Smashing Pumpkins - Adore
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Free Music Notes for Adore
Free Music Review: Electronica? Goth? Pop? All of the above..
Hit: 5 Stars
A couple things shook up Billy Corgan's world after the success of "Mellon Collie". First, drummer Jimmy Chamberlain was booted for drug issues. Second, Billy's mother passed away. "Adore" is the result; a downbeat, intimate, beautiful album that trades in the mammoth rock riffs and towering epics of Led Zeppelin for the new wave-ish pop and dark ballads of The Cure.
This has been referred to as an "electronica" album. Sort of, but not really. "Ava Adore" is a throbbing, techno-rocker, and "Apples & Oranjes" is a New Order-like electronica-pop song. Most overtly experimental is "Pug", a song that's both eerie and soothing. It's one of the coolest songs they've ever done.
There are lots of electronica flourishes (drum machines, synths), but for the most part, these are lush, delicate ballads. Mainly accoustic guitars and pianos. The album opens with "To Shelia", a gentle folk song. Billy Corgan's vocals are as frail as ever on most of these songs (especially on "Blank Page" and "Annie-Dog", two mournful piano ballads).
"Once Upon a Time" is a bittersweet waltz about Billy's mother. Also dedicated to her is "For Martha", the pinnacle of Billy's career IMO. A towering power ballad of sorts that reaches an amazing crescendo in its 8 minute course. Words can't do it justice; listen for yourself.
The album also features claustrophobic goth ballads ("Crestfallen", "Tear", "Daphne Descends"), beautiful accoustic pop ("The Tale of Dusty & Pistol Pete", "Perfect"), and soothing, nocturnal dreamscapes ("Behold! The Nightmare")
Depending on my mood, "Adore" is my favorite Smashing Pumpkins album. It's different, but I love the dark (very gothic), lush, atmospheric feel. Also, I love The Cure, so it's great to hear an album so influenced by them.
It may take a lot of listens, but these songs are incredible. Don't buy into the bad reviews.
Best Songs: For Martha, Behold! The Nightmare, Blank Page, The Tale of Dusty & Pistol Pete, Pug, Crestfallen.
Free Music Review: A Brilliant Gem
Hit: 5 Stars
My title says it all, this was the best album of 1998. Dark, moody, mesmerizing and thoughtful all shaped up with a gothic twist. I agree with one of the other reviewers when they said "Adore" and "Machina" are two sides of the same coin. "Adore" is a lot more softer than their previous efforts or anything they'll probably ever do. The Bauhaus influence is heavy, but not to the point of riping them off. Lots of well placed gothic tinged effects (just like "Machina") that show off a side I'm praying they stick with. The best songs are "Ava Adore", "Perfect", "Tear", "Crestfallen", "Apples & Oranges", "Annie-Dog" and "Shame". All these songs are beautiful but lyrically, they're perfect. I can say, without a doubt, that this is Billy Corgan's best lyrical album so far. It's very personal and touching. The only song that really makes use of guitars is "Ava Adore", the rest of the songs are a lot more slower, or when they use guitars they are placed in a very delicate way, like "Tear". From the techno-ish "Apples & Oranges" to the piano ballad of "Crestfallen", you really can't go wrong with this.This is the sort of album you go to your room with, put it on, and just relax to. Putting on your headphones and savoring it's brilliance is another way to go, not standing on a chair and doing the air-guitar thing to, like their earlier albums. I can see why older Pumpkin fans didn't really like this, it's really different, less rock, more goth. It's the same reason I didn't like "Siamese Dream", this is a completely different band. You also have to undestand why I love this so much, my two favorite genres are alternative and gothic music. So having an amazing alternative band making an amazing goth-influenced record is what drew me to it. This and "Machina" are my two favorites, check them both out to get a surreal experience.Free Music Review: What if the fans refused to hear...?
Hit: 5 Stars
I can remember the first time I heard the first single from this album, the pulsing second track "Ava Adore." I remember thinking to myself with a smile on my face, "THIS is Smashing Pumpkins?" Being a fan of electronic music and modern recording techniques, I welcomed this new sound from a band that once was as abrasive as their grunge counterparts Nirvana and Sonic Youth. And then I bought the album...and still with a smile on my face, I was surprised to find that the entire album was NOT electronica influenced at all. It sickened me to find fans lamenting this record because "Corgan sold out to new electronic trends," or "Where's the Seattle grunge sound these guys used to have?" First of all, it's a well-crafted mix of electronica-influence and acoustic beauty. "To Sheila," "Perfect," the haunting "Tear," and "Once Upon a Time" prove that in spite of the drum machines and pulsing keyboard riffs in the backdrop, it still has moments of sentimental acoustic melancholy. Then you have songs like "Pug," "Daphne Descends," "Ava Adore," and my personal favorite on the whole album, "Appels + Oranjes." This album masterfully goes from one direction to another, and the musicianship is excellent. Sure Corgan's vocals often have to be manipulated so he can hit the note, but this album was essential in showing that despite the youthful angsty-ness that encompassed the first two albums and some of "Mellon-Collie and the Infinite Sadness," the band is diverse in their sound and capable of creating beautiful music that speaks to and of the soul without being overstated. To hell with those who think this is a grim and pathetic attempt on the part of the band to cash in on a trend of the time. This is a great album that I will listen to long before I pop in "Gish." Give it a chance and listen to the MUSIC people, MUSIC! That's what it's all about!Free Music Review: Accept Adore for what it is, and give it a chance
Hit: 5 Stars
Adore marks a change from any of the other previous Smashing Pumpkins outings. In fact, the Pumpkins DO change from recording to recording. That's what we call progress. As music fans, we have a tendency to surrender to popular culture mentalities, treat music as a race, and look for a winner. Adore has fallen from the favor of many Pumpkins fans, because for them it didn't match up to the ambitions that characterize Mellon Collie and the Infinate Sadness and Siamese Dream.The band, because of the success Mellon Collie and Siamese Dream, established themselves as one of the most important bands in history. By only their third album, the seven-year old band had accomplished Billy Corgans Band of world domination by setting a seven-million copy sales record for a double album, and thus established themselves as one of the most important bands in history.
I think it's a shame that people cannot appreciate Adore for what it is, which is a seperate release that chronicals perhaps the darkest period in Pumpkins history. When entering the recording studio for this album, our quartet was now down to a trio, and had been through Hell and back about twenty times. Taking on a new ambition, Billy Corgan and company opted for experimental music, sort of along the lines of what characterized Twilight To Starlight on Mellon Collie.
The goal this time around was to branch out and look for new expression, new ideas. They were rewarded with poor sales and harsh criticism. After all the Pumpkins have been through for their fans, I beleive they deserve to have a little latitude and try different things. That's the reason why people fell in love with them in the first place: the fact that they've always done things their way and on their terms.
Listen to Adore for yourself and make your own conclusions. It's not as immediately compelling as some of the Pumpkins' previous works (Hell, it took me a while to get used to it), but it is a rewarding experience, nonetheless.
Free Music Review: The Pumpkins can do no wrong
Hit: 5 Stars
I hate it how people will give Adore one star and then say "I'm a huge Pumpkins fan" as the first line in their review. THEY LIE. No real Pumpkins fan could give Adore one star. This is a truly beautiful album - although it takes a somewhat enlightened person to fully appreciate it, I think anyone can enjoy it.The album is not dark and depressing in my opinion. It is chillingly beautiful, and filled with ups and downs. No, you won't find the explosive rock of "I Am One" or the uptempo melodic guitar power of "Cherub Rock" here. Not even the nihilistic stomp of "Bullet with Butterfly Wings." No, Adore is a different kind of animal altogether. However, it is still very, very good.
It is full of great songs. "To Sheila" is a chilling, beautiful ballad. "Ava Adore" is one of the more uptempo, familar-sounding songs, and ranks as one of my favorite Pumpkins songs. It's dark but uptempo, and very cool. "Perfect" is very reminiscent of 1979, but still very good. "Tear" is eerily catchy and slow. "Appels + Oranjes" is a swelling synth anthem, very nice. "Pug" has a cool beat and drive, very groovy. All the songs are good though.
Billy really stands out here. His songwriting prowess is displayed and he shows he can write a great song without a single distorted guitar hook to be found in it. His singing progresses as well; listen to "Annie-Dog." The lyrics found in Adore are also more personal and easy to relate to than some of the other songs. They kind of remind me of the lyrical style on songs like "Muzzle" and "Disarm."
Adore is an amazing album. It also shows that Billy is a true artist and that even without Jimmy Chamberlain (one of the best drummers in modern music today) they can make some damn good songs. If you like the Pumpkins, I mean if you really like them, you will enjoy Adore.