Smashing Pumpkins persevered through addiction, depression, heartbreak, and exhaustion to create the heavy progressive perfectionism and lush sonic soundscapes of this shoegazing grunge juggernaut. With the success of their debut 'Gish' the band moved from independent Caroline Records to its larger parent company Virgin to record the followup.
During the interim the members of the band were each undergoing personal crises: guitarist James Iha and bassist D'arcy Wretzky were no longer a couple; drummer Jimmy Chamberlin had a problem with heroin; and band leader Billy Corgan was dealing with writer's block and suicidal depression after a nervous breakdown: "I was suicidal, and I’d been plotting my own death for about two months, and if you’ve ever read anything about the warning signs of suicide one of them is you give away all your stuff, and I’d given away all my stuff, I gave away all my records, I started giving away my guitars. I was fantasising about my own death, I started thinking what my funeral would be like and what music would be played, I was at that level of insanity."
'Siamese Dream' was recorded over four months at Triclops Studios in Marietta, Georgia; where the band hoped they could focus on the album. Butch Vig returned to produce the sessions with Corgan, who became so obsessed that he practically lived in the studio working sixteen hour days and even overdubbing many of the other member's parts to get the sound he wanted: "We rehearsed a lot, we worked together a lot, we argued about things other than music, we actually never argued about music. They believed in what the album represented, they actually really believed in the album, but the actual physical making of the record, they couldn’t live up to that level of scrutiny, they couldn’t live up to that level of pressure. It destroyed my health you know, it destroyed my relationships, I went out of my mind."
The album features Billy Corgan on lead vocals, lead guitar, bass guitar, Mellotron, string arrangements, production, and mixing; James Iha on rhythm guitar and backing vocals; D'arcy Wretzky on bass guitar and backing vocals; and Jimmy Chamberlin on drums; with Mike Mills on piano; Eric Remschneider on string arrangements and cello; David Ragsdale on string arrangements and violin; Butch Vig on production, engineering, mixing, and string arrangements; Jeff Tomei on engineering; Tim Holbrook on special technical engineering; Alan Moulder on mixing; and Howie Weinberg on mastering.
'Siamese Dream' went to number sixty-four in Germany, fifty in Ireland, twenty-two in the Netherlands, seventeen in Australia, ten in the US, four in the UK, and three in New Zealand. It sold over six million copies worldwide and made the band superstars, garnishing Grammy nominations for Best Alternative Music Album and Best Hard Rock Performance with Vocal. Corgan considers: "Even though it wasn’t the one that sold the most, it’s the one that seems to have come through the best. As dark a records as 'Siamese Dream' is, there’s a lot of fun in it, it's almost like we’re kind of laughing at how stupid the whole thing is. It’s like, here’s my pop song about suicide and here’s my epic song about child abuse, and here’s my big middle finger to the indie world."
http://www.smashingpumpkins.com/
'Cherub Rock' flew to number ninety-one in Canada, eighty-seven in Australia, thirty-one in the UK, sixteen in New Zealand, and number seven on the US alternative chart.
Freak out and give in
Doesn't matter what you believe in
Stay cool and be somebody's fool this year
'Cause they know who is righteous, what is bold
So I'm told
Who wants honey
As long as there's some money
Who wants that honey?
Hipsters unite, come align for the big fight to rock for you
But beware, all those angels with their wings glued on
'Cause deep down, we are frightened and we're scared
If you don't stare
Who wants, honey?
As long as there's some money
Who wants that honey?
Let me out Let me out Let me out Let me out
Tell me all of your secrets
Cannot help but believe this is true
Tell me all of your secrets I know, I know, I know
Should have listened when I was told
Who wants that honey?
As long as there is some money
Who wants that honey?
Let me out Let me out Let me out Let me out
'Today' made it to number one hundred and three on the US pop singles chart, eighty-two in Canada, fifty-seven in Australia, forty-four in the UK, twenty-seven in New Zealand, and number four on the US alternative chart.
Today is the greatest
Day I've ever known
Can't wait for tomorrow
I might not have that long
I'll tear my heart out
Before I get out
Pink ribbon scars
That never forget
I tried so hard
To cleanse these regrets
My angel wings
Were bruised and restrained
My belly stings
'Disarm' hit twenty-nine in New Zealand, sixteen in Australia, thirteen in Canada, eleven in the UK, and number eight on the US alternative chart.
Disarm you with a smile
And cut you like you want me to
Cut that little child
Inside of me, is such a part of you
Oh, the years burn Oh, the years burn
I used to be a little boy, so old in my shoes
And what I choose is my choice,
What's a boy supposed to do?
The killer in me is the killer in you,
My love I send this smile over to you
Disarm you with a smile
And leave you like they left me here
To wither in denial
The bitterness of one who's left alone
Oh, the years burn
Oh, the years burn, burn, burn
I used to be a little boy, so old in my shoes
What I choose is my voice,
What's a boy supposed to do?
The killer in me is the killer in you,
My love I send this smile over to you
The killer in me is the killer in you,
I send this smile over to you
The killer in me is the killer in you,
I send this smile over to you
The killer in me is the killer in you,
Send this smile over to you
'Rocket' accelerated to number one hundred and fourteen in the UK, thirty-one in Canada, and number twenty-six in New Zealand.
Bleed in your own light
Dream of your own life
I miss me
I miss everything I'll never be
And on, and on
I torch my soul to show
The world that I am pure
Deep inside my heart
No more lies
'Siamese Dream'
full album:
All tracks written by Billy Corgan, except where noted.
1. "Cherub Rock" 4:58
2. "Quiet" 3:41
3. "Today" 3:19
4. "Hummer" 6:57
5. "Rocket" 4:06
6. "Disarm" 3:17
7. "Soma" Corgan, James Iha 6:39
8. "Geek U.S.A." 5:13
9. "Mayonaise" Corgan, Iha 5:50
10. "Spaceboy" 4:28
11. "Silverfuck" 8:43
12. "Sweet Sweet" 1:38
13. "Luna" 3:20
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