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Rating: Gish is the explosive debut of the greatest band from Chicago (and beyond), whose prestigious position was heavily affected by the simultaneous release of a "certain" Nevermind. Gish came out in the height of the grunge era (and you can tell), it may not have the emotional impact of Siamese Dream or the presumption of Mellon Collie, but it remains a great debut.
The band has yet to develop that characteristic sound that will make them unique in the world but is still heavily influenced by '70s rock, leaning more towards the Black Sabbath side than the Led Zeppelin side; the main characteristic of the album is represented by the psychedelic excursions (sometimes excessive) and the ultra-technical and furious solos of bass and guitar.
The album starts in a memorable way: the much-maligned (by Corgan) I Am One is a damn rock'n'roll track old style, with a chorus that just won't go away; Siva is splendid, built on the calm-explosion model and characterized by Corgan's skill in the solos; Rhinoceros starts with oriental-style arpeggios and leads into wild electric explosions; with Crush and Suffer the tension drops a bit but not the quality level; in Tristessa the rhythmic guitar by Iha dominates, and an interesting melodic opening can be glimpsed; Window Paine is the classic experimental track of every pumpkin album. After Daydream (sung by D'Arcy) we have a fun ghost track where Billy prophetically sings "I'm going crazy...".
In essence, this album does not deserve top marks because it is the debut of a band that has yet to find its own identity, a strong creative urgency is felt, it feels like a star has been born destined never to set.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 I Am One (04:06)
I am one as you are three.
Try to find a messiah in your trinity.
Your city to burn, your city to burn.
Try to look for something in your city to burn, you'll burn.
Am I as I seem?
I'm down, down, so down.
Time is right for a guiding light.
Try to turn to reasons in your bitter life.
Your city to burn, your city to burn.
Try to look for something in your city to burn, you'll burn.
See you, don't you just want to.
See you, I am one.
See you, don't you just want to.
See you.
See you, don't you just want to.
See you, I am one.
See you, don't you just want to.
See you, I am one.
02 Siva (04:23)
I spin off and lose my head,
Throwing stray a spark instead.
Gather strength down in my heel,
And dig it in the world I peel.
Way down deep within my heart,
Lies a soul that's torn apart.
Tell me, tell me what you're after.
I just want to get there faster.
I don't live - I inhale.
I don't give - I unveil.
Don't want to live in your misery.
I don't live - I inhale.
Sprinkle all my kisses on your head.
Stars full of wishes fill our beds.
She said, "I'm dead."
All this pain smothers me,
Like a bomb that you can't see.
Tell me, tell me what you're after.
I just want to get there faster.
I don't live - I inhale.
I don't give - I unveil.
I don't live - I inhale.
I don't live.
03 Rhinoceros (06:30)
Planned a show.
Trees and balloons.
Ice cream snow.
See you in June.
Could have known.
I would reveal.
Should have known.
I would conceal your way.
She knows, she knows, she knows.
She knows, she knows, she knows.
How's it?
She knows, she knows, she knows.
Colors show,
After the moon.
I should go.
See you in June.
Your way.
Open your eyes.
To these must I lie?
04 Bury Me (04:48)
(boys, let's do it)
Bury me in love
Bury me in love
Shared your kisses, take your heart
Buried me and it hurts
I love my sister so
She don't smother me
I played the spades I know
I'm a Jack of all trades
Would you bury me?
Once you see her
One inside (hide, hide)
Some things you just can't hide
If you see her
Tell me why (why, why)
Why won't she come outside?
Once you see her
One inside (hide, hide)
Some things you just can't hide
If you see her
Tell me why (why, why)
Why won't she come outside?
She will bury me
She will bury me
05 Crush (03:34)
You wrap your arms around
A feeling that surrounds
Like liquid peppermint
Just taste the drinks that she served
And this feeling shivers down your spine
Love comes in colors I can't deny
All that matters is love, love, your love
You're sleeping in your bed
Just rest your weary head
Maybe you shouldn't care
Throw away those dreams and dare
And I wonder if it matters to me?
Love comes in colors I can't deny
All that shimmers is love, love, your love
06 Suffer (05:11)
all that you suffer is all that you are
all that you smother is all that you are
and you're seeing, you're seeing
you're seeing who you are
what takes meaning is cleaning
the meaning of who you are
on this scene
i will dream
on this scene
all of your struggles beneath your disguise
drink from the reasons that hold you alive
to ascend from the words of desire and pain
you must rise from the mounds of desire and change
too late to discover peace of mind
too late to recover me
all you see and all you breathe and
all you cease to be
take him down your only son and
what he means to be
your dream will be
to dream with me
will you wait, yes i'll wait
i will wait for you
will you wait, yes i'll wait
i will wait for you
to cleanse your life
takes more than time
take what you want
take all of me
too late to discover peace of mind
[have no peace of mind]
too late to recover
07 Snail (05:11)
All your seven dreams
Look closer than you'll believe
As your things come undone
See you are the only one
Flower, seize the hour I did
I wait
Waiting, waiting for your wake
I'll wait
When you wake up you're all weak
Throwing your life away
Someday, sorry coming home
Sorry snail
What you wait for
Flower, the pain will wash away, away
When the sun shines
Climbs through your window into your bed
When you wake up you're all weak
Throwing your life away
Someday, sorry coming home
Sorry snail
Down in my heart
Flower save the hours
Flower away
What you wait for
Flower chase the sunshine
Flower chase the sunshine
Flower
08 Tristessa (03:33)
Pledged your faith
my heart embraced
struggle to renew
Blurry mind
so hypnotized
fast enough who
Wonder where you are
Tristessa
Soul takes soul
as I take eye
I will wait for you
What you believe
you'll wish to receive
I won't believe in you
Hang on to your life
Tristessa
I love you true
Surely I do
I love you true
Surely I do
Surely I do
Surely I do (no)
Do you ever wake up and find yourself alone?
Do you ever wake up far from home?
What you believe
you'll wish to receive
I won't believe in you
Tristessa
Tristessa
Tristessa
09 Window Paine (05:51)
Window paine
Around my heart
Shadows streak
Around my heart
Do what you got to do
And say what you got to say
Do what you got to do
Yes, start today
Start today
Wind blow shame
Around my heart
Shadows scream
Around my heart
What are you coming to
Stripped down to the bone?
Laughing, living on your own
All alone
Do what you got to do
And say what you got to say
Do what you got to do
Yes, start today
Start today
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Other reviews
By PortoFolio
"I AM ONE, a spectacular intro with bass and guitars at their limit that promises a crazy CD."
"Really a good debut... as a debut for the greatest band of Chicago it’s acceptable."
By SilverInRehab
"Gish is the excellent and underrated debut of the Smashing Pumpkins, dated 1991 (a truly blessed year!)."
"In these desolate 2000s, I still haven’t found a debut album that conveys to me the same passion combined with equal quality of the tracks."
