2LP, Reissue, Remastered, Compilation, 180g
Virgin (2012) US
Originally issued in 1994 after the release of The Smashing Pumpkins's influential 1991 debut Gish and their breakthrough 1993 alt-rock classic Siamese Dream, Pisces Iscariot is a compilation album consisting of B-sides and rarities that were previously unreleased. Despite the fact the material found herein was relegated to a compilation, due in large part to Billy Corgan's songwriting prolificacy, many of the songs stack up confidently beside the band's full-lengths that came before and after it. Appearing alongside soaring rockers like "Plume," "Frail and Bedazzled," and "Blue," are the beautifully atmospheric ballads "Obscured," and "La Dolly Vita," not to mention effective covers of Fleetwood Mac's "Landslide" and the Animals' "Girl Named Sandoz." Not only did the pivotal group's many hits help define the alternative music era, but it's safe to say their leftovers are better than most as well.