Blog-post disclaimer. I am working on a paper for one of my classes. I am using this forum to type about something else, in hopes that inspiration will come to my paper…we’ll see.
**Disclaimer #2** This is a long-post, but is a great review and I am actually proud of writing it
No, this is not a precursor to a sad story or even a cry for help. “If All Goes Wrong” is the title to a new DVD release by the Smashing Pumpkins. As many of you know, the Pumpkins are one of my favorite bands. I would rank them in my top four of all-time. Not a week has gone by since 1992, where I have not listened to this band. Their musical catalog is diverse, powerful, inspiring, a staple of my musical tastes. I have been fortunate to have seen them in concert 3 times in my life. Once, in 1996 with the original line-up and twice with the new incarnation.
This DVD set is broken into two discs. Disc one is a documentary of the emergence of the band in its current form, highlighted by two shows in-residency at venues in Asheville, NC and San Francisco, CA. The documentary follows the band, but mostly Billy Corgan through this new journey into a world that may or may not be ready for them. The film-making style uses many techniques that keep it visually stunning and fresh for the entire running time of 1 hour and 40 minutes. Billy allows unique access into his world that is unparalleled. You see him in his Ebeneezer Scrooge pajamas doing hotel room interviews and discussing what it means to be in the newest incarnation of the band. You get to see the band interact with the people of Asheville and San Francisco as they begin this new chapter.
It is important to mention at this stage, where the band stands at the time of this documentary (2007). The band originated in 1988 with guitar, bass, and a drum machine. Their longest running lineup consisted of James Iha, Darcy Wretzky, Jimmy Chamberlain, and Billy Corgan. This group of four grew to super stardom in the mid-1990s. The driving force behind the Pumpkins was and is, Billy Corgan. While the entire band played live, Corgan would play all of the guitar parts in the recording studio. He is a perfectionist who is driven to the depths of depression and other issues because of his genius.
There are many amazing things about this DVD set, but a few things really stick out to me. The first element is the sheer genius and honesty from Billy Corgan. After filling their one-record deal with Warner Bros. after reuniting, the band struck out on their own. Billy values and truly seeks to further explore this new freedom. During the documentary as the band takes in their two residency shows, Billy is constantly writing new songs that are performed either the same day, or within a few days of being written. His sheer musical genius is impressive. His honesty also shines through when he is dealt with frustrated audience reactions to set lists that are not filled with their heyday hits. He refuses to be confined to a box of superstar that is not showing musical growth. My respect for Corgan has grown ten-fold and I must say that I am inspired. Not only is he leading his band in a new direction, he is striving to produce work that is ground-breaking, honest, and not the Pumpkins status quo.
I would highly recommend this DVD set. In fact, please pick up their newest record (released in 2007), Zeitgeist. I think it is one of their best records ever.
The use of my blog to inspire paper-writing was a success. I ‘alt-tabbed’ back and forth to my paper and wrote some nice chunks of historiographical awesomeness.
