Is Adore a good place to start with The Smashing Pumpkins?

Yes, Adore is recommended as a starting point for new The Smashing Pumpkins listeners. A haunting blend of melancholic melodies and introspective lyrics wrapped in lush, atmospheric instrumentation. Released on June 2, 1998, Adore was The Smashing Pumpkins' third studio album, following their highly acclaimed double album, Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness. At this point in their career, the band was navigating a shift in sound, moving away from the heavy guitar-driven anthems that defined their earlier work towards a more subdued and experimental approach.

Adore works well if you're into introspective late-night exploration, haunting melodies for solitude and dynamic journey with resolution.

How many songs are on Adore?

Adore has 16 tracks, running approximately 73 minutes.

Adore

The Smashing Pumpkins · 1998

73 min · 16 tracks · alternative rock

A haunting blend of melancholic melodies and introspective lyrics wrapped in lush, atmospheric instrumentation.

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Top tracks — play these first

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To Sheila Start here — establishes the sonic palette early
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Ava Adore — This track represents the album's blend of electronic textures with traditional rock elements, showcasing its unique production style and a shift in lyrical focus towards darker themes of love and longing.
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Perfect — With its melodic hooks and emotional depth, this song encapsulates the essence of personal reflection while diverging from the band's earlier sound, making it a standout moment on the album.
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For Martha — This poignant tribute features lush instrumentation and heartfelt lyrics, serving as a powerful culmination of the album's themes of loss and remembrance.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

64 /100

Treeline

Higher than 79% of albums we've rated

Adore showcases a mature sound with rich instrumentation and introspective lyrics, marking a distinct evolution for the band.

What we noticed

The album opens with a soft, atmospheric track that sets a contemplative tone, followed by a shift to more rhythmic elements in the second track.
Several tracks feature layered instrumentation, including strings and synthesizers, creating a lush soundscape that contrasts with the band's earlier work.
The lyrics often explore themes of loss and introspection, with many songs featuring a conversational delivery rather than traditional verse-chorus structures.

Composition 25% of the score: 7/10
Craft 20% of the score: 8/10
Durability 25% of the score: 6/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 8/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 7/10

Influence 4/10

Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Is this for you?

Good fit if you like

introspective late-night exploration
haunting melodies for solitude
dynamic journey with resolution
wave-like pacing and ebbing
emotional depth and atmosphere

Maybe skip if you

seeking upbeat dance tracks
prefer short, standalone songs

Where this album fits

In the catalog: Experimental — Showcases a shift towards introspection and a departure from earlier sound.
Themes: personal loss· electronic melancholy· suburban longing
Moods: Introspective· Melancholy
Career context: Released on June 2, 1998, Adore was The Smashing Pumpkins' third studio album, following their highly acclaimed double album, Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness. At this point in their career, the band was navigating a shift in sound, moving away from the heavy guitar-driven anthems that defined their earlier work towards a more subdued and experimental approach.
Stylistic neighbors: Alice in Chains· Soundgarden· Radiohead