Smashing Pumpkins Mellon Collie released

Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness Smashing Pumpkins

Released: October 24, 1995 Peak: 11 US, 4 UK, 11 CN, 12 AU Sales (in millions): 4.9 US, 0.3 UK, 11.2 world (includes US and UK) Genre: alternative rock

Tracks, Disc 1: Song Title (Writers) (date of single release, chart peaks) Click for codes to charts. Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness Tonight, Tonight (5/18/96, 33a US, 4 AR, 5 MR< 7 UK) Jellybelly Zero (2/17/96, 49a US, 15 AR, 9 MR) Here Is No Why Bullet with Butterfly Wings (10/21/95, 22 US, 4 AR, 2 MR, 20 UK) To Forgive An Ode to No One Love Cupid de Locke Galapogos Muzzle (9/14/96, 57a US, 10 AR, 8 MR) Porcelina of the Vast Oceans Take Me Down (James Iha) Tracks, Disc 2: Where Boys Fear to Tread Bodies Thirty-Three (11/23/96, 39 US, 18 AR, 2 MR, 21 UK) In the Arms of Sleep 1979 (11/25/95, 9a US, 1 AR, 1 MR, 16 UK, gold single) Tales of a Scorched Earth Thru the Eyes of Ruby Stumbleine X.Y.U. We Only Come Out at Night Beautiful Lily (My One and Only) By Starlight Farewell and Goodnight (Iha, Corgan, Chamberlin, Wretzky) Songs written by Billy Corgan unless noted otherwise. Total Running Time: 121:39 The Players: Billy Corgan (vocals, guitar, other instruments) James Iha (guitar) D’arcy Wretzky (bass) Jimmy Chamberlin (drums)

Rating: 4.085 out of 5.00 (average of 20 ratings) Quotable: “One of the most ambitious and indulgent albums in rock history…it’s a rewarding and compelling one as well.” – Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide Awards: (Click on award to learn more).

About the Album: “The Smashing Pumpkins didn’t shy away from making the follow-up to the grand, intricate Siamese Dream. With Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness, the band turns in one of the most ambitious and indulgent albums in rock history. Lasting over two hours and featuring 28 songs, the album is certainly a challenging listen. To Billy Corgan’s credit, it’s a rewarding and compelling one as well. Although the artistic scope of the album is immense,” STE the songs “are as eclectic as their themes are epic and ambitious” DC and “the Smashing Pumpkins flourish in such an overblown setting. Corgan’s songwriting has never been limited by conventional notions of what a rock band can do, even if it is clear that he draws inspiration from scores of ‘70s heavy metal and art rock bands. Instead of copying the sounds of his favorite records, he expands on their ideas.” STE Among the highlights are “emotionally over-the-top pop extravaganzas like the string-swelling Tonight Tonight, the techno via new wave of 1979,” DC and “the gentle piano of the title track.” STE These “sit comfortably against the volcanic rush of Jellybelly” STE and “the Metallica-influenced alternative rock of Zero” DC “In between those two extremes lies an array of musical styles, drawing from rock, pop, folk, and classical.” STE “Some of the songs don’t work as well as others, but Mellon Collie never seems to drag. Occasionally they fall flat on their face” STE and “Corgan’s thin whine isn’t much of an instrument, but he makes the most of it by writing smart songs that take emotional chances that more-typical alt rockers would deem uncool.” DC However, taken as a whole the album proves that the Pumpkins were “one of the more creative and consistent bands of the ‘90s.” STE “Pessimistic and feeling trapped but still wanting to believe in love, in a future, in something – this is the sound of Gen X at the millennium, with all the self-indulgence and power that would suggest.” DC

Resources and Related Links: DMDB encyclopedia entry for Smashing Pumpkins DC David Cantwell, Amazon.com (essential recording) STE Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide First posted 3/17/2011; last updated 11/11/2023.