Smashing Pumpkins: 11 Essential Tracks All Fans Should Listen To
5. Soma
Harnessing the stylings of Gish, Soma is the evolution and maturation from songs like Rhinoceros and Snail. With tighter structuring and controlled solos, the Pumpkins mastered restraint in creating a melancholic wistful atmosphere and allowing the song to naturally crescendo.
Corgan's crooning lullaby delivery guides us through the song until the refrain "I'm all by myself" changes gears, reflecting Corgan's overwhelming emotions cascading. The song slams into a wall of distortion with a solo that's an explosive expression of his isolation and yearning for love. It ends with a gentle denouement lulling his own emotions and heart to sleep in reassurance.
Everything clicks and plays off one another from the gentle guitar picking in the intro to Corgan's winding vocals and Chamberlin's understated jazz drumming. It's a rock epic condensed to 6 minutes filled with intricate song writing and some of the most memorable instrumentation in the band's career.