Siamese Dream

1	Cherub Rock 4:58
2	Quiet 3:41
3	Today 3:19
4	Hummer 6:57
5	Rocket 4:06
6	Disarm 3:17
7	Soma 6:39
8	Geek U.S.A. 5:13
9	Mayonaise 5:49
10	Spaceboy 4:28
11	Silverfuck 8:43
12	Sweet Sweet 1:38
13	Luna 3:20

Barnes & Noble

Talk about anomalies: At a time when indie rock and hip-hop were ascendant, Billy Corgan emerged with unapologetically progressive music and blew up. His Smashing Pumpkins and their captivating wall of guitar sound highlighted Gish, their 1991 debut, thereby raising the stakes for this 1993 follow-up. The Chicago-based group didn't disappoint. All of the Pumpkins -- guitarist James Iha, bassist D'Arcy, and drummer Jimmy Chamberlin (a United Colors of Benneton crew chosen by Corgan in part for their diversity) -- admired Boston and it's not hard to hear "Today" as a "More Than a Feeling" for the '90s. Elsewhere Corgan and co-producer Butch Vig lay on the guitars thick and heavy, with some tunes containing 32 separate guitar tracks. It may seem indulgent, but the onslaught only heightens the angst in Corgan's lyrics. Martin Johnson

All Music Guide

While Gish had placed the Smashing Pumpkins on the "most promising artist" list for many, troubles were threatening to break the band apart. Singer/guitarist/leader Billy Corgan was battling a severe case of writer's block and was in a deep state of depression brought on by a relationship in turmoil; drummer Jimmy Chamberlin was addicted to hard drugs; and bassist D'Arcy and guitarist James Iha severed their romantic relationship. The sessions for their sophomore effort, Siamese Dream, were wrought with friction -- Corgan eventually played almost all the instruments himself (except for percussion). Some say strife and tension produces the best music, and it certainly helped make Siamese Dream one of the finest alt-rock albums of all time. Instead of following Nirvana's punk rock route, Siamese Dream went in the opposite direction -- guitar solos galore, layered walls of sound courtesy of the album's producers (Butch Vig and Corgan), extended compositions that bordered on prog rock, plus often reflective and heartfelt lyrics. The four tracks that were selected as singles became alternative radio standards -- the anthems "Cherub Rock," "Today," and "Rocket," plus the symphonic ballad "Disarm" -- but as a whole, Siamese Dream proved to be an incredibly consistent album. Such compositions as the red-hot rockers "Quiet" and "Geek U.S.A." were standouts, as were the epics "Hummer," "Soma," and "Silverfuck," plus the soothing sounds of "Mayonaise," "Spaceboy," and "Luna." After the difficult recording sessions, Corgan stated publicly that if Siamese Dream didn't achieve breakthrough success, he would end the band. He didn't have to worry for long -- the album debuted in the Billboard Top Ten and sold more than four million copies in three years. Siamese Dream stands alongside Nevermind and Superunknown as one of the decade's finest (and most influential) rock albums. Greg Prato