Sometimes the point of a record is as plain as its title. Despite, or as a result of, the heavy losses sustained by the Pumpkin in the last two years - the fatal overdose of touring keyboard player Jonathan Melvoin; the firing of drummer Jimmy Chamberlin; the passing of frontman Billy Corgan's mother - Adore is a shockingly optimistic effort. The trick is not in looking for the faith and the commitment Corgan encodes deep inside songs like "Ava Adore," "Tear," and "perfect" but in letting the meaning come to you through the purple haze of the Pumpkins' execution: a slippery blend of plaintive guitar and piano; gray,misty electronics; and sober machine beats. In his determination not to make an instant-gratification rawk album, Corgan made a pop record where the hooks and the rhythms dont actually go pop!, meaning you really have to live with this music to love it. Unfortunately, most Siamese Dream fans havent bothered to do so. What are they waiting for? -D.F.