When today was the greatest, “Heart Shaped Box” played on the radio and Pearl Jam premiered the first school shooting on MTV. Cock Rock had inhaled too much hair product fumes and boys still hadn”t been trained like chimps to dance on stage yet. It was then that alternative rocked a mainstream generation, with the Smashing Pumpkins out riding the wave. Over the years of video awards, magazine covers and radio-play abundance, the boys aged like a fine red wine. Unfortunately the rest of the industry went sour grapes Destiny”s Child strapped on those orange bikini matching life-vests and we all know what Christina did to Fred Durst.
- Paul Wong
- Author Grace Paley.<br><br>Courtesy of New York Writer”s Institute
Seeing Britney on the cover of Rolling Stone, progressively with less and less clothing, Mr. Money Bags (a.k.a. the record industry) pulled the plug on the Smashing Pumpkins and the rest of the talent-oriented superstars. With financial stakes in mind, record execs refused to release Machina II. No bother for the Smashing Pumpkins. They released the tracks to their fans anyway via the Internet middle finger to capitalism Mp3. Perhaps that explains why Virgin Records dragged their whore-adoring asses back for a second chance with the new release of the Smashing Pumpkins” Greatest Hits, and why the B-sides and rarities” disc art is on a CD-R label.
And while the “greatest hits” notation usually implies you are duped into believing all of your favorite tracks are on the album, fear not and proceed with faith. “Disarm,” “Today,” “Zero,” “Landslide” and even the obscure “Eye,” from the “Lost Highway” soundtrack, are all accounted for. Not to forget the existence of an entire second disc full of treats. From Gish to the underrated Adore, it is indeed all the greatest hits and definitely worth shelling out the $17.99 for this two disc set.
Grade: A-