Smashing Pumpkins: “Disarm” (Hut Records)

I nearly mistrust the fact that from the moment of the opening suspensefully strummed guitar ‘Disarm’ has ‘instant classic’ written all over it. It’s almost as if Billy Corgan and Co. were too well versed in immortal riffs. However, to the accompaniment of luscious mood swinging strings the Smashing Pumpkins are just too convincing to sustain any misgivings for more than a couple of seconds. “The Killer in me is the Killer in you” intones Billy Boy and a thousand and one of the greatest vocalists of all time seem to resonate out from behind the layered musical structures that carry the song’s altruistic tendencies along with an ease bordering on the criminal. As close to perfection as perfection can get without being off-putting.