lambchops's Full Review: Zero [EP] by Smashing Pumpkins
This weekend I stumbled into a used music store that rarely has anything of interest. I’ve just come to the realization that local kids have either got great taste in music and keep all their CDs or that they have horrid taste and don’t buy anything of note. But this trip was different—thus trip, I managed to buy nearly fifteen used discs of which a good six were Smashing Pumpkins singles…
Who the hell gets rid of Smashing Pumpkins singles? In any case, their losses are my gains.
As the world knows, the Smashing Pumpkins were one of the bands that dominated the 1990’s rock scene. Like it or not—the band from Chicago will be remembered for their pivotal influence on music. They were certainly one of a kind and still deserve all the kudos in the world for continually making great music. The apex of the band’s career came somewhere in the mid-1990’s as a result of a pair of incredible albums—Siamese Dream (1993) and Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness (1995). By no means are these the band’s only notable works, but they will forever be known as the biggest mainstream successes.
Billy Corgan (vocals, guitar, songwriter), D’Arcy Wretzky (bass), James Iha (guitar), and Jimmy Chamberlain (drums) managed quite a fete with the 1995 release. Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness was an epic album containing two discs and over two dozen songs. The ambitious outing proved popular and has to date gone nine times platinum (which translates to half that number because it is a double set). There were no fewer than six hit singles, the most popular of which was probably Bullet With Butterfly Wings. But with that said, I have to admit that Zero too ranks among my favorite songs from the Smashing Pumpkins.
Admittedly, the Smashing Pumpkins sometimes tried to be less rock than they really were. I liked the band when they rocked. And on Zero they rocked as hard as they ever did—even on debut Gish. It’s hard not to adore (sorry for the bad pun) a band able to so freely rock out without ignoring melody and lyrics and vocals in favor of grinding guitars. The Smashing Pumpkins were always able to succeed on so many levels. Zero is but one small example.
The Zero EP contains more than just one single—it also features six usually good (and occasionally great) b-sides. The Smashing Pumpkins, in addition to being known for their main releases and singles, also had quite a reputation for worthy rarities. This EP’s contents are on the whole no exception, though I will fully admit that I tire of a few of the songs much too quickly.
As expected, this disc begins with Zero. This shouldn’t come as any big shock. Fans of the band will know the song like the back of their hands. The guitars are the centerpiece here—dark, droning, and thick. They are a wonderful contrast to Corgan’s uneasy voice. The layers of drums and guitars are incredible—and the chorus is one of the best in the Pumpkins repertoire. You know it, you love it:
Emptiness is loneliness, and loneliness is cleanliness
And cleanliness is godliness, and god is empty just like me
The EP continues with the slightly lower key God. In typical Pumpkins fashion, the song perfectly melds hard rock with keen melody. It could have easily fit on Mellon Collie, but instead is mysteriously relegated to b-side status. The fact is that without the Smashing Pumpkins’ substantial catalogue of singles and EPs much of their music would remain unheard and unknown. And that would be a shame. Also particularly notable here is Mouths of Babes--another melodically gorgeous rocker.
Corgan’s prolific nature gets the best of him as the disc continues. Tribute to Johnny does little for me while Marquis in Spadesis a decent enough rocker, but in comparison to the other “rockers” it is pretty pale. Pennies proves to be a welcome change of pace in that it is a light, melodic gem in the vein of 1979 or Tonight, Tonight. I’m just not sure it fits into the track listing, but I enjoy it nonetheless.
The final song is Pastichio Medley. This is by far the worst thing on the disc—a haphazard medley of not-quite-developed songs. But, I suppose for massive fans of the Pumpkins this might prove to have some appeal.
In any case, Zero is a good EP. There are some problems with it, but overall for the $2.98 I spent on the disc I cannot complain. It’s a must-own for major Pumpkins fans and also can be gotten in the 1996 boxed set The Aeroplane Flies High.
Like I said…”Who the hell gets rid of Smashing Pumpkins singles?”
Rating:
Track Listing:
01. Zero
02. God
03. Mouths of Babes
04. Tribute to Johnny
05. Marquis in Spades
06. Pennies
07. Pastichio Medley
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