The Smashing Pumpkins Album: “Adore”

For some reason, a majority of the people don't know that Billy Corgan's mother, Martha, passed away somewhat recently. From that, I get the impressiont that this CD is full of mixed emotions that came about as a result of this tragic loss. For example, a lot of the songs range from a feeling of longing, helplessness, anger, and deep frustration, to a more forgiving sound. All the previous Pumpkins CDs I have are more in-your-face (Siamese Dream, MCIS) but Adore is my all-time favorite.

From a music lover's perspective, the best part about this great CD is that it's not the same instruments or same style/rythm throughout the entire CD. Every song has a different sound, and in my humble opinion it's about time for the music industry to look for new, different and above all, ORIGINAL music.

I'm finding that plenty of new artists are just using a style previous "greats" before them originated. (I'm not praising nor bashing them, but take for example, the new kids on the block...nsync...98degrees....back street boys...britney spears...cristina aguilera...all these teen idols produce the same thing....and it gets old FAST.)

To be a great band, it is essential that you bring new ideas and concepts to make you stand out from every one else. It's only logical right? To me, The Smashing Pumpkins do it every time they release a new album. And without a doubt, Adore certainly meets this expectation. So if you're tired of the same ol same ol give this CD a try. The greatest thing about this band is that you grow to like and maybe appreciate their music. The more you listen the more you'll enjoy their originality. DEFINETLY check them out.

The Smashing Pumpkins have always been a band that I've known of and been able to recognize on the radio (how could you not?) but I never truly "got into" them. However, after hearing "Thirty-three" (from "Mellon Collie") on the radio, I finally said, "Okay, I have to listen to these people." Over the past few days, I've listened to all of the Smashing Pumpkins' major studio releases. Based on my impression of them, I have to say "Adore" is my favorite. I don't understand why it was poorly received, both by fans and critics, when it came out. It shows a huge step both forward both musically (for the Pumpkins as a whole) and lyrically (for Billy Corgan). It shows far much more ambition than "Mellon Collie" -- ask yourself, how many alternative bands would attempt to make an album without a drummer? But they attempted and they pulled it off beautifully.

The album opens with the absolutely gorgeous "To Sheila" -- I knew from the first notes that I was going to love the album. It's followed by the electronically-driven and -- dare I say -- catchy "Ava Adore." The two opening songs do what opening songs should do -- they set the tone for the album, as the rest of the album is full of electronics and beautiful piano-driven songs. Don't worry, the guitar isn't absent -- it's still there, it's just not the overpowering force it once was. It blends easily here. Beyond the opening tracks, some standouts are "Daphne Descends," "Annie-Dog," "Blank Page," and "For Martha," Billy Corgan's tearjerking tribute to his deceased mother.

"Adore" proves the musical genius of Billy Corgan. Only a genius could blend all of these noises and come up with the product that he came up with. As I said before, his lyrics also improve with this album -- it's almost as if he stops trying so hard and just lets it come out exactly how he's feeling it ("it" being his mother's death, his divorce, the reunion with his father, etc.). Perhaps that's why I love "Adore" so much -- it's a work of pure emotion, emotion conveyed so well through both the words and the instruments. Don't let yourself be fooled by fans and critics telling you the album isn't "hard" enough -- pick up "Adore," put aside all other influences, and just revel in its beauty.

If you have an open mind, like The Pumpkins themselves, you will appreciate "Adore" for the magnificent album that it truly is. I want to stand on the roof tops and tell everyone they're wrong for snubbing this album. Forgive my melodrama . . . this album struck a profoundly personal chord in me. Billy lost his wife to divorce, and his mom passed away. I lost my first love at the tender age of sixteen, 1998. When Billy mourned his losses through the incredible beauty of his music, my soul was set free from my own personal grief, at least momentarily. "For Martha" is the saddest, loveliest, and most powerful song to describe the loss of a loved one. In my opinion, it is one of the best Pumpkins songs of all time. The piano chords and raw, painful lyrics brings tears to my eyes. I will never forget this song for it described how I felt when I let go of my first love, finally . . . "Behold the Nightmare" and "Shame" are also beautfil albeit sullen odes that evoke somber truths. The upbeat tunes, "Ava ADore", "Apples and Oranges", and "Perfect" are also wonderful. This album is tattooed in my mind. Like true art, it reflects life and perserves faith and belief in the human race. Thank you, Billy Corgan, for making this album.

I see this album has extreme high and low reviews, the sign of something that's cutting edge. I bought this album because of the outstanding record the pumpkins have for making fine music. I listened to this music with the same mind-set I use to listen to every album that's new to my ears (mind really), wide open. I sit back, relax, and wait until something catches my ears. This album will catch your ears, but it doesn't have aggressive masculine beats designed to impress people straight off. This is a listening album, it doesn't consist of music that a person would put in a playlist of other great music. Rather, it's music of the type where you put the CD in and listen by yourself for relaxation. Adore hasn't a single song to match the rock of the pumpkins' earlier days, but does it have to be? I'm sure Corgan didn't wake up one day and decide he wanted to make a clone album so that you could say "hey, this is just like their last album, neato" He woke up, decided he'd changed a bit, and thus his music changed with him. He's a great musician, this is great music, it's not like the previous albums, but that's okay - good even. Get the album.

I have a very large collection of cd's. Out of all of them, this is my favorite. There have been many thimes I thought I listened to a cd better then this, such as when I bought Ok Computer by Radiohead or ( ) by Sigur Ros, but after a few days this cd just kept coming into my mind and it became my favorite all over again. Billy Corgan has written his most personal lyrics ever, along with sone of the most beautiful music I have ever heard. Crestfallen remains one of my favorite songs of all time, and most of the songs on this cd would rank among some of my favorite Pumpkins songs.

When I first put in this cd, which was 2 years from the time I have written this review, I had no idea what to expect. I had heard it was more mellow then MCATIS or Simese Dream, but I didm't care because it was songs like Disarm, Crush, Galapogos, To Forgive, In the Arms of Sleep, that made me love the Pumpkins above all other bands. But when I skimmed through the first minute of each song like I always do when I get a new cd, I was amazed at what I was hearing. No, it wasn't what I had expected. It was a whole lot more. That night I listened to the whole thing front to back and it instantly became my favorite cd ever, over Machina, which I had gotton a week before Adore. The songs were so much more then I had thought they'de be. I had figured they would be manily acoustic songs, which I would of loved, but there was a new instrument which I had knew nothing about. The synthesizer. It made you feel like you were floating in space, in songs like Appels and Oranjes, and Daphne Desends. Also, I absoutely loved the electronic drums, which most people hated. I love Jimmy Chamberlin, he is the best drummer of the 90's along with Matt Cameron, but the cd would not feel the same without the sound of the electronic drums.

This cd changed the way I listened to music. I would of never had the patience to listen to Radiohead or Sigur Ros or even attempt to listen to them if I hadn't heard this cd. It made me discover that music was more then a 4 piece band with a drummer, guitarist, bassist, and vocalist. Music was more then how good you can play a solo, how high your songs got on the charts, or how fast and heavy you can be. Music was about how the song made you feel inside. Buy this cd and let it take you to places you've never been.