Smashing Pumpkins, Siamese Dream (1993) [Reissue: 2011]

I played in a band at high school that attempted just about every single song on this album. At university I played in a band that performed a couple of these songs. I’ve listened to this album a lot. I always wanted to get the LP – and waited until the reissue. It was worth it – it’s a treat. Busted it out the other night – it sounded good, it felt right. Yes it’s ridiculous and Billy Corgan’s lyrics are angsty-whiney and that voice is a nasal bleed of pre-emo whinging. But it’s music I grew up with and this album plays through – still – as a classic. When it comes down to it it’s the only Smashing Pumpkins album I really care about. The only one I need. There were some other songs, sure – but this is the album. And it’ll never lose its charm/s for me. Billy Corgan can go off to Havelock North and repeatedly struggle with his artist-in-residence role there for all I care. This album is a time/place thing – and I’m happy to carry it with me for new times in new places. My son, not yet six months old, was having a good leg-rocking boogie to this the other night. New good times indeed. And Jimmy Chamberlin kills. These are the facts people. Thank god it’s that simple.

Sample Track: Soma

The Vinyl Countdown is a document of every LP I listen to, brand new discoveries and old-old favourites; extremely pre-loved, previously abandoned or with the shrink-wrap having just been removed it’s all here at The Vinyl Countdown