lambchops's Full Review: 1979 [Single] by Smashing Pumpkins
I think I possibly have stumbled upon the reason why somebody *might* sell back Smashing Pumpkins singles. Of course this is my own conjecture and may have very little to do with any reality aside from my own. But in case somebody cares, I think the cause of this mystifying phenomenon can be found on the EP for the highly overrated track 1979.
You heard me right. Hit single 1979 from Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness is painfully overrated and had no business being popular upon its release. However, for better or for worse, Billy Corgan and company were at the top of their game and incredibly hyped in 1995/1996 and just about anything they handed the public became a hit. During this Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness era the Smashing Pumpkins yielded a good five or six well received singles. The worst of these was undoubtedly 1979.
Billy Corgan, D’Arcy Wretzky, James Iha, and Jimmy Chamberlain could really do no wrong and 1979 was much to my chagrin hailed a masterpiece. “Blech” was my response to that. I didn’t like the plodding, uninteresting song nor did I like the retro video. I couldn’t be bought or convinced—oh no, not me. But recently when I stumbled into a used music store I thought to myself, “Well, maybe I was wrong.” So I picked up the 1979 EP in an attempt to give the song another chance.
Oops.
It seems my assessment of 1979 from six or seven years ago still stands. Plus, it doesn’t help that the CD itself is pink. And I hate pink. All petty complaints aside, I do think that the song is lacking any motivating factor. It just wanders around lackadaisically and with no real umph. Sure it has a gentle sound, but I’ve always found the melody to be annoying and repetitive. Smashing Pumpkins was never a relaxed act (sonically or personally) and this track as a result just doesn’t gel. 1979 is certainly meant to represent the fun, carefree days of youth. But how in the hell am I supposed to like the background “mmmm, dadadadada” that pervades much of the song?
I don’t know and I haven’t ever been able to. If I must stomach 1979 I’d much prefer it be in the context of the overall excellent Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness. As for the five other songs contained on this 1996 EP most are far better than the single. Ugly, The Boy and Cherry immediately follow 1979 in that order and are fortunately infinitely better.
Ugly is wonderfully arranged with remarkable bass from Wretzky and otherwise minimal elements. The melody is great, Corgan’s voice is urgent, and the occasional percussion just helps to build the song to frenzied levels. The Boy actually gels with 1979 pretty well but succeeds where its predecessor could not. This is sparkling jangle-pop done Smashing Pumpkins style. The production is minimal and the guitars and rich and raw. It sounds a bit like a 1960’s pop song, but it proves to be absolutely listenable and appealing. Finally, Cherry rubs me the right way with faintly psychedelic elements and a slow pace. At first it seems as though it may too fall pretty to the strain of repetition, but once Corgan’s breaks in with his disaffected voice all things are made right. And the words, well, you make up your mind on that…
I need a love to help me find my way
I need a strength that I cannot betray
I need a word to say what I can't say
This trio of songs is what makes this EP important. The two remaining tracks, Believe and Set The Ray to Jerry are nearly as great. Those with that said I appreciate the fact that Iha takes a step into the limelight with vocals on Believe. His lightly boyish voice works nicely over the acoustic guitar, cello, and violin. It proved that Iha could be a viable solo artist. Set the Ray to Jerry however seems like an afterthought and is thus nothing of note.
Along with the singles for Bullet With Butterfly Wings, Zero, Tonight, Tonight, and Thirty-Three this EP was released alone and subsequently in 1996 as a part of the now out of print box set The Aeroplane Flies High. And, lo and behold, I acquired each of these along with the single for Cherub Rock at ye old faithful used CD store. This particular EP is very disappointing to me, but my ire for 1979 soon wears off in lieu of the high quality of the other b-sides.
Rating: 4/5 stars
Track Listing:
01. 1979
02. Ugly
03. The Boy
04. Cherry
05. Believe
06. Set the Ray to Jerry
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