ALONG COMES MARY

I will often get laughed at that most of my favorite albums are nearly (or well over) 20 years old. This can actually be a cool thing for me since that means when these albums dropped, I was too young to care or listen. If Rolling Stone thought something was a bomb, or a masterpiece, These opinions did not influence me. I discovered my music long after the critics weighed in. An album I have loved for about 10 years and just became obsessed with again, thanks to Spotify? The Smashing Pumpkins 1998 effort, Adore.

As usual, much like with Tori Amos or Nirvana, I became a huge Smashing Pumpkins fan in 2005. Much due to Adore. A friend back in the day burned me all of their work and I instantly fell in-love most with Adore. With long time drummer, Jimmy Chamberlin, out of the Pumpkins for drug use, remaining members Billy Corgan, Jimmy I’ha and D’Arcy Wretzky set out to go in the direction a lot of bands were heading in the late 1990’s: The electronica club scene. As alt-rock darlings Garbage introduced themselves with pro-tools everything in 1995, established grunge rock Gods like the Smashing Pumpkins felt the need to go the ways of U2 & Puff Daddy. And show us there was more to these artists to be heard via drum machines and European beats.

Was Adore understood much by critics? Not really. Would that mean I may have passed on this album back in the day? Maybe. Were the reviews correct? Not one bit.

Adore is, oddly, Corgan at his confessional best. There are the theatrical shock rock moments like Ava Adore or the mandatory radio friendly song, Perfect. Yet, on ditties like Crestfallen (“You were never meant to belong to me” he cries repeatedly) or Daphne Descends (a haunting work of art examining Stockholm syndrome: “With the sugar sickness /You spy the kidnap kid /Who kids you to oblivion /It’s the perfect hassle /For the perfumed kiss /He makes you miss him more than home”) you are reminded in a near eerie, creepy way what a lyrical master Billy Corgan is. Corgan is damn talented, and is not afraid to voice his art. He knows how to write and how he wants his work produced.

He also shares a beautiful ballad about his mother, who suffered from mental disorders that left Corgan to grow up on his own and on the streets. On the track, Once Upon a Time, he sings, “Mother I hope you know /That I miss you so /Time has ravaged on my soul /To wipe a mothers tears grown cold”. Tear and Pug are not far behind as cryptic, intimate songs that nearly make the listener want to turn off the album. For these songs feel as if we are intruding on Corgan’s memories and pain he laments and reminisces.

Adore is one of those intense albums. Much like when you cannot turn away from looking at a car crash on the freeway. These tracks demand your attention, some simply for their calm, tranquil vibes as you think it could explode at any moment. You can feel the members scathing as they play their instruments and Corgan sings his lyrics.

Adore is definitely my favorite album I have re-discovered. Have you heard it? I would love to know what you think of it, and the Smashing Pumpkins! xo