Pisces Iscariot

''Pisces Iscariot'' is a compilation album by American alternative rock band the Smashing Pumpkins, released in 1994 through Virgin Records, consisting of B-sides and outtakes. Reaching number 4 in the US upon its 1994 release, ''Pisces Iscariot'' was certified platinum by the RIAA on November 23, 1994.

The album was re-released by EMI as a deluxe edition CD and LP on July 17, 2012.

Background and history

''Pisces Iscariot'' is a collection of B-sides and outtakes recorded by the Smashing Pumpkins over several years, dating back as far as 1989. According to Billy Corgan's liner notes, the songs originate from a variety of sessions, including home recordings, quick studio takes, and material that was considered for but ultimately left off the band's first two albums: ''Gish'' (recorded at Smart Studios) and ''Siamese Dream'' (recorded at Triclops Studios). The process of assembling ''Pisces Iscariot'' was largely handled by Corgan, who recalls that sequencing the album was important but does not remember exactly how long it took. He describes his approach as similar to constructing a baseball lineup, aiming to balance strengths and minimize weaknesses. Rather than viewing it as a cohesive studio album, he treated it like a mixtape he might make for a friend, saying, "Hey, check out this other stuff I did with my band that's not on the albums." He was particularly focused on the album's flow, inspired by mixtapes that could transition smoothly between different styles, such as "a great Black Sabbath track to say like a Tom Waits song." Corgan recalls that much of the responsibility for putting the album together was left to him, with the rest of the band taking a hands-off approach. He describes the process as a "mad scramble" to complete the album, with certain tracks requiring final mixing or additional work. For example, "Hello Kitty Kat" from the ''Siamese Dream'' sessions had originally been mixed by Alan Moulder and Butch Vig, but Corgan decided it needed to be remixed, calling Vig to request changes. He notes that while there were many last-minute details to address, there was little time to do so before the album's release.

"Soothe" was recorded in Corgan's bedroom at his old apartment. He originally intended to keep the song for himself, but a friend encouraged him to leave it as is. It was considered for ''Siamese Dream'', but Corgan decided against including it. Written in 1992, "Frail and Bedazzled" was initially intended for ''Siamese Dream'' but never received the full attention Corgan felt it deserved. It was recorded in about an hour, with lyrics written in a parking garage where he used to live and rehearse. Originally a demo recorded in Corgan's bedroom, "Plume" was later reworked at Kerry Brown's studio. The song was recorded without a bass player, so Eric Harris of Deep Blue Dream unknowingly contributed to the final track. The lyrics were written while Corgan was waiting for his father to pick him up at the airport. "Whir" was "another recorded in an hour type thingers that has been in the box". "Blew Away" was written and produced by guitarist James Iha, making it the only song on the album without Corgan's direct involvement. It was recorded with Kerry Brown on drums while Jimmy Chamberlin was on vacation. One of the few songs recorded live, "Pissant" was created during the ''Siamese Dream'' sessions late at night. Corgan improvised the lyrics in ten minutes. Although there was discussion about including it on the album, he ultimately decided against it. Originally intended for ''Siamese Dream'', "Hello Kitty Kat" was left off the album after Corgan was dissatisfied with the mix. It was written during the ''Gish'' era and was one of the songs he strongly considered for the follow-up album before ultimately discarding it.

Written during the ''Gish'' recording sessions, "Obscured" was originally supposed to appear on the '' Lull'' EP, which was initially intended as a single before being expanded. The song was eventually released as the B-side to "Today" in the UK. A cover of Fleetwood Mac's song, "Landslide" was recorded at the BBC. Corgan initially learned the song incorrectly by ear and was later shown a simpler way to play it. He described the song as personally relevant at the time of its recording. "Starla" was named after a woman Corgan met named Darla, mistakenly thinking her name was Starla. It was recorded alongside "Plume" and was originally intended as a demo before being used as a B-side for " I Am One" in the UK. The lyrics were written at the last minute, with Corgan composing the middle section on the back of an envelope. The recording was completed in multiple sessions. Originally recorded during the ''Gish'' sessions, "Blue" is the only outtake from that album to appear on ''Pisces Iscariot''. It was released on ''Lull'' and remastered for this compilation. Corgan briefly considered including an acoustic version instead but ultimately decided against it. A cover of the Animals' song " Girl Named Sandoz" was recorded during a Peel Session and later released on the ''Peel Sessions'' EP. The experience was difficult, as the band arrived late due to a scheduling misunderstanding and felt they were treated poorly. "La Dolly Vita" was one of the band's earliest songs, recorded with Vig at the same session as "Tristessa". The song was considered for ''Gish'' but was never re-recorded for the album. Corgan described it as having a "dignity all its own" and one of his favorite hidden tracks. A track Corgan described as "hard to explain", "Spaced" was created during the ''Siamese Dream'' sessions and described as part of the "''Siamese'' debris collection".

Composition

Musically, ''Pisces Iscariot'' is an alternative rock and grunge album with heavy psychedelic rock influences. Ryan Leas of ''Stereogum'' wrote that ''Pisces Iscariot'' consists of both "fuzzed out rockers and denser, more psychedelic tracks", comparing it to ''Gish'' and ''Siamese Dream''. He suggests that the album's psychedelic influence may be even more pronounced than on the band's previous releases. The album maintains the band's characteristic mix of distortion-heavy rock and softer, acoustic-driven moments. David Browne in ''Entertainment Weekly'' observed that the Pumpkins "can sound both raw and fussily produced at the same time". Ian Cohen of ''Pitchfork'' agrees, noting that its "ratio of sweet acoustic strummers, barnstorming riff-rockers, and expansive guitar freakouts is balanced almost exactly akin to that of ''Siamese Dream'' or ''Gish''." He also describes the album's sequencing as "painstakingly" arranged to maintain a flow similar to a traditional LP, stating that "It still works as an album if you want it to", unlike other alternative rock compilation albums of the '90s, such as Nirvana's ''Incesticide'' and Oasis

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