I'm not the biggest Smashing Pumpkins fan but I absolutely adore that song.

They sometimes do it live too, which is cool. There a bunch of gems they don’t really play live, so it’s nice to hear that one.

It's great. Also mouths of babes is sort of a forgotten classic.

It's my favourite Pumpkins song

“In your sad machines, you’ll forever stay” 😩

Me too on everything you said, except I was five.

Same. I was 13 years old and I got lost in the songs and lyrics. It became an all-time favorite and all these years later I still listen to it on the stereo. Except on vinyl although I still have the original cd I purchased all those years ago.

Yes I was 13 as well except it happened to me in 2016

It is such a great album. SP are so underrated.

There are plenty of better albums by other bands out there. Ones with fsr more hit songs too. Godsamck faceless blows this out of the park. Alice in chains dirt. Greenday dookie. Nirvana in utero. Nirvana nevermind. Staind break the cycle. I could go on forever.

Not sure myself. I mean it's a 10/10 for sure, and super creative. Just to me Siemese Dream is more concise, drums are mental and pretty much the perfect alt-meta/rock album. Melancholy is a whole other thing though... both albums together are great. Glad I don't have to choose :)

Agreed, this is peak Smashing Pumpkins. So many cool riffs, unique drums, and Billy's song writing is incredible. It is my absolute favorite album. Siamese dream is a close second for me since it doesn't quite have the same amount of variety as Mellon Collie.

The Aeroplane Flies High tracks are great too. I grew up with those so I was into the raw sludgy Pumpkins sound first and then backtracked and was surprised how clean their early albums’ sound were. But to me the 95-96 era is when they really were their own unique sound

Siamese Dream is my #1 but Melon Collie is still magnificent for sure. I wouldnt call MC cohesive but wow does it take you on a roller coaster journey with every “scene” leaving an impression. Few double albums have 0 filler tracks like MC

it was literally their peak. During the tour supporting this album, the drummer was booted for being involved in the drug death of a keyboardist. The bad never TRULY recovered from it. Adore and Machina were good albums, but not to this level.

What's your other 4?

How amazing is the intro to Thru The Eyes Of Ruby!? Best intro I've heard

im telling everyone your secret

thru the eyes of ruby is so good

Im a By Starlight secret fan too. There's life for hopeless romantics like us.

The 1997 live version of By Starlight is fantastic and no one should hide having that as a favourite song.

Teaser warning. They weren't.

And very 90s

No way haha

YESSS I really enjoyed that track as well! I love how it so perfectly balances their more aggressive rock sound with a sort of watery haziness that transports you into this dreamscape of sorts. This entire album was such a journey sonically, I enjoyed every minute of it.

Ditto Ruby. All the genres of the album through one entire epic song.

Porcelina is just a good solid 9 minutes and 20 seconds of goose bumps.

The dilly dally. Love it.

Beautifully said. Billy himself said that he knew he was losing his connection to youth at the time of writing his album and that he wanted to write a final statement to youth from his adult perspective.

Agreed. I think a lot of people focus too much on the whole "teen" thing regarding this album, simply because they 14-17 when they bought it and the age of the actual kids used in the "1979" video (15 and 16). The band were in their late 20s/early 30s at the time, and as an almost 34 year old trying to settle down and come to grips with getting old, the album speaks to me even more than it did when I was 15-18. Back then it was mainly songs like "Bullet" and "Bodies" I went to, as I was frustrated with myself for doing poorly in social situations. Now I can appreciate the full gauntlet a lot better. For example, now I understand how Billy felt when he wrote "Bullet" as a grown man becoming disillusioned with the record industry, something my 17 year old self wasn't able to comprehend.

wr0ng

​@@stvnm5282wrong

you ever noticed headless by hella sounds like a disjointed jellybelly?

Omg you are right, that one was amazing! I really enjoyed it actually, but it's been so many years since I listened to it. Hella was Zachs best project by far! @@evanoverzet921 EDIT: I didn't even read your comment correctly, just saw Hella mentioned, and instantly thought of their awesome double album Chirpin something something... Gotta check out that track you mentioned too of course xD

Double for me on the "changed my life" sentiment. Listening to MCIS I have a memory for every love I had, every loss, every fun time, every hope and dream I had, and all my teen anger. Even today, the songs I wore out simultaneously bring me back to those feelings AND give me new appreciation as viewed through the context of my older self. And the songs I used to either skip or glazed over have new meanings to me as well. The nostalgia hits so hard that I teared up watching her discover this album.

I remember first hearing some of it at my cousin's after only knowing a couple SP songs from the radio and being taken with the diversity of MCIS so I saved up and bought a copy for myself (I was 15 at the time). I was just starting to play guitar at the time and remember the first time I listened through I was overwhelmed and perhaps felt even slightly defeated by the range and depth of the album. But it was also inspiring. Then I discovered the singles had great songs too and of course was first in line when the box set of those came out (even though I had more than half of them already).

It definitely changed my life. I brought it when I was 15 years old. Must have listened to it a thousand times. I can’t really explain it but it actually changed my personality. I went from being quite shy and a bookish geek to more extroverted and adventurous etc. i started dreaming big. I absolutely credit this album. Strange I know.

​​@@michaeljacyna1973not just teen experiences, but those I'm experiencing up to now (34). It still resonates when you're older, especially songs like "Tonight Tonight" and "Thirty Three".

"Best non-perfect album" is a really good way to describe it. Mellon Collie has SO many good songs, but I can't listen to it straight through.

It’s one of my faves

And they play it in concert sometimes, which is great

I never heard 33 on the radio, but my local station always played Muzzle.

33 being chosen over Muzzle as the official 5th single will never make sense to me. Muzzle was the 6th single but radio promo only

@@natemekis3959Yep they played it on Conan too in 97

She’s not 40

@@natemekis3959 what? 33 is one of the most beatiful music ever written

Cinematic is a great way to describe the sound of this album. It really transports you into another world when you're listening to it. I'll definitely have to see them live one of these days, I'm sure they're amazing.

Oooh. I have an idea. Easier than going to see them live....react to their VH1 storytellers!!! Please!!! I'm begging you!!! You will hear alot of the songs you've already heard....but in a WHOLE new way.

100%. The live version of "Thru The Eyes of Ruby" from Brixton Academy, London (1996) is the perfect performance to see both of those things. IMHO you will not find anything from any rock band in the 90's that can come even remotely close to a live performance like this... kzfaq.info/get/bejne/l9yikqRzm96pkpc.html

Wow, thank you! That means a lot to me, I'm glad that you enjoyed the reaction :)

Haha, I know! It took me a while but now I've finally heard this incredible album.

Glad you enjoyed the reaction! I'm really excited to hear Adore now.

my two favorite bands

I do not like qotsa one bit. too commercialized and just a little sanitized too. doesn’t sound very raw… you know? why do you like it?

As a millennial I really wish we had our own version for 1999, the nostalgia I feel from 1979 takes me right back to the days of Pokemon and razer scooters

Weakest track on the album, can't understand the push it got commercially.

​@illicitleafcombuster i agree its def not the strongest on the album. But its a ridiculous earworm with some of the most conventional production on the album and does have beautifully simplistic lyrics. I also didnt get the hype as i was listening to the whole album imagining this as the big hit. But overtime it grew on me and i can understand why most can relate and feel something even if you arent a fan of the band

​@spartan1121 Well, the song actually came out in '96 and the video features older kids (15 and 16) doing stereotypical teen stuff, not little kids though. That said, I hated the video when I was a teen since I felt envious of the characters for having such close friendships, and now at 34 it makes me sad for missing out on those experiences I could have easily had at 15-18, had sexuality and religion not wrecked my life at the time.

We still don't even care.

An epic album indeed, took me quite a bit of time to film/edit but I'm so glad I finally heard this one! A very special body of work, that's for sure. I can't believe how much music the Smashing Pumpkins put out during this time, this record is loaded with stellar tracks.

@@mollyesanborn I'm sure the review was an editing challenge in itself! 😁 A double album was a gutsy move on their part but it certainly remains their most impressive opus, nothing else came close afterwards...but don't let that put you off listening to their later offerings, some of them are still good.

@@melnychuk79 yeah I will definitely continue on with their discography! Can't wait to hear what they do following Mellon Collie.

Ahh, thank you for letting me know!

@@mollyesanborn No problem. Will you be continuing with the Pumpkins? Its Adore next and that is a massive change in sound for then, probably their most underrated album of their whole catalogue.

@@jameswallace5235 I will definitely do Adore, and a lot of people have suggested Machina as well so at least those two. Not sure if I'll go all the way through their discography or not though.

@@mollyesanborn please do through at least Machina, also the box set is like it's own album of great B sides - Aeroplane Flies High

Oh awesome! I totally understand why it's your favorite album, Mellon Collie was such an experience to listen to. They really go to all corners with their sound on this record, so many soft and emotional moments and then they'll yank you into an intense whirlwind of chaos. I love it!

@@mollyesanbornBilly Corgan was an extremely prolific songwriter at the time. Mellon collie also came with about 25 b sides which they released in a box set called ‘aeroplane flies high’. Many of the b sides are as good as the albums songs (avoid the deluxe version though). Their next studio album Adore is a complete and total change in style for them which divided fans at the time. Some love it and some hate it, i’m in the love it camp p.s on the last track farewell and goodnight all 4 band members sing!

@@jakehixon4073Yeah, the deluxe version is basically for completionists. The original track listing is more manageable, with the disks all having a unique vibe of their own that can really be gone through in any order.

Great choices for your first and second favorite albums! Both Mellon Collie and Siamese Dream are amazing. That makes sense about the whole band singing on Farewell and Goodnight, I kept hearing all of these different voices haha! I didn't realize that it was the same piano from the album's opening track, that's very creative. Such a nice touch to really pull the album into a cohesive project.

@@mollyesanborn Agreed. Though be warned, starting with Adore things changed a bit. Jimmy Chamberlin was fired from the band during the MCIS tour so his trademark drums aren't there, and the songs are more electronia in nature. It takes the electronic feel of tracks like Beautiful and We Only Come Out At Night and runs with it, so it'll be a bit of a different experience. There's also The Aeroplane Flies High which was released between MCIS and Adore, consisting of singles from MCIS with some killer b-side tracks that didn't make the album and some cover tracks. The solo Billy acoustic version of Tonight, Tonight (Tonite Reprise) is excellent. In between MCIS and Adore is also the songs from the Batman & Robin soundtrack, which was a major hint towards the electronia direction Adore has. With Machina, Jimmy comes back into the band so his drums are back though retains some of the electronia influence Adore has. The only complaint I have about Machina is the mix and the mastering, the damn thing was mixed and mastered too loudly ruining some of the amazing songs like The Sacred And Profane and This Time. Apparently Billy's been working on remixing Machina (and Machina II) so hopefully that comes at some point. There's Machina II that was released free on the internet back in 2000, it has alternate versions of tracks, some covers and a few great tracks too. Beyond Machina though... that's where SP kinda ends for me. Everything they've released since then has been very disappointing, honestly, with only a few small gems here and there.

Wait. What? Really? You are seriously making my head explode right now. I've been playing melon collie on the piano for years and years, and I used to know the ending of farewell on the piano also. Is it seriously the same notes, just backwards?? Seriously??? I'm gonna Google this before I have an aneurysm!!

Spot on. I find it even hard that someone would like all tracks, given how radically diferent from one another they are. but its an unique experience, hearing such an album as a whole

I had it on double cassette before I got the cd version. Literally wore the tapes out lol

I'll plan on a video for Adore as well, can't wait to check it out!

adore is a sad amazing album smashing pumpkins drummer quit the band and billys (singer) wife divorced him and billys mom died of cancer during this album. really dark and beautiful album.

I was at that show. It was epic. Billy kept bringing out musical guests, one of whom was Courtney Love, who came out hammered (shocker) and tried to sing during "Bullet with Butterfly Wings" but completely botched it. We were all booing her, and so she goes up to the mic and yells "You fuckerrrrrs!!" Billy was just standing there laughing, it was great.

Aw thanks! Glad you enjoyed the reaction :D

Yeah I was a bit late on this one! Time got away from me and it took longer to upload than I expected.

@@mollyesanborn It’s okay!! I’m always so happy to watch your videos ☺️☺️

Adore is nowhere near even worthy of a mention in the same sentence as this album. A couple of "meh" tracks surrounded by weak filler. (just IMHO of course ;P). songwriting is a bit weaker, musically & tonally it's so narrow compared to MCIS - this album almost every track stands out & on adore virtually nothing does. Of course, being a massive fan of JC & what he brings to the tracks, it was possible, likely even, that I would struggle to like it as much, but I remember reading about Billy wanting to go in a more electronic direction & being genuinely excited where he would push the boundaries with a different type of music that was still in its infancy really. This was around the time groups like the Prodigy were coming from a purely electronica direction & bringing more rock/guitar based influences into their music to great effect, so I was intrigued where someone coming from the other direction could push the boundaries. The end is the beginning I liked when I first heard it, but was by far the strongest track of this era of the band. Adore, while unique, just felt like mush with an almost complete absence of attitude or emotional range which was the tentpole of earlier pumpkins. Machina had a bit more punch to it, but was overproduced & sounded like almost a parody - a band trying far too hard to be something else. It was also the start of the vocals being pushed too far forwards in the mix. Zwan had some of the best post MCIS of Billys music IMHO. There were times on that album where he sounds almost like he is having fun & enjoying the music. Zeitgeist again felt like they were trying a bit too hard & were almost a pastiche of themselves. There is a version on here where someone has remixed it pulling the vocals back in the mix & it is soooooo much more enjoyable to listen to! Superchrist is an amazing track, & while not bringing anything particularly new to the table, is a direction I so wish the band had explored more - let Jimmy go for it & keep Billys vocals to the minimum - play to their strengths & downplay the weakness (AOL sessions worth a watch - they lose the timing a bit, but just listen to that drumming!). Instead they seem to be doing the exact opposite ever since! Their newer stuff seems to be Billys vocals put to the fore - too many words, the wordsmithing is weak, vocals pushed to far forwards to dominate the music. Billys voice has always been the Achilles heel & when you have one of the best drummers out there & three amazing guitarists in the band listening to their latest stuff just feels like such a waste! Rant over ;P

I'm so excited to hear it!!

​@@mollyesanborncheck out machina 1-2 as well

Oh that's awesome! Glad you're enjoying the channel :)

Thanks for watching :)

Glad you enjoyed it! :)

same.

Ditto