This Album Has Everything, And More! (Mellon Collie And The Infinite Sadness - Smashing Pumpkins)

Member Name: andyoz

Product:	Mellon Collie And The Infinite Sadness - Smashing Pumpkins
Date:	16/06/09 (42 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Massive Tracks, Brilliantly Put Together

Disadvantages: Few Weak Songs

Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness by the Smashing Pumpkins was one of the most influential albums of the 90's. Its music defined a generation, with a collection of some eclectic music that really broke new ground in the rock world. This album has been the inspiration for so many musicians in recent years and is one of my personal all time favourite albums. It has everything! Some simply beautiful songs and some real grunge head bangers. It's also a double album which is very unusual in modern music. It came out way back in 1995, Billy Corgan is the lead singer and songwriter and he shows exactly what kind of talent he has in this offering.

So why was this album such a massive hit internationally? And more importantly for the purpose of this review, how do I feel about it? Well I love the name of the album and the artwork is beautiful, but that has no influence on me. It's all about the music for me! So here is what I think of each and every track. Bear with me, as this is a long album!

CD 1 - (The red one)

1. Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness - Simple yet beautiful piano instrumental. Nothing really special about this song, it's just a nice relaxed introduction to the album. If you were familiar with Smashing Pumpkins before you heard this song, you may be surprised at such a slow start to the album. 8/10

2. Tonight Tonight - Classic track. This was one of the first Pumpkins songs I ever heard and it made me fall in love with the band instantly. It sounds as if they have got an entire orchestra playing along, and it works so well. A wonderful song! 10/10

3. Jellybelly - Bang! The album suddenly changes. Very heavy grunge rock, not a song I'm a huge fan of. It's just a little to heavy. But still Corgan's vocals seem to cut through the distortion amazingly and give the song some plus points. 7/10

4. Zero - Another heavy one. Starts with a big guitar riff, which continues throughout the song. Again this one is too heavy for my liking. 6/10

5. Here Is No Why - This one slows the pace back down. Still some quite heavy guitar but not that relentless pace of the previous two songs. I find it really hard to hear the lyrics in this song, which spoils it a little bit for me. Not a bad song though. 7/10

6. Bullet With Butterfly Wings - 'The world is a vampire'. I love that first line. This song is pure magic; it's so dark and menacing and has a really angry feeling to it. 'Despite all my rage, I'm still just a rat in a cage'. Sinister line in the chorus, which screams power and feeling. A rock song that is so powerful and stirs the emotions wonderfully. 10/10

7. To Forgive - Slows the pace right back down with this one. This is however quite a week song in my opinion. It lacks any real drive or purpose and just kind of meanders along with out every getting anywhere. 6/10

8. An Ode To No One - Pace is right back up here. Fast and heavy. This is pure grunge and again has a really morbid dark feel to it. I quite like the rhythm but the lyrics are drowned out too much for my liking. 7/10

9. Love - This is such a weird intro. It feels like it's getting in your head and your swimming through treacle. It's bizarre but works so well. The music kind of buzzes along and mashes your head. Sometimes I love this song, sometimes I just can't listen to it, and it is just like nothing I have ever heard. And for that reason alone think it deserves 9/10

10. Cupid De Locke - After having your head smashed about you need to relax. This song provides the answer. It's cute, it's sweet and it's clever. A really nice little song. 8/10

11. Galapogos - A very quiet long intro, reminds me of waves lapping the shoreline. Another quite slow song, but this one builds up. So it feels like you're on a journey and your actually getting somewhere. Very clever song that I enjoy. 89/10

12. Muzzle - Corgan screams out 'I feel that I'm ordinary, just like everyone' as an intro to this song. It sounds so raw and full of passion. Then the guitars flare up in the background, but somehow they are toned down a little. 'My life has been extraordinary, blessed and cursed as one'. Think that is a wonderful line that really sums up so many people's lives and is a wonderfully philosophical way to view life. 9/10

13. Porcelina Of The Vast Oceans - I usually think my CD player has broke at this point. The intro to this song is three minutes long, and the first minute is virtually silent, it builds up incredibly slowly before the song gets going. Is a nice song but think the massive intro is unnecessary and I don't usually have the patience to wait. If you do wait the song seems to have everything, it's over nine minutes long! There are some heavy bits and some chilled bits. Epic but not worth it. 7/10

14. Take Me Down - Slightly disappointing end to the first CD. This is another slow weak song, that really lacks purpose. I think someone else does the vocals on this song as it does sound very different, it's ok to just have in the background but not a good enough song to end the first CD. 6/10


CD 2 - (The Blue One)

1. Where Boys Fear To Tread - The previous CD started off very chilled and slow. This CD is very different. This song is loud, heavy and blows your pants off! Is a decent song but the heavy distortion again spoils the lyrics slightly. 7/10

2. Bodies - The song starts with some static feedback, then fires into life. Another heavy one, this one I like though. 'Love is suicide' repeats as the music goes quiet. A really good rock song. 8/10

3. Thirty-Three - Ahhhhhh. That's how you feel as this starts. All that pent up aggression is relieved as this one slows the pace right back down. Is just a nice song, is nothing special, the words are nice, the melody calm, just.... Nice. 8/10

4. In The Arms Of Sleep - Wandering through fog on top of a mountain, that's what this song reminds me of. It just wanders aimlessly with nothing ever really happening. Is just a little bit boring. 6/10

5. 1979 - Their best ever song? Quite possibly. Again this is just so original. I never used to like this song when it first came out, but it's one of them that grows and grows on you. The guitar riff is just bliss. It gives that real feeling of serene melancholy. 'And we don't know, just where are bones will rest'. Love that line, there are some belting lyrics in this song; it just seems to do everything. Think this has to be one of my all time favourite songs. 10/10

6. Tales Of A Scorched Earth - Extremely heavy. You awake from the bliss of the previous song and hit the ground hard!! This song grabs you by the nasal hair and shakes you like a sack of beans! It really blows away the cobwebs, but for me is way way way, to heavy! Corgan just screams in the background. 6/10

7. Thru The Eyes Of Ruby - One of the great features of this album is the way the songs flow. You have a bone-shattering offering, then something that totally negates it. This song does that; it chills you back down to earth. It's not one of the best tracks and there are some heavier moments but it just fits nicely into the album structure. 7/10

8. Stumbleine - Another really mystical sounding track. Serene and beautiful, 'I'll be your Stumbleine, I'll be your super queen'. Have no idea what that means but its sounds good. And I love the line 'Misspent youth thinking up a rampage'. There is an 'F' word in this song which may upset a few people and it is strange in such a chilled song. Still a very nice song I enjoy though. 9/10

9. X.Y.U - What does that stand for I hear you yell! Xtra yellow umbrella? X-ray young umpalumpas? Sorry, I am clueless on this one. Quite a heavy song with a huge guitar riff. Not a fan of this song. 6/10

10. We Only Come Out At Night - Delightful romp! Just a really strange song, unlike anything else on the album. I do really like this one though, its just fantastically unique. Some different sounds and different instruments and just a really fresh sound. Because it's just so original I give it 9/10

11. Beautiful - Sums it up really. Just another nice chilled song. Showing that the band is not just about screaming angry lyrics. They have obviously had some pleasant experiences in life, which come out in this song. Makes me think of sitting in the sunshine in a meadow with my special lady curled up in my lap. 8/10

12. Lily (My One And Only) - Another really nice chilled out song. Some nice sounds to this one, just plods along quite happily. 8/10

13. By Starlight - The way the album has been put together, your expecting something very heavy by this stage. You don't get it. It's another slow song. Has quite a big feel to it as the guitars try and liven it up towards the end, but this one is just lacking something for me. 7/10

14. Farewell And Goodnight - So how do they say goodbye? Full on snog or peck on the cheek? Would say it's an apologetic peck. It's just a slow weak end. Was expecting something epic to round of an epic album. But it just finishes with a whimper. It is a nice song, and has a really nice piano section at the end, which I do like, but I am just surprised they ended the album with four slow songs in a row. 8/10


So, what an epic journey. This album feels like you have just climbed a mountain, but been rewarded with a stunning view from the top. It has so much variety on there. Some of the songs I don't like but there are so many to choose from! How many albums do you know that have 28 songs on? I would say none! Some of the songs are so stunning that this album really does deserve all the praise that has been heaped on it over the years. It's simply stunning and anyone who has never heard it should go and buy a copy! NOW!!

Thanks for reading, hope you enjoyed that trip down memory lane, I'm off to play 1979 on my guitar, rock on!!

Summary: One Of The Best Rock Albums Ever