I posted a couple of Pumpkins songs and a PJ song already but I got to thinking about both bands and how I was so absolutely floored by both of them on a first listen. Like 'what the hell did I just hear and who the hell was that?!?!'
The first song I ever heard from PJ was Black...not Alive, Evenflow, or Jeremy. Hauntingly beautiful...could feel the heartbreak in the vocals. Mind blown. Then they blew up...rightfully so. Ten is nearly a 10 in my book...but that was my introduction and I still love that song.
With Pumpkins it was Rhinoceros. Certainly not on the level of some of their later work in terms of popularity, but I was so very blown away by that song. While it's a slow build to a massive crescendo and won't ever be some people's thing, for me in the moment I heard the song I was knocked to the floor. A slow build for sure...but for me still enough to say something good is happening. Then bang...the Pumpkins quiet/loud game on the second chorus (they lived on the quiet/loud game). But then the solo (which was not big in that genre at the time)...then the bridge which fit perfectly...loud third chorus...then huge outtro. It was so different and so familiar at the same time. Mind blown. Still my fav from them.
Anyway here they are:
