Siamese Dream - Smashing Pumpkins

Oh, Billy Corgan... Always the one to make the grand gambit, always the one daring his fans to take ever-growing musical voyages with him... always the one to go out at the top of his game. And listening to Siamese Dream once again, it is quite sad, considering that the Smashing Pumpkins are no more, and never again produced a record as consistent as this. And consistency is a very, very important word. Other Pumpkins albums such as Adore, Machina/The Machines Of God and most of all the bloated double-album Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness, although containing a plethora of memorable songs, never could carry that level of enjoyment the whole way ...  Read the complete review

In the end the Smashing Pumpkins never quite eclipsed their contemporaries from Seattle who decided it was better to burn out than fade away. While Nirvana self destructed, the Smashing Pumpkins decided to ride rough shot over tragedy and farce. Their body of work is a polygraph of highs and lows but when the dust settles it is impossible to deny that in 'Siamese Dream' they have a bona fide classic. 'Siamese Dream' released in early 1993 is a thing of beauty. Behind the immense wallowing guitar breaks and vocal outpourings lies a deep intelligence immaculately tuned into the mechanics of how good music should sound. It doesn't ...  Read the complete review

If there is one word that can possibly sum up this album, it has to be 'perfect'. There is something so charmingly flawless about the combination of musicians, variety of songs, the cover art, even the font that all the text is written in, which makes this the most coherent album I have ever heard. That is not to say that it is one dimensional; in fact, the range of emotions expressed throughout Siamese Dream is stunning, form anger to regret to despair. However, the overwhelming feeling is one of great joy, and once experienced, nothing can hope to come close. For me, choosing to listen to Siamese is like being in an Italian restaurant and choosing ...  Read the complete review

'Siamese dream' is a more polished record than the Smashing pumpkins' debut 'Gish'. As you would expect, their first album is an entry into the scene, and after that success, the following piece was always going to be a more polished, more produced album. It is home to perhaps the greatest pumpkins song. 'Today' has to be one of the best rock tracks of the nineties, with some great guitar rifts and brilliant lyrics. there are other good songs on there, particularly 'cherub rock'. This band are head and shoulders above their contemporaries. ...  Read the complete review

Siamese Dream finds the Pumpkins at their best. Probably my favourite Pumpkins album, Mellon Collie being just inches behind. It opens with the fantastic Cherub Rock, which builds up from its quiet beginnings into a thumping complex monster of a rock song. Today is perhaps my favourite track here, which is such a passionate track; it is a brilliant song, one of my all time top songs. As is Disarm, which is really beautiful, the backing violin and cello bring out the great vocals and well-placed drum echoes, to create a fantastic track. Generally the emphasis is full on rock, but there are some gentle songs, which are good too. If you like rock you should have this album. ...  Read the complete review