Pisces Iscariot

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Pisces Iscariot
Compilation album by The Smashing Pumpkins
Released October 4, 1994 (1994-10-04)
Recorded 1989–1994
Genre Alternative rock psychedelic rock
Length 57:26
Language English
Label Virgin
Producer Kerry Brown, Billy Corgan, Ted de Bono, Dale "Buffin" Griffin, James Iha, and Butch Vig
The Smashing Pumpkins chronology

Siamese Dream
(1993)		 Pisces Iscariot
(1994)		 Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness
(1995)
Alternative covers
12" vinyl cover
Cassette cover
Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
AbsolutePunk 79%[1]
Allmusic [2]
Entertainment Weekly B+[3]
NME (8/10)[4]
Pitchfork Media (8.1/10)[5]
PopMatters (Rating)
(Extras Rating)[6]
Q [4]
The Quietus (favorable)[7]
Rolling Stone [8]

Pisces Iscariot is a compilation album by American alternative rock band The Smashing Pumpkins released in 1994 through Virgin Records, consisting of B-sides and outtakes. Reaching number 4 in the U.S. upon its 1994 release,[9] Pisces Iscariot was certified platinum by the RIAA on November 23, 1994.[10] The album was initially to be called Neptulius.[11]

The album was re-released by EMI as deluxe-edition CD and LP on July 17, 2012.[12] A number of problems were reported with the deluxe release, including it mistakenly using of a different vocal take of "Plume" which was later corrected on digital retail versions of the album, and several digital glitches found throughout the audio on both discs which were not found on the original release. The bonus CD, mastered by Howie Weinberg, was also criticised for suffering from brickwalling.

Packaging

The CD, LP, and cassette issues were each released with unique cover artwork. The U.S. vinyl release was pressed on amber vinyl, and the first 2,000 copies included a bonus 7" single with "Not Worth Asking" from the original "I Am One" 7", backed with "Honeyspider II". The UK LP has identical artwork to its U.S. counterpart, although the printing is much lighter and the inner sleeve is a heavier stock.

Reception and Music

Pisces Iscariot became a quick hit with hardcore fans and casual listeners alike. The album was welcoming to casual listeners mainly due to the cover of Fleetwood Mac's Landslide. This is what made it a mainstream success and radio-friendly. The songs found on Pisces Iscariot and the reissue have a sound very much reminiscent of Siamese Dream and Gish. They range from the soft, pleasant Whir and Landslide to the punk and metal-inspired sounds of Hello Kitty Kat, Pissant and even masterful psychedelic anthems such as the 11-minute fan favorite Starla, the heavy but dreamy Blue, and ballads such as La Dolly Vita and Obscured. The album featured a live cover of The Animals' LSD-inspired tune Girl Named Sandoz. The album was well received by most people who purchased it, and it seemed to have spawned a new cult-following of The Smashing Pumpkins. This album created a number of fans who sought out more of their rare b-sides, gems, and outtakes, due to the unexpected but unmatchable quality of the ones on it.

Track listing

All songs written and composed by Billy Corgan, unless stated otherwise. 
No. TitleWriter(s) Length
1. "Soothe" (B-side of "Disarm")  2:36
2. "Frail and Bedazzled" (Siamese Dream outtake)  3:17
3. "Plume" (B-side of "I Am One" 1992 single release)Corgan/James Iha 3:37
4. "Whir" (Siamese Dream outtake)  4:10
5. "Blew Away" (B-side of "Disarm")Iha 3:32
6. "Pissant" (B-side of "Cherub Rock")  2:31
7. "Hello Kitty Kat"" (B-side of "Today")  4:32
8. "Obscured" (Gish outtake, B-side of "Today")  5:22
9. "Landslide" (Fleetwood Mac cover, B-side of "Disarm")Stevie Nicks 3:10
10. "Starla" (B-side of "I Am One" 1992 single release)  11:01
11. "Blue" (released on Lull EP)  3:19
12. "Girl Named Sandoz" (The Animals cover, released on Peel Sessions EP)Eric Burdon, Vic Briggs, John Weider, Barry Jenkins, Danny McCulloch (The Animals) 3:34
13. "La Dolly Vita" (B-side of "Tristessa")  4:16
14. "Spaced" (Siamese Dream outtake)  2:24

A limited pressing of 2,000 copies of Pisces Iscariot included a free 7" single.

Bonus single
No. Title Length
1. "Not Worth Asking" (B-side of I Am One 1989 7") 4:01
2. "Honey Spider II" (released on the Moon demo tape) 2:29

Chart positions

Album
Year Chart Peak position
1994 The Billboard 200 4[9]

Single

Year Single Chart Peak position
1994 "Landslide" Modern Rock Tracks 3[13]

Personnel

The Smashing Pumpkins
Production
  • Kerry Brown – production and drums on "Blew Away"
  • Dale "Buffin" Griffin – production
  • Ted de Bono – production
  • Rachel Gutek – design assistant
  • Michael Meister – photography, packaging
  • Butch Vig – production

Release history

Region Date Label Format Catalog
United States October 4, 1994 Caroline LP 1767
United States October 4, 1994 Virgin Cassette tape 39834
Compact Disc 7243 8 39834 2 1
United Kingdom October 21, 1996 Hut Compact Disc CDHUT 41

External links

References

  1. ↑ AbsolutePunk review
  2. ↑ Allmusic review
  3. ↑ Entertainment Weekly review
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Album reviews at CD Universe
  5. ↑ Pitchfork Media review
  6. ↑ PopMatters review
  7. ↑ The Quietus review
  8. ↑ Rolling Stone review
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Allmusic "Charts and Awards"
  10. ↑ "Gold and Platinum Database Search". Retrieved 2010-01-03. 
  11. ↑ Corgan, Billy. Twitter: Billy Corgan. 2011–04–07.
  12. ↑ http://www.amazon.com/Pisces-Iscariot-Edition-Smashing-Pumpkins/dp/B007P6PLDI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1342042052&sr=8-1&keywords=pisces+iscariot
  13. ↑ Allmusic "Charts and Awards (singles)
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