| American Gothic | 
 enlarge | Artist: The Smashing Pumpkins
Label: Wea Int'l
Category: Music
List Price: $11.98
Buy New: $5.75
You Save: $6.23 (52%)
Buy New/Used from $5.75
Avg. Customer Rating:   (12 reviews)
Sales Rank: 4627
Format: Ep, Import
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 5.5 x 4.9 x 0.4
UPC: 093624988106
EAN: 0093624988106
ASIN: B0012GLQ2W
Release Date: February 12, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Tracks:
| • | The Rose March | | • | Again, Again, Again (The Crux) | | • | Pox | | • | Sunkissed |
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| Customer Reviews: Read 7 more reviews...
One of the more overlooked releases of 2008 January 1, 2009
Much like Alice In Chains followed two of their albums with quieter, acoustic work, the Smashing Pumpkins do the same here with their four-song acoustic EP "American Gothic" (2008).
I'm not really sure what the title "American Gothic" refers to. Unlike its immediate predecessor, the highly underrated "Zeitgeist," (2007) there's no grand political statements, no protest songs, and no social commentaries to be found. Rather, with "American Gothic" we get much more personal, reflective work, with Corgan's more familiar themes of love and broken relationships, etc.
"The Rose March" has a sort of medieval feel, and with the opening "la-da-da-da-la-da-da," one would think something like that would sound corny, but Corgan pulls it off. With the pretty "Again, Again, Again (Crux)" Corgan sings of wanting to meet someone "again," after stating "I love you, I don't even care," as though he is confessing his love despite previous letdowns.
While the first two tracks are good, if not great, the EP really starts to pick up with the final two songs. Incredibly catchy and cynical "Pox" sees Corgan referring to "giving back the dream" several times and I'm not exactly sure what he means by this. Corgan sounds quite cynical here, yet the song still manages not to sound too bitter, as the song, paradoxically exudes a sort of strange optimism, despite lyrics like "another dumb kid shot him, another restless b#@h still f*#@s."
The EP's closing "Sunkissed" is by far the best moment on "American Gothic" and is, in this reviewers opinion, simply one of the finest songs Corgan has ever written. Incredibly pretty, lush and bittersweet, Corgan sings of, presumably, some estranged girlfriend. I'll be honest here, some of Corgan's lyrics I just don't understand and that's how I feel about this song ("Chase the bees of the death song's wings, There's no crying anymore, Crystalline, the bridges burn outside, Stitches will all come undone")? Still, I get the feeling/message here and the song is quite beautiful.
One of the more overlooked releases of 2008, with two good songs and two outstanding ones, "American Gothic" is definitely worth the time and money of any Smashing Pumpkins fan. "Sunkissed" alone is worth the 12 bucks.
 A--mazing December 19, 2008
I love this EP! I wish the last CD was all like this. Classic SP. No electronic bs.
Sunkissed indeed May 22, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Being one of my favorite bands, but reserved at the fact that half of the principal band was not returning, I was hesitant at embracing the "return" of the Smashing Pumpkins. Zeitgeist had it's moments, but is, for the most part, in the lower regions of my Pumpkins favorites list. I just picked up the import of American Gothic though, and I'm pleasantly surprised. Besides being mainly the stripped down tender Pumpkins stuff that I've always favored, it's more genuine and heartfelt than the bulk of the album it was omited from.
Very Quick Delivery April 7, 2008
0 out of 3 found this review helpful
I received my CD very quickly and it came in brand new condition, as was advertised. I wouldn't hesitate ordering from you guys again!
 Acoustic Corgan tunes. (3.5) April 6, 2008
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
Okay, I'll tell you something: There's no way I'm going to suggest you shell out FIFTEEN bucks for an album with just four songs, no matter how good those songs may be. However, where Corgan flirted a lot with electric guitar and the synthesizer during Zeitgeist, these songs are fairly down to earth sounding and has a side of the artist you wish you could hear more often. Nothing here is as good as "Zeitgeist" (on a limited edition release of the album), but the songs are at least listenable. "Pox" is my favorite of the bunch, with some of Billy's strongest melodies. That's what made the lush side of the group so great, anyway. I also enjoy "The Rose March" and its interesting scats in the beginning. It's not as ambitious or sentimental as one could hope for, but if you want to hear some more Pumpkins it is a nice turn in pace. Just nothing special.
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