Is it time to stuff the archives? Yes, yes it is. Ergo, this DVD review of The Smashing Pumpkins Greatest Hits Video Collection 1991-2000, originally published on occasion of its release in the fall of 2001. To wit:
A video collection timed to coincide with the release of the
Smashing Pumpkins’ sterling greatest hits disc Rotten Apples, this DVD features
over 90 minutes of music, as well as an impressive array of extras that
includes video commentary by the band themselves regarding the production of
the clips, narration by various directors and outtakes from the shoots. But
it’s the videos themselves — combined with the attractive, easy-to-surf extra
packaging — that make this disc so worthy.
Unlike many of their alt-rock,
early-’90s contemporaries, the Smashing Pumpkins always put a lot of thought,
preparation and imagination into their videos, and it had nothing to do with
vanity. They were just as willing to play carefree and silly (the great
“Today”) as they were to go dark, brooding and ugly (the pulsing, high concept
“Ava Adore,” still one of my favorites of the decade) or take the backseat to
a carefully choreographed concept (“Perfect”). The disc also contains two live
performance clips (“Geek USA,” live from 1994, and “An Ode to No One,” from
their farewell show at Chicago’s Metro) and a little “Lost Tapes” documentary
that takes a look at the mystery behind the missing footage from the “1979”
video shoot.