Gish (Deluxe Edition)

Musically, this is where the roots of everything SP would cover lie. From hard rocking "Siva", to dreamy acoustic guitars (the underated "Crush"). And the melodic mid-tempo numbers "Snail". Though all the songs are of very good quality, these three are the standouts, along with (of course) "Rhinoceros". Also good is the psychedelic "Window Paine" and the nice ender "Daydream" sung by D'Arcy.

Lyrically, Corgan is taking his babysteps here. Though some of Corgan's catchiest lyrics are found on here. Please don't tell me that after listening to Rhinoceros, you haven't found yourself singing "and she knows, she knows, she knows." to yourself!

This album is not Smashing Pumpkins' best, but it is an amazing debut without a doubt. This is for sure one of the best grunge albums of the time. It might take some time to get into this album, but once you get hooked on one song, without a doubt you'll get hooked by the rest.

Kicking off with the undulating riffs of the excellent "I Am One," the Pumpkins slip effortlessly between multilayered hard rock (the mind-blowing "Siva," the magnificent bass-sputtering "Tristessa," the panoramic "Snail") and haunting ballads ("Rhinoceros," the vaguely psychedelic "Crush," the sweeping "Suffer") before wrapping up with the eerie "Daydream."

It's a rare band whose music can still be so relevant so long after it first came out -- let alone still being a voice for the disillusioned. Originally released in 1991, "Gish" definitely established the Smashing Pumpkins as a musical force of genuine artistry, talented songwriting and musical integrity. It's hard enough to find one of those, let alone three.

The grinding, kinetic guitars and bass in the harder songs form a wall of solid sound, except in "Siva" -- there, the sound keeps dying away to complete silence, before reviving with a swirling roar when you least expect it. At the same time, Corgan tones down the guitars to a gentle acoustic strum in the more balladic songs. Jimmy Chamberlin's lightning-fast drumming is an excellent accompaniment, as is D'Arcy's bass.

As a songwriter, few rockers can parallel Billy Corgan; his songwriting has the quality of poetry set to rock, which aren't things you generally see together. Corgan's high, reedy voice is interwoven well into the music, giving his poetic lyrics a certain heartfelt quality. And bassist D'Arcy gets to shine with her low, sweet voice in "Daydream."

"Gish" is recognizably the Pumpkins, at the roughest stage of their musical development -- but with edge, the musical force and the beauty that just needed refinement.