I think Billy's voice is legitimately pleasant on some of those early quiet songs ("Obscured," "Rhinoceros," etc)
― superb mario bothers (crüt) (step hen faps), Wednesday, 30 November 2011 21:57 (twelve years ago) link
One of the problems with having a super-idiosyncratic voice like his is how polarizing it is; I also think it works really, really well on those quieter songs but I can also see how it could easily throw someone out of the music's mood.
― OH NOES, Wednesday, 30 November 2011 21:59 (twelve years ago) link
oh I definitely prefer his voice on the quieter stuff, it's when he starts trying to raise the volume/tension in his voice that problems set in.
totally disagree about the live thing, one of the worst, most contemptible bands I have ever seen.
... how about every singer whose band even came close to being described as "grunge"
Cobain's voice is amazing. and I am hardly a Soundgarden fan but Cornell's vocal range is remarkably wide and is one of the things that made them stand out to begin with.
― Shakey Mo Collier, Wednesday, 30 November 2011 22:01 (twelve years ago) link
I don't disagree with either of those statements, but both of them (ESPECIALLY Cornell) are as guilty of "emoting thru constipation" as Corgan
― OH NOES, Wednesday, 30 November 2011 22:04 (twelve years ago) link
and really calling him "whiny" is a pretty accurate description of the timbre and texture of his voice, no matter what he's singing about. when I revisited this period of the Pumpkins' stuff recently, the biggest problem I had with the material were with his incredibly thin and limited vocal range
Yep. I do need to relisten to the first two albums though.
― Lord Sotosyn, Wednesday, 30 November 2011 22:25 (twelve years ago) link
Corgan's the only one of those three who sings almost entirely through his nose, tho. It worked when Butch Vig camouflaged it in layers of MBV swirl on the first two records. It's no coincidence that the quality of their records fell off big time after Corgan decided his lyrics needed to be heard and started mixing his voice way up front. Sublimated, his angst and his melodrama was easy enough to ignore.
― thewufs, Wednesday, 30 November 2011 22:30 (twelve years ago) link
oh wow, the old "hello kitty kat" chorus is totally awful
― Brad Nelson, Wednesday, 30 November 2011 22:48 (twelve years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DYfLuZefGDQ
― superb mario bothers (crüt) (step hen faps), Wednesday, 30 November 2011 23:25 (twelve years ago) link
lol I meant "reedy"
right the first time
― The Larry Sandbox Show (sic), Wednesday, 30 November 2011 23:29 (twelve years ago) link
And as a final ET bonus:
http://www.collapseboard.com/reviews/albums-reviews/reviewed-in-words-smashing-pumpkins-siamese-dream-deluxe-edition/
...and as noted, I found and transcribed the review for him.
― Ned Raggett, Thursday, 1 December 2011 05:34 (twelve years ago) link
I had forgotten how MONSTROUS the drums on Gish are
― OH NOES, Monday, 5 December 2011 15:17 (twelve years ago) link
Gish really is the only time you hear the band as an actual band rather than the Billy Corgan Experience, however supplemented. Having Butch Vig record that was very fortunate (if you watch the live DVD, the album captures not only the live show but nearly all the arrangements to the note).
― Ned Raggett, Monday, 5 December 2011 17:46 (twelve years ago) link
Ned's second piece on Pitchfork about This Mortal Coil was excellent, probably has been discussed elsewhere...been away for awhile
― Bee, Saturday, 10 December 2011 07:44 (twelve years ago) link
Talked about it a bit on the Pitchfork thread.
― Ned Raggett, Saturday, 10 December 2011 15:11 (twelve years ago) link
thanks for the direction
love that you are on Pitchfork now Ned, their audience is in for a treat
― Bee, Sunday, 11 December 2011 02:17 (twelve years ago) link
based on your first two pieces and the ILM history
― Bee, Sunday, 11 December 2011 02:18 (twelve years ago) link
ect all...
― Bee, Sunday, 11 December 2011 02:19 (twelve years ago) link
Hey I have no idea what will happen, that's part of what makes it fun!
― Ned Raggett, Sunday, 11 December 2011 08:42 (twelve years ago) link
Ned, I read your review of Bongwater - Power of Pussy today -- it was appended to the album in Spotify. Good stuff.
― Mordy, Monday, 12 December 2011 01:20 (twelve years ago) link
Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan is launching an unlikely new venture - he's opening a tea house in his native Illinois.
The rocker spent his Thursday taste-testing different brews for his Chicago cafe and he can't wait to officially open the shop.
In a Twitter.com post, he writes, "had my first meeting today to prepare for opening a tea house on the north shore here in the Chicago area. lots of teas to try!"
― t. silaviver, Friday, 16 December 2011 22:03 (twelve years ago) link
"Tea house" may also be used synonymously (or confused) with "tea room", a gay slang term referring to a venue where public sex occurs.
― t. silaviver, Friday, 16 December 2011 22:08 (twelve years ago) link
The Tea House on the North Shore: A Memoir by Billy Corgan.
― Lord Sotosyn, Friday, 16 December 2011 22:10 (twelve years ago) link
Hahah thanks Mordy (looking back a few days) -- had almost forgotten I'd done that!
Marlon Brando playing Billy Corgan. Could happen. Even after Brando's dead.
― Ned Raggett, Friday, 16 December 2011 22:18 (twelve years ago) link
Teagarden by Baldydope
― some dude (Mr. Stevenson #2), Friday, 16 December 2011 22:18 (twelve years ago) link
tea silaviver
― amon, Friday, 16 December 2011 22:30 (twelve years ago) link
https://www.facebook.com/eman.tea
― t. silaviver, Friday, 16 December 2011 22:36 (twelve years ago) link