I'm pretty far from being a Smashing Pumpkins guy; I liked a couple of their songs, but for the most part I didn't care for Billy Corgan's vocals or their grunge/hard rock/90s alt.rock sound. Even on this one, I kinda wish someone other than Corgan were helming it. Still, I've gotta give props to "1979," off 1995's
Mellon Collie and Whatever Whatever. That bassline alone is just a fucking monster; I'd posit that this track and the Breeders' "Cannonball" have the most distinctive, instantly recognizable opening basslines of the 90s alt.rock era. Plus, for all their oblique poetry, the lyrics do a damn fine job of nailing a generation of slackers (aided by a spot-on video).
Pavement were absolutely on the right side of the battle in "Range Life," but at least here they're on the same page. So, somewhat begrudgingly, it's just a relentlessly cool tune.
Acoustic live in the studio, 2010:
Nicole Alexis cover:
Weezer's Rivers Cuomo, solo acoustic live:
Lounge version by Mandy Jones:
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