Smashing Pumpkins - I Am One

[joshthevegan]

The first song from Gish selected to be promoted as a single was "I Am One". There were two versions of the single available to the public, the CD/7" version which includes the songs "Plume" and "Starla", and the 10" vinyl version which added the songs "Bullet Train to Osaka" and "Terrapin", a Syd Barrett cover.

"Plume" is a groove-y medium-slow rocker run through fuzzy stompboxes and flange effects. "My boredom has outshined the sun," croons Corgan through the psychadelic fray. "Bullet Train to Osaka" is a strange little instrumental with a surf rock feel and "Terrapin" is typical Barrett psychadelia, and the Pumpkins perform in competently.


The real star of the show on this single, however, is "Starla" (which got its title from a mis-hearing of the name Darla). It is an 11 minute epic that absolutely seals I Am One's legendary status. Delicate climbing chord progressions twinkle as Corgan almost whispers into the mic, "Arm in hand, please take me home. Starla dear, I'm all alone". This is the starting place for a slow build that takes almost the entire 11 minutes to reach its peak. This build takes only one detour on its steady climb, where the band briefly drops back to a hushed, intimate dynamic, and Corgan croons:

"Serve yourself
No one else can do for you like you
No one else
Fails like me
In my eyes I burn alive
Fly like a bird
No more words just you and I
High in the sky"

As soon as the last of the words is sung, the band roars back and positively rattles the speakers with feedback and fuzz.

I Am One - 8 out of 10