During the mid-1990s, the Smashing Pumpkins proved its worth to modern rock music.

The release of Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness in 1995 showed a band that had climbed to the top of the rafters and scoffed as it looked below at the straggling contenders. Billy
Corgan unleashed a wealth of music in the sessions before releasing his double-album, much of which was previously mere folklore.

But those songs would not go unheard, and later became the fodder for the Pumpkins' comprehensive box set, The Aeroplane Flies High. With five CDs, each containing a single from the Mellon Collie album, the box set is far more than just a collection of singles. Each of the five discs includes a unique facet of the band's dynamic nature.

"Bullet with Butterfly Wings" begins the journey. Mostly comprised of covers, the disc shows the band's influences, and also shifts the spotlight to Pumpkins beside Corgan. Guitarist James Iha takes front man status on the droning Cure cover "A Night Like This," and bassist D'Arcy leads the thoughtful "Dreaming" originally done by Blondie.

Iha also showcases his own songwriting abilities on the single's only unreleased original, " ... Said Sadly." This acoustic ballad lulls quietly as Iha trades melodies with Nina Gordon of Veruca Salt, and tangles with the soft slide guitar.

The second disc, the single for "1979," shifts the Pumpkins to another di-rection. The diverse collection of songs comes powerfully charged and poignant. The upbeat track "The Boy" matches with the single's jangle and pop enthusiasm, while sullen splendor arises out of the more pensive "Cherry" and "Set the Ray to Jerry."

The latter is perhaps one of the band's most captivating songs, with each member testifying worthiness. With steady percussion strength, guitars coalesce with the vocals and tell the tale of a band truly in harmony.

And on the third disc, Corgan said let there be rock.

The "Zero" single punches with gritty riffs and powerful jams. Cutthroat songs like "Mouths of Babes" and "Marquis in Spades" de-molish any misconception of Smashing Pumpkins as anything but a rock band. For the true Pumpkin fanatics, "Pistachio Medley" comprises a montage of song snippets stretching hammer over 23 minutes long.

The only respite in this rock parade is the almost innocuous "Pennies." This gentle track enters with a quaint pop sound and not only relieves the ears, but yet again attests to the band's varied intentions.

The ying to "Zero's" yang, the single for "Tonight, Tonight" highlights the Pumpkins' acoustic prowess. The haunting "Medallia of the Gray Skies" whispers through one's speakers, featuring tones from a seemingly distant piano. "Rotten Apples" comforts listeners and shows Corgan as the ever-heartfelt minstrel.

Rounding out the set, the "Thirty-Three" single is the most scatterbrained of all the discs in this collection, revealing all styles and all intents the Pumpkins could ever muster. Rock is revisited with the laconic "Transformer" and the epic "The Aeroplane Flies High (Turns Left, Looks Right)." The misplaced denouement "The Last Song," featuring Corgan's father/noted blues guitarist, matches caressing guitar alongside synth strings to comfort a lamenting lover.

In light of Corgan's newest endeavor -- the rock quintet Zwan -- it may be easy to forget a time when he used his powers for good. The Aeroplane Flies High acts as a simple, yet lengthy reminder of a band that honed its talent and used it to the fullest.