Siamese Dream
|
Siamese Dream | ||
---|---|---|
LP by The Smashing Pumpkins | ||
Released | July 27, 1993 | |
Recorded | Triclops Sound Studios, Atlanta, Georgia | |
Genre | Alternative rock | |
Length | 62 min 17 s | |
Record label | Virgin Records | |
Producer | Butch Vig, Billy Corgan | |
Professional reviews | ||
Allmusic.com | 4.5 stars out of 5 | link (http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&uid=UIDMISS70404042034031102&sql=Ahqkqikmhbb89) |
The Smashing Pumpkins Chronology | ||
Lull (1991) | Siamese Dream (1993) | Pisces Iscariot (1994) |
Siamese Dream was the breakthrough success for and second album by The Smashing Pumpkins, released on July 27, 1993. It is rumoured that due to constant fighting within the band, Billy Corgan played all the guitar and bass parts. The band generally deny this, but Corgan did say he played the majority of the guitar parts. Alongside the Pumpkins' subsequent album, 1995's Melon Collie and the Infinite Sadness, Siamese Dream is generally considered to represent their best work. Entering and peaking in the U.S. charts at #10, Siamese Dream - as of May 2005 - stands at 4.6 million copies sold in the U.S.
In 1998 Q magazine readers voted Siamese Dream the 67th greatest album of all time.
The fighting within the band at the time of recording was caused by the dissolution of a relationship between guitarist James Iha and bassist D'arcy, although since the recording and release of the album, the band generally don't discuss the incident. Corgan once said that if Siamese Dream was not a success, the band would have broken up. Luckily, it was a huge success, and to date remains the band's most popular work.
Corgan has said that he experienced massive writer's block during the recording, and wrote the song "Hummer" during this lack of inspiration. He went on to say that some executives from Virgin Records were coming to the studio to check on the progress of recording the album, and panicked without any substantial material. He wrote and recorded a rough demo of the song "Today" before they arrived. After hearing the new recording, the executives were so delighted that they cancelled any future visits to the studio.
Contents |
Track listing
- "Cherub Rock"
- "Quiet"
- "Today"
- "Hummer"
- "Rocket"
- "Disarm"
- "Soma"
- "Geek U.S.A."
- "Mayonaise"
- "Spaceboy"
- "Silverfuck"
- "Sweet Sweet"
- "Luna"
The Japanese version of the album ended with "Pissant" from Pisces Iscariot, which appeared as "Hikari Express".
Singles
"Cherub Rock" was released on 7" with "Purr Snickety", and on 12"/CD with "Pissant", "French Movie Theme" and an unlisted drunken karaoke version of "Star Spangled Banner".
"Today" was released on 7" with "Apathy's Last Kiss", on 12"/CD with "Hello Kitty Kat" and "Obscured", and on CD in Japan with "Apathy's Last Kiss" and "French Movie Theme".
"Disarm" was released on 7" with "Siamese Dream", on 12"/CD with "Soothe" and "Blew Away" and on CD with "Dancing in the Moonlight" (by King Harvest) and "Landslide" (by Stevie Nicks).
"Rocket" was released on 7"/CD with "Never Let Me Down" (by Depeche Mode).
Outtakes
- The following songs are those that were written and recorded for "Siamese Dream" but did not make the final cut, were not complete or did not get past the demo stage. Most were included on other releases as b-sides or were re-recorded and released on future albums or Pisces Iscariot (1994).
- "Apathy's Last Kiss"
- "Blew Away"
- "Bullet with Butterfly Wings"
- "Doorstep" (later released as "Meladori Magpie" on the Tonight, Tonight single)
- "Frail and Bedazzled"
- "French Movie Theme"
- "Glynis"
- "Infinite Sadness"
- "Kitty Kat" (later released as "Hello Kitty Kat")
- "Pissant"
- "Purr Snickety"
- "Set the Ray to Jerry" (later released as a softer version on the 1979 single)
- "She Says"
- "Siamese Dream"
- "Spaced"
- "Suicide Kiss" (reworked into "Geek USA")
- "Tulips"
- "Whirl" (later released as "Whir")
Charting singles
1993 Siamese Dream The Billboard 200 No. 10 1993 Cherub Rock Mainstream Rock Tracks No. 23 1993 Cherub Rock Modern Rock Tracks No. 7 1993 Today Modern Rock Tracks No. 4 1994 Disarm Mainstream Rock Tracks No. 5 1994 Rocket Mainstream Rock Tracks No. 28 1994 Today Mainstream Rock Tracks No. 28 1994 Disarm Modern Rock Tracks No. 8 1994 Today Modern Rock Tracks No. 6
Sample
- Download sample of "Cherub Rock"
Personnel
- Jimmy Chamberlin - Drums
- Billy Corgan - Vocals, Guitar
- James Iha - Guitar, Vocals
- D'Arcy Wretzky - Bass