Band: Smashing Pumpkins

Album Title: If All Goes Wrong

Label: Coming Home Media

Distributor  PIAS

Release Date: 01/12/2008

Release: DVD

This double DVD by one of the American’s icons of the grunge offers an insight into the birth of the fourth iteration of Smashing Pumpkins. Band leader Billy Corgan resurrects his once world-conquering band together with drummer Jimmy Chamberlin as the only other original band member. So you may not expect a sort best of. This document is made at the Orange Peel in Asheville and the Fillmore in San Francisco. It offers a fascinating look into both Billy Corgan's song writing process and his attempts at fashioning a new version of his band that has no interest in returning to former glories. Another thing that comes out of this document is the maniacal control of Corgan over the band. Visually the documentary is rather dull with plenty of grainy black-and-white shots thrown in to give that raw feeling. Director Jack Gulick places Billy Corgan for most of this DVD in the main focus while low profiler Jimmy Chamberlin has progressed from top drummer to being the band's calming influence. The second DVD captures the band performing live during their Fillmore Residency. Newer songs, some only days old, are too sketchy and fail to connect with the audience, while a refusal to play any of the classics only serves to compound the situation. The audience seems willing to give the new material a chance, while the new band members prove to be more than qualified. But as Pete Townshend of The Who said in an interview Smashing Pumpkins deals with the interesting battle between artistic growth and fan expectations. Finally, and best of all, are a collection of songs being rehearsed by the band. This double DVD “If All Goes Wrong” is indispensable for fans with small moments like Billy Corgan meeting fans or witnessing a new song slowly coming together. It makes this film a fascinating document of a band being reborn.

72/100

Guido Claes.