Classic Rock Album of the Day- Smashing Pumpkins- Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness (1995) *** 1/2
By the early 1990's, I tought 90+% of what I felt was great rock music was gone. Maybe me and my tastes had become a dinosaur of a long gone relic. Musical tastes are all subjective, so who is to say whether I was right or wrong. Grunge clones and Alpha Numeric Punk Bands had infilitrated the ubiqui-sphere, and M-tv had allowed that formula to sour to a stench of mediocrity. In 1975, a visit to the record store? I had to desperately pick between at least 20-30 LP's that I thought was worth my $6 investment. 1995? It was to challenge to find 1 new one I liked. By this time, I was mostly supplementing the "old stuff".
It is not the intent to be preachy on this review, and what it is, is a lead in to a band that was an exception to those times..... Smashing Pumpkins. SP's time in the limelight was short. They provided a unique sound that was a variable of fuzz metal, grunge and punk. Front man, Billy Corgan basically provided 95% of the songwriting, songmaking, and inspiration. Though SP still exist, the band as a serious rock act only existed 1991-2000, centering on 5 albums of varying quality. I only recommend 2 of these- Siamese Dream in 1993, and this work.
What makes Mellen Collie?....... It is its special mystical dream like aura and strangeness First, strange on its length. It was a double-CD, and in its viny re-release, was a Triple album. As far as I know this is the only studio rock album in this configuation. All the rest are compliations or live. Also strange on content. There are plenty of heavy heavy tunes, and some into the foray of thrash metal. There are also tons of softer crooned stuff for balance. Some good, and a lot of filler in that department This is obviously Corgan's swan song, and he wears his lyrics of despair, anger, and disgust on his sleeves like a badge.
And last, I sure as heck was not going to rank the tunes on content. This CD is 28 tracks and 2 hours long. Instead I will rate them 1-5 asterisks.
Disc 1-
Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness- In our minds, this beautiful piano instrumental opening was raising our eyebrows. Lurking mellontron, gives an eery feel, and was a harbringer of what was to come with this classic.
****Tonight, Tonight- Great songwriting skills in force. Drums rolling while more mello work. Orchestrations augment very nicely. Corgan takes us on our first roller coaster ride of emotion. In some ways I think the intent is a schizo theme. I have not seen any Corgan interviews on the stylistic aspects, so, hell it might just be random-
*****Jelly Belly- Now, we are back into familar SP territory. If Corgan hadn't given us our sternum buzzing fuzz, there might have been a coup. Chaos Pumpkin , oh yeah....
*****Zero- One of the best tunes on this work. Instrumental airplay intertwined with some of Corgan's most depressing and dispair lyriscm. There are some Sound effects to this day included that I can't figure. Best guess? I guess he is grinding his pick on the grooves of the strings. In any case it just compounds the sounds of rage and anger.
*****Here is No Why- Middle of the Road stuff, nothing to highlight.
***Bullet With Butterfly Wings- The best on the album. I don't think I have ever heard a song that screams despair more than this one. Even Metallica couldn't create a song this depressing. Band alternates nicely with rolling rocking bass-lined fare, and breaks out in all hell breaks lose in alternate fashion. This was the non-pop hit like that got the airplay.
*****To Forgive- Sad Sad....ballad. I understand how it fits in, with the intent of the theme of the album, and if you like this aspect of their style, I know you'll love it. I just don't
**An Ode to no one- Boom... The band takes us back on the rollercoaster. This is as good as any of the thrash-metal that would be prevalent in the industry in the 00's.
****Love- May be the strangest tune on the album. Corgan takes a fuzz distort-o approach on a slow rolling rocker. This song almost has a "White Album" feel to it. Thumbs up.
*****Cupid DeLocke- More strangeness. Dreamy like, harp infused love ballad. Melodic lines are unique. By this time, you can tell Corgan is showing off.
****Galapagos- Another low key ballad that misses the mark though. i guess you can't expect 28 gems.
**Muzzle- Another one of my favorites on this one. This one sounds like it could have come directly from Siamese Dream. Perfect blend of Corgan guitar buzzed/distortion, and solid supporting cast. Love these rolling drum fills as they augment some of SP's best.
*****Porcelina of Vast Oceans- Not every ballad in this work is good. Corgan comes across and whiney and sappy in this drop off. Some redemptive nice riffs at the end, but by 2/3 the song being over, ya lost me Billy.
*Take Me Down- See Porecelina above, but even worse. Sadly Disc 1 ends with a whimper.
*Disc 2-
Where the Boys to Fear to Tread- Hell Yeah... Back to rocking. Nothing unique or special here, but at least Billy wasn't whining.
***Bodies-
. True story, and probably happened to others- The first time I played this, the sound effects at the beginning of this song, sounded like my CD player was chewing up my CD. Thankfully, not. Really good tune, and par for the Pumpkins on their other solid efforts on this album. And yes ,the despair continues. Makes you wonder about Corgan.
****Thirty-Three- At first hearing it might appear to be another sappy ballad, but the way Corgan infuses the slide guitar and salt shaker percussion gives this a standing hair on your arm feel to this one. SP knew how to do strange.
***In the Arms of Sleep- More strangeness- Corgan takes almost a southern rocker motif on this one. Complete with what appears to be dogs barking in the background. Got to wonder what kind of drugs were being used in those sessions.
***1979- The well known almost pop hit from this album- One thing on this one from my perspective. It was the cold slap in the face that rockers younger than I was, were doing songs about their reminiscent past. 1979? Hell, I was already out of college by then. Docked 1 star for making me feel old.
***Tales of Scorched Earth- Song 100% delivers on its title. This song was way ahead of its time. Slash-industrial-Speed Metal on an incredibly talented level. Those future slashers had nothing talent wise on this classic. Why this one doesn't get some classic air play, defies my logic.
*****Thru the Eyes of Ruby- Interesting, Corgan seems to have composed an almost '70's like AOR type tune that morphs into SP-ish Fuzz. Nice touch.
***Stumbleine- Sappy ballad with no redeeming value-
*X.Y.U.- Ah, the roller coaster has take us back up the slope- By now, Corgan's anger has gotten me fatigued.
*** We Only Come Out at Night- Maybe the one strangest song ever made by the Smashing Pumpkins. Back drop melody- A zither, single percussion? A Tam. Piano is added for front sided melody. Are the Pumpkins vampires? Simple, lyrics, simple melody. I don't know why, but this song has like a hypnotic hold, that I just dig.
*****Beautiful- Ugh.... Billy, what was the point of this?
*Lily- Ugh (part 2)- 25 tracks in, I guess they were desperate for filler.
*By Starlight- More weakness, but maybe not quite as bad as the prior 2, due to some spooky unique back fill in at the end.
**Farewell and Goodnight- Well this ends the rollercoaster. Ending tune continues the ending theme of sap. I understand that Corgan wanted to make an epic blended album that showcased all aspects of their talents. The atypical SP heavy stuff was great and it worked. The balladry OTOH, only hit the mark so 30% of the time. But still, this is an album well worth a listen, if you have never heard it.
**http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fbGkxfgRLvc
