Siamese Dream

When SIAMESE DREAM was initially released in the summer of 1993 it was hailed as alternative rock's first great post-NEVERMIND hope. And while it has gone on to become an overwhelming commercial success, it has also helped further re-draw the artistic borders of "alternative" music. altro...

By combining neo-psychedelic AOR guitars (band-members proudly claim Boston as an influence) with Pumpkin auteur Billy Corgan's "outsider" lyrical stance, SIAMESE DREAM creates a rebel image; but one with a wandering eye towards mainstream acceptance as well. Consequently, Smashing Pumpkins are equally successful relating to young lollapaloozers and to classic rock radio.
The album's immediate attraction is plain to see. Corgan and co-producer Butch Vig have sculpted a sonic wall of guitars--in some cases, using up to 32 separate guitar tracks on a single song--that is electrifying in its sheer scope and power. Along with Jimmy Chamberlain's powerhouse drumming, guitarists Corgan and James Iha's thick sound endows SIAMESE DREAM with a fresh feel that holds up even on repeated listens--and how many other "top ten" albums can you say that about?

Rolling Stone (5/13/99, p.48)
- Included in Rolling Stone's "Essential Recordings of the 90's."

Spin (9/99, p.131)
- Ranked #23 in Spin Magazine's "90 Greatest Albums of the '90s."

Q (12/99, p.76)
- Included in Q Magazine's "90 Best Albums Of The 1990s."

Village Voice (3/1/94)
- Ranked #11 in the Village Voice's 1993 Pazz & Jop Critics Poll.

Q (1/94, p.87)
- Included on Q's list of `The 50 Best Albums Of 1993.'

Melody Maker (1/1/94, p.77)
- Ranked #32 in Melody Maker's list of the `Albums Of The Year' for 1993 - "...there's no denying the Pumpkins injected a peculiarly fluid, febrile grace into their brand of neo-psychedelic rock..."

NME (12/25/93, p.66)
- Ranked #6 in NME's list of `The Top 50 LPs of 1993' - "...The rediscovery of the guitar as motorbike and also one of the year's most emotionally punishing efforts..."

Rolling Stone (9/16/93, p.67)
- 3.5 Stars - Very Good - "...rarely a bum note in this tidy wash of styles....SIAMESE DREAM is a strong, multidimensional extension of GISH that confirms that Smashing Pumpkins are neither sellouts nor one-offs..."

Spin (8/93, p.82)
- Highly Recommended - "...SIAMESE DREAM takes up and expands nicely where 1991's impressive GISH left off; it's got all the feisty, fuzzy passion of that record and even more inventiveness. Smashing Pumpkins have an enormous bag of tricks..."

Musician (9/93, p.74)
- "...the 13 tracks ring out as a triumph of dynamics and atmosphere, and serve as gold settings for the fragile charm of [Billy] Corgan's emotive vocals..."

Q (8/93, p.96)
- 4 Stars - Excellent - "...SIAMESE DREAM is something of a white-knuckle, rollercoaster ride, leavened by moments of sometimes quite staggering beauty....Smashing Pumpkins are so exciting, it's patently obvious that they're a (if not the)
Next Big Thing..."

Entertainment Weekly (8/6/93, p.54)
- "...If anyone will be burdened with the dreaded mantle of `next Nirvana,' it'll be this Chicago band....the great lost link between alternative, pop and metal....may have stumbled upon a whole new stance: slackers with a vision..." Rating: B