The Cure

Item: The Cure
Author: Julia Zulia

(2004)

Reviewed by Julia Zulia

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Label Geffen RecordsDecapolisNovember 2004

alternative rock gothic rock post-punk

Robert Smith and I go way back. Way back to my teenage years when I saw him for the first time. The Cure was performing 'Just Like Heaven' on some MTV awards show.

I remember standing there in awe. My jaw dropped. I froze. This was the day music changed my life. I know it sounds silly. Most of us have that 'defining' moment with music--whether it be the first time we saw and heard GnR's 'Welcome to the Jungle' , or Nirvana's 'Smells Like Teen Spirit', or Green Day's 'Longview'--that moment where we stood in awe, loving every second of a performance.

I've followed Robert and The Cure ever since. They continue to be my favorite band of all time--even though nothing they've released after Disintegration has really connected with me. Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me and Disintegration both channeled into the joy, sadness, and crazy emotions of my teenage years. There's been a song here and there--'Trust' off of Wish was my guilty pleasure song when I felt like feeling sorry for myself after my boyfriend broke up with me in 11th grade. I won't even mention Wild Mood Swings. Bloodflowers was enjoyable but it still didn't really make an impact on me.

The Cure's latest release, The Cure opens with 'Lost'--and with it one of my favorite Robert Smith vocal performances ever. The raw emotion in his voice still gives me chills when I listen to it. It is my favorite song on the album by far--and for the first time in a while, I connected with a Cure song.

But even as brilliant as Robert Smith's vocals are on this album, apart from 'Lost', I just didn't connect with this album.

Lyrically, the album is strong--but that's nothing new for Mr. Smith. I can't think of any other artist that can get away with singing 'ooo-ee-ooo...ooo-ee-ooo' or squeal and still sound so awesome. Unfortunately however, Mr. Smith falls victim to using one of my most hated rhyme schemes ever--rhyming girl and world in the incredibly catchy 'The End of the World'.

Missing from this album is one of the things that I really fell in love with about The Cure--all the development and layering. Gone are the 2 minute intros with all the layering. Missing are all of those endless guitar riffs that were even in use in Bloodflowers.

Overall, it's a must have. The album completely met my expectations, and maybe even surpassed them a little with 'Lost'. I know there will probably never be another Kiss Me... or Disintegration. I'll also never be a moody teenager again as well. All I know is as long as The Cure is making music, I'll think of Mr. Robert Smith and smile.

3/4