Gish
Gish brings a strong psychedelic character to the Smashing Pumpkins' guitar rock. The sound is heavy, but its appeal comes from the different layers and changes in intensity within the songs. The rhythm section is important too, giving the guitars both a firm foundation and room to move. The album is less consistent as a collection of melodies, though its strongest performances are distinctive.
I Am One makes an immediate impression through its drums and substantial guitar riff. The lead parts add excitement, while the quieter bass passage gives the larger sound a useful interruption.
Siva develops another effective contrast between quieter atmosphere and a more forceful band response. The drums help drive the change, allowing the guitar lead to make a stronger impression when it returns.
Rhinoceros takes a slower, more spacious approach. Its layered guitars give the melody an appealing dreamlike character, showing another side of the album's weight. Crush offers a gentler passage, with the bass and quieter guitar textures helping the music settle into a different mood.
The quieter ending is also valuable. Daydream gives D'Arcy Wretzky the lead vocal, with acoustic guitar and strings providing a softer setting. It is an effective way to bring the record down after its more substantial instrumental passages.
Some of the remaining material uses familiar ideas too often. The guitar effects and changes of volume can make a performance interesting without making the song equally memorable. The words are also less distinctive than the arrangements, and the added hidden fragment weakens the gentler ending.
Even so, Gish has enough musical character to make its unevenness worth accepting. The guitars are imaginative, the drums have a clear presence and the quieter pieces give the heavier playing a useful contrast. The best songs make a convincing case for the band's ability to connect a large sound with a memorable idea.
