The Smashing Pumpkins: Greatest Hits

This career retrospective follows the group up to its 2001 breakup, which led Billy Corgan to form the short-lived Zwan. In other words, this starts during the Gish period, moves through the peak of Siamese Dream and Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness, and ends with Adore and the two volumes of Machina/The Machines of God. Though the Pumpkins were considered an alt-rock band, many of leader Billy Corgan’s moves were influenced by the grand concept rock of Queen, Rush, and Led Zeppelin. It’s Corgan’s insistence at achieving the strongest studio sound possible that distinguishes songs such as “Drown” (here in a truncated version from the Singles soundtrack), “Cherub Rock,” “Today,” “Disarm,” “Bullet with Butterfly Wings," and “1979” from the grungy crowd. Covering Fleetwood Mac's “Landslide” was a smart move, and the inclusion of “Eye” (from the Lost Highway soundtrack) and “Untitled” (said to be the band’s final studio recording with bassist Melissa Auf der Maur and guitarist James Iha) are welcome additions. It’s a history of the '90s from one major band’s point of view.