Pinky's Report on Siamese Dream

The Smashing Pumpkins, Siamese Dream (1993)

 

Author’s note: The content below is taken from an interview between Ape & Pinky sometime in 2021. Some liberties have been taken for the sake of presentation. The thoughts and opinions have not been changed or altered.

 

[Ape] Before you listen to the album, do you have any thoughts on the album artwork?

 

[Pinky] No.

 

Please?

 

I like the colors + the little girls are cute, but it makes me think the album is gonna be really dark.

 

What do you expect from this album?

 

I’m expecting it to be rock music, but kinda heavy will sorta yelling singing. I expect it to be punk-y + for a lot of the songs to sound the same. I expect it to sound like all other 90s rock.

 

Insightful. Let’s begin with the first track - Cherub Rock?

 

Sounds like what I expected. Very muffled rock, but has a good beat. Pretty angsty feeling, can’t really understand any of the lyrics. “Let me out” ? of where? Decent guitar solo.

 

Brilliant observations. Next track - Quiet?

 

I like this less than the first song. Even grungier + muffly angst…feels like he’s yelling a lot. Sounds like the first, but a less exciting beat.

 

Today?

 

I think I know this one! Sounds like the “ah-ah” song. At least he’s not yelling so much in this one. Was this in a movie?

 

No fucking clue, onwards - Hummer?

 

The guitar sounds the same in all of these. I like the beat in this one, pretty good. Feels like the song goes on for too long? The end felt like a separate song.

 

Riveting. Hoping you would have enjoyed something of this…Rocket?

Strong beginning. I like the guitar. Still not understanding the lyrics at all, pretty good beat, but still blending into the other songs. They shall be brave! I’m waiting for a stand-out song.

 

Josey will hate that one. Disarm?

This is boring.

…Disarm?

Ok!!! New kind of sounds, finally! Acoustic guitar? Church bells? Someone getting married? This song also sounds kinda familiar. His voice sounds lighter + more natural here. This song sounds romantic + hopeful. B+!

Soma?

[Ape loves] this shit. I don’t really like the riff or melody + his voice is very blah here. I’m bored w/ this one. I’d rather hear [Ape] do it on guitar. At least it picks up later in the song. Decent guitar solo.

 

Wonderful - Geek USA?

 

Sounds like death metal. I like the out of place interlude. Goes on a bit too long + sounds like 3 separate songs. Good drumming though + I like the upbeat ending.

 

Mayonnaise?

 

Solid, standard rock beat. I hear the guitar thing [Ape] were talking about¹. This feels like a pretty safe play of a song, nothing too special about it. His voice sounds really good though.

 

That song came home from 3rd, good to hear. How about Spaceboy?

 

Great acoustic guitar. The background music is more interesting in this one. I like how soft this is, his voice sounds natural + raw. Who is spaceboy? They won’t be long for what?

 

I don’t have the answers. Anyway, let us turn things up now - Silverfuck?

 

Annoying.

 

Need more than that.

 

I hope I find out what this means…doesn’t seem like it. I felt like that was a lot of instrumental? IDK, it all blended together. Feels creepy-crawly. What does Silverfuck mean??? This feels like a 10 min song + it keeps changing its mind? Sounds like a car accident at the end.

 

Best opinion so far. The next track is Sweet Sweet - thoughts?

 

Sounds cute.

 

Fantastic opinion, is that all?

It was short + sweet, sounded calm. I wonder who he wrote it for. Much shorter than anticipated.

 

Luna?

 

Love the name. I like how chill these last two songs are. This sounds like a good closer to the album - like a closing credits song. Aw, who is he in love with? ♥

 

And that’s the album! Sounded like it really was pulling teeth with most of those. Anything specific you are taking away from the album?

 

It’s hard to extract a storyline from a rock album + to pick up the lyrics. A lot of the songs blend together; but a few outliers to spice it up. The 90s seemed to be very grungy + guitar-heavy. Sweet ending though.

 

And as a cherry on top, what question would you like to ask the artist?

 

Question? Why is this your band name, + who did you fall in love with?

 

 

¹ The thing referenced is the feedback from the guitar heard on the guitar tracks. Mainly pulled from the story that the guitar Corgan used was a $100 garage sale find. I, Ape, did not take the time to ever verify the legitimacy of this.