Smashing Pumpkins - Gish

Released in 1991, just months before Nirvana’s Nevermind reshaped the mainstream, Gish marked the Smashing Pumpkins’ arrival with a sound that was both in step with the alternative revolution and distinctly their own. Produced by Butch Vig (who would go on to helm Nevermind), the album fused heavy, metallic riffs with psychedelic textures and art-rock ambition, laying the groundwork for the Pumpkins’ ascent as one of the most influential bands of the 1990s.

From the thunderous opening track “I Am One” to the hypnotic swirl of “Rhinoceros” and the explosive momentum of “Siva,” the record showcases Billy Corgan’s singular vision: layering guitars into walls of sound that are both crushing and intricate, while pairing them with emotionally charged, confessional lyrics. Elsewhere, moments like the folk-tinged “Daydream,” sung by bassist D’arcy Wretzky, reveal the band’s range and willingness to push beyond grunge’s boundaries into something more expansive and cinematic.

Gish stands not only as a stunning debut but also as a blueprint for the Smashing Pumpkins’ trajectory—grand in scope, uncompromising in sound, and already pointing toward the sweeping ambition that would define their later masterpieces. Over three decades later, its energy remains undimmed, a vital document of a band on the cusp of greatness.