A SCENE IN RETROSPECT: The Smashing Pumpkins -

A Scene in Retrospect: The Smashing Pumpkins

The Smashing Pumpkins remain one of the greatest alt-rock bands. Their album Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness, released on October 23, 1995, continues to be celebrated for its ambitious and innovative sound.

Album Legacy

This nearly two-hour, 2-CD masterpiece stands as one of the most brilliant and daring works in alternative rock history. It solidified The Smashing Pumpkins' reputation as one of the great guitar bands of the 1990s and beyond. Their influence still resonates strongly within the music world.

Personal Reflection

It is remarkable that Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness is now 30 years old. The album emerged when I was around 9 years old, just beginning to explore music beyond my parents' preferences.

MTV still featured music videos regularly back then, and I vividly remember seeing the video for “Bullet With Butterfly Wings” almost every time I watched the channel. Although I likely became a regular viewer around age 12 or 13, this album clearly had immense staying power.

Interestingly, I did not own a copy of the album until high school, and that was a burned CD with sticker labels for the artwork rather than an official release.

"What superlatives, what sufficient praises still remain to be heaped upon this record that haven’t been bestowed by eager music journalists a thousandfold before?"

"Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness remains one of the most brilliant and audacious pieces of alternative rock history."

Summary: The Smashing Pumpkins’ Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness endures as a landmark alt-rock album, deeply influencing the genre and holding personal significance for listeners across decades.

Everything Is Noise — 2025-11-02