Aptly described by liner notes writer David Wild as "the little mixtape that went platinum" in its new deluxe edition reincarnation, The Smashing Pumpkins' 1994 odds n' ends compilation Pisces Iscariot by all rights shouldn't have been one of the most effortlessly great records of the then-peaking alternative rock movement. An assortment of unused tracks from the Gish and Siamese Dream sessions (and a little before, after and in between), the record's strength as a cohesive whole is a massive testament to both Billy Corgan's prodigiously prolific wealth of songs during this time period and his inane and, to my ears, unequaled ability to turn even the roughest demo into a thing of beauty.
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As with the recent Gish and Siamese reissues (see above), the new deluxe box set edition of Pisces Iscariot is an almost overwhelmingly generous trove of unreleased tracks, performances, video, demos, alternate takes and song notes that paint a transporting portrait of what The Smashing Pumpkins were really up to between 1989 and 1994 when they weren't recording the classic albums we all know and love. There's so much to dig through here, but here's what Corgan has put together…
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- A faithfully facsimiled cassette copy of the band's very first demo tape from 1989. Seriously, if you're lucky enough to still have access to a tape deck… and especially if you haven't heard these songs before, more than likely… you'll positively flip. Unheard to all but the earliest of fans, these songs are definite byproduct of the era (namely late '80s indie rock), but it's a bizarre thrill to hear Corgan's voice over the lilting jangle pop of "Jennifer Ever" and "Nothing And Everything."
- The original and reissued (for the very first time) Pisces Iscariot album, complete with track-by-track notes by Billy Corgan himself. Unlike the Gish and Siamese reissues, he's resisted the temptation to douse his notes in whimsical poetic nonsense, instead delivering a satisfying inside look at what went into the writing and recording of each song. For instance, he laments the underrated "Whir" ("It gets overlooked for being too nice or not nice enough") and even has a few choice words about the Dixie Chicks' then-criticism of his version of "Landslide" ("Her big mouth got her in plenty of trouble after that anyway," he jabs). As much now as then, Pisces Iscariot is that atypical rarities and b-sides collection that works as well as the "proper" albums, from the hissing rock 'n' roll roar of "Frail And Bedazzled" and "Hello Kitty Kat" through the lush acoustic lull of "Obscured" and James Iha's undervalued "Blew Away."
- A bonus disc of (extremely) assorted demos, previously unreleased gems and alternate or live cuts. Like the album itself, this disc is delightfully all over the place, making room for everything from a faithful 1989 cover of "Cinnamon Girl" to a handful of long-forgotten early compilation cuts ("My Dahlia," "Glynis," "Jackie Blue," etc.) and even a few unnecessary tracks already at most fans' easy disposal ("By June" from the Lull EP, the live versions of "Slunk" and "Why Am I So Tired" from Earphoria). Unlike the Gish and Siamese reissues, the Pisces Iscariot supplemental disc boasts more unheard songs than otherwise, leaving both fans and newcomers with plenty of "new" material to chew into.
- A DVD copy of the band's newly unearthed performance on Chicago's Pulse: Basement Jam cable access program from 1988, complete with false starts and unused takes. Out of the three deluxe edition DVDs released thus far, this is easily my favorite—watching Corgan & Co. run through shaky versions of lost-in-time early cuts like "She" and "Spiteface" is an absolute mindfuck. Is this the same band that would go on to record Mellon Collie and Adore? Am I really seeing Billy and James affably goofing around? Is that an honest to god hoop earring on D'Arcy? The disc boasts a double handful of extra performances plucked from various 1989-1994 shows, but the Basement Jam footage is an absolute revelation. Even years before Gish, these guys were one hell of a band.
Toss in a few stray postcard photographs and another shiny box (much easier to crack open than the Gish or Siamese Dream boxes, thankfully… plus they've wisely opted to leave the cover artwork more or less untouched) and you've got an absolutely essential time capsule of one of alternative rock's most influential and endearing bands at their early creative peak, bustling busily at the crossroads between their underground roots and MTV-fueled commercial apex. At least until the Mellon Collie and Aeroplane Flies High reissues see the light of the day, this is the must-own record collection addition for Smashing Pumpkins fans of all sorts and types.
Grade: A+
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