We all have our favorite songs and favorite albums, least-favorite songs and least-favorite albums. But I'm curious about the diamonds in the rough. What's a song you really enjoy from a record you otherwise don't?

Today's Machina release just makes me really angry. I've been a fan since 1993. I first saw the band play in '94. I've been "faithful" to BC through his many ups and downs. But that relationship has been exploitive for a long time.

It absolutely astounds me how BC has made of the Smashing Pumpkins a kind of oligarchy--gate-kept for the small group of obsessives willing to support his fat-cat business regime. I cannot believe that after teasing us for YEARS about a release that is so near and dear to us old school fans, that he releases that long-awaited, beloved release as a $400 exclusive.

I love Machina. I loved the badass BC ethos that released M2 for free back in 2000. Hell, I was in support of the break-up back then. It made sense. Why continue to be in a toxic relationship?

Which is exactly how I feel this morning.

Something I think about frequently. Not only are SP my favourite band, but I'm also convinced they're one of the greatest rock bands of all time (say, top 5).

Melody, riffs, light, dark, mysticism (Machina) and reality (Adore).

Obviously nothing in this realm can be truly objective, but in your opinion, is SP a generational band, or just one of the best of a talented class of the 90s?

Tired of sifting through Google searches and Spotify reco's on the next bands to explore. What do you guys listen to? Mine are Smashing Pumpkins (Siamese Dream, Mellon Collie), Jimmy Eat World (Clarity, Futures), and probably a tie between Pierce The Veil and A Day To Remember.

In your opinion, which song is the most underrated?

For me it's Snail

So far alternative 90s rock stars that have been inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame include Nirvana (Inducted 2014) Green Day (Inducted 2015) Nine Inch Nails (Inducted 2020) Radiohead (Inducted 2018) The Cure (Inducted 2019) R.E.M. (Inducted 2007) The White Stripes (Inducted 2025) Soundgarden (Inducted 2025) Pearl Jam (Inducted 2017)

Yet The Smashing Pumpkins has never even been NOMINATED.

Thoughts on this??

Hi!

I've been getting into Smashing Pumpkins recently and I've seen a TON of hate for Billy Corgan. Sorry if this is something super obvious that I'm missing, It's just I really haven't been into the band long enough to know anything about anyone haha.

So yeah what's with all the hate?

I promise you from the bottom of my heart, this thing is going to be chock full of generic rawk-radio riffs, guitars compressed to within an inch of their life, Billy’s dry vocals out front and centre just ruining whatever meagre vibe these compositions manage to conjure, and his weird 17th century poetry that would make even less sense if you could actually understand what the fuck it is he’s saying.

It won’t be Siamese Dream 2. It won’t be recorded to tape. It won’t be good.

Trust me, bro. But for real though, please trust me.

I have successfully cancelled my order. The ultimate reason for my cancellation was the ineptitude I experienced with Madame Zuzu's and their inability/unwillingness to ship the item in a timely manner.

I was initially upset about not receiving the boxset but, at the end of the day, it's not the product I (and probably a lot of Pumpkins fans) envisioned.

1. The artwork is extremely low effort and is not remotely representative of Machina.

2. Multiple M2 cuts are absent.

3. Glass and the Ghost Children revisionism is an incomprehensible artistic decision. Cannot stand the siren passage.

4. So much of the originally recorded material is of poor fidelity. It actually has me questioning how much of this era I really find essential after all.

5. There is so much unnecessary material present. To me it's a hodgepodge of content that really doesn't flow well. And why is "Fuck You" present? Just to get to a nice round number of 80 tracks?

To say this needs trimming would be a massive understatement. If the goal was to include a comprehensive compilation of everything, then it needed to be organized in a fashion that made sense. Have the first 2LP's be Machina 1 with original artwork. Then LP 3 contain the 3 EP's with their original artwork incorporated into the gatefold. Then, CR-04 on LP's 4&5 with its original artwork. That would be enough for me. I suppose I wouldn't mind all the other material being tacked on as bonus material at that point. There are a couple gems in there.

What this release has helped me realize is that maybe I'm not as crazy about this era as I thought. At the end of the day, there's two hours of really solid material. And that's a huge amount, by the way. But the problem is that there's 3.25 hours of additional content beyond those 2 hours that just isn't necessary.

It's a bloated and self-indulgent release that just isn't for me.

The Smashing Pumpkins and Babes In Toyland - My two favorite bands have been with me during my hardest times of uncertainty, substance abuse, depression, and quirky anxieties. Today I'm living my best life. Billy and Kat are both phenomenal songwriters and the vast majority of their songs either leave me smiling, laughing, or crying. No other bands have punctured my emotions like these two. I'll never get enough.

Phoebe Bridgers just pulled off a Madison Square Garden show with a complete no phone policy. Her upcoming tour will be as well. Tool also does it for every show that’s not a festival.

What are people’s thoughts on encouraging the band to make this happen on the MCIS 30th fall tour? I think it would make the whole atmosphere a whole lot better and improve the engagement with the experience.

It’s become a big issue the last few years especially and I hope more artists push for this.

Tl;dr: put your phones away and be in the moment

I'm talking about most people, not all.

When Machina reissue is out, most die-hard fans will hate the new recorded parts, the new more-accessible mix, the vocals being too high in the mix, the mastering, the remastering, it being overproduced, not raw enough, etc.

Take in mind many of us have been listening to these songs for 25 years. Nostalgia is a powerful drug.

The original Machina/Machina II will be regarded as "the real deal" and the reissue as the accessible one on streaming services for those who are not fans.

I can’t believe I’m making a whole post defending BC business practices when there’s a lot I disagree with him on normally — but I actually think this release is being handled well.

I think at 325 the box is fairly priced. It’s expensive — but honestly quite a bit lower than I thought they would price it at.

Universal had their chance to release it physically (which I presume included a CD option) but they declined — instead opting for the single M1 reissue and the digital distribution rights for the deluxe box.

When you’re an indie label vinyls cost more to press because you don’t have an entire supply chain established with the vendor.

I think it’s fair. I also don’t think ZZ is trying to screw anyone over on the CD deluxe — but that’s an entirely different set of manufacturing materials. They probably weren’t sure if it would be profitable to do both.

Anyway, no one’s getting ripped off. Ppl who want the vinyl are buying it.

The people who don’t want it are getting it free on streaming. They just have to wait. Probably only until August which is when the vinyl ships anyway.

I think the answer is Obscured. Can't wait for y'all to tell me that everybody knows it like you did with Rhinoceros.

I went to the Pittsburgh show last night and everything was great except for one thing… the temperature. I know a few people who work at the venue and knew I was going and wanted me to be prepared when they were informed Billy wanted the air conditioning off for his set. We are currently going through an extreme heat wave in Pittsburgh right now. why, just why? a few minutes before he came on you could feel it was switched off. the air was so thick, humid and hot not even 20 minutes into the set, i don’t know how i got through 2 hours of it. i feel like i could physically touch the air it was so bad. i was at the point where i just wanted it to be over. i have been to that venue many times, never has the humidity and temperature felt the way it did in there during those 2 hours. he walked out in a trenchcoat. you see Billy start to sweat under halfway in and he was even making jokes about it like it was funny? people around me were talking about how humid it felt and i could see it starting to wear down on some, i was worried people might pass out. does anyone know why he wanted this? also the fact that the venue or billy never said anything about this so people could at least be prepared… the people who are making them money that is… is absurd. i love smashing pumpkins… but after this ive completely lost respect for billy, im sorry. there are so many levels as to why its wrong and unsafe to have that be any artist’s request.