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Seventeen Seconds
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Cure Album Review:
The first real Cure album at 2006-05-18
If youre new to the Cure, you problably know them as a gloomy goth band. Well, if you pick up their first CD(Three Imaginary Boys), you would never have known. Their second album, Seventeen Seconds, took the band to a very dark place. Of coure, they got MUCH darker on the next two albums.This is known as the first part of The Dark Trilogy, which is followed by Faith and Pornography. The early Cure records that kind of stand by themselves. They arent as produced as later offerings, with a more low-key sound than usual(the exception being Pornography). The album IS very low key, and original CD pressings(and perhaps record pressings too) really ruined the sound of this album. The voice was too low, the drums were much louder than the rest of the instruments...it was a mess. It took me many years to really appreciate this CD, thanks to the god-awful sound reproduction on the old CDs. Well, they fixed it, thank god. The instruments have been raised up closer to the drums. The voice sounds louder in certain songs(At Night), and everything just sounds more full, unlike the old pressing. It really has made all the difference in the world.The CD is pretty solid, with only a couple of weaker tracks. A Forest is amazing as usual, as is At Night. Songs like Secrets and Play For Today are great as well. In Your House sounds far less repetetive now that you can hear the damn keyboards! A very low key and gloomy album, but not so much as Faith. I really like this one a lot, because it is gloomy, but not so sluggish as Faith, and has more hooks. A really big step in the right direction for The Cure. If youre new to The Cure, and have been thinking about picking this up, get this one over the Deluxe Edition. Far cheaper, and the deluxe edition only has a couple of songs that a really worth owning. If you have the old CD pressing, and have always been frustrated with the sound, pick this up. Of coure, the voice on Secrets is still really low, but thats the way im guessing it was intended(keep quiet)Sam M.
Cure Album Review:
stark, hauntingly seductive--the Cures first masterpiece at 2006-06-23
Robert Smith explains in the 2005 2 CD deluxe edition reissue of Seventeen Seconds that this is the first record I felt was really The Cure, and although I feel this statement is pushing it a bit, its still very understandable. Although Smith was just turning 21 around the time of Seventeen Seconds initial release in April of 1980, the Cure had already made their first masterpiece. (It has now been reissued in single CD form in April of 2006.)It shouldnt be overlooked though that The Cures 1979 debut Three Imaginary Boys, a strong album in its own right, did point the way toward Seventeen Seconds, in particular on tracks like Another Day and especially the title track. Theres no denying though that Seventeen Seconds marks a major turning point for The Cure--the sound here is more thoroughly haunting, more claustrophobic, with an incredibly icy snare drum sound throughout, and with Smiths vocals often being pushed WAY back in the mix and never as upfront as on many of the songs from Three Imaginary Boys. Smith also explains in the deluxe edition liner notes that the group made virtually no modifications to their basic set-up throughout the albums entire 10-day recording session, and quite frankly, this method proved to be an absolute blessing. For one thing, it allowed the band to work quickly and affordably since they were still relatively low on money at the time. At the same time, it also accounts for the albums consistent sound which gives it an irresisible, mesmerizing flow. There dont appear to be that many overdubs at all on the album, which could be attibuted to the lack of time and money the band had at their disposal, but again, this proved to be an advantage--the starkness of the album is absolutely arresting. It appears that Smith pretty much had in mind exactly what he wanted when the band went into the studio to record Seventeen Seconds. As the saying goes, there doesnt appear to be a note out of place anywhere on the entire album--the overall level of craftsmanship is astonishing. The performances themselves are nearly as precise--the only time the band sounds a bit off is on the intro portion of Play For Today where Lol Tolhursts bass drumming seems to be a tad behind the beat. Tolhursts lack of technical proficiency on the drums has been well-documented, but aside from this extremely minor gripe, his limitations dont hinder the album whatsover. Frankly, on most of the songs you could almost swear the band was using a drum machine opposed to a real living drummer. Keyboardist Matthieu Hartley joined the band for just this one album before leaving. Play For Today, In Your House, M, A Forest, and the title track all use synthesizers in a mind-blowingly unobtrusive manner that enhances their moody feel. Every song here is in a minor key, and even with such a strong emphasis on mood, the band still managed to pile in catchy hooks and/ or arresting melodies into pretty much every song. Much of this is thanks to Smiths guitar work, which is brilliant throughout--check out his superbly rubbery rhythm work on Play For Today; his dreamy arpeggios on In Your House; and his ingeniously dissonant chords on At Night. A Forest is a thrilling uptempo epic that culminates in Smiths cathartic, frantic riffing, and the 8-note guitar riff that appears on the intro leaves such an impression that you might not even realize that it never reappears after the first minute and a half of this nearly-6-minute song. Like Pink Floyd before them, the Cure prove themselves to be masters of pacing. There are three instrumentals/ near-instrumentals here, and they each work as links in the chain as opposed to just album fillers. The album starts off with the gentle, yet creepy and contemplative instrumental A Reflection. Three has a robotic kind of repetitiveness to it, and is basically an instrumental, although there are some extremely buried vocals that seem to be mostly spoken and are almost totally inaudible. The atonal, haunted house-style The Final Sound, which is less than a minute, perfectly sets up A Forest. Theres just so much musical invention here... Smiths guitar kind of takes a backseat on Secrets which has a prominent, memorable bass line and extremely distant-sounding piano chiming. The beginning part of Play For Today features brilliant interplay between Gallups bass and Smiths expect use of guitar harmonics. The only track on the album that comes up a little short is the album-closing title track. Its not BAD--it does have a neat build-up and build-down, but it feels a bit too sketchy and melodramatic, as if they couldnt quite figure out how to bring the album to a satisfying conclusion. The Cure would go on to make more elaborately-produced recordings later on, but Seventeen Seconds remains a key touchstone in their discography, and a phenomenal record in its own right.
Cure Album Editorial:
Originally a goth-flavored post-punk outfit The Cure evolved into one of the truly seminal bands of the 80s and ultimately one of modern rocks most celebrated and influential acts. Guided by creative visionary Robert Smith The Cures signature sound balances dreamy pop savvy and poetic lyricism with a dark brooding intensity. The bands first four groundbreaking albums-newly remastered-are a series of masterpieces that laid the groundwork for their phenomenal and enduring popularity. Fusing superbly crafted songs with charged emotional depth from the very beginning The Cures early catalogue as upgraded by Rhino is ready to be revisted.
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Bloodflowers
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Cure Album Review:
Worth the wait at 2005-05-20
IM going to make this quick.Its NOT disintergration,Its NOT Seventeen seconds and it NOT wish.Its the cure with a fresh aproach dont understand what im talking about?Buythe album and find out.
Cure Album Review:
A solid effort from start to finish at 2005-06-05
Although Robert Smiths voice sounds shriller as opposed to the way it sounded ten years before, and the band flirts with self-parody, I believe that Bloodflowers is, overall, a strong consistent album which does not contain any weak track, though I dont think any particular song rises to the level of greatness. As pointed out by pretty much all the reviews, Bloodflowers marks a return to the serious melancholy side of the Cure, and is considered by Robert Smith to be the last part of a trilogy which includes Pornography and Disintegration. It might have been logical to conclude that this would be the Cures final album, based on the last song (the title track), but I think Smith really has no intention to call it quits for a long time. Blodflowers contains familiar Cure themes. The eleven minute (too long) Watching Me Fall starts out: Ive been watching me fall for it seems like years, watching me grow small, I watch me disappear. The narrator (perhaps Smith, perhaps a fictional character) tries to seek solace form his desolation with a prostitute while in Tokyo, which, as expected, doesnt solve anything.In the Loudest Sound, lyrically reminiscent of Simon and Garfunkels Dangling Conversation, Smith laments over a long-term couple that has nothing left to say to each other. 39, which, if I had to pick, is my favorite song on the album, tells us of a person (again, maybe its Smith himself, but this is just speculation) who has spent all his passion in life -- so the fire is almost out and theres nothing left to burn. The album ends, with the title track, on a haunting note: You gave me flowers of love, always fade always die, I let fall flowers of blood. Pretty bleak, and it does sort of sound like a conclusion (imagine Smith as the I, and his fans as the You).Of course, the Cure did indeed put out another album. While Robert Smith certainly has his moods like the rest of us, I get the feeling hes really not all that upset, especially now that his band is almost universally considered to be one of the most influential of the past 25 years.
Cure Album Review:
the cures finest work yet,no not the last. at 2005-09-06
this is to me the best and most sincere cd the cure has ever made. a far cry diffrent than their older works, this is my favorite cure cd 2nd to the wish cd and pornography. this was also a great show on thier live tour. i saw them at the fiddlers green in denver colorado. the live show was as good or if not better than the studio cd. robert smith is a musical genius. this is a must have cd for all cure fans or not.go to.... (...)
Cure Album Review:
Quite impressed by this one... at 2005-09-13
I have been a Cure fan for a long time but I dont have as much music by them as I would like at this point. I plan to accumulate more. I have Staring at the The Sea, Wish, Disinitigration,Kiss Me, Kiss Me, The Cure picture show and a DVD with killing an Arab on it and Faschination Street. Then I bought Blood Flowers and heard and felt somethingdifferent...It had a richness to it that I never heard in his music before. Aging is not necessarily a bad thing. He sounds to me like he reached some kind of pinnacle in his career. In Blood Flowers, he reminded me of an old man poet who accumulated more depth and richness which comes with age. Blood Flowers is definitely worth buying in my opinion.
Cure Album Review:
Bloodflowers - overlooked Masterpiece! at 2006-06-28
I really feel compelled to write this review, because many of the Bloodflower reviews i have read have really been mixed. I have been a Cure fan for a long time. I love this band, and have always gotten excited when they were about to release a new LP. I often find myself having to ease my way in to new Cure albums...becuase they are so different from eachother and the cure have never been a GRAB you immediatly type of band. Overall, (and dont kill me) this is my favorite Cure album. I believe that it brings together all of the Cure archetypal sounds and signature tricks and blends them all beautifully. THe album is a spralling emotional trip with layered guitars, drums, and studio add-ins. Its definately a labored listen, but one that is well worth the trip. I really believe that robert an Co. are in TOP FORM on this album. AN album that is largely ignored or overlooked. I listen to this Cure album more than any other...and I always enjoy it. It is a mature Cure, doing what they do best, create a gloomy and melancholy soundscape that is a treat for the ears and the mind. Bloodflowers is a soundtrack for life. These flowers will Never DIE. Give it a chance...its an incredible listen.
Cure Album Editorial:
No one revels in the sumptuous pleasures of melancholy like Robert Smith the Cures leading mopemeister. In Smiths world it is always raining comfort and happiness are fleeting love is epic and torturous. On IBloodflowers the bands 11th studio album his lyrical prowess continues to astound. Considering the subject matter Smiths always managed to steer clear of the clichéd bad-high-school-poetry trap and on IBloodflowers the imagery is some of his most vivid and stabbing. On The Loudest Sound a story about a couple who are of course growing apart he sings of their tension: She dreams him as a boy / And he loves her as a girl / And side by side in the silence without a single word / Its the loudest sound I ever heard. The music grows out of the same dichromatic marriage of loves eternal hope and heartbreaks inevitable bleakness. Layers of the Cures signature ethereal buoyant guitar licks are paced at the momentum of a lava lamp while melodies lurk only in an understated synth or distorted guitar. None of the songs scream radio hit like iWishs Friday Im in Love anomaly; and although IBloodflowers is less abstract comparisons to iDisintegration are easily drawn. If this really threatens to be the last Cure album--no really the real end--its a vision of loneliness Iand loveliness a low note rarely surpassed in beauty and breadth. Beth Massa
Cure Album Editorial:
Aussie reissue of 2000 album includes one bonus track Coming Up. Polydor. 2004.
Cure Album Editorial:
Digitally Remastered Edition of the Final Cure Album of the Trilogy which Joins Pornography and Disintegration.
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Pornography [Deluxe Edition]
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Cure Album Review:
First Cure cd I got at 2006-01-23
As the headline above says this is the first Cd I got from the Cure so I cant complain about the production of the original or how the originals production added to it. All I clud write about is the cd itself.It starts off with the disturbing One Hunderd Years which is a nice way to start off the cd with the line It doesnt matter if we all die. All the songs are a mess of emotion both musically and lyrically. For me The Figurehead takes emotion to a new level of intensity.The cd closes with the title track which reminds me of earley industrial but not as noisy. If you want some thing disturbing and that is beautifully noise I recommend this cd for sure
Cure Album Review:
Sounds much better at 2006-06-02
Pornography may be the definitive Cure album. The group has had some serious missteps, several lineup changes, all the highs and lows that go with a thirty year history, but this one is on the mark from begining to end. Many fans cite the 1989 masterpiece Disintergration as the groups finest hour, and Ill stay out of the debate (personally, I am partial to Faith, despite its obvious shortcomings)--but if there is such a thing as a Cure aesthetic, it finds some of its best exprression here. The sound is stipped down, ominous interlocking drums and bass. The lyrics are mostly superb. From the opening of the disc, It doesnt matter if we all die (can there be a better summation to the groups gestalt?), to the self-referential final lines of the work, there is real passion here. It flirts with solipsism--a characteristic that mars much of their other work--but never quite crosses over. Whether youre 14 and screaming at the moon, or 40 and covering your face as the animals die, there is poetry enough here.
Cure Album Review:
Welcome to the dark side of The Cure at 2006-03-14
This is an awsome album. Like all of the cures deluxe editon albums I would only recommend spending the extra money if you are a hardcore fan, otherwise stick with the less expensive single disc orignal cd. My personal favorite songs are One Hundred Years and Strange Days. The album may seem short with only eight tracks, but each song is long. I especially recommend this album to peopole who like the cures darker music(Seventeen Seconds, Desintegration, Bloodflowers).
Cure Album Review:
a strange and worthwhile day at 2006-02-08
Tis truly a mystery how a thoroughly confused and arguably disturbed young man with greatly tousled hair and poorly applied make-up smearing his face could manage to plumb the depths of universal consciousness to create such majesty as this profound album. The lyrics are stirring and emotionally arousing. The song structures seem to mirror the journey of the soul through the corridors of Dantes halls, pulling the listener deeper and deeper into oblivion...and then strangely back up through joy and bliss. Though I was certainly old enough to enjoy this work when it was first released, it has taken me about twenty years to truly understand its profundity and enduring impact. Having caught the live show Trilogy on DVD and having seen The Cure perform live several times through the years, I was amazed at how well these songs have stood up and how beautifully they are now being played by current members of The Cure. This double disc set - which ingeniously includes lots of worthwhile rarities - is the perfect trip down nostalgia lane while opening up your nerve endings to sounds that are ultimately timeless, fresh and oh so powerful. Robert Smith is our Roger Waters; and coincidentally this work belongs up there on par with Dark Side of The Moon and the other seminal titles that make up the best rock albums of all time.
Cure Album Review:
Spiralling... Spiralling... Spiralling at 2006-07-10
This album is quite possibly the darkest album Ive heard in a long time. Robert was spinning into drug-induced depression at the time, and the results were Pornography. Every song from 100 Years to the title track are pumped full of deep, black, depression. Even the first line of the cd, It doesnt matter if we all die, lets the listener know what he/she is in for. The guitar puts the icing on the cake. It laces all of the music with dysfunctional, screaching, spirals that one might hear on the path to insanity. The cold drum machine gives the darkness its heartbeat, and Robert gives the music the losing hope vocals. When Robert sings, you ALWAYS hear every bit of emotion that he intended to be put in the song. Buy this album along with Disintigration. You wont be disappointed. Also, check out Faith and Seventeen Seconds for more Cure darkness.
Cure Album Editorial:
Originally a Goth-flavored post-punk outfit the Cure evolved into one of the truly seminal bands of the 80s and ultimately one of modern rocks most celebrated and influential acts. Guided by creative visionary Robert Smith the Cures signature sound balances a dreamy pop savvy with a dark brooding majesty and fuses superbly crafted literate songs with a feverish emotional intensity. The bands early catalog-newly remastered and expanded wtih a wealth of rarities-is a series of masterpieces that laid the groundwork for their phenomenal and enduring popularity.
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Faith [Deluxe Edition]
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Cure Album Review:
Take Out the Out-takes at 2006-07-25
The Cures Faith has never sounded better with the arrival of this excellent remastered edition. Every song on disc one (the original album) is memorable, making it arguably the bands best of this era -- From the rapid rumble of Primary to the more somber moments like All Cats Are Grey and The Funeral Party.The second disc, like most in the deluxe-edition series, contains mostly studio out-takes and bonus tracks. This era of The Cure was minimal to begin with, and the out-takes are just painful to listen to. There is one great bonus track included on disc two: Charlotte Sometimes. I would have much preferred the option to purchase a single disc containing the original album along with the studio bonus tracks.
Cure Album Review:
Questioning the new Faith at 2006-01-05
Although heavy in topic the music of FAITH is marked with a sad beauty. Icy synth sounds feature heavily throughout and, combined with the machine-like pulse of Lol Tolhursts drum kit, gives the music a fragile feel. Echo and reverb are treated on instruments and voices alike that linger over the music of FAITH like a heavy fog.All Cats Are Grey is lyrically sparse, yet conveys greater emotion through its lengthy instrumental passages. The superb Other Voices has a great bass riff (courtesy of Simon Gallup) and opens with one of Robert Smiths memorable anguished howls. Two of FAITHs songs disrupt the dark tranquility of the album with surprising jolts (one being the propulsive tempo of A Primary and the other the jarringly violent Doubt). The Holy Hour and Faith are also standouts.FAITH is a four-star recording, but the latest repackaging of this fine album adds a bonus disc of largely forgettable material, and for this I feel I must subtract a star from the overall rating. Because B-side material from the Cures singles was relegated to the JOIN THE DOTS box set, that leaves out-takes (mostly uninteresting instrumentals), demo material (murkily recorded, skeletal versions of FAITH tracks), and live performances to fill the bonus CD. Still, there are a few treasures to be found here. The early version of A Primary that is revealed here is practically a new song in itself. The A-Side single Charlotte Sometimes is awkwardly tacked on at the very end, but is a welcome addition nonetheless. And immerse yourself in the extended live version of Faith if you want the lingering feeling of gloom to last a little longer. If the bonus disc did not add to the sticker price of the final product then I wouldnt raise much fuss. I have nothing but praise for the Rhino label and the packaging for the Cure reissues is very impressive (lyrics, liner notes, and lots of photos including Robert Smith entering his trademark wild-hair and make-up persona). This reissue nicely summarizes the look and sound of this early period in the Cures history. More surprises were yet to come.
Cure Album Review:
Like a newly found Cure album at 2005-07-30
I agree with the positive reviews here, the sound quality is outstanding on this re-issue, well worth it. I think Faith has been the most improved so far of the 3 CDs. Ive owned it for years, of course, but I never really played it, it was necessary for the collection, thats all. I thought it was too monolithic and flat to really get into. Thats all changed now, its like the music has popped open and revealed itself, much more engaging. Its still a dirge for the most part, but its become powerful and interesting, particularly with the new songs added. As I said, almost like a new album for me. Well . . . we all know what comes next, so lets bring it on. Kiss Me, and then . . . the Holy CD. Will they improve as much, being more modern? Cant wait to find out.
Cure Album Review:
Utter Perfection at 2005-05-20
Sleek. Streamlined. Minimalist. Incredibly beautiful and surprisingly varied. Faith manages to capture the Cure at their creative peak. From start to finish, this album is nothing short of perfection. The words and vocals, the music, the production and engineering - they all fall right into place. Nearly all these songs can be considered Cure classics ( for the fans of the band who prefer the darker, more serious Cure to the upbeat, more pop oriented side). Primary. Other Voices. The Funeral Party. And my personal favourite The Drowning Man. All incredible. This remastered and expanded edition sounds terrific as well, which is icing on the cake. The original cd issue on the Elektra label just didnt sound quite right. There was distortion in many of the basslines, and the keyboards sounded hollow and tinny. This version corrects those mastering mistakes. The synths are warm and rich in tone, and the highs and lows in the mix are much easier on the ear. Granted, the subject matter isnt exactly upbeat but the messages are important, and certainly open to interpretation. Listen to the final, title track. The last words - theres nothing left but faith - can be seen as a sign of defeat or of hope, depending on how it is taken. The extras on the bonus disc are a revelation, tracking the evolution of the songs on Faith, from listening to the demos, the songs in their rawest form, to hearing the live versions, where they are performed with complete conviction, if not total technical proficiency. My favourite here has to be the often bootlegged, 10 minute version of the title cut Faith performed in Australia and originally featured on the b-side to the Charlotte Sometimes 12 single. This is the last song its called Faith Robert says. Turn the volume up very loud and you can here one lone female scream, then the count-off one, two, three, four and the familiar beat kicks in, the mourful bassline, and Roberts signature guitar playing. This IS the Cure.
Cure Album Review:
Still Holding Up at 2005-11-05
While `Seventeen Seconds was dark, `Faith is pitch black. `Seventeen Seconds may have been sullen, but `Faith is downright bleak. For all of that, its also a slightly better album than its predecessor. Singer/songwriter Robert Smith was getting very good at expressing depression, even when it was painfully over wrought (Im sorry, but every time I hear him singing about `crying at the funeral party, I have a perverse desire to laugh out loud). `Faith was the perfect record to play if you felt incapable of crying but wanted to experience your depression anyway. It offers eight dirges, each one capturing a different nuance of catatonic pain. The naýve but appealing simplicity of Boys Dont Cry (their first album) is further expanded on here, but with some subtle and yet very significant changes. Words are boiled down to almost nothing, while the music provides atmospherics that fill in the moody blanks. For effect, somebody spent a hundred bucks on a flanger pedal, and quite obviously must have liked it, since it appears on virtually every song here, along with tons of echo and reverb.For all of the atmospherics, though, the real mood setter is Robert Smiths voice; never in the history of recorded music has someone sounded so distracted, doleful, and depressed. He makes late-era Billy Holiday sound like Mary Poppins. I could be judgmental and claim that the album contains only eight songs due to a lack of songwriting ideas, but I think it is more due to the fact that they simply could not bring themselves to edit the chord progressions. Many songs build for over two minutes before vocals enter, but this only adds to the hypnotic appeal of the depressing themes. This utterly simple (or mind-numbingly redundant) game plan results in a record that is, for better or worse, extremely consistent in content, and in mood.The extra disk (and extra track on disk one) is even creepier - and somehow even simpler in structure - than the main album. The audio quality for some of it sounds like it was recorded in a bathroom...underwater. Most tunes consist of a few repetitive, hypnotic chords, making time slow down like some musical version of Einsteins theory of relativity. Carnage Visors does this for thirty full minutes, with no vocal.The fact is, you already know if you like the Cure or not. Faith captures them at a point in time when they completely abandon commercial acceptance and leap headlong into cult status. If youd like to know where stylized gloom developed, then youve come to the right place. B Tom Ryan
Cure Album Editorial:
Originally a Goth-flavored post-punk outfit the Cure evolved into one of the truly seminal bands of the 80s and ultimately one of modern rocks most celebrated and influential acts. Guided by creative visionary Robert Smith the Cures signature sound balances a dreamy pop savvy with a dark brooding majesty and fuses superbly crafted literate songs with a feverish emotional intensity. The bands early catalog-newly remastered and expanded wtih a wealth of rarities-is a series of masterpieces that laid the groundwork for their phenomenal and enduring popularity.
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Seventeen Seconds [Deluxe Edition]
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Cure Album Review:
Excellent at 2006-07-19
This is a great addition to all Cure fans collection. If you love the Cure and you already have this album, this collector version is perfect. If youre new to the cure and you dont have seventeen seconds already, buy this version instead of the single disk. This has lots of great tracks on it that have never been released before. ^-^
Cure Album Review:
Good effort by The Cure at 2006-03-13
Seventeen Seconds is not the best Cure album ever but it is also not the worst. Unless you are a hardcore Cure fan I wouldnt recommend buying the Deluxe Edition. Most of the B sides and rarites are just more of the same of what you will find on the original tracks. To me this album seems like a sister album to Faith. Both have a simple yet dark(not as dark as Pornograpy) sound to them. Highlights include, Play for Today, A Forest, and Seventeen Seconds.
Cure Album Review:
Here We Go Again at 2005-11-05
Despite how popular and influential they have since become, it remains a fact that America missed a huge chunk of the Cures career. `Three Imaginary Boys got a lukewarm welcome in their home country Great Britain, but its release was delayed in the United States to see if any interest would be generated by any of the albums tracks. When Boys Dont Cry began to get some attention from college radio and the club scene, the album was finally released here. In typical fashion, the American record label changed the album title to Boys Dont Cry so even twits could recognize it from the `hit song title. Despite first impressions, the Cure were not interested in becoming a `hit band, though. Although the songs were short, concise and succinct, they addressed topics that were light years away from pop song blather. The title song may have been somewhat trite, but Jumping Someone Elses Train, Grinding Halt, and 10:15 Saturday Night were perhaps more memorable, and conveyed a refined sense of atmospherics. Killing an Arab even took its theme from The Stranger by Albert Camus. For the second album, entitled `Seventeen Seconds, the band decided to go further in this direction, and abandoned the `pop single mentality altogether. In America, the result was the sound of one hand clapping; the album wasnt even released here, until A and M picked up the option and released it with the bands third record, `Faith, as a specially-priced double album, somewhat sarcastically titled Happily Ever After. According to the informative liner notes that accompany the new CD package, singer/guitarist/main songwriter Robert Smith wanted the Cure to connect the sounds of Nick Drake (Five Leaves Left), David Bowie (Low), Jimi Hendrix (Isle of Wight), Van Morrison (Astral Weeks) and Khachaturian (Gayennah Ballet Suite).Without a doubt, Robert Smith and Co. had high ambitions, especially for a band that appeared to know about seven chords. In this regard, I would surmise that they failed miserably (The Cure sound like Jimi Hendrix???? Ay-yi-yi), but they succeeded on other levels. The utter simplicity of the arrangements presented a sound that was almost barren, which provided the perfect foil for Smiths stark, imagistic wordplay. A sullen mood pervades the entire album, but it is still somehow appealing, in a bleak sort of way. The extra disk contains some songs that sound as though they were recorded inside a subway tunnel, but a few others are enlightening and enjoyable, from a historical perspective, The photos are a bit of a hoot, too, since we can see Robert Smith looking like a teenager without his birds nest hairdo or ghoul-on-holiday eye makeup. If youre interested in Goth at its infancy, it doesnt get much younger than this. B Tom Ryan
Cure Album Review:
This is really the best of their early stuff at 2005-05-28
IN the early 1980s The Cure released three albums that would define their musical career. Most of the ideas of all their records are contained on SEVENTEEN SECONDS (1980), FAITH (1981) and PORNOGRAPHY (1982). Every though they created a conventional album, Three Imaginary Boys (1979), Robert Smith changed the course of the bands career with the stark minimal sound of Seventeen Seconds. On bass-driven songs like Play For Today and Secrets there are barely any guitar sounds. The Cure has created a lot of space and avoided any pop clichýs. The guitar arpeggios on In Your House influenced many Goth bands to follow. There are plenty of instrumentals and ghastly sounds on this record. At the time it was odd to hear and like nothing out there. This record is mostly known for the radio hit A Forest which sounds as fresh as ever. This music has aged well. M is almost like folk music in a Dylanesque way. It would almost probably be better with vocals and acoustic guitar. A sign of a great album is that there is a great song on it that wasnt a single. For this album its At Night. Distorted guitar was never so evocative of a mood. This re-release also includes some live performances from 1979-1980 as well as Im a Cult Hero and I Dig You, originally released under the pseudonym Cult Hero. This stuff is okay but not necessary. This might be the Cure most successful album. There is a lot of mystery and personal emotion on this record, but its not really that Goth.
Cure Album Review:
One of the greatest. at 2005-09-17
This is one of the best albums The Cure ever made,and is definitly my favorite of The Cures early work.The only songs I dont absolutly adore are At Night and In Your House as they are a bit lengthy and uneventful. But even these songs are listenable.There is so much praise to be sang here. From the opening single Play For Today which will get you dancing furiosly straight into its saddening,atmospheric follow-up Secrets. Three is best discribed as a haunted disco.Its pulsing beat and haunting keyboarding bring visions of hustling ghosts...The Final Sound is simply the perfect intro into the timeless, quintessential early Cure single, A Forest.The song is chilling,menacing and groovy as hell all at once. If your one of the few people who havent heard this song, then do so immeadiatly.M is a lost classic. This song is often overlooked, but I feel its one of the best songs in every way that The Cure has ever written.And the closing title track....IMMACULATE.Basically this album is a must have for any fan of the cure and a pretty wonderful buy for any fan of music.
Cure Album Editorial:
Originally a Goth-flavored post-punk outfit the Cure evolved into one of the truly seminal bands of the 80s and ultimately one of modern rocks most celebrated and influential acts. Guided by creative visionary Robert Smith the Cures signature sound balances a dreamy pop savvy with a dark brooding majesty and fuses superbly crafted literate songs with a feverish emotional intensity. The bands early catalog-newly remastered and expanded wtih a wealth of rarities-is a series of masterpieces that laid the groundwork for their phenomenal and enduring popularity.
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