“Pumpkins Album Is No ‘Mellon’: Ambitious Album Runs The Gamut”
Chicago Sun-Times
October ??, 1995
By Chicago Sun-Times writer Jae-Ha Kim
“Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness” is the Smashing Pupmkins’ most ambitious album to date, and not just because of the sheer number of songs.
Produced by Flood (of U2 and Depeche Mode fame), the two-CD set, which plays for more than two hours, has 28 diverse tracks that run the gamut from gentle, heartbreaking ballads to ear-splitting rock ‘n’ roll. It’s not an easy album to listen to in one sitting but rather grows on you.
“Mellon Collie” is a natural progression for the band whose past works include the dreamy “Gish” and “Siamese Dream” albums. One memorable track is “Take Me Down,” written by guitarist James Iha, who also collaborated with primary songwriter Billy Corgan on “Farewell and Goodnight.” Iha’s words seem perfectly suited for Corgan to sing: “When you sleep/ When you dream/ I’ll be there for you if you need me/ Whenever I hear you sing.”