This EP was part of the Aeroplane Flies High box set, and it represents another facet of the Smashing Pumpkins' sound. After the initial string-drenched epic of the titile track, we hear five songs that show off the acoustic side of the Smashing Pumpkins. "Mealdorie Magpie" does have kind of a country-ish twang to it (James Iha's influence, perhaps?), but the remaining tracks are all Billy Corgan going solo. While the songs aren't perfect (some of them feel unfinished), there are a few moments here that really stand out. "Rotten Apples" is laced with some subtle string touches that work rather well, and if you're a fan of "Disarm," then you'll probably like this song, too. "Jupiter's Lament" does exactly what it says...it laments, but it does feature some nice lyrics. "Blank" is okay, but the real winner here is "Medellia of the Gray Skies." Every once in a while, Billy could pull off a moment that was just spectacular, and this is one of those moments. His vocals are kind of echoey, but that adds to the feel of the song, and the classical-style guitar playing give this song an otherworldly quality unlike any other. This beauty is nearly matched with the closer, a solo acoustic version of "Tonight." The melody is played more slowly, giving it an aching charm that was missing from the original.
This CD has some great Pumpkins moments and deserves to be heard. If you are interested in checking this out, don't wait any longer. It's completely worth it.
