As perfectly representative of a product of the CD era of music as anything else — two full hours of music and even more could have been added if they were so inclined — Mellon Collie could have been a folly on a grand scale for the Smashing Pumpkins, except then the album proceeded to be a total smash hit, one of the decade’s biggest rock records by far. The subtle, sweet feeling of “1979” in particular became a standout single (while the more typical blast and angst of “Bullet With Butterfly Wings” has led to jokes about rats ever since), but this only scratches the surface of the album’s range and ambition.

– Ned Raggett