way to make a single LP, and still have a banger of an album. Went into this knowing it'd get a 4 at least. Only thing is, was the length justified to get it to 5? And the answer is more than yes. If anything, like I said, they could have added more and I wouldn't have gotten bored.
no skips
This is an amazing album with many great hits and a bunch of good songs I had never heard before as well
Hugely enjoyable and exactly my cup of tea. As a record, it feels a bit less intentional and curated than Siamese Dream at times, but there is so much great material. Hard to put into words exactly why I like this sound so much.
an album u clearly need to spend a long time building up a big involved relationship with and cut your own path through, which i have not done because ive spent all the smashing pumpkins listening time in my life with only siamese dream. inevitably i get lost in here but not in a bad way...it would be one thing if i just got more and more exhausted over time but the record's world is so expansive and so attention-grabbing that its more like i wandered aimlessly and was only occasionally able to take full note of my surroundings. but the surroundings are always There, yaknow. on the whole, its hard not to be taken by the totemic aesthetic power of this thing...at 70 or 80 minutes it might have been bloated, but at 120 the sheer length of time u spend in it adds a whole new dimension to every individual track. even without a dense personal history, seeing oft-dismissed emotions treated with such seriousness and grandiosity is the kind of thing that makes art feel like its reaching out to help Me, Specifically. intensely moving, really.
Yes. Superb.
Ok so when this came out I was a big Pumpkins fan. I didn’t like what I heard.. the few songs on the radio.. Bullet, 1979. It sounded weak. Not what I expected from this band after Gish and Siamese Dream, one of my favorite albums. So I dismissed this offhand and never listened to it. Boy did I miss out! This is SO GOOD. The playing, the songwriting, the wall of guitars. And then there’s more experimental stuff too. They could have whittled this down to a “Siamese Dream part 2” but it’s really great that they didnt and kept it all. Really bummed i missed out for so long but so happy I found it
It's a long album, being a double. Perhaps too long. A real epic. I don't find it drags though as it's quite experimental and there is quite a lot of variety - from heavy songs with distorted vocals to ballad-style pieces with piano and strings. This is the album that got me into the Smashing Pumpkins. I prefer their earlier offering (Siamese Dream) but I think it gets five star for vision alone. I think the second side (Twilight to Starlight) is better, but there's not much in it. It's also one of those albums where I think many of the album tracks are as good if not better than the singles that came out of it.
After listening to this I feel like Billy Corgan is still being punished for being the only Alternative artist in the 90s to admit to caring and daring to try his hardest. This is one of the greatest albums ever. It's scope is audacious, it jumps from genre to genre, and yet it feels like a cohesive work. Mammoth, personal and also a little overwrought, but it's not embarrassed
classic
The first album I was ever obsessed with. I still love it-sad machines and secret spires be damned.
Better than I expected, 10/10 album.
I used to dislike this band because of Billy Corgan's voice, but it eventually grew on me. This album takes you on a full journey, an amazing listen. I would say this is a masterpiece! It tackles many genres and all of them are done extremely well. And even though it's very long, it didn't bore me at all. It was great from start to finish.
Many acts fall flat when following up such a hit album as SP had with Siamese Dream. Not so much with Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness. This album is one of the best of the 90s for certain.
Masterpiece.
Instant 5 stars, cannot judge unbiasedly, have loved for decades.
Amazing. Love this album
Alltime favourite. Fav: Too many to mention
Love this album
Excellent album!
One of my top 5 of all time. Incredible album.
The perfect album to gaslight your friend into thinking it's their favorite album. It's a double album... but YOU KNOW THAT! It's got bullet with butterfly wings, 1979, bullet with butterfly wings... zero. They're all from your favorite album by the smashing pumpkins melloncollieandtheinfinitesadness. You've definitely listened to it 19 times, you love it! How many times have you been like "I gotta go man, I gotta listen to mellon collie and the infinite sadness". BECAUSE ITS YOUR FAVORITE!
I was so happy that I got this one for today ^^ Blissful melancholy: 5/5 (+)
Just amazing. So meany genius tracks. A double album that just never bores.
It had '1979'. It has 'Tonight Tonight'. It has 'Bullet with Butterfly Wings'. I literally couldn't ask for more! And it has two hours more!!!
Beautiful album, it is very long but I can’t name a track I would cut. It feels like a hauntingly beautiful journey
Smashing Pumpkins at its peak as a band. A lot of wonderful songs that last forever.
Like this one
Classssicccc. Despite all my rage.
No notes needed
It was great. Very cohesive. Glad I finally listened to the whole thing!
# Playlist Track - Tonight, tonight # Notes - Very biased review. I listed to this for the first time when I was like 14 years old and it blew my mind back then. - Listening to it back to back this whole time, I still get some spectacular moments all over again: - The hopefulness of "Tonight, Tonight" - The riot for "Bullet with butterfly wings" - Summer chill of "1979". - Having said that, the album is objectively super long and can be a bit too hard to approach for new comers. 100% recommended, sure. But going for a "Smashing Pumpkins Best Of" is also understandable!
5/5. 10/10. 28/28 even. No song is filler. Perfect back and forth between wafty, magical melancholy and nostaliga and angry rock. Listened to this one all through college and glad to revisit. I need to listen to it more often. Wish 1001 albums had more albums that didn't suck.
Totally get the polarization. I'm for! I pretty much dig it all. The voice. The drama. The noise. The stupid lyrics. It's a world. A universe. There's nothing shallow about it. It's Billy's world. As a matter of fact, my last album was Prince, and I'd go as far as to say Billy's got Prince beat easily in that category. Not trying to compare the two in any other category, haha. But Billy's going all in for sure. Sweeps me away too! 5 stars alllll day
One for the history books!
A rare double album that is all killer and no filler, though if they made this a single album, it would definitely rival for one of my favorite albums of all time
A classic. Unique & very listenable
So good, though I had never listened to most of this album and fell in love with every morsel of it.
A two hour long album!?!? I’m gonna update this review in real time… Wait a minute now this shit kinda bangs… ok about half way through and this has been a roller coaster Of emotions! “Love is suicide”?? Who hurt this brother? Also, 1979 is a banger, makes the whole hour of listening worth it… They went from 1979 to a screamo record then Through the Eyes of a Ruby. I’m not mad just confused but either way I’m waving my shirt above my head and headbanging out the car window… I forgot to keep the updates going but I like the way it ended. This was a looonnnnggg two hour journey but it’s rare for me to be captured for this long, especially by a genre that’s not my go-to. Hell of a record!
En klassiker, stormannsgalskap med høy kvalitet. En lang, men spennende musikalsk reise, lenge leve dobbeltalbumet!
One of my favourrites....liked this album from taking of the plastic. A variery of pop ballads to good grunge.... Highly recommendable. But Gish is the best smashing album
Stunning. Beautifully soft in places, deliciously hard in others
Probably the best grunge record I've ever listened to so - at least at this point in life - I really fell in love with The Smashing Pumpkins and now I just want to relisten to their albums I know already. Mellon Collie is long, yeah, but doesn't feel too long at all. It's a beautiful 2 hour long journey that I am glad I could experience and can't wait for next time.
Awesome album
4.8 - I actually was dreading how long this was and normally I think it's super indulgent and needs trimming. I flew through this album and loved every song
Back to back hits.
The sound of a generation of burnt out Darias
Thoughts before listening: Huge album for me growing up. The hits are iconic, but this maybe could have used an editor. As a double album there are a few throwaway tracks here, especially the slower songs. Still though it's a classic that I'm glad to revisit. Review: Yeah this is as good as I remember it. Starting off with a cool piano instrumental followed by one of the most inventive pop hits of the alternative era with "Tonight Tonight", you know you're in for a treat. This album is just full of songs that were absolutely monumental for me: "Zero", "Bullet With Butterfly Wings", "Muzzle", etc. This album has the 90s alt-rock big distorted guitar sound, but also is full of classic 70s rock band elements as well. All this being said, it does drag in some places as most 2-hour albums will, and some songs just don't feel necessary. Still, I love it, and I am giving it 5-stars.
Incredible album! This was so significant in my life, I loved the eb and flow of this masterpiece! It may be a couple of tracks too long but it’s hard to find a song I don’t like
Absolute classic
This album is one of the best the 90's had to offer (even with Billy Corgan's insufferable arrogance).
Heel gek: de eerste keer dat ik het album luisterde vond ik er niets aan: niet interessant, niet lelijk maar eerder saai. Toen ik het een 2e keer (met koptelefoon op?) luisterde greep het me enorm en vooral Tonigh, Tonight en 1979 zijn heerlijke nummers!
An album with many faces, the volume is alone is astounding but the hidden gems and the hits make this immortal
Ya lo escuche, buen álbum, aunque no soy tan fan del grupo. Es de esos que reconozco que es bueno, pero nunca me dan ganas de volverlo a oir
A classic from start to finish.
One of the best records of all time.
Love is suicide.
There's so many good songs on this double album. It took me a few days to get through this. So many hits like Tonight Tonight, Zero (one of the best rock songs ever), Bullet w Butterfly Wings, Thirty Three, 1979. These are all great songs but there's more... Other awesome rockers: Jellybelly, Muzzle, Love, Bodies, XYU. And balancing all that with slower gentle tunes: To Forgive, Galapogos, In the Arms of Sleep, Stumbleine, By Starlight. Then you have a couple charming little songs that I can't even put in a box: Cupid De Locke, We Only Come Out at Night, Lily. The pianoriffic title track makes a perfect intro to Tonight, Tonight. The Pumpkins take their songwriting in all kinds of directions and really spread their wings on this one. Great double album that you can listen to over and over again. This is kind of a masterpiece.
Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness is the most listened to album of my life. What makes this album as a whole a top tier, all time great is NOT that every song is a perfect piece of art, because they are definitely not, but that it is an utterly unique, immersive world (and high water mark of 90’s culture) meant to get your broken teenage heart completely lost and saved in. There are so many emotions being thrown around that it can be mind-boggling, and the intent is to feel absolutely everything to the fullest, as teenagers do…the glorious, the hopeful, the rage, the mundane, the ugly, the redemption. Just dive in anywhere: “Thirty-Three” showcases a perfect earnest heartfelt awkwardness; Discover the epic emotional journeys of “Thru The Eyes Of Ruby” and “Porcelina of the Vast Oceans”; Head over to mid and late album heartbreakers “Galapagos” and “By Starlight” to weep your sensitive heart out; Feel eternal youth in rock star anthem “Muzzle”. Go back to the near beginning of each disc and wallow in the gnarly, bitter anger of neo-metal “Zero” and “Bodies”; Somewhere in the middle is the dreamy, psychedelic art piece named “Cupid De Locke” and the sentimental and earnestly romantic “In The Arms if Sleep”. Do you really want to feel your fucking explosive (implosive?) anger and hatred towards a person who totally screwed you over? Then “X.Y.U.” will finish off their heart and soul, and yours while it’s at it. All of this only scratches the surface. After decades of listening, it never really gets old. This world is too large, open, and wonderful to get over quickly. As I mentioned earlier, there is some shit on this album. If I could saw off the ridiculously annoying electro-clash song “Love” and the muddy, go-nowhere metal of “Tales of a Scorched Earth”, I would in a heartbeat. The latter follows the perfect pop gem “1979”, which makes its presence even more unforgivable. Neither half-baked song has ever been worthy of anything to me. Near the end of this entire journey, “Lily (My One and Only)” ends up seeming like an unnecessary oddity for oddity’s sake. Following the definitive 90’s rage baiter, and still perfect statement on entrapment, “Bullet With Butterfly Wings”, comes the overly moody and plodding “To Forgive”; And finally, I don’t consider “Where Boys Fear to Tread” and “Farewell and Goodnight” to be garbage, but just a couple of mediocre wastes of time…but that’s just me. Billy Corgan went all in here and succeeded beyond his wildest dreams. The bad songs mentioned here don’t bring this down, they just add to the color and shape of it all…a messy, imperfect body of work that is perfect because it is messy and imperfect. I gush over Siamese Dream because there are no mistakes there. It’s a God-like album to aspire to. This album is just as perfect because it is life, as it goes. I listen to this album in full 30 years on and weep for my youth, lost to time, forever enshrined in this music.
Today I learned he's still "just a rat in a cage," NOT "just a-ready to cage." Anyway, from the softest love songs to the absolute ragers, this album rocks so hard. The guitars and drums are just incredible, and the lyrics are so well written and impassioned. Tonight, Tonight always gives me the chills and the weepies. Galapogos and Starlight are my favorite "new to me" songs. And I’d probably add Muzzle in there too. I also totally adore Thirty-Three, and 1979 is just so awesome and classic. And then the total bangers like X.Y.U. and Tales of a Scorched Earth are so headbangingly satisfying. There really are so many great tracks on here. Every song is special in its own way, and it almost doesn't feel right to only call out a few of them. I love the mix of emotions throughout...the album is filled with sadness and rage and love and longing, and it all blends together so well in this delightfully tasty Pumpkin soup. Sure, it's REALLY long, but I'll forgive it that sin because of its general epic-ness. He's got a lot of feelings to get out. But please say a few Hails Marys and an Our Father, Billy. We have a lot of albums to get through here, and this is a catch-up day for me!
Well, this was a ride, all over the place in a good way. Listen to it with a break in between, otherwise it is way too long... Took me a while to get used to the voice, but it clicked after a while... All in all, great album.
What a great album, lots of memories tied to this one
A perfect combination of whimsy meloncholic melodies and angsty grunge riffs. Its honestly crazy how many of their hits are on this album and how many of those hits are mega hits and not just one off hits. Only caveat is that its super fucking long. Like 28 songs with some of them being nearly 10 minutes long. 9/10
If you asked me yesterday if I liked this album I would’ve said yes, absolutely; but to be honest I probably haven’t listened to this album in full since high school— 25 years ago. So it was good to be reacquainted with fond memories of the past. Anyway it’s intense and beautiful and Billy makes the best of what is not the world’s most pleasant voice.
Elder millenialcore
I was worried this would hold up worse than I remember it, despite listening to it in its entirety at least once a year. It holds up and maybe it just gets better every time. I do remember the first time I heard Smashing Pumpkins (it was either Gish or Siamese Dream) and I remember thinking who the hell could listen to Billy Corgan's voice for more than 5 minutes. I powered through it and now I can't imagine another singer fronting the band. It isn't a regular voice, but like Ghedi Lee for Rush it's unique and it works. The actual content is beyond reproach. It's the classic 90's quartet supplemented tastefully with keys and the occasional sound effects (the rocket launcher from Doom in Where Boys Fear To Tread, just perfect) that doesn't miss. It isn't too much, and it very much isn't too little. Sure, maybe the lyrics can be nonsensical or just about being sad or angsty, but everyone had those feelings when they were younger and that's who this album is for. There's ballads, there's heavy riffs, there's complicated instrumental layering, there's everything. I used to have a preference for the second disc because heavy songs were just a bit heavier, but I like the whole thing now and the first disc has plenty of big songs too (Jellybelly, Zero, Bullet With Butterfly Wings, An Ode to No One, etc). There are maybe 3 or 4 songs that I like less than others (We Only Come Out at Night, ah yes, the days surely are much too bright) but otherwise this is mostly a no skip, and for 28 songs that's impressive. Probably a big nostalgia hit but I love this album and it's one of the few double albums that I think is worth the listen in it's entirety. A classic.
A heavy nostalgia hit for me. Big time middle school vibes. I definitely favored the first disc, and after yesterday's 2 hour listen that opinion is still valid. The variety of song styles is incredible and Corbin's whiney, nasally high-pitched voice that would be a detriment in any other situation fits the mood. Maybe he's the Bob Dylan of my generation. This angsty walk down memory lane deserves a 5/5
4.5
Damn. One of my all-time favorites. It’s in my top 100 all-time. I don’t skip any song, but if I did, it would be on the 2nd disc - Disc 1 is 100% 🔥. Jimmy Chamberlain should be in the discussion for top 25 drummers ever. It was never the same without the rhythm section of both Jimmy and D’Arcy. But for this one - Easy 5 ⭐️
If this 2 hour cd was edited down to 1, it could be an easy 5 in my book. There are so many great songs. But at my advanced age- 2 hours of Billy Corgan singing is an assault on the senses. And some of the songs seem a little fillerish to me. On the flip side, nobody made me listen to it for two straight hours. When an album has 25 minutes of great stuff and 20 minutes of filler it is easy to lose a star -but it doesn't seem fair to dock a star when the artist gave well over 60 minutes of great music to a release.
Who knew that Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness would be such a banger of an album. This album is very long clocking in at more than 2 hours which would be something i had a problem with but when the album is 2 hours of some of the greatest grunge music i have ever heard, i don't have any problem with it. The songs consisted of nonstop amazing guitar riffs, vocals that were a bit weird at first but still managed to fit the songs really well and that i eventually really started to like and enough quirkiness to give the album even more charm without getting annoying. The fact that this album is 2 hours long and every single song managed to be so great easily makes this one of my favorite albums i have done for this project. Best Song: Bodies Worst Song: Take Me Down
classic
Probably the best and most well-paced long album I’ve heard.
how have i not listened to this album sooner, its exactly my taste both indie rock and metal vibes
5 stars for nostalgia, some great tracks, and a few i will always skip, but the amount of and quality of the good songs far exceeds the lesser ones. One of the greatest double albums.
love the smashing pumpkins. this album just made me love them more. i like how well crafted this album is and has some actual bangers. some people hate corgans voice but i love it sm. another 5/5 album.
First listened in High School, got me through some angst for sure. Still a classic. It’s no Siamese Dream, but it’s a great ridiculous mess with so many classic Pumpkins tracks. I’ve got the box set on vinyl and it’s one of the best purchases I’ve ever made.
Despite having listened to Siamese Dream a good few times in my life I'm surprised at myself for not having listened to this album yet. The 2hr runtime does leave it to be a fairly daunting listen but once you hear 'Tonight Tonight' it's clear to be worth the full experience. Instrumentation is far more present here with strings aplenty, however the 'grungy' style they are known for is still present on tracks such as 'Zero', 'Jellybelly' and 'Bullet with Butterfly Wings'. The edge that this album provides over previous albums such as Siamese Dream, Gish and Pisces Iscariot is certainly its stronger chord progression. The Smashing Pumpkins of the past would have been unable to have made a track such as '1979' or 'Tonight, Tonight', or be able to blend the tranquility with the grunge sound on tracks like 'Here is No Why'. I would also add to anyone who liked the album to give B-side track 'Pennies' a go as for me its one of the best tracks of this SP era. I will say the second half of this LP has weaker tracks which at times leaves me thinking this could be a single LP. But the length is justified due to the concept, this album has been called the 90s iteration of 'The Wall' and as such i'll judge the weaker tracks to their commitment to the concept overall as opposed to a track per track basis. Incredible album 9.5/10. Top Tracks -> Tonight, Tonight -> Zero -> Here Is No Why -> Bullet With Butterfly Wings -> To Forgive -> Cupid De Locke -> Galapagos -> 1979 -> Thru The Eyes of Ruby -> Stumbleine -> By Starlight
Why have I not purchased this album yet?
I must say. I am quite impressed. I mean holy cow. A 2 hour double LP is certainly something to get through to say the least, but somehow this album managed to remain unique, entertaining, and quite varied through its entirety. There were soft sounds, angsty sounds, harsh sounds, experimental sounds, solemn sounds, playful sounds, and so many more sounds. And it made every second of the 7200 second album a really great experience. I would almost say the albums immense length is one of its biggest strengths in way because it meant the goodness of the album could last even longer. This is certainly an album I want to return to but I don’t know how much I realistically can because it is the length of a frickin movie lol. It certainly has the entertainment value of a movie though. I acknowledge this album is probably far from perfect and I wasn't able to fully process it because I could only listen once but I honestly think this album deserves a 5 just for being fully entertaining for 2 hours.
na moral, o que o careca maluco mandou nesse é absurdo não é um siamese dream, mas é completamente bom. do início ao fim.
o gerador tá muito simpático essa semana. estou com medo mto tempo que nao ouvia esse inteiro pq né. 2 horas de album. mas é BIZARRO como não tem UMA MUSICA ruim nessa porra vai tomar no cu que delicia. só guitarrada bruta e derivados. lindíssimo. eu morreria por 1979 inclusive ô musicão do inferno
One of the best ever?
Sheer brilliance Rock with resilience Not a minute too long Riffs coming in strong Introduced by Michiel An album that makes me feel Alive and kicking Rather than through playlists flicking
Impossible to listen to in one sitting seemingly lol, but I never once thought “why isn’t this over yet?” Which is a classic tell tale for me with long albums. I enjoyed the whole thing.
Great album. Nice to hear it again, it's been a while. Lots of variety too.
a 90s alt classic!
my dad bought me this cd the day it came out when we were on a trip to chicago. i never turned it off. 1000 stars. 30 years in and still in awe every time I listen to this album.
Pure rock, so good. listened to it on the way back from scheef after a zw windy surf
This is one of the first albums that was really important in my life. I’m a bit confused because I was really sure I would be married to Billy Corgan by now, but tomorrow’s another day, you know?
Zero notes (pun intended)
Enjoying many of the songs. They’re indeed sad boy rage but digging it at the moment.
92/100. Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness by The Smashing Pumpkins is an amazing project. With its genre-blending approach and truly fantastic production, the two-hour runtime flies by effortlessly. This album was a truly psychedelic experience for me, with both discs delivering consistently strong material. There’s nothing bad about this record—every track feels purposeful, making it, in my opinion, the band’s best work.
Et mesterværk der formår både at fremtvinge den helt hårde lyd, de følsomme ballader og skabe episk stemning med stryger arrangementer
amazed at how great this sounds for a double album… never a dull moment. Before this I only really listened to most of the first disc and 1979. Glad I sat down and listened to the whole thing.
Brilliant. I have said this and you know i've said this!
Mastahpiece!!!
Great album - diverse and interesting. Probably 4.5 really.
Perhaps lyrically a tad silly in places, but it has a scattering of brilliant songs and the mix of orchestral pop and metal keeps it interesting.
Pure 90s alt grunge nostalgia. 5 stars, but too long.
По мнению А: 5/5 По мнению С: 5/5 ИТОГОВАЯ ОЦЕНКА: 5/5 (07.02.2025)
Love this album, from the first time I saw the video for Tonight, Tonight on Kerrang (R.I.P Kerrang) to now it’s always been in my album rotation.
I should have tired of this with it being a double album. I did a little during Disc 2 but not enough to downgrade it. Amazing.
2+ hour long albums are extremely hard to pull off, but this one does it perfectly. Keeping their signature brand of grunge consistent throughout the whole album, but still switching things up and exploring other genres, this album really is The Smashing Pumpkins' magnum opus.
The soundtrack of my Genx youth
Pleasure to listen to. Fav: 1979
It’s the 90’s. I’m on campus. I’m full of angst and stupid overwhelming sadness. I need catharsis, but despite all my rage, I’m still just a rat in a cage. Even if nostalgia wasn’t tied up in this, the music demands reaction. Mellon Collie dredges up all the feels in me.
Overall: 9/10 This album is considered a classic for a reason. It's pretty much just (a lot) more Siamese Dream but that album is a banger so it's hard to complain...just make sure you've got lots of time to listen to this one cause 2 hours is insane for an album. There isn't really any filler either, some songs are of course not as good as others but overall there's not a bad song on the album. It's too bad Billy and company seem to have depleted all of their songwriting talent to make this album cause it's the last Smashing Pumpkins album I enjoy. Fav Song: Bodies Least Fav Song: 1979
A case of the white album phenomena. An album too long, too patchy, but still removing any one song would make it lesser, so is then not perfect? I say it is
This is a hell of a record. A triple LP clocking in at just a hair over two hours. In my opinion this is Billy Corgan’s magnum opus. There’s so many very good singles on this album, it’s genuinely pretty incredible. This album seems to shift through different feelings throughout, at times it’s orchestral, at times melodic and beautiful, and at times aggressive, gritty, and raucous. Some songs are admittedly relatively snoozy, but there’s certainly more bangers than not. I find it really hard to find fault in this record, and I say that as someone who isn’t really a huge fan of the Smashing Pumpkins. “Zero” has always stood out as my favourite song on this record. “Emptiness is loneliness and loneliness is cleanliness and cleanliness is godliness and god is empty, just like me” is still one of the most iconic lyrics ever written. The song also has the added bonus of now reminding me of my significant other, in a roundabout way. I can’t really justify giving this album anything less than full marks. 5*
A masterpiece. A truly timeless classic filled with absolute bangers.
Great Album. Tonight Tonight is one of my favorite music videos of all time and I remember getting this album when I was in elementary school, and continue enjoying it just as much.
Potentially one of the best albums of all time. Such an enjoyable journey through every song, a great mix of heavy, somber, and everything in between. A great encapsulation of 'melancholy', and engaging throughout the entire runtime
I didn't listen to the second part of the album before the challenge reset, but I deeply enjoyed what I did listen to. This can be considered an attempt to map all corners of negative feeling; some songs embody bittersweetness, nostalgia, heartbreak, and indeed melancholy, whereas others are substantially angrier and express grievances about life and the world — for this reason, the album could appeal to younger people in particular. In my opinion, this record is at its best when its passions accumulate and burst into explosions of sound: on 'Here Is No Why' and 'Muzzle' for example, the instruments and vocals combine in force to rush the eardrums and invade the mind of the listener, twisting and twirling and steering and skirling within the skull. When this happens it's extremely difficult not to mirror and participate in that intensity of feeling. Not only will I go on to listen to the second part of the album, but I will also most likely replay this several times in the future. Favourites: Jellybelly, Here Is No Why, To Forgive, Love, Muzzle, Porcelina Of The Vast Oceans (2/1001, 8th Jan. '25, 0414h. Recreation of lost first draft created at approx. 0235h.)
4.5
Billy Corgan used to write some pretty cringey, teenage angst-ridden lyrics. He still does, but he used to, too. But the thing is, broken clock and all that, Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness has enough homeruns to justify the cringe. My choice for the true anthem for Gen X'ers is easy - "Despite all my rage I am still just a rat in a cage".
The fact that Billy Corgan wrote this at 28 proves that being an angry, angsty teen has nothing to do with age.
A true musical journey. A two-hour album is so much better when it goes through all sorts of peaks and valleys like this. It's very impressive that The Smashing Pumpkins were able to fit all this music together so cohesively. Gave myself a good two hours to listen to this one, and it was very much worth it.
Excellent Monument of my youth!
Undeniable classic but also it’s true that disc two is weak.
Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness isn’t just an album — it’s an epic. The Smashing Pumpkins delivered a sprawling, ambitious double LP that somehow manages to feel both grandiose and deeply personal. It swings wildly from rage to beauty, despair to hope, chaos to calm — and somehow, it all works. “1979” is the emotional anchor — nostalgic, reflective, and effortlessly cool, it captures that sense of youth slipping away without slipping into sentimentality. “Bullet with Butterfly Wings” is pure frustration and angst, delivered with Billy Corgan’s signature snarl over a wall of crunching guitars. Then there’s “Tonight, Tonight,” a soaring orchestral masterpiece that feels cinematic in scope and timeless in message. And let’s not forget “XYU” — an unhinged, snarling beast of a track that showcases the darker, heavier edge of the band. It’s violent, chaotic, and utterly compelling in contrast to the album’s softer moments. With Mellon Collie, the Pumpkins took a huge creative risk and pulled it off spectacularly. It’s rare for an album this long to be so consistently strong, but every track feels like a piece of a larger emotional puzzle. A defining statement from one of the ’90s most unique bands — and one that still resonates just as deeply today. Favorite song: XYU
I knew a bunch of songs from this album, but hadn't ever really listened to the whole thing at once. There's a lot to digest here, quite a range of sounds and volumes and noises, all with Corgan's screechy voice doing it's thing on top. Some really beautiful quieter songs, and some really rocking anthems. It was maybe a bit long, but overall an amazing album
This is the Sex Pistols review because I'm dumb. It's early punk, but honestly I liked this more than some other punk from the same time. It's definitely more interesting and varied than some others (Ramones...) The album is a 3 for me, but since I already messed up the ratings for one album, I'm giving this the rating for the album it actually is (see the Sex Pistols album for my Smashing Pumpkins review)
SIIIIII
Classic.
there was one summer i listened to this on my discman on repeat. i met a girl at summer camp who also loved it and she was the first girl i ever dated.
Masterpiece
First disc of this album, jeepers forgot what the 90s had to offer
This is gonna take awhile. Listened to most of it running at mission bay. Found a couple new favorite tracks like Galapogos and Bodies.
What a iconic album 👏
It’s up there for one of my favourite albums of all time. Starting off with the nice intro straight into tonight tonight mmmm 1979, XYU, Zero too many good songs to list. Fat ass 2 hour album, On record this is a pain to keep flipping and swapping records but this is a easy 5/5 for me
Is good A nice mix of punk, chillness and weirdness
Long winded alt rock epic. Wouldn’t quite say the birth of emo but wouldn’t be far from it
Billy Corgan does it again, probably top 5 bald guys of all time. Zero goes pretty hard, the titular track opens up so nicely and Ofcourse 1979 is a classic. Siamese dream is better, but they’re both incredible albums.
an epic, in the truest sense of the word. very long, but very worth it. fantastic.
i love this album so much. it’s the best album of the 90’s that isn’t britpop
This album holds a special place in my heart. I received it for my 11th birthday and listened to both discs over and over. My first concert was seeing the smashing pumpkins on tour for this album. Natural 5 stars
The most grandiose and expansive alt-rock album ever and one that has aged surprisingly well. On MCIS the Pumpkins sound both more like a band playing in a room together and more like a band drastically expanding its solid pallet. Everything about this album is extra: The strings are big and orchestral, the guitars are muscular and in your face, the heavy songs are metallic and brash, the ballads are dreamy and stretched out, and the quiet intimate songs are weird and quirky. Somehow Flood recorded this album on a warehouse sound stage with a full PA blasting and it actually sounds tight and hifi. Despite its length there is not much filler here. There were 5 hit singles from this album: Bullet, Tonight Tonight, 1979, Zero, and Thirty-Three but there could have been several more including Jellybelly, Here Is No Why, and Muzzle, not to mention classic album cuts like Ruby, Porcelina, and Bodies. Just an incredible feat of songwriting and creativity. Possibly the best double album of all time, or at least in the conversation with the White Album and The Wall. Easy 5 for me.
Okay so I guess all the albums I can quickly mark as a 5 are grunge from the late 80's and 90's. Task: follow Siamese Dream. SP: Bet (to quote Gen Z). It's as good, and maybe Butch Vig gets as much credit as Billy Corgan. As with some of the other grunge albums I rated a "5", this has half a dozen songs that are among my favorites, and that never get old. Those songs single handedly make this a 5, and the rest is gravy (very good gravy).
A work of art.
The rock double album was an near obsolete beast in the 1990s, having been relegated to coveting greatest hits collections and being displaced by the 70 plus minute long CD and changes in style and tolerance for such ambitious world-building expenses. Leave it to Billy Corgan to bring the double album back to prominence. Never afraid to showcase his ambition in a moment in time where such feelings were against type, Corgan saw to it that his band, Smashing Pumpkins, craft the most blown out, expansive, timely and reflective album of the mid-90s. The end result, Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness, marked the turning point where not only the Pumpkins transcended the dying embers of grunge but had briefly integrated themselves into the pop culture lexicon. With its blasts of orchestral laden rock with glimmers of what was to come later on for the band, Mellon Collie is perhaps the last greatest album to come from the grunge era as its aesthetic merged with corporate sensibilities for good. Disc One: Mellon Collie & the Infinite Sadness, Tonight, Tonight, Jellybelly, Zero, Bullet With Butterfly Wings, An Ode to No One, Love, Galapogos, Muzzle, Porcelina of the Vast Oceans. Disc Two: Where Boys Fear to Tread, Bodies, Thirty-Three, In the Arms of Sleep, 1979, Tales of a Scorched Earth, Thru the Eyes of Ruby, X.Y.U., We Only Come Out at Night, Beautiful, Lily (My One & Only).
I love the smashing pumpkins!!!!!!<3
I came in going this album is way too long and not really enjoying Billy Corgan's voice. I left still feeling this way, but also in spite of all this, this is a 5 star album. The range of styles on display, the absolutely rocking riffs mixed with really wonderful, dramatic tunes, it's a masterpiece. I just wish it had been split into two.
own
Fantastic. One of the best double-albums ever.
I potentially can't be objective about this record because I loved it so dearly as a teenager. I expected to like it less, to cringe at Corgan's vocals — which I once read described as a "pinched larynx" — and be further put off by the Pumpkins' checkered latter discography. In the end, I was enchanted in an even deeper way by the poetry and heaviness. Mellon Collie is deeply indulgent in parts ("Porcelina Of The Vast Oceans," "X.Y.U.," "Lily (My One And Only)"), but is anchored by a staggering number of enduring hits ("Tonight, Tonight," "Zero," "Bullet With Butterfly Wings," "Thirty-Three," "1979") and strong deeper cuts ("Jellybelly," "Here Is No Why," "Thru The Eyes of Ruby").
9/10 I loved this album. Its ability to switch between metal and soft rock is remarkable. Favourite Song=1979 Least Favourite Song=Jellybelly
Listening to the CD tracklist: “Holy shit, this is way better than I remember it being. There’s a couple weird duds here and there, and it feels long, but I love the range and I think I just love The Smashing Pumpkins. Extremely high hit rate for 28 songs.” Listening to the original vinyl tracklist: “This is the greatest grunge album, the greatest double album, the greatest album ever made. Holy motherfucking shit. No skips, perfect flow, perfect runtime, perfect album.” The power of track order, people!!!
When I first looked at the track list and length of Mellon Collie, I thought some evil Spotify employee must be hiding the standard edition from me. Nope!!! This album’s long as hell. It was daunting to start the two-hour listen, but thankfully this album kicks ass! It’s a master at balance. The soft-and-dreamy and edgy-intense-despiteallmyrageIamstilljustaratinacage hang around for just the right amount of time before things start switching up again. The atmosphere really clicks, too. The instrumentals and Billy Corgan’s voice are like a peanut butter and honey sandwich. It’s all real good. Awesome album!
This is an all time great album from a seminal band from the 90s that maybe overstays its welcome by a few minutes. Billy Corgan is a chode, but the music is great!
to follow up Siamese dream with this incredible double album was quite impressive. Great production, great guitars, Billy really found his groove.
A uniquely majestic and gorgeous album. I like it even better now than I did in middle school. I don’t even care that it’s a double.
This is what this website is for: reminding me to listen to albums that I absolutely adored in my youth, but which I haven’t listened to for a while. It’s a proper musical experience, I absolutely love this album.
This is what you save your 5 star ratings for.
The Pumpkins' magnum opus. An absolute favorite album of mine that may be long, but one I will never tire of listening to time after time. This was the album that fully sold me on one of my now favorite bands of all time
Bloated? I suppose. Wildly creative? Yes. Packed with some of the finest alt-rock anthems? Totally. Is it a classic? I’d say so.
Classic
I love this album. It’s not perfect, with some nasally vocals and some songs that are a bit grating, but it flips from good hard rock to beautiful soft melodies quite successfully. There’s a lot of interesting musicality that makes the songs stick in my head.
so good…
Banger after banger holy shit.
An album I’m really excited for! I was actually just reading about this a little bit ago. I really liked the orchestral opening and I think that gives it a grander feel. Of course I am also a fan of the more rock elements of the album too. There are several songs on here that I already know and enjoy so that does raise my overall appreciation. This is a LONG album - the longest I’ve listened to so far, with two hour-long halves. That isn’t necessarily bad, but it does make listening to it a bigger undertaking. Favorite song: “Tonight, Tonight” Best representation of the album: “Porcelina of the Vast Oceans”
A grand opus to fulfill Billy's every wish and desire. The peak of Pumpkins but the beginning of their collapse.
Increíble. Lo mejor que hicieron y harán los Smashing Pumpkins. Un disco histórico, icónico.
**Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness** by The Smashing Pumpkins, released in 1995, is widely regarded as one of the defining albums of the 1990s. Spanning two discs with a total of 28 tracks, this ambitious double album showcases the band's exploration of a wide array of musical styles, emotional depth, and lyrical complexity. Produced by Billy Corgan, Flood, and Alan Moulder, the album cemented The Smashing Pumpkins as one of the era's most innovative rock bands. Below is an in-depth review focusing on the album’s lyrics, music, production, themes, and its overall influence, along with a balanced assessment of its pros and cons. ### **1. Lyrics** **Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness** is lyrically dense, often oscillating between youthful angst, existential musings, and delicate moments of reflection. Corgan’s lyrics, at times cryptic and emotionally charged, convey themes of love, alienation, despair, and fleeting moments of hope. The album opens with the instrumental title track, "Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness," which sets a reflective tone before transitioning into “Tonight, Tonight,” a track filled with hope and grandeur. The lyrics in "Tonight, Tonight" express a deep longing for transcendence, with lines like *“Believe in me as I believe in you / Tonight, tonight.”* The sense of determination and promise gives the song a sweeping, almost cinematic quality. Corgan’s ability to juxtapose innocence with disillusionment is particularly evident in tracks like “1979,” where he reminisces about teenage years filled with “cool kids” and the reckless abandon of youth. The lyrics are both nostalgic and melancholic, encapsulating a bittersweet passage of time. On the darker end of the spectrum, tracks like "Bullet with Butterfly Wings" and "Zero" delve into themes of nihilism and frustration. The iconic line, *“Despite all my rage, I am still just a rat in a cage”* from “Bullet with Butterfly Wings” is a raw declaration of helplessness in the face of existential struggle. Meanwhile, “Zero” is a nihilistic anthem with its repetitive mantra, *“Emptiness is loneliness, and loneliness is cleanliness / And cleanliness is godliness, and God is empty just like me.”* Corgan channels feelings of alienation and self-destruction, making these songs powerful representations of emotional turmoil. While the lyrics can be beautifully poetic, they occasionally veer into self-indulgence, particularly in tracks like “Love” or “Tales of a Scorched Earth,” where the aggression sometimes overshadows lyrical clarity. ### **2. Music** Musically, **Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness** is a sprawling odyssey that traverses multiple genres, from alternative rock, dream pop, and shoegaze to heavy metal, progressive rock, and piano balladry. The album’s sheer breadth allows The Smashing Pumpkins to explore their sonic potential while offering listeners an eclectic experience. The production is dense, often layering guitars upon guitars, creating a lush yet occasionally overwhelming wall of sound. This is particularly evident in tracks like “Jellybelly” and “Tales of a Scorched Earth,” where the distorted guitar riffs dominate, pushing the boundaries of noise rock. Songs like “Here Is No Why” and “An Ode to No One” similarly blend intense guitars with grungy undertones, showing the band’s aggressive side. In contrast, songs like "Tonight, Tonight" are orchestral and grand, with lush string arrangements that elevate the track beyond standard rock conventions. The arrangement of strings, alongside the traditional rock instruments, creates an almost baroque-pop sound, lending the track an ethereal, cinematic quality. Similarly, “Porcelina of the Vast Oceans” starts as a slow burn before evolving into a majestic rock epic, blending progressive rock elements with atmospheric soundscapes. On the softer end of the spectrum, “Thirty-Three” and “In the Arms of Sleep” reveal a more introspective side, with acoustic guitars and subtle arrangements allowing Corgan’s vulnerable voice to shine. “Galapogos” is another standout, balancing dream-like sequences with powerful crescendos that evoke emotional intensity without overwhelming the listener. Despite the album’s richness in diversity, the sheer number of songs can sometimes make it feel bloated. While the sonic experimentation is commendable, some tracks like “We Only Come Out at Night” or “By Starlight” feel less essential, detracting from the overall flow of the album. ### **3. Production** The production of **Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness** was led by Flood, Alan Moulder, and Billy Corgan himself. Flood, known for his work with artists like U2 and Nine Inch Nails, brings a layered, almost industrial sound to some of the heavier tracks, while Moulder contributes a polished, shoegaze-inspired gloss to the more ethereal moments. One of the album’s greatest strengths lies in its contrasts. The production often juxtaposes heavy, distorted guitars with delicate, softer moments. For instance, “Tonight, Tonight” seamlessly transitions from orchestral bombast to moments of intimate quiet. Flood and Moulder’s influence can also be seen in the attention to detail—whether it’s the reverb-laden guitars on “1979” or the tight, punchy drums on “Zero,” the album is meticulously crafted to evoke a wide array of emotional landscapes. However, the production can also be overwhelming at times. The sheer density of the arrangements, especially on tracks like “X.Y.U.” and “Tales of a Scorched Earth,” may fatigue listeners who are not accustomed to such aggressive sonic layering. Corgan’s penchant for piling guitars and effects, while innovative, occasionally results in a lack of space within the music, making some songs feel claustrophobic. ### **4. Themes** At its core, **Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness** is an exploration of the human condition. The themes of the album oscillate between youth and mortality, hope and despair, love and loss. Corgan has described the album as a reflection on the cycle of life, from innocence to experience and ultimately, to death. The album’s first disc, **Dawn to Dusk**, deals more with themes of youthful exuberance, innocence, and the struggles of adolescence. Songs like “1979” and “Tonight, Tonight” capture this fleeting innocence, while darker tracks like “Bullet with Butterfly Wings” and “Zero” address feelings of anger and disillusionment. The second disc, **Twilight to Starlight**, delves into more existential territory, exploring themes of mortality and introspection. Tracks like “Thru the Eyes of Ruby” and “Farewell and Goodnight” deal with the fragility of life and love, offering a more mature, reflective outlook compared to the first disc’s angst-ridden narrative. An underlying theme throughout the album is the tension between hope and despair. While songs like “Tonight, Tonight” offer a sense of hope and optimism, others, like “Bodies” and “Tales of a Scorched Earth,” are suffused with nihilism and anger. This duality reflects the complexity of human emotions, making the album resonate on a deeply personal level for listeners. ### **5. Influence and Legacy** **Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness** is not only a commercial success, having debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, but also a cultural touchstone for the 1990s. It was released during a time when grunge was fading, and alternative rock was diversifying, and it helped to cement The Smashing Pumpkins as one of the decade's most important bands. The album’s wide-ranging sonic palette had a significant influence on alternative and rock music. Its blend of genres and willingness to experiment paved the way for other artists to push the boundaries of rock music. The combination of aggressive guitars with orchestral arrangements became a template for bands seeking to blend traditional rock elements with more avant-garde approaches. The lyrical themes of alienation, disillusionment, and existential reflection resonated deeply with Generation X, particularly those who were grappling with the emotional weight of growing up in an increasingly uncertain world. Songs like “1979” and “Bullet with Butterfly Wings” became anthems for a generation, with their blend of nostalgia, rebellion, and existential questioning. However, while **Mellon Collie**’s influence is undeniable, it also marked the beginning of the band's internal struggles. The pressure of creating such a monumental work took its toll on the band, leading to internal conflicts, lineup changes, and eventually a shift away from their signature sound in later albums. ### **6. Pros and Cons** #### **Pros:** - **Diversity of Sound:** The album’s genre-blending approach makes it a rich and varied listening experience, ranging from orchestral rock to grunge and metal. - **Emotional Depth:** Corgan’s introspective lyrics and the album’s exploration of complex emotional themes resonate with listeners on a personal level. - **Production Quality:** The lush, layered production creates a vast sonic landscape, balancing moments of aggression with delicate, introspective balladry. - **Cultural Impact:** The album is a landmark of 1990s alternative rock and influenced a wide array of artists across multiple genres. #### **Cons:** - **Overlong and Bloated:** At 28 tracks, the album can feel overwhelming and unfocused at times. Some tracks feel less essential and could have been trimmed to create a more cohesive experience. - **Self-Indulgence:** Corgan’s lyrical and musical excesses occasionally border on self-indulgence, which may alienate some listeners who prefer a more restrained approach. - **Production Overload:** While the dense production is often a strength, it can also be overwhelming, particularly on heavier tracks where the layering becomes excessive. ### **Conclusion** **Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness** is an ambitious, sprawling album that captures The Smashing Pumpkins at the peak of their creative powers. Its emotional depth, genre-blending experimentation, and expansive production make it a defining album of the 1990s. However, its length and occasional moments of self-indulgence prevent it from being a perfect album. Nevertheless, its influence on alternative rock and its enduring emotional resonance make it a monumental achievement in the world of music.
Incredible album with with an incredible ambience. Billy Corgan is a genius
Brought me back to my youth.
Exceptional
One of my favs. Even though I don't revisit this record often, its definitely a formative album for me. I loved The Smashing Pumpkins when I was in middle school and even into High School. Despite how I might feel about later Smashing Pumpkins, this album will always be pure gold. Its all the bangers, its all the feels. Its also super long. It almost feels like Billy Corgan knew that it wouldn't get much better than this, so he put it all on one record. And maybe that's not totally fair, because there is a lot to say about Siamese Dreams and even Adore is pretty solid. But Mellon Collie is apex mountain for this band. Its the full spectrum of what this band can do. It's the feel epic emotional feelings of Tonight Tonight, the rage of Bullet with Butterfly Wings, the intensity of Zero, the vibes of 1979, the somber sadness of By Starlight and then it has all of the obscure avant garde kind of emo songs like We Only Come Out at Night. Its kind of everything packed into one (probably a bit too long?) epic album. I listened to the shit out of the record at one in my life. Its one that I can always find something that I vibe with at really any given time. If I was to give it any knocks, it'd be that there are maybe 4 or 5 too many songs. But either way, I'll turn this on and listen to the whole thing without skipping a song. A few of my favorites from this album (which is the majority of the songs): Side 1: *Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness -I love how this kind of sets the tone for the rest of the record. Its just short instrumental that invites you into the weird world of this album. *Tonight, Tonight -this song is perfect. Its all the feels. I love the strings in it. I love how it builds, and how Billy whispers then shouts throughout. *JellyBelly -I mostly love how this is where the album really turns up. This song is intense. Its heavy, its grungy. Its almost metal? *Zero -the perfect follow up. They keep the intensity up and send you on this epic, which is Zero. I love the guitar riffs, the solo always gets me stoked. But its the bridge that always makes me come back for more. *Here's to Why -sneaky good track in between 2 classics. The guitar solos really catch me off guard here. *Bullet With Butterfly Wings -what else can I say about this song? Was I teenage boy? Yes. This. Song. Fucks. *Ode to Love & Cupid De Locke -this is where side one starts to lull a bit, but these 2 songs are kind of the oasis in the desert here. Kind of palate cleansers. *Muzzle -this song is often overlooked, but the fuzzy guitars, the solos, the chorus just keep me alive. I love this one. *Porcelina of the Vast Ocean -another sneaky banger. Kind of sneaks up on you and draws you in. Its long, but if you endure by the end you're all in. Its almost like a Terrapin in that way. (Not saying it even touches Terrapin), but it kind of has that release in the back half to it. *Take Me Down -quite. sentimental. Great book end for side one. Side 2: *Thirty-Three -kind of the first song on side 2 that really connects with me. Its kind of that change of pace. Slow, emotional, thoughtful. Great shoegaze. *In the Arms of Sleep -I love how this kind of blends out of Thirty-Three and into 1979. This is the part of the side 2, that I really vibe with. *1979 -this freakin song. You know, I still don't really know even this song is about, but whenever its on I'm just filled with joy and nostalgia. But it's not necessarily nostalgia for this song, its the feeling of looking back and smiling. Which maybe that's what this song is about? Its just the feeling I get when I listen to it. It feels like looking at grainy photographs. *Thru the Eyes of Ruby -another one that is slow burn that eventually pulls you all the way into it. Soft and heavy at the same time. *Stumbeline -this damn song. So good. Makes you feel things. *We Only Come Out at Night -is maybe my favorite song on the whole album. Its so obscure, but it just keeps your attention throughout. It feels like a folk song, but its played on weird instruments. *Beautiful -such a great song. Good message, chill vibes. I think I love chill Smashing Pumpkins the most. *By Starlight -feels like the stripped down slower version of Tonight, Tonight. Absolutely beautiful. *Farewell & Goodnight -perfect ending to an album.
Billy Corgan is a vampire and nothing will convince me otherwise
una puta obra maestra. 10/10
Me gusta más ahora que cuando lo escuché por primera vez. Uno de los pocos álbumes de 2 horas que he escuchado que siento que justifican esa duración. 9.5/10
Favourite album from my youth; still holds up.
Finally got around to this and Im so glad I didnt skip. This is an incredible work of alt rock and may well be in the top 20 alt rock albums ever. A good mix of mega hits, deep cuts that sound as good as the hits and random screamo that keeps you guessing I know some folks hate Corgan, but he’s admirable as a song writer. So much material and this is his best
This album feels like it was almost perfect for me, featuring some of my favourite genres, including Alternative Rock and Metal all in one, with some calming tracks which are quieter throughout to give your ears a bit of a rest. It is the first album I'll be giving 5 stars out of 5, because I truly enjoyed it from the moment I started listening it to the moment I finished it, being 2 hours long works in this double album's strength so well. I loved many of the tracks in this album, but my three favourites were Zero, X.Y.U and An Ode To No One.
Gorgeous
hell YEAH
Probably a little too long, so I'll ding it a bit to a 4.5, but a couple standouts to me are Zero, Bullet with Butterfly Wings, and Porcelina.
I love so much of this album. On paper I should hate this: it's really long and indulgent and if we're being honest Billy isn't the greatest singer, but there's certainly a charm to his style. I'm going to cheat and give this a 5 because the highs on this album are so high sure there's a couple songs that don't really blow me away but I think it's a super important album and it certainly has a special place in my heart.
Greatly enjoyed this one. I was actually planning on listening to this today anyways as I recently listened to and loved Siamese Dreams. Compared to that album, this one was much more diverse overall which is fairly impressive considering SD already covered a pretty wide range of moods. This album covers both moods and sounds. You have art rock, shoegaze, alt rock, and even a little metal stuff going on on this thing. The diversity is certainly a good thing, however, considering its massive length. The length is probably one thing I’m not crazy about with this thing. I throughly enjoyed the first album. Honestly, this might be the first double album I’ve heard where I’ve actually felt like either album can be listened on their own. I listened to both back to back but each one felt self contained enough to be great on its own but came together well too. Listening to them back to back does leave me wondering how I actually feel about the second album. I was enjoying it a bit less than the first but that might have just been because the fatigue was setting in. Idk I certainly am not a fan of more aggressive stuff unless I’m really in the mood so that could also be it. I will probably return to each album on its own at a later date both because I enjoyed them both so much and because I want to test the fatigued idea. Anyways, this was a great time. Just consistently great instrumentals and performances. Prefer SD at this point in time but this was really awesome.
This record is a monster. I love it. Maybe some filler ans it is an 2 hour record, but all part of a story quite honestly I never bothered to try and really learn about. 1979 is a truly outstanding song that even my kids love. The drummer is fun to focus on - talented dude. Ok so did some reading and it’s not really meant to have a story, more just like the entrance of emotions a kid can go through in a day.
Formative years album for me. Middle school, Alison koleszar, looking up lyrics to memorize them. I didn’t love all the heavy metal songs but adored the melodic and emotional tunes.
I owned this album in my teens and of course liked some of the songs, but was also repulsed by the intensity of some of the music and lyrics. Like, it was too much. Now, much older and more capable of riding the emotional waves, I find this a breath of fresh air in the AI / TikTok - everything sounds the same - era. The remix sounds good, the music is good but not revolutionary, but the lyrics and song writing are top notch.
Wow. Sprawling in style and length. Ruminations on life, love, and loss. This is the expansive world of mid-90s alternative. I've known Bullet with Butterfly Wings since I was a teenager, but this album is so much more. Killer! Saved Songs: - Tonight Tonight - Bullet with Butterfly Wings - Cupid de Locke - Muzzle - 1979 - Through the Eyes of Ruby - Strumbeline - Lily (My One and Only)
My favorite band of all time. Love em or hate em. For me, it was love at first listen. Billy’s lyrics, his passion to always do something different and great, Jimmy’s drums, the softness, the heaviness, the rage, the art…it all works for me. This album is a masterpiece. It’s all different and beautiful. They are odd, and that’s what makes them legendary.
Sounds like riding around in Uffy’s Celebrity in high school.
Masterpiece.
Even though it's a little bloated, there's still plenty of bangers here
This was peak Smashing Pumpkins for me. I was not a huge fan of most of their stuff before or after, but this one hit the spot for my taste.
I know this album inside out and back to front. I bought this album when it first came out, already being a fan of Siamese Dream. I remember my first listen. I thought I knew what I was in for, but was blown away from the very first song. With all that said, not all tracks on this are top tier (although they're still good), and I understand some people find Billy's voice grating. Maybe it's just nostalgia, or from listening so many times, but this is an easy 5 star for me.
Wowza. Wasn’t sure I’d be able to listen to a 2 hour album atm but nope made time and it was so nice to this while sitting by the water. I started reading while listening, and then a fourth through the album I stopped reading and just was listening. I definitely think the first disc was better than disc 2, although there were still plenty of great songs in the second half. I’m between rating this a 4 and a 5….because so many songs are just so lovely (a handful I knew already yayyyy), but there are also a handful that I didn’t LOVE. But that’s a small handful. 90% gorgeous.
stone cold classic. liked the back half of disc 2 even better this time through. understands the totality of childhood/teenage experience more than a lot of go-tos, down to the edgelording. no reason a 4xlp should be this listenable.
Love this album. Not quite as much as Siamese Dream, but it has a good variety and some of my favorites. Still, for me it’s a 4.5+
I’d never listened to a Smashing Pumpkins album from start to finish until I started this project. I’m very familiar with their singles, but listening to Siamese Dream late last year was the first time I’d listened to one of their albums. Siamese Dream blew me away, and has been one of my favorite albums from this project. I have really high expectations for Mellon Collie, since it has my favorite Smashing Pumpkins song, “1979” (“Tonight, Tonight” is a close second). Mellon Collie managed to completely live up to my expectations. I was blown away by its wonderful guitar playing, brilliant string arrangements, and great songwriting. A lot of the double albums that I’ve reviewed have fallen a bit short with me, often because they’re just too much. However, Mellon Collie was able to hit the mark of its big ambitions. The album really did a fantastic job of keeping in line with its darker themes of sadness that were woven throughout the songs. Sadness is such a broad emotion, and I loved how sadness was explored through other themes of loneliness, disillusionment, and anger. Dawn to Dusk was my favorite part of the album. I loved the orchestral instrumental that kicked off the album, and it segued beautifully into “Tonight, Tonight.” “Tonight, Tonight” is such a beautiful song, and I love its sweeping string arrangements and precise drumming. “Jelly Belly” shifts this part of the album into more hard rock influences, but the beauty in the arrangements is still there. I love the fuzzy guitar sounds that take over on the songs that have more hard rock influences; it’s the perfect blend of hard rock and shoegaze. “Love” was probably my favorite discovery on this first half of the album. I absolutely loved the guitar playing, and the keyboards or maybe autoharp that were on this song were fantastic as well. Dawn to Dusk was just beautiful from start to finish, and I absolutely loved it. I didn’t enjoy Twilight to Starlight as much, but it didn’t take away from my overall enjoyment of the album. This part of the album featured more songs that were stripped down and slower, but they were just as beautiful.. “1979” is still my favorite Smashing Pumpkins song. I love that it features acoustic guitar, but there are still some other instruments that round out the sound of the song really well. “Thru The Eyes of Ruby” was my favorite discovery on this part of the album. The guitar playing was fantastic, and I loved the ebb and flow of the tempo. My favorite thing about Smashing Pumpkins’ music is that there’s so much to take in. The main guitar melodies and strings are aways great, but there are so many little sounds sprinkled throughout their work that makes their music so enjoyable and rich. Mellon Collie was fantastic from start to finish, and I really loved it. I’ve always enjoyed Smashing Pumpkins’ music, but I now have an appreciation for their albums as a whole.
This was hard to rate. Don’t like Billy Corgan and the album was really, really long…..but some really killer tracks on it
Another one I own on vinyl, and it just so happens to be my birthday, I know how I'm celebrating!
I can get past Billy’s weird voice. This album has a little bit of everything and carries itself very nicely through 2 discs.
Loves this when it came out, still love it today.
Great album.
Yea this is another good one..
This aged well. A bit long but didn't feel bloated
being a 90s baby this album is very nostalgic for me. so much awesome material on this album. definitely iconic.
It might be biased by my nostalgia, but love the album…
Just totally nails that sound, that age, and that feeling.
Gran trabajo de The Smashing Pumpinks que sólo escuché completo una sóla vez: supongo que por su longitud o por adentrarme en otros artistas. Disco lleno de furia e introspección en su música y letra: algo muy de los '90 que hoy, en algún estrato, persiste. Muy bien 10
Every other song is an all time classic
Absolutely loved this, especially the 1st half, just pure great tunes. Some decent ones on the 2nd half as well, but not as much as the 1st half. Not a fan of an album being this ridiculous length, should be 2 albums really. But still, loved it and will listen to it again.
I cannot be unbiased. For two hours I was back in 7th grade, laying on my bed after another rough day of middle school just soaking in the guitars and terrible singing. I adore this band.
One of the greatest albums of the 90s. The musical range on this is amazing, a sonic voyage across a two hour roller coaster ride. I saw them on the RHCP tour double opening with Peal Jam during their Gish release. Thought they were okay, but kinda shitty to the crowd and each other so their next couple of albums were had stuff I listened too but never picked up. Then Mellon Collie came along and blew everything around it out of the water, it raised the Smashing Pumpkins out of the 90s era 'Every Grunge Band Ever' into a whole new pantheon. It has to be in my top 50.
I’ll always applaud an ambitious artist, but it’s rare that the ability rises to the level of the ambition. Even rarer when the level of ambition is this high. I’d only heard the singles, so I didn’t know the range of the whole album. It’s crunchy, sometimes. It’s melodic, sometimes. A gamut of emotions, all beautifully expressed.
There's criticism to be had for the vocals and the lyrics at times. But this was and continues to be absolutely killer. I have fond memories from on fall of 96 with this album and it essentially holds up. What I most appreciate is how often the verse-chorus-verse format gets a slight spin
There was one or two more metal songs that I didn’t love but everything else was a vibe
This is some shit that I think people are either gonna really like or really dislike, and I can totally understand hating this album. Corgan’s voice is ass and the album is long as fuck and a lot of the songs are weird, but I love it. The more mellow songs are definitely more my thing than the in your face stuff, but I honestly enjoyed the whole thing, which is crazy for something 2 hours long
This album is everything. I love it so much.
I LOVE THIS ALBUM. I’ve never listened to it in full, but I knew 12 of the 28 songs before listening. It was great to get the opportunity to sit down and force myself to listen to this masterpiece in full! A spectacular sprawl of art rock mixed with progressive metal awaits you…
You have to appreciate when bands take swings this big, especially when they come out with material this consistently great.
"Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness" is the third studio and first double album by American rock band the Smashing Pumpkins. The album was produced by vocalist and guitarist Billy Corgan, Flood and Alan Mouder and contains a wide array of musical styles - art rock, grunge, alternative pop and heavy metal. It was lauded by critics for its ambition and scope. The album contains two disc sides, Dawn to Dusk (day) and Twilight to Starlight (night) which work together conceptually. Billy Corgan has stated the lyrics sum up all things he felt as a youth. The album debuted at #1 on the US charts and hit #4 in the UK. The opening song and self-titled "Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness'" is an instrumental with piano keys and a cello. This leads directly into "Tonight, Tonight." A big open with a live orchestra and drums. The song has a start-stop quality with the acoustic guitar and strings. A song about encouraging to be yourself and live for the moment. I sometimes feel that songs #3 through #6 is one of the best moments on any album. Four onsecutive rockers. "Jellybelly" has a heavy metal start and the band kicks kicks i, killing it. "Zero" was a single with a grungy guitar open and is a dark song. Depression, drugs and being a fool seem to be the topics. My favorite song in this song string is "Here Is No Why." Catchy rhythm guitar melody. Guitar slashes. Overlayed guitar. Corgan screaming as he looks back at his 18-year old self. Speaking of screaming, the first exposure we all got of this album was "Bullet with Butterfly Wings." Pulsing guitar and drums and then the band explodes. We get that soft-loud-soft dynamic. He's stuck in this world which is a sucking vampire. Great song title name by the way. Guitar strums, drum rolls and the band rips into it to open "Muzzle." This is a straight-forward rocker and a song he wrote about his wife, soon to be ex, admitting his own faults but it's too late. The epic "Porcelina of the Vast Oceans" begins with a long silence and slow guitar keys. The band comes in and there's a soft-loud-soft dynamic. A dream love song about Porcelina. The second half (Twighlight to Starlight) kind of alternates between soft and harder-edge songs. One of the best harder-edge songs and my favorite song on the album is "Bodies." A needle scratching a record changes to the band in full throttle aggressive mode. No messing around with any dynamics here. Corgan's voice screaming and straining. It's about the after-effects after someone breaks up with you. The band goes softer with a piano and guitar strumming in "Thirty-Three." This is a hopeful song. Who said this band couldn't create a top-forty pop song? "1979" is just that. A drum machine. Vocal and instrument loops and samples. This is a solid pop song as Billy sings about making the most of the day. The album closes with a bittersweet song about death in "Farewell and Goidnight." A piano very similar to the opening song. All four members (Billy, James Iha, D'arcy and Jimmy Chamberlain) contribute vocals. This is a big and sprawling album. There's a lot of songs with melodic hooks, hard and soft songs and straight-forward rockers. I suppose they could have made one heck of a hard rock album limiting it to like 12 songs. But, it is what it is and it is a great album. This listening time I really tried to focus on the lyrics and Corgan covers a lot - love, anger, depression, dreaming, resentment, regret, pain and more I'm sure. This album has aged really well and sounded great again today. I would think there's something here for everyone to enjoy.
Tight
Masterpiece.
Brilliant new sound
great entry... best pumpkins album. Fun listening two all the way through again. Even the less popular songs have some great moments/riffs. Playing the air piano along with the title track, middle of "An Ode to No One", the gritty effects on "love", the awesome build up in "where boys fear to tread"
Love Smashing Pumpkins. Also love the top reviews hatred for them.
This is on my mt Rushmore of albums. It covers so much musical ground that there is something for everyone. Yes it's long. But it's all good. And even the singles had bsides with another 15 tracks that could have been on this record. This is one of the best records to come out of the 90s hands down.
Hadn’t heard them.., loved this album!
Why do they smash pumpkins? Good album though.
I had this album when I was young, but I tended to skip around the tracklisting a lot. Oddly enough, revisiting this album years later, I found it easier to sit through the entire thing. Like many double albums, it can feel like a slog at points, but there's a refreshing variety of styles which means that the low points are far from fatal. The music is orchestral, dirty, dark, and light all at different points. And it's seething with Gen X against and energy. Truthfully, this is an extremely 90s album, but it has aged pretty damn well (even if the band didn't as much). Personally, I'd have cut a few tracks out, but it's still strong enough to support being a double album.
Masterpiece
What an album
Incredibly solid album from a distinctive sounding group. I didn’t listen to this album at the time so I didn’t really realize so many of these songs were on a single album.
Forgotten, was a treat to be reunited, this music was a big part of my early adulthood.
Amazing. Great songs, great musicianship. Awful vocals but they grow on me to the point where I love em.
The quintessential Smashing Pumpkins album. There's something for everyone here. You definitely gotta get used to Billy Corgan's voice, though; I would say he's an acquired taste.
This was the first album I ever bought. Loved it back then, love it still.
I have listened to this album too many times to count. I was in 6th grade when this came out and listened to this album almost nonstop. It has been at least a decade since I've listened at this point, and I have to say I still love this album. Everything from the music to the artwork, it's just a great album. Nostalgia is definitely factor in my rating.
I would almost say this album's a little long but still 5/5
Quite possibly my favorite album of all time.
Loved it
What can I say that hasn't already been said about this album? Probably not much. As an avid music lover, being asked who my favorite artist is has always been a stressful question, but my easy answer is simply The Smashing Pumpkins. I've been a massive fan since I was probably about 16 when I bought Rotten Apples, their "greatest hits" album from a local music store, then proceeded to dive into their albums properly. This album is just such a power-house. It's got the hits like Tonight, Tonight, 1979, Bullet With Butterfly Wings, and Zero (hits that have never overstayed their welcome, in my mind), but it also has some wonderful overlooked treasures. In the Arms of Sleep is probably in my top 5 SP songs of all time. This song is absolutely gorgeous and has some of my favorite vocals from Corgan. Jellybelly, Here is No Why, To Forgive, An Ode to No One, Cupid de Locke, Muzzle, Porcelina of the Vast Oceans, Where Boys Fear to Tread, Bodies, Thru the Eyes of Ruby, X.Y.U, like holy crap there are so many bangers on this album. It has the nice soft ballads, screeching vocals with heavy distortion, and everything in between. And while it covers this whole spectrum, it all still feels like it maintains an identity. These songs are all undeniably Mellon Collie. I love it all. I also feel the need to shout out The Aeroplane Flies High (Turns Left, Looks Right), a song that was cut from the album but can be found on the deluxe version, great tune.
It never quite regains the momentum from its first 6 tracks, but this is still a fantastic album. It’s true that it is indulgent, overly dramatic, pretentious and all of those other things the other reviews say, but that’s what makes it such a great rock album. I never spent much time on the 2nd disc back when I used to listen to this album, but it was fun to listen to after many years. A rare 5/5 from me.
"Scratch my face with anvil hands, and coil my tongue around a bumblebee mouth". Let's just face up to it. I won't deny that Billy Corgan invites ridicule, he wrote lyrics like the above, dressed as Uncle Fester (intentionally or not, who knows) for his wedding, and he's in love with his sadness. So, a 2 hour long album exploring said sadness is going to take a critical thrashing from some quarters. And I guess who can blame them. Now introduce those of us who were teenagers when this was released, already primed by the magnificent (and just about superior) Siamese Dream, swimming in all the feels, completely ready to drink this in in all of its glorious and expansive hugeness. It's very rare you get a double album which actually succeeds in its lofty ambitions, and I really do feel that this does. I enjoy the concept here of one CD for 'day' and one for 'night'. They both work separately as hour long albums, or together if you have the time for a marathon session. Sadness? There's more than sadness here. There's outright euphoria, and some of the greatest ever Pumpkins songs, Porcelina ("without a care in this whole world"), Galapagos, Thru the Eyes of Ruby. There's tender beauty both fragile and soaring, To Forgive, Stumbeline, By Starlight, Take me Down. There's balls out rock - Where Boys Fear to Tread, XYU, Bodies, Ode to Noone (silly lyrics notwithstanding) and Tales of a Scorched Earth. Finally, there's also fantastic stadium rock with Tonight, Tonight, Here is no Why and the other big single smashes. Christ, I almost forgot to mention 1979! what an absolutely gorgeous song. As is Thirty Three. Will always be one of my favourite albums, and I still think Billy Corgan is a bit of a prick. He even let James Iha play on this one! Shout out to Jimmy's exceptional drumming once again. "and in the eyes of a jackal I say ka-BOOM!" oh, Billy...
Een klassieker, een meesterwerk. Geslaagd als conceptalbum, maar ook met nummers die op zichzelf gewoon pareltjes zijn.
The hits on this album are fantastic including "1979" and "Bullet With Butterfly Wings". The other songs are also great. MCatIS dips into a diverse range of styles- Check out the title track and "Tales of a Scorched Earth"! It's albums like this that makes me love alt-rock.
Despite all my rage.. I had blast rocking out to this. I prefer the heavier tracks but the ballads are nice too. Just about justifies the long running time!
This album is a journey in the way few others are. They're so much emotional depth and wild ideas being thrown around. I absolutely understand people who say it's too long, can't deal with Billy's voice, etc. But for me this is peak alternative rock and maybe the magnum opus for the genre in the 90s.
I mean, it’s definitely too long, but has so many of the best songs of the ‘90s on there it’s forgivable. 4.5/5
I don't care what anyone says about Billy Corgan or The Smashing Pumpkins, this is a masterpiece of modern alt rock. There aren't many 2 hour albums I can say I've enjoyed as much as this. It's very raw and intelligent and catchy as fuck and Billy has possibly the most unique male voice on this list, which yet again has played into the inclusion of this album. The lyrics aren't pretentious in any way and almost read like teenage poetry but teenage poetry is sometimes the best kind of poetry and for catchy music like this simplicity just works. But it isn't just catchy, it's abrasive and loud and quiet and soothing and it has a gamut of feelings and sounds that other albums can only hope to achieve. It deserves its rightful place on this list because it is a masterpiece.
I went into this rolling my eyes. I like some SP songs but thought 2 hours was going to be WAY too much. I’m delighted by how wrong I was. This album was incredible and never lost my attention. I could gush over how dynamic and varied it is all the while remaining cohesive, but I’ll just leave it at incredible. What a feat The Smashing Pumpkins pulled off here.
I haven't realized until now, how intense, sweet and contrasting is this album. dreamy lullabies and intense rage and fury, at the same time. Bittersweet and divine, in a classic gods sense.
Outstanding start to finish
This is literally my favourite album of all time. Cannot fault anything.
I wish bands were still able and willing to make albums this sprawling, diverse, and ambitious
the greatest album of all time and my answer to the "if you were stranded on a deserted island and could only bring one album" icebreaker question
Amazing. So full of great songs, many absolute classics. Still as strong as the day it came out.
Phenomenal. They really take on a variety of styles throughout the album. Truly a masterpiece.
Many of the classic singles: Tonight Tonight, Zero, Bullet With Butterfly Wings, 1979