By the time we reach Billy Corgan’s solo on Rocket (3:01), you’re already attuned to the little half-step hammer-on/pull-off moves he’s been dropping in the background of the song (foreshadowed adeptly in the preceding song, Hummer). It’s one of the great moments on Siamese Dream, which is not exactly an album short on great moments. And if I may, since we’re already talking about it, I’d argue that the heavyweight singles from this record, stuff like Cherub Rock and Today, mostly, and the subsequent drama surrounding Corgan’s reputation (years and years of it, really) have pushed this album onto the backburner of our collective subconscious. That’s not a good thing. I’m not saying you need to put Siamese Dream on the bluetooth every morning over a pot of tea like we do in my household, but why not? These are trying times in America, and a little rock ‘n’ roll still goes a long way. If you’re hurting, if you’re feeling blue about the state of affairs in this addled, microchipped century of ours, the guitar solo on Rocket might be just the ticket. That’s all I’m trying to say.
Sandy 