Top Top Ten Songs by Smashing Pumpkins

Hailing from Chicago, Smashing Pumpkins rose to alternative rock stardom in the mid-90s.  However, unlike some of their counterparts such as Green Day, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, or Pearl Jam, Smashing Pumpkins showed an amazing versatility and range of influences unknown to their kin who seemed primarily inspired by punk and indie rock.  An example of this would be their allusions (like how the title of their first album is named after a silent film star).  Consequently, lead singer and primary songwriter Billy Corgain displayed skill at the hardcore, the soft, the acoustic, the electric, the orchestral, and the absurd.  One of the most "produced" of the 90s alternative bands - despite their city of origin, one would never mistake them for a blues outfit - Smashing Pumpkins found a niche with the American audience at a time when MTV still played music videos and took them as a serious art.

The band consisted mainly of Corgain on guitar and vocals, Jimmy Chamberlain on drums (except for the late 90s, when he left due to drug problems), D'Arcy on bass (until 1999, replaced by Melissa Auf der Maur), and James Iha on lead guitar.  Due to personal differences and lineup problems, the band finally quit in 2000, but after five years away, Corgain announced that he wanted his band back and as of this writing, he and Chamberlain have signed a new deal and are working on some new songs.  With that in mind, what better time to present the 10 best Smashing Pumpkins songs:

1. Rhinoceros:  From their first record, Gish, the song Rhinoceros was the band's first airplay success; indeed the song rose as high as number 27 on the modern rock charts.  As this was way back in 1991, it is quite an achievement considering grunge and alternative rock were still in their relative infancy.  The song itself might not be to everyone's taste, but it marked the band's entry into the music.