Earphoria Live by Smashing Pumpkins

As a companion to the 'Viewphoria' DVD, this CD is a worthwhile thing to have. While many of these live versions are not as good as the studio takes, certain tracks really shine out. The live version of Cherub Rock is really great.I specifically bought this CD for the live recording of 'I Am One' which, on the DVD, is a blisteringly exciting performance. Billy's seemgly effortless and violent guitar is mind blowingly well matched with Jimmy Chamberlin's super-tight drumming.But whereas the sound for this performance is good on the DVD, the CD version sounds rather flat and that's a real shame. It really should knock your head off.It gets 4 stars from me because I like the Pumpkins and this collection is a fascinating glimpse of the band. The whole 'Phoria' package is quite an interesting one. It's rough but very well constructed but for those who are getting into the Pumpkins it would be better to start with the DVD. The 'in-between' videos are unintentionally revealing.

Earphoria is the soundtrack to the Vieuphoria home video first released in 1994. This really is quite a good piece of work, it contains some suprising interpretations of the pumpkins songs such as the rock version of Disarm. Indeed in some places the songs are even better than the originals, the instrument playing especially is of a higher quality. However been as it is only a live album it is not worth getting unless you really are a fan, as the hard to find material on this cd doesn't really stand out as the pumpkins best material.