Smashing Pumpkins Siamese Dream
Released in 1993 Siamese Dream was the second studio album from Chicago alternative rock out fit The Smashing Pumpkins. Formed in 1988 the band had had some success with their debut album Gish. However it wasn’t until the release of this land mark album that they finally found their feet on the international stage.
The recording of the album was fraught with internal conflict. Jimmy Chamberlain. Jimmy Chamberlain was a heroin addict and was often missing for days without contact. Bassist Darcy Wretzky and second guitarist James Iha had just gone through a very messy break-up. On top of these 2 volatile situations was Billy Corgan (Lead singer and guitarist) who is often described as a tyrant in the studio. Recording all the parts except drums. He himself has come out and admitted that 97 % of the music on a Smashing Pumpkins album is himself and Drummer. Not the most ideal situation to record an album. It took four months and $250,000 to record Siamese Dream with grunge stalwart Butch Vig in the producers chair (Vig produced Nevermind for Nirvana and Dirty for Sonic Youth)
Drawing on a diverse range of styles the music on siames dream was more complex than many of the grunge acts of the time. Corgan had an obsession with Cheap Trick and Irelands very own Thin Lizzy. The album opens with the sensational drumming of Jimmy Chamberlain on Cherub Rock. Corgans quite voice lends itself well in a strange way to the heavy guitars of The Smashing Pumpkins sound and this is most obvious on Cherub Rock. The monster hits from this album Today and Disarm contained all the whingy sentiments that were ideal for the depressed shoe-gazing teenager’s of the early nineties. Happily they were also dam fine tunes. Other Standout tracks on the album include Rocket, Mayonnaise, Quiet and Geek USA.
The album launched the Pumpkins to international fame and as a complete work it is their finest hour.
The recording of the album was fraught with internal conflict. Jimmy Chamberlain. Jimmy Chamberlain was a heroin addict and was often missing for days without contact. Bassist Darcy Wretzky and second guitarist James Iha had just gone through a very messy break-up. On top of these 2 volatile situations was Billy Corgan (Lead singer and guitarist) who is often described as a tyrant in the studio. Recording all the parts except drums. He himself has come out and admitted that 97 % of the music on a Smashing Pumpkins album is himself and Drummer. Not the most ideal situation to record an album. It took four months and $250,000 to record Siamese Dream with grunge stalwart Butch Vig in the producers chair (Vig produced Nevermind for Nirvana and Dirty for Sonic Youth)
Drawing on a diverse range of styles the music on siames dream was more complex than many of the grunge acts of the time. Corgan had an obsession with Cheap Trick and Irelands very own Thin Lizzy. The album opens with the sensational drumming of Jimmy Chamberlain on Cherub Rock. Corgans quite voice lends itself well in a strange way to the heavy guitars of The Smashing Pumpkins sound and this is most obvious on Cherub Rock. The monster hits from this album Today and Disarm contained all the whingy sentiments that were ideal for the depressed shoe-gazing teenager’s of the early nineties. Happily they were also dam fine tunes. Other Standout tracks on the album include Rocket, Mayonnaise, Quiet and Geek USA.
The album launched the Pumpkins to international fame and as a complete work it is their finest hour.
Track Listing
1. Cherub rock
2. Quiet
3. Today
4. Hummer
5. Rocket
6. Disarm
7. Soma
8. Geek USA
9. Mayonaise
10. Spaceboy
11. Silverfuck
12. Sweet Sweet
13. Luna
Labels: 1990's
posted by Critical Junctions @ 20:31
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