Soma (song)

The song-writing credits list James Iha and Billy Corgan as co-authors, but Corgan claims that Iha only wrote the chord structure for the beginning of the song, and that Corgan himself wrote the rest.[4] The song is said to have included up to 40 overdubbed guitar tracks.[5] Corgan says the song "is based on the idea that a love relationship is almost the same as opium: it slowly puts you to sleep, it soothes you, and gives you the illusion of sureness and security."[6] It was also acknowledged that song was inspired by Corgan's break-up with his ex-wife, Chris Fabian.[7][8] The song also contains references to a hallucinogenic drug which was featured in Aldous Huxley's novel Brave New World[9] and features a prominent piano figure by Mike Mills of R.E.M.[10][11]

The song received positive reviews. Ned Raggett of AllMusic especially praised the song's guitar solo, while spotting elements from gothic rock and psychedelic rock.[10] The song was also likened to Prince's "The Beautiful Ones".[10][12] The critically acclaimed guitar solo was rated as the 24th in Rolling Stone's "The 25 Coolest Guitar Solos" list.[13] The guitar solo was placed as 41st in NME's "50 Greatest Guitar Solos" list.[14]

American band Poison the Well covered the song for Reignition Records' 2005 tribute compilation The Killer in You: A Tribute to Smashing Pumpkins. In his review of the album, their rendition was said to be "probably the best of the bunch" by AllMusic's Greg Prato.[10]