Review Summary: The Smashing Pumpkins at their finest
Adore was Billy Corgan at his most honest stage of The Smashing Pumpkins, conceived during a period of resentment, internal struggle and sorrow within the band, Corgan knew he was writing for a band soon to fall apart.
Leaving distortion and live drums behind for acoustic guitars, electronics and synthesizers, the band was attempting to go from speaking for teenagers to talking to anyone and everyone who was still listening. This time creating epic layers of swirling sound and effects for a much softer side of Corgan's voice to lay upon, he sang of a twisted romance in Ava Adore to a make belief tale of Dusty and Pistol Pete then concluding in a tribute to a recent loss of his mother in For Martha.
Musically and lyrically this album is flawless, from Corgan delivering his confessions to simple but beautiful melodies in Once Upon a Time to the haunting Ebow lead blending into synth from Daphne Descends. The band really takes their music canvas to a whole new level. The production really shows the change, you wont see any overdubbed distorted guitars here, instead pianos with reverb and Corgan harmonizing with himself in a way he never showed on previous releases.
You could miss out on the brillance of Adore if you were to compare it to Siamese Dream or Mellon Collie And The Infinite Sadness which is where a lot of people go wrong, going into it expecting a burst of life like Cherub Rock but getting the softer side of To Sheila then dismissing the album on those grounds would be foolish. If you are one of these people I suggest you listen again with an open mind and enjoy the materpiece which is Adore.
