Smashing Pumpkins – If All Goes Wrong

November 19, 2008

If All Goes Wrong documents The Smashing Pumpkins reunion tour last summer. The documentary shows the process of the band rehearsing and performing for a serious of residences on the coasts of the US. The documents also focus on Billy and his process of writing songs and debuting them during the residencies. Now, just so we get it out of the air I would say I am a fan of the band. I am not a die-hard but I do enjoy Billy’s work from time to time. Also, it was cool to see why they got back together and the how they selected the new members to join them.

I just thought that Billy was being a bit unfair when he was talking about people wanting to her some popular songs doing the gigs. I know that it must be annoying to have to play these songs over and over again but you have to treat the fans to a big song time to time. The whole process he had of writing new songs and debuting them like the next night. It was very interesting to see Billy working on a tune in his hotel room and then the next day throwing the song on stage. The documentary shows you what a complicated person Billy Corgan is and how his process works.

The second disc is a concert from one of their nights in San Fransisco. I recognized two songs on this disc before watching it. I had said previous I was not a die-hard fan but I knew a few things about the pumpkins. I have never seen the pumpkins live so I was looking forward to giving this disc a good watch.The setlist for the gig is 15 songs. Would it be to much to ask for another single other than “Heavy Metal Machine”?

“It All Goes Wrong” is perhaps better served for the purists and die-hards out there as a causal fan like myself I was hoping to hear more of the popular songs than of all the new stuff. But, with saying that it was still a compelling watch.

By John Siwicki

Share and Enjoy: