Smashing Pumpkins – “Siamese Dream” So I normally don’t do this, but we sorta had an “Album Club” a few years back with some friends of mine, and “Siamese Dream” was one of the albums that we reviewed – so here is what I wrote up back then… I have always enjoyed the Smashing Pumpkins – though you could probably say that appreciation has been “from more of a distance”. They came along in the midst of my working a full-time position at the hospital, while going to graduate school, all while raising 3 kids (i.e. my youngest was born in 1989). I have referred to this period as sort of my “blind spot” when it comes to music. It’s not that I wasn’t familiar with the bands of the era or their music, it’s just that I was not able to devote the kind of attention to those albums, the way I was when I was young… So I had this album in the collection, and was extremely familiar with each of the songs that found their way into heavy rotation in my area (i.e. “Cherub Rock”, “Today”, “Disarm”, and “Rocket”…). What I found interesting with this exercise, is that I can’t remember a single time when I ever really listened to this album from start-to-finish. Not sure why, but I think I thought of it more as a collection of songs, as opposed to a true album. So this little journey has been good for me in that respect… What has always attracted me to the band, has been the incredible uniqueness of their sound – as in they really don’t sound like anyone else – which always scores high marks with me. And while I can’t qualify it, they have always sorta had a “progressive” feel to them, which also serves them well in my book. However, I have found that the not-quite-as-popular songs of the Pumpkins (i.e. the ones that I think are well done…) really do tend to age well in my eyes… Not sure why, but this is a clear trend for me with this band – and there is one song off of this album that fits that bill exactly – for example sorta like “Rhinoceros” was for me off of their first album. I am also happy to report that after this little exercise, I have added a couple of more of those “not-quite-as-popular-but-they-really-seem-to-work-for-me” tunes to the collection from this album… Also have to add that while I generally prefer live offerings to the studio, that is NOT the case with this album. It’s not that they are poor live renditions or anything like that, but they really captured a unique sound on this album, and I really think there was just no way to recreate all of the nuances in the live setting. As for my track-by-track thoughts, here we go, and I paid no special attention to lyrics, just what seemed to stand out as I moved through the album, so most songs are taken as a whole… 1. “Cherub Rock” – 5-stars out of 7… This my friends, is THE perfect way to introduce the listener to THIS album! It clearly announces the arrival of the sound, tempo, and style right from the starting gate. There is not another song on the album that could have filled that lead-off spot, which created the perfect mood for what is about to follow… 2. “Quiet” – 3-stars out of 7… Someone once said that all of our Presidents can’t be Jefferson’s and Lincoln’s, and the same holds true for Smashing Pumpkins songs on this album. Not that this is a bad song – because it is NOT, but by comparison, it is one of the weakest on the album. And even after repeated listens (i.e. and I probably listened to the whole thing all the way through 5 or 6 times – in addition to extra listens for particular tracks…) it never gained any traction with me… 3. “Today” – 6-stars out of 7… So if this were the first time that I had ever heard this album, we’d have that great start, but then we’d have that backslide with “Quiet”, and then my mind would start to wonder… But then just when I was about to really question things, “Today” comes on – and then all is right with the world! Incredibly original, and I really enjoyed the softer parts in contrast to the bombastic sections. This is a spectacular song all the way around… 4. “Hummer” – 7-stars out of 7… So for me, this was the eye-opener of the album. I don’t ever remember hearing this one back in the day. I’m sure I did, but my attention span must not have been there at all as I have no recollection. The more I listened to this one, the more I absolutely fell in love with it… Just feels like a truly complete song in every way, and is about as perfect as it gets… Don’t think I’ve ever experienced as much of a disconnect between listens to a single song ever, which is in part what is really striking for me. In my opinion, one of the best songs on the album, and I wish it were 12-minutes long… 5. “Rocket” – 5-stars out of 7… Another one of the big four that I was quite familiar with – and probably the weakest of the 4 “hits”… Still good to listen to, and no real complaints here – just found some of the other options far more deep and compelling… 6. “Disarm” – 6-stars out of 7… The last of The Big 4 – and also an incredibly original track. The diversity between those four popular songs, is probably one of the greatest strengths of the album, and probably something that helped contribute to its success in attracting listeners from different musical persuasions to this creative and well-constructed album… 7. “Soma” – 4-stars out of 7… Here is the next of the not-quite-as-popular tracks that has really grown on me – though I do remember this one from my initial listening’s. Doesn’t quite have the grab of “Hummer”, but I enjoyed the relaxed pace, and it is perfectly slotted in the album’s running order between “Disarm” and “Geek USA”. Also really enjoy the piano sections on this one… 8. “Geek U.S.A.” – 5-stars out of 7… This is one of the two really loud, fast, and rambling efforts on this album (the other being “Silverfuck”) and of the two – THIS is the one that I prefer by far! A bit of an unbridled feel to it – which is always appealing, and the music has just a hint of Soundgarden to it which doesn’t hurt either. Also has sort of that musical theme component (i.e. a repeat of a musical section from a previous segment of the album) that runs through the slower mid-section (i.e. the part right after Billy sings the “Siamese Twins” line…). Just another really complete effort, featuring an awesome display of musicianship! 9. “Mayonaise” – 7-stars out of 7… So when I mentioned earlier that “other” song of the “not-quite-as-popular” ilk that I had been hooked on early in my original listening’s of this album – well this is the song that I was referring to. When we were at the beach, if someone held a gun to my head and said, what is the best song on the album – I would have said “Mayonaise”, and it wouldn’t have been close! Now that says a lot because of just how good it think the more popular songs are, but for me – this is it, and it will always be my favorite – as well as the defining song of the album for me! The fact that it was able to work its way onto my musical psyche despite work, grad school, and 3 young children says an awful lot… Pure perfection as far as I am concerned… 10. “Spaceboy” – 4-stars out of 7… No real strong feelings here either way, as it is not bad – but it just doesn’t really measure up to the run of songs that leads up to it – but how could it… That string had to end at some point… 11. “Silverfuck” – 3-stars out of 7… Okay – this is probably where I may differ from several of you, but I really don’t like this one… Sure there are snippets here and there that I’m okay with, but as a whole, it just comes across as bloated, excessive, NOT all-that-original, and fairly simplistic as compared to the rest of the album. The energy is fine, and the musicianship is always top notch, but even after repeated listening’s, I found myself actually saying “…Dear God – this is almost 9 minutes of my life that I’m not going to get back…”. This is the song that I’m really looking for answers to – so if anyone can help me understand what I am missing here, please share… 12. “Sweet Sweet” Nice acoustical bridge that re-calibrates the listener, and sets up the closing song of the disc. Nothing exceptional, but does lead quite well into the “Luna”… 13. “Luna” – 4-stars out of 7… Not sure why, but every time that I listen to this one, it feels like I have completed the journey, and it feels like I have returned to the other side of the starting point if that makes any sense. The perfect song to close out the album… Was a bit worried when I started this exercise because I began it during the week that I got the flu – and there are just some types of music that are not meant to be listened to while congested, nauseated, and headache infested… I listened to segments (4 songs at a time) during that sickly early part of my endeavor, but after I got well, I was back on track. As for final thoughts, I don’t think that I have listened thoroughly enough to all of the other Smashing Pumpkins albums to really be able to speak to whether this is their best effort or not. I will say however, that this one sets a standard (especially as just their 2nd album) that would be hard for ANY of the post “Siamese Dream” efforts to live up to. It is an incredible album, and everyone needs to have this in their collection, and enjoy as a whole – as this is one of those albums that is greater than the individual sum of its parts, and is an absolute masterpiece…