Adore

Smashing Pumpkins | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 2, 1998)
• Original Release Date: June 2, 1998
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Virgin Records Us
• ASIN: B000006NPY
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (643 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #13,637 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. To Sheila

2. Ava Adore

3. Daphne Descends

4. Once upon a Time

5. Tear

6. Crestfallen

7. Appels + Oranjes

8. Pug

9. The Tale of Dusty and Pistol Pete

10. Annie-Dog

11. Shame

12. Behold! The Night Mare

13. For Martha

14. Blank Page

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

With Adore, Smashing Pumpkins return to the forefront of rock to do a dance with a new partner. Trading white-noise vocals and guitars for caramel crooning and dense synthesizers, frontman Billy Corgan drives bandmates James Iha and D'Arcy to a lush aural plateau. The darkness is still there--evidenced in the techno throb of the single "Ava Adore"--but the Pumpkins also tinker with Lennonesque lullabyes ("Behold! The Night Mare"), midtempo electronica ("Appels and Oranjes"), and tender calliope music ("Once Upon a Time"). Smartly, Corgan rarely upstages the watery sounds going on behind him; the trademark midsong blowouts are almost completely absent. Adore will strike your ears and heart in a way you didn't think the Smashing Pumpkins could. --Jason Josephes

Product Description

Japanese edition of their 1998 album with 'Once In A While' added as a hidden bonus track. 17 cuts total, also featuringthe single 'Ava Adore'. A Virgin release. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars People Don't Know What They're Missing, June 3, 2000

By 

"noashtray" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Adore (Audio CD)

I'm sad to hear the Pumpkins may break up at the end of the year, but they will never be forgotten because of works such as ADORE. Nobody bought this album and it seemed to signal the band's dominance was coming to an end. Although the horrible boy groups and unoriginal teen singers were partly to blame, the quality of the music certaintly isn't. This is diverse, melodic, and dark introspection that was appropriate during a time when the Pumpkins were dealing with death and a seperation from drummer Jimmy Chamberlain. Still, without his intense drums and the usual guitars and pounding bass, these songs have power and meaning. "Ava Adore" is a light rocker with clever lyrics, "Perfect" expands upon the genius of MELLON COLLIE's "1979," while "Daphne Descends" is a dreamy track containing some guitar-rock rarely heard elsewhere on ADORE. Some of the other enjoyable moments come from the 70's sounding "Tear," which sounds like Corgan is singing with Led Zeppelin behind him, and the light pop in "The Tale Of Dusty And Pistol Pete." Another interesting element is the use of piano in several songs and this is best seen in "For Martha," an appropriate ode to Corgan's late mother. In time, more people will discover the brillance of ADORE because this is definitely music that's just too good to go unnoticed forever.

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The CD cover shows the overall theme of this great album, December 5, 1999

By 

"dr_raze" (San Antonio, TX, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Adore (Audio CD)

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.

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Will you "Adore"?, September 10, 2004

By 

E. A Solinas "ea_solinas" (MD USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Adore (Audio CD)

"Twilight fades/through blistered Avalon," is the ethereally dismal line that opens "Adore"'s first song, and sets the mood for the Smashing Pumpkins' quietest album, with the hard-rock guitars and percussion giving way to a gentler sound and some swippy electronica. It's not what you expect from the Pumpkins, but it's still enticing.

It opens with the lullaby-like "To Sheila," a shimmering little composition. Then Corgan stretches his music to include some symphonic, raw electronica in "Ava Adore," the fast "Appels + Oranjes," and the darkly shimmering "Daphne Descends." The saddening "Once Upon A Time" even sounds whimsical if you don't listen to the words, with that light melody and those bells.

Don't worry, the Pumpkins sound is retained in songs like the guitar-driven "Perfect," the hollow-sounding "Tear," and the balladic "Crestfallen." The second half sounds a little more acoustic and less electronic, with some lingering piano kicking off some of the songs. But lurking in the back is a hint of electronica that seeps in from time to time. One example is the haunting sounds at the back of "For Martha," a wrenching tribute to Corgan's late mother.

"Adore" is one of the most controversial Smashing Pumpkins albums -- rather than merely sticking to what he had already done, Corgan experimented with electronic music and melded it in. But the core of the music is the same -- pain and anger from the losses of life, the struggle with one's emotions, and finally letting go of that pain and anger.

Don't expect the Chemical Brothers in here -- Corgan's take on electronic music is dark, melancholy, almost gothic at times. Corgan's hard techno has its painful angles and corners, but in songs like "Crestfallen," he lets the smooth melody be carried off by sweeps of trip-hop. It adds a velvety sound to Corgan's already exceptional music.

It's saddening that the excellent Jimmy Chamberlin was not involved in "Adore," instead of the electric drumbeats. The guitar is still there, but it's a cloaked presence in most songs. Corgan's high voice is softened by the low-key songs he sings here. And his songwriting remains exceptional, vivid and emotional, like a poem set to music: "I can't go on, digging roses from you grave/to linger on, beyond the beyond/where the willows weep/ and whirlpools sleep, you'll find me..."

"Adore" is a dark, moody work that took quite some time to be fully appreciated by many fans. But despite its difference from other Pumpkins albums, it still strikes at the heart with its raw emotion. Rich and epic.