 | | I have not been on the Smashing Pumpkins bandwagon for long. I missed the albums when they first hit; hell, the first song I heard by them was "Tonight, Tonight" from Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness. Needless to say, I had some catching up to do. Thankfully, that catching up included listening to this album, which I now consider a seminal/pivotal/simply amazing point in rock history. Billy Corgan does away with pretension by twisting it into glorious rock anthems and beautiful alt-pop. The kicker is that, while people wrote them off as depressionists, almost every moment on this CD can be compared with euphoric joy. Even in moments of rage, the beauty of the music shines through. Straight-out rockers such as "Geek U.S.A." and "Quiet" are singular yet grand in their guitar riffs, creating a near-primal feeling. Softer numbers such as "Spaceboy", "Disarm", and "Mayonaise" cause reflection and... | 2 |
 | | Although Mellon Collie And The Infinite Sadness was more ambitious and diverse, Siamese Dream is arguably the best album in the Smashing Pumpkins catalog.In 1993, the Smashing Pumpkins were probably one of the most original bands of the alternative scene. With incredible soundscapes of guitar distortion, Billy Corgan's impassioned and ethereal vocals, and Jimmy Chamberlain's excellent drumming, these guys had a sound that was nothing like any alternative band of the time. Only My Bloody Valentine's Loveless (released in 1991) with its similar guitar-dominated sound could be considered as an influence, but Siamese Dream has its own distinct impact.My, what a sound. Billy Corgan sounds better here than any other Pumpkins album--on later albums he sounded whiny; here he sounds obscure yet not overly shrill. The guitar playing is incredible (listen to the outro of Rocket) and the music grabs you by the collar and takes you in with its sweeping power... | 3 |
 | | The drum rolls, then falls away for a building electric guitar, a drum, and a searingly vibrant wall of sound that rises before your very ears. This is the start of "Siamese Dream," a vintage Smashing Pumpkins album and one of the best, most underrated alternative rock albums ever released. | 3 |