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The Smashing Pumpkins
Adore (1998)
Moderate 88 BPM
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Song DNA

Dynamic Range6/10
Sudden Changesmild
Texturelayered
Predictabilitymedium
Vocal Styledynamic vocals
Notes: Features live-recorded drum machine rhythms with atmospheric guitars creating a brooding, immersive texture; Billy Corgan's emotive vocals build gradually without harsh peaks.

Misophonia Triggers

Mouth Soundsnone
Percussive Clicksmild
Breathing Soundsnone
Repetitive Micro-soundsnone

A melancholic alternative rock track from Adore, written by Billy Corgan amid personal turmoil, blending drum machine grooves with layered guitars and introspective lyrics.

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Moods: emotional, introspective, melancholy

Traditions: alternative rock

How this song sits on each sensory axis

A dynamic range of 6/10 means this song moves. Expect a real volume climb between quiet sections and the loudest part of the arrangement — enough that you may want to set the initial volume below where you'd normally land.

Sudden changes: mild. There are one or two transitions worth knowing about, though they're musically resolved rather than surprise-driven.

Texture is layered — a full arrangement with clear separation between parts.

Predictability is medium — conventional structure overall, with one or two moments that deviate from what you'd expect.

Vocal style: dynamic vocals.

Where this sits in The Smashing Pumpkins's catalog

We have 43 songs from The Smashing Pumpkins in the library. Of those, 5 are rated Safe, 22 Moderate, and 16 Intense. This song's dynamic range of 6/10 sits below the artist average of 6.7, making it the #29 most dynamic track of theirs in our library.

Other tracks from Adore

We have 8 songs from this album. Overall, the album leans moderate in sensory profile.

1998 context

Released in 1998. We have 339 songs from that year in our library, averaging a dynamic range of 6.3/10. This track is about average than the year average. Explore more from the 1990s.

Explore by mood and tradition

Moods
emotional · 2189introspective · 5721melancholy · 5399
Traditions
alternative rock · 991

Why this rating

We rate this song Moderate because it falls between our Safe and Intense thresholds on at least one dimension. Moderate is the default for most well-produced music that has real arc but no surprise elements. Full rubric: methodology.

Rating last reviewed: 2026-04-13. Reviewed by the Music I Want editorial team against the documented methodology.

Think this rating is wrong? Email the editor — every message is read and ratings get revised.

Songs with the same DNA

layered texture, similar intensity — across any genre or era.

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Floating Points
moderate
DR 7
Root Beer Rag
Billy Joel
safe
DR 5
Little Sister
Dwight Yoakam
moderate
DR 6
I've Seen Forever
13th Floor Elevators
moderate
DR 6
Nothing Really Matters
Madonna
moderate
DR 6
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The Yardbirds
moderate
DR 6

Safer alternatives with a similar feel

These songs share similar moods but with a gentler sensory profile.

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Broken-Hearted Girl
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