Gish

Tracks:

I Am One
Siva
Rhinoceros
Bury Me
Crush
Suffer
Snail
Tristessa
Window Paine
Daydream

Amazon.com essential recording

Upon the release of Gish--the group's debut--in the summer of 1991, more than one rock aficionado hailed the Smashing Pumpkins as the best band to come out of Chicago since Ministry. A bold statement, yes, but one backed up by Billy Corgan's Hendrix-like riffs and searing signature guitar tone. Intriguing songwriting is evidenced from the start as well, with the driving, amped-up rock of "I Am One," "Siva," and "Tristessa" contrasted with the soothingly eerie psychedelic flavor of "Rhinoceros" and "Window Paine." Gish predates the band's movement toward the loop-based electronic sounds heard in their late-'90s works, yet the seeds for this transition are definitely apparent. Electro guru Tricky even sampled the backbeat from "Suffer" in the tributary "Pumpkin" on his sex-soaked Maxinquaye. Butch Vig shows off his chops as producer and cultivates signature dramatic moods on Gish, which helped put the Smashing Pumpkins on the map as one of the most important alt-rock bands of the '90s--much to the delight of the decade's disenfranchised youth. --Brad Zinser

Customer Reviews:

Solid debut from the alt-rock legends.......2007-07-18

Gish (1991.) Smashing Pumpkins' first studio album.

INTRODUCTION:
In the late eighties, the Smashing Pumpkins were in their early formative period and slowly gaining fame. After several failed ventures with other bands, Billy Corgan had found a group of musicians with which he would ultimately achieve success. After being on several supporting tours for other, more popular acts of the day, and recording several demos, the band released its first full-length studio album, Gish, in 1991.

OVERVIEW:
Gish was the Smashing Pumpkins' first album. It was released in May 28, 1991. The band consisted of the "classic" lineup of Billy Corgan (rhythm guitar and lead vocals), Jimmy Chamberlain (drums), D'arcy (bass) and James Iha (lead guitar.) This lineup would be featured on nearly all of the band's recordings. Butch Vig co-produced and engineered the album. Guest musicians include Chris Wagner (violin and viola) and Mary Gaines (cello.)

REVIEW:
This is where it all began for the Pumpkins, as far as their album-releasing career goes. Gish lacks the polish of later albums. It has a raw, distortion-laden sound that draws its influences everywhere from heavy metal to psychedelic sixties rock, right down to eighties post-punk and new wave (the former two genres clearly being the dominant of the three.) Despite it lacking the maturity and artistic nature of later releases, it's still a fine debut.

-I Am One:
Straightforward psychedelia-tinged hard rock. Iha's riffs here are excellent. There's not a whole lot to say about this one, the band rocks hard and they never stop rocking on it. A solid starting track.

-Siva:
More hard and heavy rock. But here the band throws in two slow-paced, melodic interludes, one about halfway through the song, and one not far from the end. When the band goes back to rocking hard after these interludes, they totally catch you off guard. An awesome song that keeps you on your toes from start to finish.

-Rhinoceros:
For the first half, this is slow, beautiful melodic rock - a prelude of sorts to the band's later, more melodic pop hits. For the second half, the band goes right back into rocking hard, never looking back. There's even a thirty-second-or-so dragged-out distortion ending. Probably the most popular song on the album and it's not hard to see why.

-Bury Me:
After toying around with melodic stuff on the last two tracks, the band throws out all the stops and goes back to rocking hard and rocking fast. Once again, Iha is on fire (this guy is SO underrated.) Awesome song. If fast-paced hard rock is your cup of tea, this is the song for you.

-Crush:
Back to the slow and melodic stuff. Sounds like an Ozzy Osbourne ballad in many places. Very slow-paced and peaceful, this song is one of those that, once again, serves as a prelude to the band's later big hits from the classic era. Honestly, this is a song that would not have been out of place on Siamese Dream. Great song, should have been more popular.

-Suffer:
Once again, it's a slower track. And a melodic one, too. The instrumentation in this song is definitely more bizarre than that on most of the album, but that's not a bad thing. The bad shows off their experimental side on this track, and that's one of the things that would ultimately make this band so popular. Great song.

-Snail:
Yet another slower track, but this one isn't like the last two. Here the band manages to maintain a slow, melodic pace - but at the same time they manage to rock hard. It's the best of the melodic and hard rocking worlds alike. Another one of the oh-so-many underrated songs the band serves up on their debut.

-Tristessa:
Another hard rock tune with melodic elements thrown in to keep things interesting. It's one of those songs that foreshadows a number of the band's future successes. This is one of those songs that should have been a hit, but never got properly recognized.

-Window Paine:
Slow and peaceful once again, but with the occasional electric guitar riff thrown in for good measure. With its drawn-out pacing, this is one of those songs that shows off the best elements of all of the band's numerous musical roots. A great song. Like so many, a premonition of their future success.

-Daydream:
Slow and acoustic, with classical style string instrumentation thrown in, this short-but-sweet track will bring the late-era Beatles and Electric Light Orchestra to mind. The latter half of the song has an almost "medieval" sound to it, with flute playing thrown in. Not only does song end the album on a high note, it also shows off just how diverse the group could be when they wanted to.

OVERALL:
Sure, Gish lacks the artful, mature alternative sound that made later Pumpkins albums so excellent and memorable, but it's far from being bad. I'd recommend newcomers to the band skip this one and go directly to Siamese Dream and Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness, but if you're a die-hard fan of the group who wants to see how it all began, give it a listen.

EDITION NOTES:
Over the years, the Smashing Pumpkins have remained consistently popular. As such, all of their albums remain readily available in most major record/electronic stores.

Smashing Pumpkins' Best Album.......2007-07-16

Unpretentious, rocking and mind blowing psychedelic guitars. Everything after this was a disappointment in one way or another in comparison.

Sometimes the first is the best..........2007-07-14

This record has to be taken in the context of its time. A grim era in rock music. REM was sinking into the quagmire of commerical schmaltz. Elvis Costello had completed his transformation into the "balladeer." There was a glimmer of hope when Neil Young put out Ragged Glory, but that was.....Neil Young, for Chrissakes! Sonic Youth? Maybe, but no air play. Otherwise, nothing. It looked like it was all over.

Then..out of nowhere, comes this record! Wailing guitars..big bass..wallshaking drums..huge chords, psychedelia, loud, loud, loud....most importantly, COOL TUNES! I didn't think anyone knew about this stuff anymore.

This record was the first in the glorious year of 1991 that also saw Pearl Jam, Nirvana and others literally save rock and roll.

Others can argue the merits of this record against the ones that followed, but not me. This will always be the best Pumpkins record, and one of my desert island favorites, because it is the one that dragged rock music out of bed, slapped its face and shouted "Wake Up!"

For that reason alone it is 5 stars.

Absolutely beautiful.......2007-05-14

This is easily The Smashing Pumpkins' best album, and possibly one of the best albums of all time. All cylinders are firing on this one; Jimmy Chamberlin's furious drumming and deft snare work is nothing short of brilliant. It's no wonder why Corgan decided to later take on all instruments EXCEPT the drums. Even with his growing ego, Corgan was wise enough to acknowledge that NOBODY could handle the kit (and still be musical as all hell) like Chamberlin. Every drummer should be forced to listen to this in order to learn the true meaning of "tasty playing"...

The guitars hit you like a wall of bricks, and do it with a tone sent straight from the gods. Nice and fuzzy, super thick, and clear as a bell; Corgan's layering of guitar tracks here is a technique that every recording musician, producer, or engineer should experience and remember. In addition to the incredible performances and songwriting here, Butch Vig's production on this album is top notch and only serves to intensify the effect on the listener without getting in the way (as great production should).

Forgive the expression, but this is balls-out gypsy rock and roll. Buy this album even if you are not a Smashing Pumpkins fan. In fact, buy this album ESPECIALLY if you are not a fan, because it hardly represents the albums that would follow, and those who came to learn of this band later on have no idea of what they're missing.

10 stars across the board. Don't even think about it. Buy this masterpiece, and thank me later...

SP - early on.......2007-02-15

I really enjoyed this album. I have a lot of other SP albums and it was great listening to this one after hearing all the other ones. This album definitely has their early on signature licks. "rhinoceros" really stands out as one of the best songs of this album.

Average customer rating:

My Gish!

Gish
Smashing Pumpkins
Manufacturer: Caroline
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Pisces Iscariot
Siamese Dream
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ASIN: B00008EUS3
Release Date: 1991-07-01

Tracks:

I Am One
Siva
Rhinoceros
Bury Me
Crush
Suffer
Snail
Tristessa
Window Paine
Daydream

Customer Reviews:

My Gish!.......2005-02-15

They're better known for the sprawling double-disc "Mellon Collie And the Infinite Sadness," but the Smashing Pumpkins first leaped onto the scene with "Gish." It's not as epic as some of their later material, but still a vibrant, musically-polished album, and one that has the flavor of experience on the first time around.

Kicking off with the undulating riffs of the excellent "I Am One," the Pumpkins slip effortlessly between multilayered hard rock (the mind-blowing "Siva," the magnificent bass-sputtering "Tristessa," the panoramic "Snail") and haunting ballads ("Rhinoceros," the vaguely psychedelic "Crush," the sweeping "Suffer") before wrapping up with the eerie "Daydream."

It's a rare band whose music can still be so relevant so long after it first came out -- let alone still being a voice for the disillusioned. Originally released in 1991, "Gish" definitely established the Smashing Pumpkins as a musical force of genuine artistry, talented songwriting and musical integrity. It's hard enough to find one of those, let alone three.

The grinding, kinetic guitars and bass in the harder songs form a wall of solid sound, except in "Siva" -- there, the sound keeps dying away to complete silence, before reviving with a swirling roar when you least expect it. At the same time, Corgan tones down the guitars to a gentle acoustic strum in the more balladic songs. Jimmy Chamberlin's lightning-fast drumming is an excellent accompaniment, as is D'Arcy's bass.

As a songwriter, few rockers can parallel Billy Corgan; his songwriting has the quality of poetry set to rock, which aren't things you generally see together. Corgan's high, reedy voice is interwoven well into the music, giving his poetic lyrics a certain heartfelt quality. And bassist D'Arcy gets to shine with her low, sweet voice in "Daydream."

"Gish" is recognizably the Pumpkins, at the roughest stage of their musical development -- but with edge, the musical force and the beauty that just needed refinement.

Company - A Musical Comedy (1996 London Revival Cast)

Average customer rating:

a new company
As Good as Broadway With Some Improvement
Bad Company
The Overall Best
Mediocre

Company - A Musical Comedy (1996 London Revival Cast)
Stephen Sondheim , Adrian Lester , and Sheila Gish
Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Company: A Musical Comedy
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Original Cast Album - Company

ASIN: B000003G54
Release Date: 1996-07-30

Tracks:

Company
The Little Things You Do Together
Sorry Gratefull
You Could Drive A Person Crazy
Have I Got A Girl For You
Someone Is Waiting
Another Hundred People
Getting Married Today
Mary Me A Little
Side By Side/What Would We Do Without You?
Poor Baby
Barcelona
The Ladies Who Lunch
Being Alive

Amazon.com

While the original version of Company is still indispensable for any self-respecting Broadway fan, this London revival directed by Sam Mendes has enough sharp edges to make it a welcome addition. The anger underlining "You Could Drive a Person Crazy" is more forceful than ever (especially with loud-and-clear interjections like "son of a bitch!"), and the small orchestra plays with uncommon energy. As Robert/Bobby, Adrian Lester injects new resonance into a character usually perceived as being passive: "Barcelona" features some particularly good acting, while "Marry Me a Little is touchingly tender. This version doesn't rank as high as the original one (what could?) but it's more interesting than the 1995 Broadway revival. --Elisabeth Vincentelli

Customer Reviews:

a new company.......2007-02-22

this is a new revolutionary production a company. the 1996 london recording stands as a testement that some times the west end does it better.after the horrible 1995 revival. the london cast was refreshing. adrien lester is soft on the ears.he infuses the lyrics with such tenderness that all else seems not to matter.if you buy this recording expecting something up beat you are getting something totally different.it's a darker recording.but it is wroth looking for.

The perfect night of listening:company-original broadway cast
-1996 london revival cast
-2006 broadway revival cast

As Good as Broadway With Some Improvement.......2006-08-09

A uniformly excellent recording of this outstanding show. The song readings are so similar in general they don't merit comparison with two exceptions -

Dean Jones/Larry ___'s versions of Being Alive are much better - perhaps the song speaks to an American id; and
this version of Ladies Who Lunch does not have the hystrionics that Elaine Strich slops all over the American version, with better results, IMO.

Meanwhile, Company lovers, watch and wait with bated breath for the revised version (ala the recent Sweeney Todd with Patty LuPone - created by the same team, with SS's involvement) due on Broadway fall 2006. This show premiered in Cincinnati spring 2006 with Raul Esparza as Bobbie and a fine surrounding cast. I had the honor of seeing this production twice and was awed. The simpler, cleaner orchestrations let Sondheim's lyrics show to their best advantage without sacrificing any characterization and the cast knows to let themselves be instruments in the finest sense of the phrase.

Bad Company.......2005-03-24

The final COMPANY cast album is easily the least impressive of the bunch. It's a natural bias after 35 years of listening to the original cast to question a new approach, but the recording quickly slides off the rails and never fully recovers.

It starts off interestingly: An a-capella choral version of the Bobby Baby theme, but as soon as Adrian Lester brings his thin sounding voice to Bobby solo section of the opening number, something s wrong. And if Debra Monk was not world=-weary enough in the 1995 Broadway revival, Sheila Gish overdoes the slurring in her whisky-soaked interpretation of The Little things You Do Together. The trio of girlfriends screech too much seemingly forcing the voices into uncomfortable ranges, proper harmony, and Sophie Thomson slows down Getting married Today robbing the song of much vitality. Like the Roundabout recording this version interpolates Marry Me a Little but Lester's reedy singing voice all but ruins it. This production drops the Tick Tock dance and the finale so the disc clocks in as the shortest of the four. First Night recorded it England, and RCA Victor released it in the United States and Canada only to withdraw it when sales were weak.

The Overall Best.......2005-01-05

Don't listen to the other reviews. After performing in this show I must say that this is the overall best version of Company. The Original Broadway is still essential and the 1995 Revival is a must-have for all Sondheim worshippers, but if I were to own only one version of this miraculous, visionary work, it would be this 1996 London cast recording. Here's why:

Sam Mendes made some interesting choices with these actors. The characters seem more developed, and the entire production is darker and more thought-provoking. George Furth's inane script has always been lacking, and performers rely on Sondheim's lyrics and music to discover what is fascinating about their characters. I think this production captures the wit and genius of Sondheim's creation the best.

Who would have thought a small orchestra would provide the best accompaniment? Nothing is overdone and it doesn't have that dated 70s sound of the original. Piano and strings are used in most numbers - quite subtly and lovingly. The oboe in "Sorry/Grateful" makes it the best version on disc. Sometimes I'd like a little more orchestration, such as in "You Could Drive a Person Crazy" or in the husbands' "Have I Got a Girl for You," but in general the singers aren't working against the music, which is typical in other Company recordings.

Adrian Lester is the BEST Bobby, far superior to Dean Jones and Boyd Gaines. He has youth, sensitivity, aloofness, tenderness -- all at once. In "Someone is Waiting," for example, he relishes the lyrics instead of ignoring them: "My blue-eyed Sarah, warm Joanne, sweet Jenny, loving Susan, etc..." He provides us with so much information about Bobby, his struggle with women and marriage, and his desires. Amazing. His high note at the end - "Wait!" - is beautiful. He also makes a case for "Marry Me a Little," which was rightfully cut from the original. I don't yawn when he does it.

The London crew has an enthusiastic set of husbands and wives, all firmly balanced. The group numbers are the heart and soul of this musical, and they're really outstanding on this recording. The opening number - with the most endlessly befuddling music ever created for the stage - is done with a real sense of movement and energy. The very first a cappella "Bobby, Bobby, Ba-ba-ba-ba-ba etc" is distinctively eerie and bizarre, and the final build is unforgettable. The second "We looooove" you isn't quite as good as it is in the 95 version but it's faaar superior to the original, with Elaine Stritch's embarrassing off-key fiasco - I call her "Elaine Glitch."

In the second act, their "Side by Side" has become my favorite version ever of my favorite Broadway song. Adrian Lester's repeat of "When you've got friends like mine" is sweet and sincere, and the ensemble singing is terrific. The first energetic burst of "What would we do without you?" always brings me a smile, and Lester's joyful laughing is a delight. I love it. A+ work continues with the wives' stunning rendition of "Poor Baby." Harry and David's whispered responses are believable and comical, and the women sing their hearts out to perfection. The "Dumb/Tacky/Vulgar/Old/Tall etc" bit has NEVER been sung better.

The girlfriends are by no means the weak link in this version but they aren't as good as Susan Browning, Donna McKechnie, and Pam Myers on the original. "Another Hundred People" sounds a little too much like a Londoner pushing a New Yorker character and accent, which can be grating. The singing is impressive and powerful, though, especially for the most challenging vocal part in the score. And while I miss the cutesy nature of the original B-way "You Could Drive a Person Crazy," these girls have real nastiness, which adds more dimension to their characters. It's important to note that the original line, with "fag" rhyming with "bag," is kept in favor of the 1995 alteration, which allows the girls to sound aggressive and vindictive. An interesting choice. By the way, the famous "Barcelona" is great on this recording, mostly due to Lester.

I'm probably not one to critique Sheila Gish and her rendition of "The Ladies Who Lunch," since I hate the song and I never listen to it. I like her far better than Stritch and even Debra Monk. That's probably sacrilege to most people.

My only real qualm is Sophie Thompson's Amy, which is probably better on stage than it is in the studio. I can tell she's trying to make a case for Amy's mental dysfunction, but I prefer Beth Howland's adorable singing in the original B-way. Michael Simkins is a terrific Paul, though, and the wedding number is still enjoyable.

Overall: you MUST own the Original recording because it's famous and wonderful, and also for the terrific girlfriends and Pam Myers's sensational "Another Hundred People." But this is the real Company to me. Collect all three and you'll see what I mean.

Mediocre.......2004-01-05

Okay, it's hard to live up to the OBC of Company, widely considered one of the best cast albums of all time. But this disc doesn't come close, though it's not nearly as awful as the American revival. The problems lie mostly in the actors, who, despite being experienced professionals, sound like rank amateurs for the most part. (Adrian Lester is a notable exception.) As is all too typical of London versions of American musicals, their lines are forced and overacted, their musical phrasing is often peculiar, and their American accents are at times outright embarrassing. Sheila Gish is painful to hear; it's hard to understand why anyone would ask this woman to attempt to sing, as she clearly has a zero-note range. Maybe she was great onstage in the book scenes, but all we're left with here is her distinctly offkey snarling. This disc is really for Sondheim completists; if you're just beginning to explore his works, definitely get the original 1970 American cast disc first.

Average customer rating:

Marlene: Tribute to Dietrich

Manufacturer: First Night Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Musicals | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music

General | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music

General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000E3L70U
Release Date: 2006-01-24

Tracks:

Marlene: A Tribute to Dietrich/You Do Something to Me
Marlene: A Tribute to Dietrich/Look Me Over
Marlene: A Tribute to Dietrich/Illusions
Marlene: A Tribute to Dietrich/I Wish You Love
Marlene: A Tribute to Dietrich/Lola
Marlene: A Tribute to Dietrich/Jonny
Marlene: A Tribute to Dietrich/Warum
Marlene: A Tribute to Dietrich/Laziest Gal in Town
Marlene: A Tribute to Dietrich/The Boys in the Backroom
Marlene: A Tribute to Dietrich/Makin' Whoopee
Marlene: A Tribute to Dietrich/Lili Marlene
Marlene: A Tribute to Dietrich/Honeysuckle Rose
Marlene: A Tribute to Dietrich/Where Have All the Flowers Gone
Marlene: A Tribute to Dietrich/La Vie en Rose
Marlene: A Tribute to Dietrich/Falling in Love Again

Average customer rating:

Gish
Smashing Pumpkins
Manufacturer: Hut Recordings
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000LZDA60

Average customer rating:

Reverse Engines

Manufacturer: Self Release
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000CA9RU2
Release Date: 2002-03-12

Average customer rating:

Solid debut from the alt-rock legends
Smashing Pumpkins' Best Album
Sometimes the first is the best...
Absolutely beautiful
SP - early on

Gish
Smashing Pumpkins
Manufacturer: Caroline
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Indie Rock | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Dream Pop | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Post Grunge | American Alternative | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Alternative Rock | Indie Music | Stores | Music

Rock | Alternative Rock | Indie Music | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Pisces Iscariot
Siamese Dream
Adore
MACHINA/The Machines of God
Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness

ASIN: B000000HVE
Release Date: 1992-11-18

Tracks:

I Am One
Siva
Rhinoceros
Bury Me
Crush
Suffer
Snail
Tristessa
Window Paine
Daydream

Amazon.com essential recording

Customer Reviews:

Solid debut from the alt-rock legends.......2007-07-18

Smashing Pumpkins' Best Album.......2007-07-16

Unpretentious, rocking and mind blowing psychedelic guitars. Everything after this was a disappointment in one way or another in comparison.

Sometimes the first is the best..........2007-07-14

Absolutely beautiful.......2007-05-14

SP - early on.......2007-02-15

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