MCIS Demos 2 – The Smashing Pumpkins

Surfacing first on the Internet auction site eBay in early 2000 and then rapidly circulating as mp3s after that, this collection of demos consists mostly of instrumental versions of Mellon Collie tracks and associated B-sides recorded in early to mid-1995, with a few rarities surfacing at points. Corgan himself stated that this collection was probably put together either for producer Flood to listen to or to help the band practice the songs. Hearing the tracks in an instrumental version makes a good case for the Pumpkins' qualities, especially since for many on-the-fence fans Corgan's singing is an impediment to full enjoyment. The mixes here are not always entirely complete in comparison to the final cuts but often approach the end results or else have a couple of interesting differences along the way. "Zero," for example, turns up in two different forms, both with a slower, less frenetic feeling and some notable variations in the guitar work at points. Other differences occur with "Tonight, Tonight," here much more stripped down than the orchestrated surge on Mellon Collie, and "Love," which shows the original riff action in place before the compressed, odd production on the album. Two of the most interesting tracks are ones that were excerpted in part for the band's "Pistachio Medley" on the Zero EP, but which finally surface here in full. "So Very Sad About Us" may almost share a title with an early Who song, but the epic brawl and slam of the track is all Pumpkins in full electric rampage mode. In turn, "Depresso" has hints of the Cure's late-'80s rushed electric gloom and sounds like it could make an interesting song with further work. Meanwhile, there's the outright total rarity "Methusela," one of the few tracks with vocals. It's a softer piece, with piano and acoustic guitar taking the fore along with Corgan's lower-key singing, one of the many unfairly obscure numbers from Pumpkins history. A pleasant, similar-sounding instrumental without a title closes out this illuminating collection. ~ Ned Raggett, All Music Guide