Mellon Collie And The Thirty Year Anniversary (Album Review)
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The record’s self-titled opener feels like opening a whimsical storybook. The gentle piano playing is filled with emotion and leans towards the aesthetic of the painted album cover. It makes me feel as though I am at the beginning of a long and unexpected journey. This isn’t far from the truth.
The Magic of Billy Corgan
The record was produced by its frontman and guitarist, Billy Corgan. Certainly, Corgan is a staple feature of what makes The Smashing Pumpkins stand out to me. His whiny vocals are what I associate with this group. My favourite track of this LP is its lead single, ‘Bullet With Butterfly Wings‘. This is in part through the pure rage and uncertain quietness that they evoke as he sings the track’s repetitive chorus. Without a doubt, he can sell the song to me.
In addition, Corgan should be praised for his songwriting ability. Being the primary mind behind this expansive record is no easy feat. I find with longer albums and extended releases, there is often at least a handful of filler tracks. Yet the consistency is through the roof. Producers Flood and Alan Moulder worked alongside the band in a way that only amplified the creative decisions they made.
Powerful Instrumentation
Whilst listening to this album in full, there were multiple moments when I was taken aback by the level of musicality. Likewise, Jimmy Chamberlin is fantastic on drums from start to end. I think that my favourite moments of his are in tracks that are rooted in heavy metal and grunge. ‘Jellybelly‘, quite early into the LP, is one of them. He helps to hold the messiness of the dirty riff to Corgan’s vocals. The diversity of this record, paired with the unwavering quality of his playing, is admirable. Speaking of dirty riffs, the guitar work on ‘Zero‘ is iconic. A sound that has been replicated countless times since. When done right, a repetitive riff throughout a track can do so.
There are points within numerous songs that contain interesting instrumental features. The harp on ‘Cupid De Locke‘ feels magical as well as pairing the lyricism and the instrumentation with ease. Subsequently, it’s moments like this that set the band apart from their nineties alt-rock counterparts. Whilst I can confidently and easily define the likes of Pearl Jam and R.E.M., The Smashing Pumpkins pushed for less clear-cut boundaries. Above all, their capabilities as musicians stand strong from the start to the end of this album.
A Place in 1995 and 2025?
Personally, I think this album is a perfect time capsule of where alternative rock was in 1995. The aftermath of Nirvana’s domination was still very much felt. Alice In Chains, Green Day, and Nine Inch Nails were just a few groups who were defining the soundscape of the time. The competition was tight, but nonetheless, The Smashing Pumpkins took a huge gamble. Without a doubt, its payoff was huge. With seven Grammy nominations (one win) and nine MTV Music Video Awards nominations (seven wins), it’s clear that this was an album the masses could get behind.
Thirty years on, I still see tracks from this album creep into today’s pop culture. ‘Bullet With Butterfly Wings‘ has had its share of TikTok fame in the past year. ‘1979‘ is another that I’ve heard circulating on social media. With the latter track, I’ve always felt a hint of nostalgia in it that I can’t quite put my finger on. To me, that represents how I feel about this record as a whole. It makes me look back to a time that I wasn’t around for but seem to understand.
One of the only downsides I found with ‘Mellon Collie And The Infinite Sadness‘ is in part its artistry and longevity. A two-hour-long record needs some dedication if you want to appreciate it in full. I feel as though this is one of those that doesn’t feel special if you don’t give it the time that it needs. Hearing ‘1979‘ on Spotify in the middle of a handmade playlist isn’t quite like hearing it wedged between ‘In The Arms Of Sleep‘ and ‘Tales Of A Scorched Earth‘. However, maybe this is the difference between releasing music in 1995 compared to 2025.
Rating: 9/10
The Smashing Pumpkins are on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and X. You can stream ‘Mellon Collie And The Infinite Sadness‘ below or pre-order the 30th anniversary edition, and read more anniversary pieces here.
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