Originally released in 1991, Gish is the debut LP from Chicago's Smashing Pumpkins. '91 saw the release of another monumental grunge album, Nirvana's Nevermind, and Butch Vig, drummer and co-producer of Garbage, worked as a producer for both of the releases. And although the former did not contain a song that could match "Smells Like Teen Spirit" or other singles Nevermind that have forever been etched onto our psyche, Gish, explained by Billy Corgan as being about "pain and spiritual ascension," has a firm standing in the history of alternative rock as one of the genre-defining albums that emerged from the '90s. Siamese Dream and Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness would follow a few years later to thrust Corgan, Iha, Chamberlin, and Wretzky to international stardom, but the psych/'70s rock/shoegaze influence the gang would go on to embody to create their distinct sound are all present in Gish. Check out: "I Am One," "Siva," "Rhinoceros," "Crush," "Daydream," and "Bury Me."

• 180g black vinyl pressing
• housed in gatefold sleeve
• original release year: 1991
• music label: Virgin 2017

reviewed by donut savage 03/2017