Remember the Pumpkins
By Nate Seltenrich
A couple days ago, as I was browsing my music collection in search of something good to listen to, I came across an album that I had somehow overlooked for quite a long time. I removed The Smashing Pumpkins' Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness from its slot in my CD tower and wondered how I had possibly gone so long without listening to an album that had at times remained in my CD player for weeks on end.
Taking a closer look at my collection, I gazed over the covers of the 20-some Smashing Pumpkins CDs I own and cherish, yet have neglected for months or even years. It was clear that although my (healthy) "obsession" had waned, my appreciation for the band had not.
Whether you'd like to admit it or not, in their heyday The Smashing Pumpkins were a rock music icon. Billy Corgan's shiny, bald head and distinct voice were universally recognizable, and even their staunchest opponents could hum "Today" or "Tonight, Tonight" upon command.
The band was in the news, on the radio, in magazines and on television. They played sold out shows at huge arenas. The Pumpkins were on top of the rock music world.
In December 2000, however, due to a variety of interior and exterior causes, The Smashing Pumpkins came to an end. The group disbanded and went their separate ways.
That's why it's so important to remember. Remember their appearance at Hullabalooza on The Simpsons, the swimming pool in the "1979" video, and Billy's interviews on MTV News. Remember D'arcy, James and Jimmy.
Drawing a blank? Go out to a record store and pick up one of their albums. Gish is their outstanding debut album; Siamese Dream is my personal favorite and features some of their best rock songs; Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness contains the singles that catapulted them into the public eye and some twenty other equally memorable songs; Adore and Machina / The Machines of God feature some of their newer, mellower, but no less groundbreaking music. You'll be happy no matter which way you go, and I'm sure they'll appreciate the royalties.
I hope you enjoyed the first installment of my cool little column thing. It'll be appearing every so often right here in the Scene section as I voice my opinion on all things music. I'll touch just about anything, even if I have to use a ten-foot stick. Check back in a couple weeks to see what I'm pokin' at ...