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Smashing Pumpkins - Lull Audio CD

A fair review of the Smashing Pumpkins "Lull" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all Smashing Pumpkins reviews here, or go back to the Smashing Pumpkins tabs.

Smashing Pumpkins Band: Smashing Pumpkins
Title: Lull
Rating:
Release Date: 1991-11-11
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Rhinoceros 2: Blue 3: Slunk 4: Bye June [Demo Version]

The "Rhinoceros" single, sort of.
This single was intended to be the "Rhinoceros" single but the band did not know it was going to be released as an EP. Smashing Pumpkins came into the scene with Gish after two other indie-label singles, which was excellent in spite the unfortunate fact that the songs are more same-y than in later records.

"Rhinoceros" is played similar to the album except this one's like 30 seconds shorter, taking out the atmospheric outro. Wonderful song if there is one. Let's move on.

"Blue" is pretty subpar, a track better off left from Gish. It sounds just like most of the heavy stuff but unlike those songs hooks don't sink and shine through in repeated listens. "Slunk," on the other hand is nice rockin' from the Pumpkins. If you like heavy and grungy Pumpkins, this one is a real treat. In fact, it is possibly the reason to own this EP if you're interested.

Well, "Bye June" is kind of interesting too, one of the band's earliest recordings. It was only a demo and kind of has an incomplete feel.

So half of this stuff was not on album or Pisces Iscariot which makes it okay to look through.


Stay with me for awhile
"

And as with all their albums, they had some leftover songs that didn't make the cut. The Smashing Pumpkins first smashed onto the scene in 1991, with the groundbreaking rock masterpiece "Gish. But they did make it onto the tiny gem "Lull," along with one of the songs from the album proper -- a beautiful demonstration of all the Pumpkins' rock'n'ballad dimensions, though not their best work.

It opens with an ethereal little buildup, and climaxes into a slow, full-bodied ballad, full of gentle guitar grinds and drums. "Could have known/I would reveal/Should have known/I would conceal your way," Corgan murmurs, before announcing that "she knows, she knows" over and over.

Things go into rock'n'roll mode with "Blue," which builds itself up on a bunch of hefty chords, into a dizzying swirl of bassrock. . . and changes tempo into a slow-burning, epic rocker halfway through. "Slunk" is a different animal -- all blazing chords and riffs, going at about a hundred MPH as Corgan strangles the guitar into screaming. Finally there's "Bye June," which is just a mellow, sweet little acoustic ballad.

The Pumpkins were still getting their footing when this EP came out, and "Lull," in a way, is all about the then-young band exploring the limits of their musical abilities, and what would fit into their albums. It's also astoundingly good -- each song is a brilliant example of its type, whether a mellow ballad or a high-octane rocker.

In fact, you wouldn't know that these songs were made by a new band -- Corgan and James Iha blast out the solid, muscular riffs, but Corgan also does a gentle acoustic number at the end, and "Rhinoceros" has strong riffs glimmering just under the surface. D'Arcy Wretzky spun some brilliantly kinetic bass, and Jimmy Chamberlin underscored it with rapid-fire drums.

Corgan's nasal voice is actually pretty restrained here, sounding tender one minute and sneering the next. His songwriting was still fairly undeveloped ("Colors show/After the moon/I should go/See you in June"), there are moments of pure genius ("I lay with you, this velvet morning/Stay with me, for a while").

The Smashing Pumpkins were blossoming into their full talent when "Lull" was made, and this is a mini cornucopia of rock'n'roll brilliance. Definitely a must-hear.


Smashing Pumpkins - Lull
I finally bought it a few weeks ago from Amazon and I'm completely satisfied. I bought this single quite some time ago on cassette and have been looking for it on CD for a LONG time now. There are four songs total on this single and they're all worth it. You're really only looking at two new songs, "Slunk" and "Blue. " You can find an alternate version of Slunk on either the "Viewphoria" VHS or DVD, or,the "Earphoria" CD. That however is a live version, this one is of demo quality but definitely a studio version. As for "Blue," it's definitely a demo, but, still worthwhile. All in all, if you're a huge Pumpkin's fan and you must have everything, this is worth your time, if you're just curious about the band, I would start with their major releases and go from there. In my opinion however, even though it's the same studio version as on Gish, Rhinoceros makes this album a good choice.


Great EP
It starts with the title song (same version as on _Gish_), follows with the superb "Blue" (which is also on the _Pisces Iscariot_ compilation) and the energetic "Slunk", closing with the bittersweet acoustic song "Bye June". Actually this EP is the "Rhinoceros" single and it is very good. This is a must have for any serious Pumpkins fan.


ahem.
" thats ridiculous. sound garden did, in no way, "invent grunge. why would a suck band like them even be thought of "inventing grunge?" pu-lease.

anyway, anyone intrested in the "june" symbolism from the machina/machina 2 album should pick it up. im sure this only pertains to real pumpkins fans that realize those were both complex concept albums so-to-speak.


You can see a complete list of all Smashing Pumpkins discography, or go back to the Smashing Pumpkins tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.

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