Gish

Musically, Gish has been described as featuring alternative rock,{{cite magazine |url=http://www.uncut.co.uk/music/smashing_pumpkins/reviews/9960 |title=Smashing Pumpkins – Zeitgeist |magazine=Uncut |date=July 4, 2007 |access-date=July 24, 2015 |last=Long |first=April |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080509065115/http://www.uncut.co.uk/music/smashing_pumpkins/reviews/9960 |archive-date=May 9, 2008 |url-status=dead}} hard rock,{{cite news |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2011/11/27/smashing-pumpkins-revisit-breakthrough-albums/ |title=Smashing Pumpkins revisit breakthrough albums |newspaper=Chicago Tribune |date=November 27, 2011 |access-date=September 3, 2012 |last=Kot |first=Greg |author-link=Greg Kot |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160323060558/https://articles.chicagotribune.com/2011-11-27/entertainment/chi-smashing-pumpkins-album-reviews-gish-and-siamese-dream-reissues-reviewed-20111127_1_siamese-dream-gish-d-arcy-wretzky |archive-date=March 23, 2016 |url-status=live}} psychedelic rock,{{cite web |url=https://americansongwriter.com/smashing-pumpkins-oceania/ |title=Smashing Pumpkins: Oceania |website=American Songwriter |date=July 10, 2012 |access-date=October 28, 2015 |last=Leahey |first=Andrew |author-link=Andrew Leahey}} grunge,{{cite web |last=Burnsilver |first=Glenn |date=July 9, 2015 |title=Why Smashing Pumpkins Should Play Gish In Concert |url=http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/music/why-smashing-pumpkins-should-play-gish-in-concert-7471187 |access-date=October 28, 2015 |website=Phoenix New Times}} dream pop,{{cite web |last=Erlewine |first=Stephen Thomas |author-link=Stephen Thomas Erlewine |title=The Smashing Pumpkins Biography, Songs, & Albums |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/the-smashing-pumpkins-mn0000036521/biography |access-date=December 11, 2021 |publisher=AllMusic}} stoner rock,{{cite web |date=October 30, 2015 |title=Every Smashing Pumpkins Song, Ranked |url=https://www.spin.com/2015/10/every-smashing-pumpkins-song-ranked/7/ |access-date=February 18, 2023 |website=Spin |page=7}} college rock,{{Cite web |title=Smashing Pumpkins |url=https://loudwire.com/tags/smashing-pumpkins/page/17/ |access-date=2023-08-01 |website=Loudwire |language=en}} psychedelia, art rock,{{cite web |url=http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?name=Smashing+Pumpkins|title = Robert Christgau: CG: Smashing Pumpkins}} shoegaze{{cite web|last=Bassett|first=Jordan|date=November 11, 2018|title=The 20 best Smashing Pumpkins songs|url=https://www.nme.com/blogs/nme-blogs/the-20-best-smashing-pumpkins-songs-2390446|access-date=April 23, 2023|website=NME}} and heavy metal. As a writer, Billy Corgan wanted to find the balance between classic rock of bands playing heavy riffs like Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin, and the sensuality and grace of alternative bands like the Cure, Siouxsie and the Banshees, and My Bloody Valentine.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/billy-corgan-gish-thirtieth-anniversary-interview-1175072/ |title=Billy Corgan Reflects on the 30th Anniversary of 'Gish' and Looks Ahead |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=May 28, 2021 |access-date=May 29, 2021 |last=Greene |first=Andy}} "For us, it was trying to become this balance point between what felt like dumb riff rock and then the stuff we were really attracted to coming out of the U.K. And then we put those pieces together with the Beatles somewhere in the middle". A song like "Rhinoceros" reflected that balance and what Corgan wanted to achieve: "we could be beautiful, pretty, psychedelic, and then flip the switch and be heavy and play a ripping lead." When composing the songs, Corgan was experimenting taking LSD to get a psychedelic feeling: "LSD gave me the confidence to attempt these things on kind of a weird tightrope wire act".

Gish was recorded from December 1990 to March 1991 in Butch Vig's Smart Studios in Madison, Wisconsin, with a budget of $20,000.{{cite news |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1991/06/21/out-of-the-patch/ |title=Out of the patch |newspaper=Chicago Tribune |date=June 21, 1991 |access-date=May 21, 2024 |last=Kot |first=Greg |author-link=Greg Kot}} Vig and Corgan worked together as co-producers. At the time, Vig was still a relatively unknown producer.{{cite magazine|last=Partridge|first=Kenneth|date=May 28, 2016|title=The Smashing Pumpkins' 'Gish' at 25: Classic Track-by-Track Look Back|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/rock/the-smashing-pumpkins-billy-corgan-gish-at-25-classic-track-by-track-look-back-7386036/|access-date=May 12, 2020|magazine=Billboard}} The longer recording period and larger budget were unprecedented for Vig, who later recalled:

(Corgan) wanted to make everything sound amazing and see how far he could take it; really spend time on the production and the performances. For me that was a godsend because I was used to doing records for all the indie labels and we only had budgets for three or four days. Having that luxury to spend hours on a guitar tone or tuning the drums or working on harmonies and textural things... I was over the moon to think I had found a comrade-in-arms who wanted to push me, and who really wanted me to push him.{{cite journal |title=Signal to Noise: The Sonic Diary of the Smashing Pumpkins |journal=EQ Magazine |date=October 2008 |last=Thomas |first=Richard}}

The inclusion of a massive production style reminiscent of ELO and Queen was unusual for an independent band at the time. Whereas many albums at the time used drum sampling and processing, Gish used unprocessed drum recordings, and an exacting, unique guitar sound.{{cite journal |title=Fuck Off ... We're From Chicago! |journal=Spiral Scratch |date=January 9, 1992 |last=Jones |first=Nick}} Corgan also performed nearly all of the guitar and bass parts on the record, which was confirmed by Vig in a later interview.

The album's sessions, lasting 30 working days, were brisk by Pumpkins' standards, largely because of the group's inexperience.MTV Rockumentary: Smashing Pumpkins. Aired 1995/10/17. The majority of D'arcy Wretzky's bass lines and James Iha's guitar parts were re-recorded by Corgan using their instruments. The recording sessions put an intense strain on the band, with Wretzky later commenting that she did not know how the band survived it, and Corgan asserting he suffered a nervous breakdown.

Regarding the album's thematic content, Corgan would later say,

The album is about pain and spiritual ascension. People ask if it's a political album. It's not a political album, it's a personal album. In a weird kind of way, Gish is almost like an instrumental album—it just happens to have singing on it, but the music overpowers the band in a lot of places. I was trying to say a lot of things I couldn't really say in kind of intangible, unspeakable ways, so I was capable of doing that with the music, but I don't think I was capable of doing it with words.

{{Listen|filename=Smashing Pumpkins Rhinoceros.ogg|title="Rhinoceros"|description=Sample of "Rhinoceros", taken from the band's debut album Gish (1991) and also featured on the Lull EP (1992)|format=Ogg}}

The album was named after silent film icon Lillian Gish. In an interview, Corgan said, "My grandmother used to tell me that one of the biggest things that ever happened was when Lillian Gish rode through town on a train, my grandmother lived in the middle of nowhere, so that was a big deal ..." Later, Corgan joked that the album was originally going to be called "Fish", but was changed to "Gish" to avoid comparisons to jam band Phish.Corgan, Billy. Caller Q&A. Rockline Radio Show. Broadcast 1998/07/13

{{Music ratings

| rev1 = AllMusic

| rev1score = {{Rating|4.5|5}}{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/gish-mw0000265088 |title=Gish – The Smashing Pumpkins |publisher=AllMusic |access-date=February 10, 2011 |last=Erlewine |first=Stephen Thomas |author-link=Stephen Thomas Erlewine}}

| rev2 = The A.V. Club

| rev2score = B+{{cite web |url=https://www.avclub.com/the-smashing-pumpkins-gish-siamese-dream-1798170715 |title=The Smashing Pumpkins: Gish / Siamese Dream |website=The A.V. Club |date=December 6, 2011 |access-date=May 21, 2024 |last=Hyden |first=Steven |author-link=Steven Hyden}}

| rev3 = Chicago Tribune

| rev3score = {{Rating|3.5|4}}{{cite news |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1991/05/30/smashing-pumpkinsgish-caroline-starstarstar-12on-its-debut/ |title=Smashing Pumpkins: Gish (Caroline) |newspaper=Chicago Tribune |date=May 30, 1991 |access-date=May 21, 2024 |last=Kot |first=Greg |author-link=Greg Kot}}

| rev4 = Entertainment Weekly

| rev4score = B{{cite magazine |url=https://ew.com/article/2011/11/25/gish-and-siamese-dream-deluxe-reissues-review-smashing-pumpkins/ |title='Gish' and 'Siamese Dream' Deluxe Reissues review – The Smashing Pumpkins |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |date=November 25, 2011 |access-date=January 11, 2013 |last=Adams |first=Jason}}

| rev5 = Los Angeles Times

| rev5score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-07-14-ca-3237-story.html |title=Smashing Pumpkins 'Gish' Caroline |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |date=July 14, 1991 |access-date=September 3, 2012 |last=Gold |first=Jonathan |author-link=Jonathan Gold}}

| rev6 = NME

| rev6score = 7/10{{cite magazine |title=Smashing Pumpkins: Gish |magazine=NME |date=June 29, 1991 |last=Fadele |first=Dele |author-link=Dele Fadele |page=26}}

| rev7 = Pitchfork

| rev7score = 8.3/10{{cite web |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/16059-gish-deluxe-edition-siamese-dream-deluxe-edition/ |title=The Smashing Pumpkins: Gish [Deluxe Edition] / Siamese Dream [Deluxe Edition] |website=Pitchfork |date=November 28, 2011 |access-date=September 3, 2012 |last=Raggett |first=Ned}}

| rev8 = Q

| rev8score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite magazine |title=Smashing Pumpkins: Gish |magazine=Q |issue=62 |date=November 1991 |last=Aston |first=Martin}}

| rev9 = The Rolling Stone Album Guide

| rev9score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite book |chapter=Smashing Pumpkins |last=Sanneh |first=Kelefa |author-link=Kelefa Sanneh |title=The New Rolling Stone Album Guide |title-link=The Rolling Stone Album Guide |editor1-last=Brackett |editor1-first=Nathan |editor1-link=Nathan Brackett |editor2-last=Hoard |editor2-first=Christian |editor2-link=Christian Hoard |publisher=Simon & Schuster |edition=4th |year=2004 |isbn=0-7432-0169-8 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/newrollingstonea00brac/page/747 747–748]}}

| rev10 = Spin Alternative Record Guide

| rev10score = 9/10{{cite book |chapter=Smashing Pumpkins |last=Hunter |first=James |title=Spin Alternative Record Guide |title-link=Spin Alternative Record Guide |editor1-last=Weisbard |editor1-first=Eric |editor1-link=Eric Weisbard |editor2-last=Marks |editor2-first=Craig |publisher=Vintage Books |year=1995 |isbn=0-679-75574-8 |page=362}}

}}

Gish was met with largely enthusiastic reviews. On the month of its release, Chris Heim of the Chicago Tribune credited producer Butch Vig for helping the band achieve a "clearly defined" and "big, bold, punchy" sound for the album. Heim also indicated that the varied styles of the album would be a good addition to the alternative music culture of Chicago at the time—a culture that was sometimes perceived as inaccessible for new bands.{{cite news |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1991/05/31/caroline-records-releases-smashing-pumpkins-gish/ |title=Caroline Records releases Smashing Pumpkins' 'Gish' |newspaper=Chicago Tribune |date=May 31, 1991 |access-date=May 21, 2024 |last=Heim |first=Chris |at=sec. 7, p. S}} Jon Pareles of The New York Times picked up on the eclectic mix of musical style on Gish as well, complementing its "pummeling hard rock", "gentle interludes", and "psychedelic crescendos".{{cite news |url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D0CE7DC1338F937A25752C1A967958260 |title=Review/Pop; A hyperactive evening with the Chili Peppers |work=The New York Times |date=November 14, 1991 |access-date=February 21, 2011 |last=Pareles |first=Jon |author-link=Jon Pareles}} In an end-of-year recap of 1991 releases, Heim noted that the album constituted a "smashing local success story" for the Chicago area.{{cite news |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1991/12/27/ringing-in-the-new-year-with-something-for-every-taste/ |title=Ringing in the new year with something for every taste |newspaper=Chicago Tribune |date=December 27, 1991 |access-date=May 21, 2024 |last=Heim |first=Chris |at=sec. 7, p. Q}} Greg Kot, also of the Tribune, called Gish "perhaps the most audacious and accomplished" of all 1991 albums released by local bands; in an article later that year, Kot listed the album among the best of 1991.{{cite news |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1991/12/01/the-best-albums-of-91-4/ |title=Rock music: Finding greatness on the fringes |newspaper=Chicago Tribune |date=December 1, 1991 |access-date=May 21, 2024 |last=Kot |first=Greg |author-link=Greg Kot |at=sec. 13, p. 16}} Chris Mundy of Rolling Stone called it "awe-inspiring" with "meticulously calculated chaos" and a "swirling energy".{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/new-faces-smashing-pumpkins-247650/ |title=New Faces: Smashing Pumpkins |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=August 8, 1991 |access-date=May 21, 2024 |last=Mundy |first=Chris}}

Many substantive reviews of Gish emerged only with the 1993 release of Siamese Dream, when mainstream critics took their first look into the back-catalog of a band whose popularity was exploding. Derek Weiler of the Toronto Star noted that songs on Gish contained "either galloping riffs or trippy feedback hazes" and that the latter were especially effective and entertaining.{{cite news |title=Smashing followup: Siamese Dream keeps Pumpkins in front of the alternative brigade |work=Toronto Star |date=August 26, 1993 |last=Weiler |first=Derek |page=C8}}

In 1992, Gish and the Smashing Pumpkins earned recognition at the Chicago Musician Awards, for which local music publication Illinois Entertainer polled readers and Chicago music industry figures such as critics, writers, and club owners. In separate polls, readers and industry figures chose Gish as the "best local album". Jimmy Chamberlin and James Iha won individual honors for their performances on the album, and the band as a whole earned the "best hometown national act" award.{{cite news |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1992/07/24/smashing-pumpkins-triumph-in-chicago-musician-awards/ |title=Smashing Pumpkins triumph in Chicago Musician Awards |newspaper=Chicago Tribune |date=July 24, 1992 |access-date=May 21, 2024 |last=Stevens |first=Mary |at=sec. 7, p. K}}

Gish spent one week on the Billboard 200, peaking at number 195 (later re-peaking at number 146 upon its 2011 re-release);{{AllMusic|class=album|id=mw0000265088|tab=awards|label=Gish – Smashing Pumpkins: Awards|pure_url=no|access-date=June 25, 2012}} however, the album reached number one on the College Music Journal chart, which tracks airplay and popularity on college radio stations.{{cite news |last=Corcoran, Michael |title=Bob Seger bites the Silver Bullet for his latest effort |date=September 15, 1991 |work=Chicago Sun-Times |page=4}} It also had a six-week run on the New Zealand Albums Chart, peaking at number 40.{{cite web|url=https://charts.nz/showitem.asp?interpret=The+Smashing+Pumpkins&titel=Gish&cat=a |title=charts.nz – The Smashing Pumpkins – Gish |website=charts.nz |publisher=Hung Medien |access-date=February 10, 2011 }} Despite an inauspicious start, the album sold 100,000 copies in less than a year, far exceeding the expectations of indie label Caroline Records, a subsidiary of Virgin Records.Gooch, Marshall (April 7, 2008). "Smashing Pumpkins: Worst Case Scenario." Reflex. In the US, the album was certified gold by RIAA on March 14, 1994.{{cite web|url=https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&ar=smashing+pumpkins&ti=gish&lab=&genre=&format=&date_option=release&from=&to=&award=&type=&category=&adv=SEARCH#search_section |title=Gold and Platinum - RIAA : Smashing Pumpkins Gish|publisher=RIAA|access-date=May 28, 2021}} Until the release of the Offspring album Smash in 1994, Gish was the highest-selling independently released album of all time. Gish would later be reissued under the Virgin label, and was certified platinum in the US on February 5, 1999.

The first mastering of Gish on CD was from Digital Audio Tape and appeared on Caroline Records, a subsidiary of Virgin Records. In 1994, after the success of follow-up Siamese Dream, the album was given a slight remaster and redesign and was reissued on the Virgin label.{{Cite journal | last = Corgan | first = Billy | author-link = Billy Corgan | title = 10 Most Influential Productions | journal = Musician Magazine | date = March 1997 | url = http://www.pumpkins.it/billyinter.html }} Both editions credit Howie Weinberg as mastering engineer. In 2008, the Smashing Pumpkins announced a 17th anniversary box set re-release of the album that would include older bonus material, but this set experienced delays.{{cite magazine |url=http://www.nme.com/news/nme/37559 |title=Smashing Pumpkins ready debut album box set |magazine=New Musical Express |date=June 23, 2008 |access-date=April 21, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080628034045/http://www.nme.com/news/nme/37559 |archive-date=2008-06-28 |url-status=dead }} After finally negotiating the rights, Gish was re-issued in November 2011, being remastered on CD and Vinyl with extra tracks and revised packaging.Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/jcQ0PloLnJ8 Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20140121184130/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jcQ0PloLnJ8 Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jcQ0PloLnJ8|title=Billy Corgan talks about the future of the Smashing Pumpkins|date=26 April 2011 |access-date=November 2, 2019|via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}

{{Track listing

| all_writing = Billy Corgan, except "I Am One", written by Corgan and James Iha

| title1 = I Am One

| length1 = 4:07

| title2 = Siva

| length2 = 4:20

| title3 = Rhinoceros

| length3 = 6:32

| title4 = Bury Me

| length4 = 4:48

| title5 = Crush

| length5 = 3:34

| title6 = Suffer

| length6 = 5:10

| title7 = Snail

| length7 = 5:10

| title8 = Tristessa

| length8 = 3:33

| title9 = Window Paine

| length9 = 5:51

| title10 = Daydream

| length10 = 3:08{{efn|"Daydream" ends at 1:57. A hidden track called "I’m Going Crazy" starts at 2:07}}

| total_length = 46:13

}}

All tracks are written by Corgan, except where noted.

{{Track listing

| headline = 2011 Reissue bonus CD – Trippin' Through the Stars

| title1 = Starla

| note1 = 2011 mix

| length1 = 11:01

| title2 = Siva

| note2 = Peel Session

| length2 = 4:49

| title3 = Honeyspider

| note3 = Reel Time Demos/2011 mix

| length3 = 2:54

| title4 = Hippy Trippy

| note4 = "Crush" Music Box demo

| length4 = 3:33

| title5 = Snail

| note5 = live radio performance

| length5 = 5:48

| title6 = Plume

| note6 = 2011 mix

| writer6 = {{hlist|Corgan|Iha}}

| length6 = 3:34

| title7 = Bury Me

| note7 = Reel Time Demos/2011 mix

| length7 = 4:18

| title8 = Daydream

| note8 = Old House demo

| length8 = 2:05

| title9 = Tristessa

| note9 = Sub Pop single/2011 mix

| length9 = 3:48

| title10 = Girl Named Sandoz

| note10 = Peel Session) (Eric Burdon & The Animals cover

| writer10 = {{hlist|Eric Burdon|John Weider|Vic Briggs|Danny McCulloch|Barry Jenkins}}

| length10 = 3:35

| title11 = Jesus is the Sun

| note11 = Apartment demo

| length11 = 2:55

| title12 = Blue

| note12 = Gish sessions demo

| length12 = 4:07

| title13 = Smiley

| note13 = Gish sessions demo

| length13 = 3:36

| title14 = I Am One

| note14 = Reel Time Demos/2011 mix

| writer14 = {{hlist|Corgan|Iha}}

| length14 = 4:21

| title15 = Seam

| note15 = "Suffer" Apartment demo

| length15 = 4:09

| title16 = La Dolly Vita

| note16 = 2011 mix

| length16 = 4:18

| title17 = Pulseczar

| note17 = Gish sessions demo

| length17 = 2:32

| title18 = Drown

| note18 = alternate guitar solo

| length18 = 8:17

| all_writing =

| total_length =

}}

{{track listing

| headline = 2011 Reissue bonus DVD – Live at the Metro (August 25, 1990)

| title1 = I Am One

| writer1 = {{hlist|Corgan|Iha}}

| length1 =

| title2 = Snail

| length2 =

| title3 = Rhinoceros

| length3 =

| title4 = Bury Me

| length4 =

| title5 = Tristessa

| length5 =

| title6 = Window Paine

| length6 =

| title7 = Razor

| length7 =

| title8 = Sookie Sookie

| note8 = Steppenwolf cover

| writer8 = {{hlist|Don Covay|Steve Cropper}}

| length8 =

| title9 = Godzilla

| note9 = Blue Öyster Cult cover

| writer9 = Donald Roeser

| length9 =

| title10 = Crush

| note10 = filmed in Billy's living room, July 27, 1993

| length10 =

| all_writing =

| total_length =

}}

Those involved in the making of Gish are:{{cite AV media notes |title=Gish |others=The Smashing Pumpkins |year=1991 |type=LP liner notes |publisher=Caroline Records |location=New York}}

• Billy Corgan – vocals, guitar, bass, production
• James Iha – guitar
• D'arcy Wretzky – bass, vocals on "Daydream", layouts
• Jimmy Chamberlin – drums

• Mary Gaines – cello on "Daydream"
• Chris Wagner – violin and viola on "Daydream"

• Bob Knapp – photography
• Michael Lavine – photography
• Butch Vig – production, engineering
• Doug "Mr. Colson" Olson – engineering
• Howie Weinberg – mastering (1991 and 1994 releases)
• Evren Göknar – mastering (2011 remaster bonus CD)

{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications for Gish}}

{{Certification Table Entry|artist=The Smashing Pumpkins|title=Gish|type=album|award=Silver|region=United Kingdom|id=2524-1082-2}}

{{Certification Table Entry|artist=Smashing Pumpkins|title=Gish|type=album|award=Platinum|region=United States}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true}}

{{reflist|group=lower-alpha}}

{{reflist}}

• {{AllMusic|class=album|id=r18284|label=Gish}}
• {{MusicBrainz release group|id=4ac82f0b-1532-3734-80d7-5c02265197aa}}

{{The Smashing Pumpkins}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:1991 debut albums

Category:Albums produced by Billy Corgan

Category:Albums produced by Butch Vig

Category:Albums recorded at Smart Studios

Category:Caroline Records albums

Category:Hut Records albums

Category:Grunge albums

Category:Hard rock albums by American artists

Category:Psychedelic rock albums by American artists

Category:Stoner rock albums

Category:The Smashing Pumpkins albums

Category:Lillian Gish

Category:Dream pop albums by American artists

Category:Art rock albums by American artists

Category:College rock albums