I don't know, people seem to hate this band, but I LOVE all their albums. Especially Gish, the first one =3
There really can't be a top 3 Smashing Pumpkins song, or even a top 5... or a 10! But I chose the ones that defined the Smashing Pumpkins during the era of Grunge/Alt (1991-1995), because too many people b*tch that their other albums are terri-bad.
Whatever, let's get on with it!!! (In no particular order)
1) Rhinoceros - The SHEER embodiment of the early Smashing Pumpkins could be summed up by this song: lyrics that didn't make much sense, a transition to a soft light jazz song into ballsy alternative (with similar vocal transitions), and just about the greatest solo ever in 1991!!
2)Disarm - "Cut you like you want me to / Cut that little child" and "The Killer in me is the killer in you," can you get any more angsty then that? Soft acoustic, no fancy heavy guitars, no solo; it was a departure, but a great one indeed.
3)Tonight, Tonight - A changing tempo, a 30-piece string section, and drums that would rather be in a blues band, it's surprising how this song became so popular. Widely considered as the Smashing Pumpkins at their finest (though, I thought their sequel album to Machina 2 was probably the most raw, unlike the polished Infinite album).