By 1993 the Grunge movement had peaked, and the music industry was looking for the next Seattle. In recent years the Chicago scene had borne multiple power-pop and rock bands, but Smashing Pumpkins’ hard-hitting, psychedelia-infused debut album, “Gish,” had something entirely new. Expectations for their sophomore effort were high, and on July 19, 1993, Billy Corgan, producer Butch Vig, and (to a lesser extent) the band delivered. Suddenly, the Pumpkins were everywhere, darlings of MTV and alternative radio. But behind the scenes things, were going less than smashingly. Laurie and Scott do some “Siamese Dream” analysis.

Content warning: This episode includes references to suicide. Listener discretion advised.

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So many great albums in 1992, but not enough weeks in 2026 to deep-dive them all. What’s the solution? “,” in which Scott Free & Laurie each pick five albums, select one or two songs from each, and give them the accelerated Accelerated Culture treatment. Alternative hip-hop, Riot Grrrls, space rock, industrial psychobilly, Icelandic weirdo-pop: this episode has it all.

If you like the music featured in this episode, be sure to listen to our (almost) complete Episode 82 playlist on Spotify.

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Just last year you released your biggest-selling album to date. What do you do for a follow-up? Release your second-biggest-selling album to date, of course, and your most critically beloved. (In this scenario, by the way, it's 1992, you’re R.E.M., and the follow-up album in question is Automatic For The People. Congratulations on your massive success.) Join co-hosts Laurie and Scott Free as they dig into the album that spawned six singles, and that NME put at the top of their Best Albums of 1992 list. Laurie loved it, Scott Free slept on it, and now you get to listen to it with fresh ears. Hey, kids: rock and roll!

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SUBSCRIBE ON PATREON FOR ADS-FREE LISTENING AND EARLY EPISODE RELEASES! If you like what we do at Accelerated Culture Podcast, please consider supporting us on Patreon for only $5 a month: https://www.patreon.com/AcceleratedCulturePodcast