Tag: smashing-pumpkins

concerts, music musings

smashing pumpkins; a revived interest

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So after last week’s random check-in blog post, I feel like I have been somewhat reconnected, so to speak, and kind of want to keep the momentum going, if possible. I do think that a large part of that, interestingly, was due to seeing Smashing Pumpkins last weekend in Duluth. It was the Shiny and Oh So Bright tour, which was touted as an almost-greatest hits tour, where they got (most) of the original band back together, and played only stuff from their first 5 albums, spanning from Gish through Machina/The Machines of God.

I had read that ticket sales were lackluster for the tour, but teenage me wanted to go for nostalgia’s sake, and I am so glad that I did; the night was fantastic, and they played hit after hit and fantastic deep album cuts (including my favorite song from Siamese Dream!) for a solid 3 hours! Any fan of their work during that time would have had a blast; which is exactly what I did. All in all, I am so glad that I went, because the concert was amazing; and as I said, teenage me would have been super pumped about that experience, and would have been really happy that I decided to go. Sound-wise, they sounded amazing, and considering that a lot of that material is between 18-27 years old (!!!), it was impressive that the magic was, and is still there.

What I didn’t really expect, however, was that the nostalgia effect turned into a renewed interest and exploration of their newer work, which I honestly overlooked prior to now; which includes pretty much anything after Mellon Collie, other than a few singles here and there. For whatever reason, I kind of snoozed on the band after Mellon Collie; perhaps like most other fans of the hardcore alternative style they flexed prior to Adore, due to the large departure of that album. That being said, listening to it now, I don’t see why I didn’t like it more at the time; it, and their other albums, are all quite good, and are through-and-through Smashing Pumpkins at the core. I do have to venture a guess that part of the blame comes from this coming around a time of much change in my life; I was in college, and a lot was going on with me, and my music tastes were changing wildly at the time. Looking, and listening back, I can hear that most of their work has been pretty consistent (albeit different and evolving), and quite good since their inception, and this time I am spending listening to the “older stuff” has been fun, because I have been reconnecting with a band that I have always loved for as long as I remember liking music.

I do know that some of my issues with the band were based on line up changes, and drug use (which lead to the death of one of the touring members at one time), which can explain why I overlooked some of their work, but that is definitely in the past now. I do remember really liking Zeitgeist when it came out, so it is clear that I have always been willing to give them and their newer work a chance, but I just hadn’t connected like the way I have this past week following that show. I have always held Siamese Dream to such an unattainable standard, that it is no wonder that I have felt so lukewarm about their other albums; which is a shame, because I have been the cause of myself missing out on some pretty awesome music. Additionally, it goes to show that a good concert can really sell a band, past, present, and hopefully future. I have been getting some of the older stuff on vinyl, and I would like to see a release of Machina/The Machines of God (and it’s follow up), as well as Zeitgeist on vinyl as well, because as much of a fan as I was before, I am even more so now. Now, to get the vinyl that is available, and complete my album collection!

music musings, music suggestion, song of the day, you tube

sotd: Smashing Pumpkins – Spaceboy

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I have stated at least once before on this very blog, that Smashing Pumpkins’ sophomore album, Siamese Dream pretty much shaped how I felt about music; and it was one of a couple albums that signaled the beginning of when I truly started to appreciate and enjoy music at the level that I do now. Before it, I never really payed enough attention to music, and mostly, I only listened to whatever was on the radio. Barring a few “favorite songs” here and there, I actually owned very few albums (it was mostly tapes at that time!), and honestly never bought an album for anything more than a song or two. However, that all changed when I saw Smashing Pumpkins’ videos on MTV. I liked every song that I heard, and this album was one of the first ones that I received in my very first BMG shipment. After hearing Siamese Dream, it was almost like I had an awakening; I had gotten a taste of wonderful music, and it would be from then on, that I would crave more and more (it was also Smashing Pumpkins’ music that motivated me to learn to play guitar). Literally, from that point on, I became almost obsessed with music; an obsession that has followed me until today.

Spaceboy is not only one of the best songs on Siamese Dream, I have no qualms in declaring that it is one of the best songs by the Smashing Pumpkins. The song is a touching tribute Billy Corgan wrote to his brother, and the sentiment of the words are echoed in the tenderness of the music. For me, this remains one of my favorite songs of all time, and hearing it really takes me back, and reminds me of the time when I truly learned what good music was all about. With all of that greatness, how could I not share that with you?

Since it was never a single, there isn’t a video, but, I found it on youtube, uploaded with a blank video, which I think is absolutely perfect:


In doing so, the person that uploaded it, has allowed you to focus on the music, the lyrics, and the sentiment that makes this song such an experience. Spaceboy is truly, a magnificent song, and is a wonderful addition to the song of the day catalog.

all about me, five song friday, listen up!, music musings, music suggestion

5SF: june 27

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This is going to be another “themed” five song Friday, because I haven’t really heard too many new things worth mentioning this week (and I have been listening to all of the good stuff from the recent months on repeat). I was trying to figure out what to post this week, when I thought that it might be fun to do a 5SF with songs that really changed how I felt about music; songs from the bands that really got me into loving music in the first place. It’s very difficult to narrow that down, but I thought that I would start with five songs by five bands that I really gravitated towards in high school; which is when I first became obsessed with music. These are songs that totally represent the groups for me, and are songs that totally take me back to that time so many years ago.

I’m sure that some of you will share love for these songs as well…

Blur – There’s No Other Way
Oh Blur… for so long, I have loved thee. I remember when I was introduced to Blur by some of my friends during my junior year, and after one listen to Parklife, I was hooked. However, it would be Leisure that would become the quintessential Blur album for me; and it is still, in my opinion, one of the best albums that I could ever hope to own. My friends and I completely played this album out; that is, if that were possible. Many car trips and times hanging out were accompanied by the soundtrack of early Blur. I love when I haven’t heard this record for a while and then I put it on, because I am always transported back to those summers and great times. I can definitely say without a doubt, that Blur was definitely one of my first “favorite” bands; and given their catalog, remains as such to this day.

Smashing Pumpkins – Rocket
I credit Siamese Dream as being my favorite album of all time. For me, it was what Nevermind was for many others; it was a beginning of a new era of music. The alternative sounds that bled off of this album fully soaked my brain, and I was immersed into the full experience that was the Smashing Pumpkins for many, many years. I long considered them my favorite band of all time, but my interest in them quickly waned when their sound changed so dramatically after Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness. However, even after several missteps, there is no denying the brilliance of this record, and I have no problem hanging in the moment that Siamese Dream blasted from my first car’s meek stereo speakers. This album is also credited with the reason that I got into playing guitar; in fact, my first guitar was bought not long after I received this record in my very first BMG shipment.

Weezer – Say It Ain’t So
If you’ve been paying attention, by now, you know that yes, I am a huge fan of Weezer. I am loving their new record, but for me, nothing can top the experience of hearing the Blue Album for the first time; it too was a part of my first BMG shipment (I got 7 pretty slamming albums). Every song on that record can take me right back to my room, where I would jam out to Weezer on my boom box. It has always been one of my favorites, and I am just glad that they have continued to make amazing music, and I have been along for the ride. This is my all time favorite Weezer song, and with good reason; it fucking rules.

The Cardigans – Been It
As with the other bands listed, if you haven’t figured out by now that the Cardigans are one of my favorite groups, then clearly you haven’t been listening to me. This album was primarily purchased because of the fantastic “Lovefool”, but upon receiving it, I was exposed to something so much more than I could have expected. This album is a masterpiece to me. Every song is amazing, and it is one of those records that has definitely stood the test of time. Interestingly enough, the Cardigans have only gotten better with age, so their more recent albums have built upon this (their sophomore release) album’s fantastic music. It was my first Cardigans record, and this song was the one that made me realize that they were more than just a one hit wonder for me… it showed me that I would be a life long fan of this Swedish super group.

Nirvana – In Bloom
Last but certainly not least, is my all time favorite song by the amazing Nirvana. What happened to Kurt Cobain is seriously one of the more tragic incidents to occur to music at the time, as he was clearly a visionary with talent that never got to see it’s full potential. At the time, I wasn’t the “hugest” Nirvana fan, perhaps because of my deep love for the Pumpkins, but I nevertheless appreciated great music when I heard it, and this is certainly it. I still get chills when I hear this song because of how fantastic it is.

Well, it is clear that I was an alternative kid when I was in high school. My musical tastes may have changed some, but I still love each and every one of these songs, and the records that they come from. These songs/albums/groups help shape what I thought was good about music, and helped me appreciate music with a depth that is still very strong in me today. I hope you guys enjoyed this 5SF, and be sure to let me know what songs/albums/artists did the same for you. Loving music is a huge part of my life… and now you have a pretty good idea of where it truly started.

five song friday, listen up!, mixed media, movie musings, music musings, music suggestion

5SF: april 11 – bad movie soundtrack edition!

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Today, I decided to switch things up a bit, and do a themed five song Friday for fun. Instead of picking five songs at random, this week, I will be featuring five songs that all come from soundtracks; and more specifically, soundtracks of movies that many wouldn’t consider to be necessarily any “good”. The songs I picked are just five songs that prompted me to go out and buy a soundtrack for that one song, regardless of the lack of desire to see the film. With the exception of two (which I will note… and weren’t really great themselves), I have not seen any of these movies, so if they are among your favorites, try not to take offense; I did buy the soundtrack after all! Also, there will be a bonus song featured this week as an extra soundtrack-song treat!

Now… on with the show!

Aaliyah – Try Again
Movie: Romeo Must Die. Unfortunately, this was one of Aaliyah’s first, and tragically, last movie roles. The movie itself isn’t good by any means, but there are moments when she was allowed to shine (this is the first of two movies on the list that I saw)… however, it was on the soundtrack where her shining is the most notable. Even as a stand alone track, this is a hot hip-hop number, and the production on it is so tight, that not even water could get in. I remember being so excited by the work that Timberland and Missy E were doing back in 2000, because the stuff they were turning out (this included) were off the chain. This is an excellent example of a flawless track gracing an otherwise forgettable movie’s soundtrack; drawing more attention to the film than it may have been given without its inclusion. I remember when I first heard this song, I seriously had to have the soundtrack, and I remember listening to this on repeat. Bringing this one back out of the closet has reminded me of just how damn good this song really is.

Pras, Mya, and ODB – Ghetto Superstar (That is What You Are)
Movie: Bullworth. Don’t deny it… you loved this song at some point in the past. We all did. Even those that resisted found themselves singing along with Mya in the end. Her sweet voice calling you in with that chorus made us swoon. While this song was a massive radio hit, and probably sold TONS of sountracks for Bullworth, I don’t think that it did much for the movie; I know that I had the soundtrack, and never saw the film (and still don’t have any desire to). However, there is no denying this little slice of gold that found itself sitting all alone on a strange soundtrack for an otherwise forgettable film. Even though this song became massively overplayed on the radio, I will admit that it is great hearing it again… it is definitely a fun song!

Michael Jackson – Will You Be There
Movie: Free Willy. Now for the tear-jerker (you know that you cried like a bitch when that whale jumped over that little boy… don’t deny it). This comes from Free Willy, which was actually a favorite movie of mine when I was younger. I can say now, that I really didn’t know good movies back then, because I have seen it since, and it is pretty much as close to a stinker as you can get (regardless if it is enjoyable or not, it is as hokey as it comes)… however, this ballad by Michael Jackson is a beacon of light shining warmly on the film’s soundtrack. I remember that after we saw the movie, and this song started being played on MTV, that I made my aunt take me to Coconuts records, were I bought this soundtrack for $18!!! I wanted it so badly, that it cost me more than 3 weeks’ allowance!! Now, that is dedication (well, it was also for my “favorite” movie at the time). Looking back, the film has definitely lost some of it’s luster, but this song is still a winner. I am not the biggest Michael Jackson fan, but this is one of those songs that I will always love.

Aaliyah – Are You That Somebody?
Movie: Dr. Dolittle. This is the second, extremely notable entry from the amazing, and missed, Aaliyah. She was a breath of fresh air for hip-hop, and honestly, one of the only hip-hop artists that I have gravitated towards. Her voice is so silky, and the production value on her songs were always top notch. It is tragic that she is gone, but she left behind a body of songs that would still be hits if they were released tomorrow; this song especially. The first time I heard this song, I ran out and bought the soundtrack, and I even tried to learn as much of the dance they do in the video as I could. This song is hot, and I am glad to get back in touch with it; and Aaliyah. After doing this little themed 5SF, I have a feeling that I am going to be listening to more Aaliyah again.

Blackstreet, Mya, and Mase – Take Me There
Movie: Rugrats the Movie. First of all, I want to complain for a second… When I came up with this idea, it hinged on this and one other song specifically, so it was one that I felt that I had to include. Well, I thought it would be easy enough to obtain the songs; however, it wasn’t. I literally spent 2 hours trying to get this damn song. Ridiculous. Anyway… This is one of those super-saccharine songs that makes you get up and dance, even though you feel terribly guilty for liking it in the first place. Yes, I bought the Rugrats soundtrack, because this song did not get released as a single (so far as I knew then). The reason I had to search for it last night?? Because I sold the soundtrack a long time ago!! Well… I am glad to have this little jam back, because it really is a fun number; even though it is from a potentially bad movie, and it was definitely the only reason to get the soundtrack. This is also the second track with Mya in it… which shows that she definitely had some cred when it came to soundtrack contributions!

BONUS TRACK!!!! — and now for something completely different…
Smashing Pumpkins – Drown
[audio:http://www.duanemoody.com/audio/smashingpumpkins-drown.mp3]
Movie: Singles. I wanted to include this track, because I really wanted to feature a completely different type of great song from a bad movie’s soundtrack. Smashing Pumpkins have always been among my favorite bands, but there was a period where I was borderline obsessed with them. About the time, I became aware that the Pumpkins were on the Singles soundtrack, and such I had to have it… I rushed out and got it right away. They didn’t disappoint either, because Drown is an amazing song, and has some truly fantastic lyrics. I have still never seen Singles, but it just didn’t look like a movie I wanted to see… plus, I had what I really wanted, a new Smashing Pumpkins song, so I was pretty much happy with what I had already gotten. I hope that you have enjoyed the bonus track for this week.

Well, that concludes another five song Friday, but it also concludes the bad movie soundtrack themed five song Friday!! Now, I chose these 5 songs, because I actually did love them enough to go out and get the soundtracks. There are far more bad movie soundtracks that had great songs on them… which ones did you run out and get the soundtracks for?? Let me know! I hope everyone has a great weekend, and I hope that you enjoyed the theme this week!

five song friday, listen up!, mixed media, music musings, music suggestion

5SF: november 2

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Thank goodness it is Friday… it has been “one of those weeks”, if you know what I mean. Time to lull it away with the sweet sounds of music; specifically, the five tracks I have selected for this week’s five song Friday. I hope everyone’s week was better than mine (not that mine was “horrible”, per se), and if not, here’s hoping a jolt from the music offered today will brighten you up in time for the weekend.

This will be the first video free 5SF, so buckle up, because the music is about to begin…

The Cardigans – And Then You Kissed Me
[audio:http://www.duanemoody.com/audio/fsf_1102_thenyoukissed.mp3]
Since I chose the Cardigans as my Monday music suggestion for my flickr group, I thought that I would share one of my all time favorite Cardigans songs from the record Long Gone Before Daylight. The song, And Then You Kissed Me, shows the dark, and very emotionally driven, direction that the Cardigans went with their most recent albums, and in my opinion, marks the most impressive work of their career. This song represents why they are one of my favorite bands. The record from which this song comes from, came after the experimental Gran Turismo, and is probably my favorite Cardigans record of all. If you enjoy this track, be sure to check out the rest of Long Gone Before Daylight, as it has a similar feel. Also, be sure to check out Super Extra Gravity, because it is another great step in that same artistic direction.

Metro Station – Kelsey
[audio:http://www.duanemoody.com/audio/fsf_1102_kelsey.mp3]
This is from Metro Station’s self titled debut, which I discovered when iTunes offered one of their songs (Shake It) as a free download of the week. After listening to that initial track, I figured I would give the record a go, and I was glad that I did; as it is good. This track is probably my favorite from the CD, and really highlights the feel that I got from the group. My first impression of Metro Station, was that they really reminded me of Hellogoodbye and Shiny Toy Guns, two bands I really love, and after listening to the whole CD, I couldn’t have been more correct. If you like Hellogoodbye or Shiny Toy Guns, chances are, Metro Station will be a good listen for you as well; while I must say, they are more like a younger, less experienced Hellogoodbye. While they don’t really nail either band’s sound as well as those bands do (because let’s face it, those are two pretty amazing groups), they do a pretty decent job of creating something pleasant to listen to, with a few tracks being more standout than others (the aforementioned being my favorite). Overall, I am definitely glad to have discovered them, and recommend them to you as well.

Delta Goodrem – Brave Face
[audio:http://www.duanemoody.com/audio/fsf_1102_braveface.mp3]
Last week, I brought you a track from Delta Goodrem’s newest album, Delta, and even threatened to do a whole 5SF composed of nothing but tracks from her amazing new release; but I opted to steer away from that “Delta-overload” at the last minute (not really, but you get where I am going here). However, I did decide that I had not praised Delta enough, so here is another amazing track from her new self-titled release, Brave Face. I can’t tell you how much I have been enjoying this album; I just hope that Delta shows up in the US at some time in the future; it would be a shame to have this talent stay down under.

Aqualung – Glimmer
[audio:http://www.duanemoody.com/audio/fsf_1102_glimmer.mp3]
I had never heard of Aqualung before my friends Barry and Rebekah invited me to go and see them perform, and after seeing them live, I have to say, I am glad I went. I absolutely love their (it is really Matt Hale with a band, but it seems weird to refer to Aqualung as a singular person, so I will keep with the pronoun game, cool?) sound, and had to get the CD once the show was over. The result, was finding one of the best CDs of 2007; seriously, Memory Man is amazing. With a little bit of a Radiohead feel, Aqualung really delivers, and I am so glad that I was introduced to this amazing band. If you enjoy this song, you should definitely check out their other stuff, as I have all of their music on my ipod, and I can tell you; it is all good stuff.

Smashing Pumpkins – That’s The Way (My Love Is)
[audio:http://www.duanemoody.com/audio/fsf_1102_thatstheway.mp3]
Finally today, last but not least, we have a track from the most recent Smashing Pumpkins CD, Zeitgeist. I have to say, I was a little apprehensive when I heard that Smashing Pumpkins were coming back out with new music, especially considering what they released before they bowed out as a band. However, after hearing the first track from this album, I figured I would give it a listen. What I got, was a nice surprise, as much of the album sounds a lot like the Smashing Pumpkins that I fell in love with back in the mid-90s. Hard rocking, guitar driven tracks that really I enjoy. Overall, the album is quite good, and it was nice to see that Billy Corgan still has some of what I fell in love with him for in the beginning. This is one of my favorite tracks from the new album, and I felt it appropriate to put it in this week’s selection because of one of my favorite songs of all time being featured in GHIII, which was released earlier this week (Cherub Rock). Overall, I am glad to see the Pumpkins back and rocking hard…

Well kids, there it is… another 5SF; I hope you enjoyed it. There are some amazingly talented artists represented this week, and I hope that you found something you will enjoy. Let me know, won’t you?!?!