Smashing Pumpkins was my first “real” concert - it came pretty late in my youth because I grew up in the middle of nowhere and it took until late high school before I could afford gas money to get to the nearest city and see a show. I frankly didn’t know how well-regarded this band was until recently, but even before that they were one of my angsty growing-up favorites, featured in my playlists alongside Pearl Jam and Soundgarden.

My only annoyance with this album is the ridiculously overdone gain/fuzz/whatever you want to call it on the electric guitar, but the songs are great, Billy’s voice is full of emotion, and overall this is a classic album.

Brain Rating: 7

Taste Rating: 8.3

Jams:

“Cherub Rock”
“Today”
“Hummer”

Originally part of Preparing For a Post-Streaming World.