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Like many alt-rock bands, the Smashing Pumpkins sound better than expected as a singles band -- probably because their high points were singles, no matter how carefully created their albums were. The Smashing Pumpkins fit this bill particularly well for two reasons. For one, they rose up through the ranks in indie rock circles, where limited-edition singles on Sub Pop meant as much as a full-lengths on Caroline. Then, after they made it through the indie jungle, they had to fight their way onto MTV airwaves with songs and videos that sold their intricate albums. This was a good, even prosperous, situation when the Pumpkins (OK, when their leader, Billy Corgan) could balance their knack for great singles with their desire to make sweeping neo-concept albums like Siamese Dream and Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness. They did for a few years, conquering the alt-rock pack after Nirvana imploded, but the group itself eventually turned in on itself -- either because of Corgan's own hubris or the group's complacency. They had more than enough great material for a good compilation, and Greatest Hits almost fits the bill. Its main problem is that, like most even-handed compilations, it gives too much credence to the music made after the group's peak, at the expense of some of the group's better material. Essentially, anything that most listeners will want to hear wraps up 11 tracks into the 18-track album, when the collection dives into material from Adore and MACHINA -- two albums that aren't embarrassments, but really only of interest to the hardcore, particularly in how they desperately attempt to embrace the fleeting electronica fad of the '90s (something almost all alt-rock bands did, almost always to no avail). So, this collection bogs down more than it should, and because its final eight tracks are taken from the Pumpkins past their peak; consequently, it's hard to recommend this to anyone who just wants an album with all the hits. Yes, it does have many of the cuts that they'll want on one disc, including the non-LP "Drown" and "Landslide," but the desire to justify two albums nobody bought -- especially at the expense of "I Am One," "Rocket," "Geek USA," and "Here Is No Why," among others -- hurts a collection that should have showcased the Pumpkins at their peak.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
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Billy Corgan, Producer, Guitar, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Butch Vig, Producer - Howie Weinberg, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Roger Lian, Editor, StudioPersonnel - Smashing Pumpkins, MainArtist - Jimmy Chamberlin, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - D'Arcy Wretzky, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - James Iha, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Eric Ferris, Producer, Executive Producer
This Compilation (C) 2001 Virgin Records America, Inc. ℗ 1991 Virgin Records
Billy Corgan, Producer, Guitar, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Butch Vig, Producer - Howie Weinberg, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Roger Lian, Editor, StudioPersonnel - Smashing Pumpkins, MainArtist - Jimmy Chamberlin, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - D'Arcy Wretzky, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - James Iha, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Eric Ferris, Producer, Executive Producer
This Compilation (C) 2001 Virgin Records America, Inc. ℗ 1991 Virgin Records
Billy Corgan, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Butch Vig, Producer - Howie Weinberg, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Roger Lian, Editor, StudioPersonnel - Smashing Pumpkins, MainArtist - Eric Ferris, Producer, Executive Producer
This Compilation (C) 2001 Virgin Records America, Inc. ℗ 1992 Virgin Records
Billy Corgan, ComposerLyricist - Smashing Pumpkins, MainArtist
This Compilation (C) 2001 Virgin Records America, Inc. ℗ 1993 Virgin Records
Billy Corgan, Producer, Mixer, Guitar, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel, ComposerLyricist - Mark Richardson, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Butch Vig, Producer, Mixer, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Howie Weinberg, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - ALAN MOULDER, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - JEFF TOMEI, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Roger Lian, Editor, StudioPersonnel - Smashing Pumpkins, MainArtist - Jimmy Chamberlin, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - D'Arcy Wretzky, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - James Iha, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Andy Udoff, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Dick Kaneshiro, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Eric Ferris, Producer, Executive Producer
This Compilation (C) 2001 Virgin Records America, Inc. ℗ 1993 Virgin Records
Billy Corgan, Producer, Mixer, String Arranger, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel, ComposerLyricist - Mark Richardson, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Butch Vig, Producer, Mixer, String Arranger, Engineer, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Howie Weinberg, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - ALAN MOULDER, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - JEFF TOMEI, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Roger Lian, Editor, StudioPersonnel - Smashing Pumpkins, MainArtist - Jimmy Chamberlin, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Eric Remschneider, String Arranger, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - D'Arcy Wretzky, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - James Iha, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - David Ragsdale, String Arranger, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Andy Udoff, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Dick Kaneshiro, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Eric Ferris, Producer, Executive Producer
This Compilation (C) 2001 Virgin Records America, Inc. ℗ 1993 Virgin Records
Stevie Nicks, ComposerLyricist - Ted De Bono, Producer - Smashing Pumpkins, MainArtist
This Compilation (C) 2001 Virgin Records America, Inc. ℗ 1994 Virgin Records
Billy Corgan, Producer, Mixer, StudioPersonnel, ComposerLyricist - Barry Goldberg, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Howie Weinberg, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - ALAN MOULDER, Producer, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Flood, Producer - Roger Lian, Editor, StudioPersonnel - Smashing Pumpkins, MainArtist - Mark "Flood" Ellis, Producer, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Claudine Pontier, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Eric Ferris, Producer, Executive Producer
This Compilation (C) 2001 Virgin Records America, Inc. ℗ 1995 Virgin Records
Billy Corgan, Producer, Mixer, StudioPersonnel, ComposerLyricist - Barry Goldberg, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Howie Weinberg, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - ALAN MOULDER, Producer, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Flood, Producer, Mixer, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Roger Lian, Editor, StudioPersonnel - Smashing Pumpkins, MainArtist - Mark "Flood" Ellis, Producer, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Claudine Pontier, Engineer, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jeff Moleski, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Eric Ferris, Producer, Executive Producer
This Compilation (C) 2001 Virgin Records America, Inc. ℗ 1995 Virgin Records
Billy Corgan, Producer, Mixer, StudioPersonnel, ComposerLyricist - Barry Goldberg, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Howie Weinberg, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - ALAN MOULDER, Producer, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Roger Lian, Editor, StudioPersonnel - Smashing Pumpkins, MainArtist - Mark "Flood" Ellis, Producer, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Claudine Pontier, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Eric Ferris, Producer, Executive Producer
This Compilation (C) 2001 Virgin Records America, Inc. ℗ 1995 Virgin Records
Billy Corgan, Producer, Mixer, String Arranger, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel, ComposerLyricist - Barry Goldberg, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Howie Weinberg, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - ALAN MOULDER, Producer, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Roger Lian, Editor, StudioPersonnel - Smashing Pumpkins, MainArtist - Mark "Flood" Ellis, Producer, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Audrey Riley, String Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Claudine Pontier, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Eric Ferris, Producer, Executive Producer
This Compilation (C) 2001 Virgin Records America, Inc. ℗ 1995 Virgin Records
Billy Corgan, ComposerLyricist - Smashing Pumpkins, MainArtist
This Compilation (C) 2001 Virgin Records America, Inc. ℗ 1997 Virgin Records
Brad Wood, Producer, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Billy Corgan, Producer, Mixer, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel, ComposerLyricist - Howie Weinberg, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Flood, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Matt Walker, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Roger Lian, Editor, StudioPersonnel - Smashing Pumpkins, MainArtist - Mark "Flood" Ellis, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Howard Willing, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bjorn Thorsrud, Editor, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Eric Greedy, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Steve Johnson, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bon Harris, Programming, AssociatedPerformer - Matt Prock, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Eric Ferris, Producer, Executive Producer - Howard C Willing, Engineer, StudioPersonnel
This Compilation (C) 2001 Virgin Records America, Inc. ℗ 1998 Virgin Records America Inc and The Smashing Pumpkins
Billy Corgan, Producer, Mixer, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel, ComposerLyricist - Joey Waronker, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Howie Weinberg, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Flood, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Robbie Adams, Mixer, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Roger Lian, Editor, StudioPersonnel - Smashing Pumpkins, MainArtist - Mark "Flood" Ellis, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Howard Willing, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bjorn Thorsrud, Editor, StudioPersonnel - Bon Harris, Programming, AssociatedPerformer - Jay Nicholas, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Eric Ferris, Producer, Executive Producer
This Compilation (C) 2001 Virgin Records America, Inc. ℗ 1998 Virgin Records
Billy Corgan, Composer, Producer, Mixer, Guitar, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Howie Weinberg, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - ALAN MOULDER, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Roger Lian, Editor, StudioPersonnel - Smashing Pumpkins, MainArtist - Jimmy Chamberlin, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Mark "Flood" Ellis, Producer, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Howard Willing, Engineer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bjorn Thorsrud, Engineer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - D'Arcy Wretzky, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - James Iha, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Eric Ferris, Producer, Executive Producer
This Compilation (C) 2001 Virgin Records America, Inc. ℗ 2000 Virgin Records
Billy Corgan, Composer, Producer, Mixer, Guitar, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Howie Weinberg, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - ALAN MOULDER, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Flood, Producer, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Roger Lian, Editor, StudioPersonnel - Smashing Pumpkins, MainArtist - Jimmy Chamberlin, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Mark "Flood" Ellis, Producer, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Howard Willing, Engineer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bjorn Thorsrud, Engineer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - D'Arcy Wretzky, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - James Iha, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Eric Ferris, Producer, Executive Producer
This Compilation (C) 2001 Virgin Records America, Inc. ℗ 2000 Virgin Records
Billy Corgan, Composer, Producer - Howie Weinberg, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Flood, Producer - Roger Lian, Editor, StudioPersonnel - Smashing Pumpkins, MainArtist - Mark "Flood" Ellis, Producer - Eric Ferris, Producer, Executive Producer
This Compilation (C) 2001 Virgin Records America, Inc. ℗ 2000 Virgin Records
Billy Corgan, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Smashing Pumpkins, MainArtist - Howard Willing, Producer
This Compilation (C) 2001 Virgin Records America, Inc. ℗ 2000 Virgin Records
Album review
Like many alt-rock bands, the Smashing Pumpkins sound better than expected as a singles band -- probably because their high points were singles, no matter how carefully created their albums were. The Smashing Pumpkins fit this bill particularly well for two reasons. For one, they rose up through the ranks in indie rock circles, where limited-edition singles on Sub Pop meant as much as a full-lengths on Caroline. Then, after they made it through the indie jungle, they had to fight their way onto MTV airwaves with songs and videos that sold their intricate albums. This was a good, even prosperous, situation when the Pumpkins (OK, when their leader, Billy Corgan) could balance their knack for great singles with their desire to make sweeping neo-concept albums like Siamese Dream and Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness. They did for a few years, conquering the alt-rock pack after Nirvana imploded, but the group itself eventually turned in on itself -- either because of Corgan's own hubris or the group's complacency. They had more than enough great material for a good compilation, and Greatest Hits almost fits the bill. Its main problem is that, like most even-handed compilations, it gives too much credence to the music made after the group's peak, at the expense of some of the group's better material. Essentially, anything that most listeners will want to hear wraps up 11 tracks into the 18-track album, when the collection dives into material from Adore and MACHINA -- two albums that aren't embarrassments, but really only of interest to the hardcore, particularly in how they desperately attempt to embrace the fleeting electronica fad of the '90s (something almost all alt-rock bands did, almost always to no avail). So, this collection bogs down more than it should, and because its final eight tracks are taken from the Pumpkins past their peak; consequently, it's hard to recommend this to anyone who just wants an album with all the hits. Yes, it does have many of the cuts that they'll want on one disc, including the non-LP "Drown" and "Landslide," but the desire to justify two albums nobody bought -- especially at the expense of "I Am One," "Rocket," "Geek USA," and "Here Is No Why," among others -- hurts a collection that should have showcased the Pumpkins at their peak.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 18 track(s)
- Total length: 01:13:45
- Main artists: The Smashing Pumpkins
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Virgin Records
- Genre: Pop/Rock Rock Alternative & Indie
© 2001 Virgin Records ℗ 2001 Virgin Records
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