I have reviewed one Cure album so far and I awarded The Head on the Door a ten as it has always been my favourite Cure album.
The reason for that is I have always preferred The Cure’s poppier stuff, I do not mind Disintegration, it certainly has its moments, claimed as a masterpiece, but I’d much rather listen to Kiss Me Kiss Me Kiss Me. I imagine it’s because I am such a happy go lucky chap (that’s a sarcasm alert).
Eight songs in fifty minutes, I work in Finance, six minutes a song, it’s going to be one of their intense ones isn’t it and I’m not going to be able to get into it. Are we thinking I may be wrong again?
Robert Smith is now sixty-five and no one needs me to tell them that this album is about the passing of people as he has lost his parents and brother (I Can Never Say Goodbye is a stunning tribute of his loss) in recent years, which I have just done, sorry.
Alone is all haunting guitar (Reeves Gabriel finally getting to release a record with The Cure after being in the band for twelve years). This seven minute opus with no singing for the first three and half minutes was not The Cure looking for a number one single but a call of we are The Cure we do what we do and we know people will like it “This is the end of every song that we sing.” After sixteen years away it’s a bloody fine way to start a record.
And Nothing Is Forever, Smith is looking at the end, its bathed in glorious keyboards from Roger O’Donnell, the kind of song that makes you think about mortality but such is the beauty of the music there is no time for sadness and A Fragile Thing I had heard before the album was released, it’s certainly more pop than the first two tracks but I don’t think you will be hitting the dancefloor, however, it is superior pop.
Warsong, Smith and Gabirel play as intense as they can, dark, stark, and surprisingly short. Drone:Nodrone has the best opening to any of the songs for me, drums upfront and an almost funk, heavy beat, as The Cure hit out and All I Ever Am has a magic buzz of the guitar over a lyric where Smith taps into what many may feel.
The album concludes with ten minute Endsong, two minutes in there is a shift and Smith does not arrive to six minutes in where he reflects on his age and where he is at, it a stunning end to an intense listen but I need to go back and listen to Faith, Disintegration etc albums as I thoroughly enjoyed this record.
On Drone:Nodrone Smith announces “Yeah, I’m pretty much done.” No, you’re not Robert, not at all.
8.5/10
GIVE IT A STREAM: Endsong
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