Smashing Pumpkins in general

Had Earphoria been released properly in the mid 1990s then it may have done a lot better than it is likely to do now. The original release was as a limited promo only to accompany the VHS "Viewphoria" which was a mish-mash collection of Smashing Pumpkins live performances and video tomfoolery from the band's Siamese Dream days, just as they began to explode into the massive band that they became. If the Pumpkins' records are good, it was their live performances that made the band what they were. Explosive, emotional, dynamic, beautiful, powerful, passionate, rocking, 'smashing'?there are not enough adjectives to describe the range. ...  Read the complete review

As you all should know, this great band disbanded in 2001 after finishing their Machina/the machines of god support tour, "the sacred and profane tour". The band had a 14 year journey alltold, from the day they formed in 1987 to the day the band died (not literally of course). Lets take a look at their life span and the ups and downs they experienced throughout... Before Billy Corgan formed the Smashing Pumpkins he had been using his musical talents elsewhere in another band know as "The Marked", the name describing the disfigurating scars that Billy and their drummer had. Billy himself admitted that the band was far from good with regads ...  Read the complete review

The Smashing Pumpkins have produced some brilliant albums and songs in their 12 year spell as a very prolific band. They have recorded over 600 songs and this final collection of songs on Machina 2 are classic tunes exploring all of what the Pumpkins have created in the past 12 years. Claassic rock riffs, chilling/flowing tunes, brilliant drum riffs and groovy bass riffs are all included in this final masterpiece. Dross provides perhaps one of the greatest guitar riffs i have heard in my entire life. Dross, Cash Car Star and a host of other songs from the album could easily fit in well with on any other Pumpkins album. Songs like If there is a God (piano) are ...  Read the complete review

This album is taken from b-sides and rarities before the Mellon Collie era, It does not include any material from other albums/box sets (including Aeroplane flies high box set as that is only b-sides from Mellon Collie singles). The E.P. itself I feel is the breathing heart and soul of the pumpkins, it puts everything from their first two albums and congeals it all together to bring out some of the rawest and most delicate moments of the pumpkins career. However, it is very much an 'early' pumpkins production, it does not have the 'electronic' sound that is held within the Adore album and isn't as heavilly produced as Machina or ...  Read the complete review

Like many I was saddened to think that Machina/The Machines of God was the last album to be released by the Smashing Pumpkins. The Pumpkins managed to top off their career with brilliance that rocked the music world on every level. Virigin records wouldn't allow a sequel the Machina CD, because of how porrly (relatively) it was recieved, but the band wanted Machina II to be their farewell record. Virgin said "no" and even reminded the Pumpkins that anything they recorded while under contract with them was technically property of Virgin Records. It appeared that the fans would never hear the music. Then Billy Corgan and the band did something ...  Read the complete review