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Smashing Pumpkins | Earphoria

Those were the days my friend, those were the days...
CD, Virgin/Hut

Tekst: Sven Schlijper

Publicatiedatum: 16 december 2002

Nearly two years have passed since the breakup of the Smashing Pumpkins, and they're back with a new commercial release hitting the stores this very moment. The fourth posthumous release — following the single 'Untitled,' the greatest hits compilation Rotten Apples/Judas O, and the accompanying DVD — goes way, way back.

In 1994, the band released their only commercially available live offering, on VHS, called Vieuphoria. A collector's hunt ensued to capture the limited-to-1,000-copies promotional soundtrack CD called Earphoria. It's exactly that CD now being released to the general public.

Featured here is a selection of songs from 1992–1994, all live, plus a quartet of previously unreleased songs (studio outtakes) and one fairly rare b-side. The live versions include some of the very best treatments these songs ever got. Remarkable are the very loud rocking takes of 'Disarm' (still fading out before the coda, the band plays a stunning segue into 'Sunshine of Your Love' by Cream) and 'Slunk' (originally found on the Lull EP). Acoustic takes of 'Mayonaise' and Siamese Dream's leadoff single 'Cherub Rock' are enormously strong anthems, even in this stripped-down setting.

There are, however, three true gems of Pumpkins live magic on this disc. From the album Gish, it's the long take of 'I Am One,' recorded in Barcelona in 1993, complete with a minutes-long suspenseful rant in the middle, whilst 'Soma' and 'Silverfuck,' from 1994's Astoria show, are totally from outer space, with the band on full throttle and thunderously rocking. This 'Silverfuck' clocks in at 13:27 minutes and contains a blurb of 'Somewhere Over the Rainbow,' edited out on the VHS versions. Here you get the full real deal of RAWK power x 100! The climax part (known to fans around the world as 'Jackboot') seems to never end. This is pure mental musical magic.

As for the four 'new' tracks: The e-bow- and feedback-driven 'Sinfony' is a short and simple opener with little special to its serene sound. Same goes for the instrumental love song for his dog Bugg Superstar by James Iha (the video contains a version with 'vocals'). Drowned in flanger effects, 'Pulseczar' might not appeal to everyone, but the closing jam of 15 minutes dubbed 'Why Am I So Tired?' is again of sheer stellar beauty and never gets boring or tiresome.

Packed with jewels of live versions and a few treats, this CD showcases the great nineties rock act at their peak during Siamese Dream days. True collectors, in the meantime, have likely hunted down the original promo, other fans the bootleg editions or downloadable tracks. Eight years later, everyone can now pick up this album and experience some of the bliss the Smashing Pumpkins spread circa 1994. A second live CD spanning the second and even more successful part of their career, from Mellon Collie to Machina II, would close a perfect circle. For now, all we can do is look back with nostalgia and lament the fact that it's all over and done with. Those were the days. Those were the days, my friend. Cradle these feelings of good times with this new CD by the Smashing Pumpkins and the upcoming DVD to go along with it.

http://www.kindamuzik.net/recensie/smashing-pumpkins/earphoria/2135/
Meer Smashing Pumpkins op KindaMuzik: http://www.kindamuzik.net/artiest/smashing-pumpkins