Bland Smashing Pumpkins Single Even Less Inspired Here
Written: Mar 01 '05
Product Rating:
Pros: Meladori Magpie, Medellia of the Gray Skies
Cons: The rest of the 7-track single
The Bottom Line: I'm unamused by this lackluster Smashing Pumpkins release. Uninspired, lacking variety, and often under-produced this is not worth checking out.
lambchops's Full Review: Tonight, Tonight [Single] by Smashing Pumpkins
Smashing Pumpkins never ceases to amaze me. In a short period of time (a mere 12 years), the band amassed an impressive collection of albums, songs, and critical acclaim. I dare say that Billy Corgan released nearly ever song he ever completed on one of the many LPs, EPs, or singles.
Because Corgan and company recorded and released so many songs, it should go without saying that many of them don’t live up to the band’s considerable legend. Smashing Pumpkins singles are among the most entertaining and interesting releases of their era. Diverse, rich, and emotional they showcased and man (and his band) at their most inspired. I cannot deny the power of hits like Bullet With Butterfly Wings, Today, Zero, Cherub Rock, or Thirty-Three. However, when it comes to some of the band’s more “thoughtful” offerings I’m yet unsold.
Billy Corgan does not have a good voice. He is uniquely talented in that his whine and wail paired together make for a great rock voice, not a great singing voice. On songs when the band is trying to be particularly understated I often find myself annoyed by his caterwauling and longing for them to rock out ala Bullet With Butterfly Wings. Despite all of the critical acclaim and apparent commercial appeal (for both the song and the video), Tonight, Tonight is one of the most troubling and disinteresting songs from the Pumpkins.
Of course Corgan has never been alone in his efforts. Bandmates D’Arcy Wretzky (bass) and James Iha (guitar) were with him from the start and troubled drummer Jimmy Chamberlin was there most of the time. Despite the fact that they were seen as a four-piece band, the truth always was that Corgan was incredibly controlling. It was his band, these were his songs and often he wrote, played every instrument, recorded and produced the songs (especially in the Siamese Dream era).
The most ambitious album the Pumpkins ever recorded was the double disc Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness (1995). In support of that effort, the band released a bunch of CD singles. Each single featured the expected hit in addition to a handful of rarities and also-rans. Tonight, Tonight was just such a release. Seven songs in length, the single rested in the first position and the six other slots are mostly occupied by filler. Such is the case with most all of these Mellon Collie-era singles (which, by the way, were later collected in the equally yawn-worthy boxed set The Aeroplane Flies High).
Tonight, Tonight’s popularity is a mystery. It’s a slow, whiny, repetitive, self-important track that pairs the usual “rock” instruments with orchestral strings. In theory I suppose it could have worked, but Corgan’s vocals throw it all off kilter. It seems as if Corgan took himself much too seriously and this uninspired song is the resulting mistake. Even worse? The song was all over radio and MTV because it was immediately deemed to be the niftiest thing since Wonderbread upon release. Hmph.
There are moments on this single that actually far surpass the quality of the song that is supposed to be the focus. Meladori Magpie is an interesting effort. It’s acoustic, unaffected, languid, and pairs Corgan’s uncharacteristically controlled voice with slide guitars and a distinctly country twang. It isn’t what listeners expect from Smashing Pumpkins but that could well be why it is so appealing in the end. Medellia of the Gray Skies is also one of the better offerings—it’s a mellow, piano and acoustic guitar driven track. Corgan’s vocals sound as if they were recorded in a tin can but outside of that slight issue it is one of the most honest tracks on this unfortunate single. The final song on this disc proves that Tonight, Tonight could be a good song. It’s a reprise with the frontman alongside a simple acoustic guitar. I still can’t say I love his voice but I can say that it feels much more truthful than that orchestral atrocity at the beginning of this release.
On the flipside, Rotten Apples is painfully atonal, not at all dynamic, and once again makes the mistake of pairing Corgan’s voice with strings. He is honestly best backed by more traditional elements. In the case of Rotten Apples he sings so badly I cannot adequately express the nail-on-chalkboard aural pain it creates in my head. Jupiter’s Lament isn’t nearly as bad, but it lacks any real direction. It’s an acoustic song with just vocals and guitar. It is fine enough I suppose but is by no means up to par with what fans have come to expect from the band. Blank could be a good song if it were further developed. This lack of attention to detail in the rarity selections tend to hurt the overall effect. It’s supposed to be an organic, stark ballad but in the end the sheer volume and flatness of Corgan’s voice makes it impossible to stomach.
Tonight, Tonight is not one of the best Smashing Pumpkins by a long shot. I remember thinking the band had “sold out” when the single was released. In the context of this haphazard little release I’m no more impressed by the effort. However, at least it will allow listeners the opportunity to discover gems like Meladori Magpie and Medellia of the Gray Skies. Seriously folks, if you really are seeking great Smashing Pumpkins releases stick to the albums.
Rating: 2/5 stars
Track Listing:
01. Tonight, Tonight
02. Meladori Magpie
03. Rotten Apples
04. Jupiter’s Lament
05. Medellia of the Gray Skies
06. Blank
07. Tonite Reprise
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