Smashing Pumpkins: 11 Essential Tracks All Fans Should Listen To
3. Geek U.S.A.
A monolith of a song in the Pumpkins' repertoire, Geek U.S.A. showcases their insane songwriting skills and what the band is capable of. It honed and focused each component of their influences cohesively into something entirely unique.
Right out of the gate, James Chamberlin's drumming is goes all in. From clever drum fills emphasizing the groove and guitar fills to effortlessly leading into other sections of the song, Chamberlin is in full-force. In all this chaos, Chamberlin manages to weave in and out of the spotlight, knowing when to lead the song with his transitional fills and create the foundation for the guitar to play off. It's an insane balancing act to create, let alone keeping up with Corgan and Iha's thrashy pace with guitar fills and leads flying left and right.
The repetitive riff slowly evolves from its initial motif seamlessly as it expands into variations within each respective section. It then takes off into an otherworldly plane as if drifting through space in a sea of phase and reverb only to come crashing back down to reality. Geek U.S.A. is an amazing song with some of the most intricate arrangements the band has ever made with a guitar riffs and drumming chops to envy.