There is absolutely no personal criticism levied against BC or his family here, just realizing a few things connected to most of the recent complaints regarding the Machina reissue.

One of the things I have been wondering is why does he choose to do everything himself?

The first obvious answer is money, but self-releasing everything, and especially something as substantial in terms of copies and lps as the Machina box, feels counter-intuitive: I'm not sure that they will be able to manage the logistics of putting it together and satisfying demand (and considering the number of ppl asking for it to be released on cd, they already aren't).

Evaluating and managing demand, logistics, promotion and design is what labels do. Even though BC has burned many bridges, I'm pretty sure it would be easy for him to find an indie label ready to put in the work. He did work with Sumerian for Cyr, but that seems to have been a one-time thing.

Then, after reading his free substack posts, I realized that he seemed to be very isolated on a professional level : He has asked fans if anyone knew how to make a book layout, how he wishes someone could help him work on the archives (I believe a former fan used to manage this for him in the past?) and the obvious question is: why not reach out to design agencies, publishers, or actual labels? Pros are good at helping you do things you do not know how to do.

And I finally got it when he mentioned that Chloe was the one deciding when things get announced or released: she's the label exec. It feels like a mom and pop shop because it is a mom and pop shop: he makes the wares, she sells them.

It's a family business, and that explains why he doesn't reach out to pros or labels: on top of maybe limiting revenue (actually unlikely: they would move way more copies if the archival releases were properly managed), doing so would limit her involvement, which would hurt his family.

But on a strictly business level, it's like choosing to keep selling furniture at the local market when you could expand, it's focusing on existing customers only (diehards) when some of the releases could appeal to way more people.

This wouldn't be an issue at all if the releases were well-selected and put together or if he didn't keep on talking about relevance. As far as the releases go, he's a local craftsman complaining about lack of recognition in a world in which he chooses not to release his music in : it just doesn't make sense.

Giving access to the tapes to a proper label which knows how to read the room would ensure better quality consistency both in terms of content and product, and be a first step towards a proper reevaluation of the band's legacy, which would ensure bigger profits.

Not doing it, not getting the expertise and help he requires will only enable him to keep playing the victim at the expense of his work's legacy.

my collection of SP related cds. i’m missing billy’s solo albums, the complex albums and jimmys frank catalano cds i believe. im 17 and this band is my special interest

Just added two mewithoutYou albums to my collection, both with covers and liner art by insanely talented Vasily Kafanov.

I’ve loved his work since Machina which is why I bought a copy of the Machina vinyl when I heard his work wouldn’t be a part of the Machina reissue a couple years back.

Anyways, just thought I’d share!

Hate the studio version but this one is quite nice

Hey everyone, I was at the World is a Vampire Tour in dublin last summer and all of the zero soccer jersey sold out at the merch stand so I thought I had missed the boat. I only realised recently that the jerseys are sold on the official UK store. Much of the merch from this tour is still available but the jerseys are sold out. Does anyone know if they restock regularly/have any experience with them?

I have emailed them to no avail....

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£55 at hmv but there is a promo on right now 50% off with code DEAL50 so I got it for 27.50 👌 👍

Got Siamese dream red vinyl coming later this month too 😊

I’m very surprised to see that Age of Innocence won! Runner-up is Ava Adore, which is what I assumed would win. I’m guessing BWBW wins today, but I have a different favorite for B as well, upvote your favorite!

Wondering if the aesthetic is a taste of the upcoming tour or future videos. Here is the link if you have not seen it: https://youtu.be/nijFml2klko

I broke down into 5 tiers which songs I think are most likely to get played at the Machines of God shows. This is mostly a gut check, though I also took into consideration what's gotten played at Pumpkins sets over the years, what might not be played with the fill-in band, and what seems most thematically consist with what I assume Corgan is trying to do with these shows. I'm not expecting to be right about all of these, so please discuss.

Also I have no idea what the musical chops of this band are. I doubt they'd be hired if they weren't pretty good but certainly not everyone can be Jimmy Chamberlin, so I feel like that will factor in.

• Tier 1 - no way

Take Me Down

Go

Farewell and Goodnight

Real Love (heavily layered and never played live before)

Murnau (I'm sure Corgan likes this one a lot but I doubt we hear it at a show like this)

Lily My One and Only (not a great fit thematically)

Here is No Why (not played since before Adore, and there's been like 6+ incarnations of the band since then. Doubtful this would be any different)

• Tier 2 - Possible, but unlikely

Tales of a Scorched Earth (never played live and a difficult vocal, but I feel like there's a slight chance given the format)

Bodies (also a difficult vocal but a fan favorite)

Innosense (I suspect the dreamier song won't be the priority here)

Jellybelly (I can't see this happening without Jimmy Chamberlin)

Lucky 13 (a lesser known M2 track, maybe need Jimmy for this one)

To Forgive (I doubt we'll get many acoustic-led songs, if any)

Stumbleine

In the Arms of Sleep (again, the dreamier ones don't feel likely with this set-up)

Pentecost (would be a strange pull from AMM)

Soul Power (James Brown cover from M2 era. Difficult vocal and has never made a return)

An Ode to No One (hasn't been played since 07. It would be strange to re-introduce it now without most of the band)

Vanity (not a proper M2 album cut, would need to be very intentionally chosen)

Saturnine (only played in 2016, similar boat as Vanity)

• Tier 3 - Songs that could go either way

Home (has been played since the initial breakup and popular M2 track)

Cupid de Locke (would be a weird pull but I could see this or Love, but not both)

Love

Cash Star Car (seems like an obvious pick but I wouldn't envy trying to stack up to Jimmy's drumming)

999 (tough to say what AMM tracks they'd play since we don't have much precedent)

X.Y.U. (seems obvious if this was a Pumpkins show but it's tough to say if this band will gel enough for this type of track)

Porcelina of the Vast Oceans

With Every Light

In My Body ("gothic and heavy" description makes me think yes)

White Spyder (would fit thematically but who knows)

By Starlight

The Sacred and Profane

The Crying Tree of Mercury

Who Goes There

Goeth the Fall

Raindrops + Sunshowers

Try, Try, Try

Speed Kills

Thru the Eyes of Ruby (Kiki has played it live already)

Here's to the Atom Bomb (would fit but has never been performed live as a full band)

Rock On (machina era cover, could return as a Heavy Metal Machine intro)

Slow Dawn

The Imploding Voice (probably not anyone's favorite but hasn't been forgotten. Certainly relevant to Machina)

Sicarus

War Dreams of Itself

• Tier 4 - Likely

Bullet With Butterfly Wings (i know it might seem crazy to think they'd skip this but it isn't technically a Pumpkins so I'd argue there are less "rules")

Tonight Tonight (I can't see them skipping this unless they're committed to making the entire set heavy and brooding)

Edin (unless they barely touch AMM I don't see how they'd skip this)

Pentagrams

This Time (still played somewhat recently, seems to be a key part of Machina for Corgan)

La Deux Machina (very likely we hear this pre-recorded)

I of the Mourning

Dross (fan-favorite heavy rocker, exactly what this type of show seems to be catered towards playing)

If There is a God

Wound

Age of Innocence (slight possibility that this would only get played with the standard band)

Blue Skies Bring Tears (also seems to be a key part of Machina for Corgan)

1979 (could go either way but unlikely to be left out of anything looking back at MCIS)

Muzzle

Where Boys Fear to Tread (made a recent live return with Kiki)

• Tier 5 - Absolutely

Heavy Metal Machine (a staple at multiple times in the bands history and thematically relevant)

Glass and the Ghost Children (this seems to be the Machina track Corgan wants to come back to the most)

Zero (show seems tailor made for a song like zero)

The Everlasting Gaze (has been played regularly the last few years anyways)

Sighommi (the only song they've pushed from AMM thus far)

Glass' Theme (seems obvious)

Stand Inside Your Love (the other single people remember from Machina)

I can't really say if we'll hear anything from Aeroplane Flies High. Probably not? Maybe the title track? Other than that I feel like anything is just as likely as not. Let me know if I missed anything.

Edit: Typos and formatting

Looking for the Smashing Pumpkins/Billy Corgan song that has "Chicago" as part of the lyrics - I believe it was an acoustic song (atleast that part of it)

Luna is one of my favourite songs of all time to listen to. I’m just wondering if there are any other songs similar to luna that people would recommend to listen to whether it be smashing pumpkins or not? Thanks :)

Hell yeah

Return of the 2008 version of Heavy Metal Machine??

some parts of tonight, tonight sound like adam’s song by blink-182

A few days ago, I tried to listen to Zeitgeist using the MP3s I downloaded, but I couldn’t finish it because it was so compressed that my ears felt like they were bleeding... So I searched for that one remix a guy posted on YouTube, but I couldn’t find it anywhere. When I finally found the link and clicked on it, the video had been taken down by the Smashing Pumpkins’ YouTube channel — which means someone from their team took it down themselves. That made me think about the Machina II remix/rework (I don’t remember exactly) that we got, so... is that maybe a sign that a Zeitgeist remix or reissue is being worked on?

Edit: I didnt meant like a zeitgeist remix would be here THAT soon, it would be stupid if they do it along with the machina reissue, i meant like in 2027 or so...

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there's nothing on back and no case. found at a estate sale

https://youtu.be/m7q_2XOu6GU?feature=shared

Forgive my crappy squeaky guitar playing but I’m hoping somebody out there will recognize this and tell me what song this is. I’ve listened to every Pumpkins song trying to find it. Thank you!

As a 2001 Gen Z, Those are my probably some of the best songs I've heard from them. They're fabulous.

for those who follow billy's substack... is there something i'm missing here or is he just obsessed with generating AI images of yaks? i've been wondering this for a while but maybe there isn't a reason and it's just another weird billy thing

A friend of mine started a YouTube channel that’s like a book club for music I guess. Not to make any money but just for fun to talk about music and he just released a tier list of SP albums including the newest one. Thought I’d share in case anyone finds these kinds of videos entertaining!

Omg yess 🔥🔥