The Cure

Overview

Often cited as The Cure's darkest album, its opening lyrical line is "It doesn't matter if we all die", ending with "I must fight this sickness, find a cure". [5] The record has been called, "The Cure’s gothic piece de resistance".[1]

Despite the fact that very few critics in the British press gave the album a favourable review, Pornography charted well in the UK and has gained much more respect over the years, to the point that it is now considered "one of the key gothic rock albums" of all time.[2]

Pornography is also the last Cure album to feature founding band member Lol Tolhurst as the band's drummer; he became the band's keyboardist, and this also marks the first time he played keyboards on a release by The Cure.

The album's artwork is the first in The Cure's output not to feature the logo for the group's name which was used on their previous releases.

When performed live, in this period the band started wearing their trademark big hair, smudged makeup and black clothes.

In 2002, The Cure performed Pornography live in its entirety, along with Disintegration and Bloodflowers, as part of the Trilogy concerts.

Reception

Professional ratings

Review scores

NME reviewer Dave Hill wrote, "This record portrays and parades its currency of exposed futility and naked fear with so few distractions or adornments, and so little sense of shame. It really piles it on." Regarding the music, Hill wrote, "The drums, guitars, voice and production style are pressed scrupulously together in a murderous unity of surging, textured mood." Hill felt that Pornography was not meant to be analysed deeply; instead it should be listened to "en bloc as a dense wash of emotional colour [. . .] And, as such, it really works".[3] Rolling Stone gave the album one and a half stars, out of five. Reviewer J. D. Considine that The Cure's lyrics "[seem] stuck in the terminal malaise of adolescent existentialism". Considine concluded, "Backed by music that relies less on melody than thick slabs of heavily treated sound, Pornography comes off as the aural equivalent of a bad toothache".[5] Blender.com reviewer Douglas Wolk stated: "It’s one long stare into the abyss, and horrifically intense: a slow whirlpool of bloodsucking guitars, with feel-bad hooks like “I will never be clean again.” The brilliant, winking final line: “I must fight this sickness/ Find a cure.”[6]

2005 re-release

Pornography was remastered by Chris Blair at Abbey Road Studios and reissued in the UK on 25 April 2005 (26th in the US) as part of Universal's Deluxe Edition series. The new edition featured a remastered version of the album on CD One, fixing the glitch on "Siamese Twins", while CD Two contained demo and live tracks. The bonus disc contains never-before-heard songs (in demo format, all instrumental) and an alternative version (demo or live) of each song on the album. It also contains the song "All Mine" from the Curiosity cassette and the soundtrack from the movie Airlock that aired prior to the Cure concerts in 1982.

There also exists a one-CD reissue. It was released on 5 September 2005 in the UK and 4 April 2006 in the US. The CD features the original album, but does not contain the bonus disc. It is also released in the standard jewel case, and not a box. In some countries, the "Deluxe Edition" has become a collector's item due to the phasing out of production, being replaced by the more economic one-CD version.

The Cure's logo featured on their previous releases before the 1982 release of the album was included on a sticker on the deluxe edition.

Track listing

All songs by Robert Smith, Simon Gallup and Laurence Tolhurst.

Side one

1."One Hundred Years" – 6:40

2."A Short Term Effect" – 4:22

3."The Hanging Garden" – 4:33

4."Siamese Twins" – 5:29

Side two

1."The Figurehead" – 6:15

2."A Strange Day" – 5:04

3."Cold" – 4:26

4."Pornography" – 6:27

2005 "Deluxe Edition" Disc two: Rarities 1981-1982

1."Break" (group home instrumental demo) – 2:11

2."Demise" (studio instrumental demo) – 2:09

3."Temptation" (studio instrumental demo) – 4:00

4."The Figurehead" (studio demo) – 6:12

5."The Hanging Garden" (studio demo) – 5:29

6."One Hundred Years" (studio demo) – 7:00

7."Airlock: The Soundtrack" – 13:07

8."Cold" (live at Hammersmith Odeon 5/82) – 3:54

9."A Strange Day" (live at Hammersmith Odeon 5/82) – 4:05

10."Pornography" (live at Hammersmith Odeon 5/82) – 5:55

11."All Mine" (live at Hammersmith Odeon 5/82) – 2:54

12."A Short Term Effect" (live in Brussels 6/82) – 4:05

13."Siamese Twins" (live in Brussels 6/82) – 6:03

14."Temptation Two" (AKA LGTB)(RS Studio Demo) – 3:57

Personnel

•Robert Smith - guitar, keyboard (One Hundred Years, The Hanging Garden, Cold, Pornography), vocals, cello (Cold)

•Simon Gallup - bass, keyboard (A Strange Day, Cold, Pornography)

•Lol Tolhurst - drums, keyboard (One Hundred Years)

•Producer: Phil Thornalley, The Cure

•Engineer: Mike Nocito, Robert Smith

•Assistant engineer: Phil Thornalley

•Photography: Michael Kostiff

•Sleeve design: Ben Kelly

Charts

References

[1]John Doran, John (27 October 2008). "The Cure: Selecting The Best For One Side Of A C90" (http://thequietus.com/articles/ 00620-the-cure-selecting-the-best-for-one-side-of-a-c90). thequietus. . Retrieved 2-2-2012. "It doesn’t matter if we all die” begins Pornography, The Cure’s gothic piece de resistance - a laudably existential opening salvo on this acid fuelled, sensuous and senseless gape into the void."

[2]Mason, Stewart. "Pornography Review" (http://www.allmusic.com/album/r4928/review). allmusic.com. . Retrieved 1-2-2012. "one of the key goth rock albums of the '80s"

[3]Hill, Dave. Pornography review. NME. 8 May 1992.

[4]http://www.slantmagazine.com/music/feature/best-albums-of-the-1980s/308/page_3

[5]Considine, J. D. (2 September 1982). "The Cure: Pornography" (http://web.archive.org/web/20071118212615/http://www.rollingstone. com/artists/thecure/albums/album/92147/review/5943227/pornography). RS 377. Rolling Stone. Archived from the original (http:// www.rollingstone.com/artists/thecure/albums/album/92147/review/5943227/pornography) on 18 November 2007. .

[6]Blender Magazine review (http://www.blender.com/guide/back-catalogue/53539/pornography.html)

[7]Abebe, Nitsuh (12 May 2005). "The Cure: Seventeen Seconds / Faith / Pornography" (http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/

record_review/16405/The_Cure_Seventeen_Seconds_Faith_Pornography). Pitchfork Media. .

[8]Christgau, Robert. "The Cure" (http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?name=cure). robertchristgau.com. . Retrieved 28 August 2011.

[9]http://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews?page=305

[10]"The Cure" (http://www.rollingstone.com/music/artists/the-cure/albumguide). Rolling Stone. . Retrieved 28 August 2011.

[11]"Pornography" (http://www.tower.com/pornography-cure-cd/wapi/106393416). tower.com. . Retrieved 28 August 2011.

[12]UNCUT magazine, August 2004

The Top

The Top

Studio album by The Cure

Released 30 April 1984

Recorded Genetic, Garden studios, Trident, 1983 - 1984

Genre Gothic rock, post-punk, new wave, psychedelic rock

Length 40:55

Label Fiction (UK)

Sire (U.S. original release)

Rhino (2006 reissue)

Producer David M. Allen, Chris Parry, Robert Smith

The Cure chronology

Singles from The Top

1. "The Caterpillar"

Released: 26 March 1984

Professional ratings

Review scores

The Top is the fifth studio album by British band The Cure, released in 1984.

Overview

The Top was the studio album to follow Pornography. After Pornography, Robert Smith found himself without his friend Simon Gallup, who departed the band due to a fight.

Smith then took a radical shift in his music. Just months after the bleak Pornography, the band released the single "Let's Go to Bed" which just featured Smith, Lol Tolhurst and session drummer Steve Goulding. Following this was "The Walk", and then "The Love Cats". These three singles and their b-sides were compiled and became Japanese Whispers (1983). The Top is the first conventional studio album to follow this new side of The Cure. It marks a change from the upbeat synthpop of Japanese Whispers to a psychedelic, experimental sound.

Due to the conflicts and band lineup troubles, Smith wrote almost all of the music himself, and played almost all the instruments (except the drums). As such, this is closer to a Robert Smith solo album than any other album in the band's history, seen as experimental and transitional.

2006 re-release

The album was re-released August 8, 2006 in the U.S. and August 14 in the UK.

The second disc has four previously unreleased tracks ("You Stayed", "Ariel", "A Hand Inside My Mouth" – lyrics from which were eventually used in "Inbetween Days" and "Six Different Ways" – and "Sadicic", which was repurposed as "New Day"), three live performances, and studio outtakes/demos of nine of the ten songs on the original album (and of "Happy the Man" and "Throw Your Foot", final versions of which were released as B-sides on the single "The Caterpillar"). A mastering error which resulted in "Bananafishbones" playing a semitone lower than intended was corrected on this 2006 re-release, with the correct pitch of the song restored.

Track listing

All songs by Robert Smith, except where noted.

Original 1984 release

1."Shake Dog Shake" – 4:55

2."Bird Mad Girl" (Smith, Tolhurst) – 4:05[3]

3."Wailing Wall" – 5:17

4."Give Me It" – 3:42

5."Dressing Up" – 2:51

6."The Caterpillar" (Smith, Tolhurst) – 3:40

7."Piggy in the Mirror" (Smith, Tolhurst) – 3:40

8."The Empty World" – 2:36

9."Bananafishbones" – 3:12

10."The Top" – 6:50

2006 "Deluxe Edition"

Disc one

1."Shake Dog Shake"

2."Birdmad Girl"[3]

3."Wailing Wall"

4."Give Me It"

5."Dressing Up"

6."The Caterpillar"

7."Piggy In The Mirror"

8."The Empty World"

9."Bananafishbones"

10."The Top"

[4]

Disc two

1."You Stayed..." (Robert Smith home demo) – 2:21

2."Ariel" (Robert Smith home demo) – 2:58

3."A Hand Inside My Mouth" (Studio demo) – 3:40

4."Sadacic" (Robert Smith Studio demo) – 4:17

5."Shake Dog Shake" (Studio demo) – 4:56

6."Piggy in the Mirror" (Studio demo) – 3:40

7."Birdmad Girl" (Studio demo) – 3:36

8."Give Me It" (Studio demo) – 3:43

9."Throw Your Foot" (Studio demo) – 3:31

10."Happy the Man" (Studio demo) – 2:46

11."The Caterpillar" (Studio demo) – 4:17

12."Dressing Up" (Studio alt mix) – 2:14

13."Wailing Wall" (Studio alt mix) – 4:59

14."The Empty World" (live bootleg Hammersmith Odeon 5/84) – 2:47

15."Bananafishbones" (live bootleg Hammersmith Odeon 5/84) – 2:57

16."The Top" (live bootleg Hammersmith Odeon 5/84) – 7:13

17."Forever (version)" (live bootleg Zenith Paris 5/84) – 4:58

Personnel

•Robert Smith - vocals, Multi Instruments

•Andy Anderson - percussion, drums

•Lol Tolhurst - Other Instruments

•Porl Thompson - saxophone on Disc 1 and Disc 2, keyboards and guitar on live tracks on Disc 2

•Phil Thornalley - bass guitar on live tracks on Disc 2

Production

•Producers: Dave Allen, Chris Parry, Robert Smith

•Engineers: Dave Allen, Howard Grey

•Instrumentation: Robert Smith, Lol Tolhurst

Charts

Album - Billboard (North America)

References

[1]http://www.allmusic.com/album/r4926

[2]"The Cure / Robert Smith: The Top / The Head on the Door / Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me / Blue Sunshine | Album Reviews" (http:// pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/11887-the-top-the-head-on-the-door-kiss-me-kiss-me-kiss-me-blue-sunshine/). Pitchfork. 2006-08-25. . Retrieved 2012-03-12.

[3]Sometimes spelled "Birdmad girl" like in the 2006 Deluxe edition, "Bird Mad Girl" is the title found on the original LP (http://www. discogs.com/Cure-The-Top/release/234773), on later re-releases (http://www.discogs.com/Cure-The-Top/release/2291293) as well as on The Cure's official website (http://www.thecure.com/discography/detail.aspx?pid=1474).

[4]"The Top - Deluxe Edition: The Cure: Amazon.co.uk: Music" (http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B000FZDGTC). Amazon.co.uk. . Retrieved 2012-03-12.

The Head on the Door

Released: 9 September 1985

Professional ratings

Review scores

The Head on the Door is the sixth studio album by British band The Cure, released in 1985. The album is the first to feature drummer Boris Williams, it also features the return of Simon Gallup and is Porl Thompson's first album as an official member.

Overview

This album follows the return of Simon Gallup and the official re-induction of Porl Thompson as a band member (he made a small contribution to The Top, but wasn't an official band member until the album's tour). This is also the first Cure album with drummer Boris Williams, who had previously worked with the Thompson Twins. Special guest Ron Howe from Fools Dance plays a saxophone solo on the track "A Night Like This".

On the 2007/08 4Tour The Cure played "In Between Days", "Kyoto Song", "The Blood", "Push", "The Baby Screams", "Close to Me" and "A Night Like This" at various concerts.

"Sinking" was last played as part of the 2004 North American Curiosa Tour.

"Six Different Ways", and "Screw" have not been played since the 1985/86 Head Tour.

"A Night Like This" was covered by The Smashing Pumpkins and released on their 1995 "Bullet with Butterfly Wings" single.

2006 re-release

In 2006, the album was re-released by Universal on their Fiction Records/Polydor Records labels, digitally remastered with various demos and live tracks from the era. Included are demos of the four b-sides from the era ("The Exploding Boy", "A Few Hours After This", "A Man Inside My Mouth", and "Stop Dead") and four songs that were never released. The remaining tracks are demos or live versions of all 10 songs from the first disc. It was released 8 August in the U.S. (where the album was instead released by Rhino Entertainment/Elektra Records) and 14 August in the UK.

One of the four new songs, "Mansolidgone" is similar both musically and lyrically to another demo, "A Hand Inside My Mouth" (not to be confused with "A Man Inside My Mouth") which appeared on The Top Deluxe Edition. The lyrics to both songs, and the uncovered demo "Lime Time" have lyrics which would be later used in the songs "In Between Days" and "Six Different Ways."

Track listing

All songs written by Robert Smith.

Original 1985 release

1."In Between Days" – 2:57

2."Kyoto Song" – 4:16

3."The Blood" – 3:43

4."Six Different Ways" – 3:18

5."Push" – 4:31

6."The Baby Screams" – 3:44

7."Close to Me" – 3:23

8."A Night Like This" – 4:16

9."Screw" – 2:38

10."Sinking" – 4:57

2006 "Deluxe Edition"

Disc one

Original album, as above

Disc two

1."In Between Days" (RS instrumental home demo) – 1:25

2."Inwood" (RS instrumental home demo) – 2:18

3."Push" (RS instrumental home demo) – 2:31

4."Innsbruck" (RS instrumental home demo) – 2:37

5."Stop Dead" (Fitz/F2 Studios Demo 2/85) – 3:21

6."Mansolidgone" (Fitz/F2 Studios Demo 2/85) – 4:06

7."Screw" (Fitz/F2 Studios Demo 2/85) – 3:09

8."Lime Time" (Fitz/F2 Studios Demo 2/85) – 2:56

9."Kyoto Song" (Fitz/F2 Studios Demo 2/85) – 4:28

10."A Few Hours After This..." (Fitz/F2 Studios Demo 2/85) – 4:36

11."Six Different Ways" (Fitz/F2 Studios Demo 2/85) – 3:00

12."A Man Inside My Mouth" (Fitz/F2 Studios Demo 2/85) – 3:00

13."A Night Like This" (Fitz/F2 Studios Demo 2/85) – 4:08

14."The Exploding Boy" (Fitz/F2 Studios Demo 2/85) – 3:06

15."Close to Me" (Fitz/F2 Studios Demo 2/85) - 4:03

16."The Baby Screams" (live bootleg Bercy Paris 12/85) – 3:46

17."The Blood" (live bootleg Bercy Paris 12/85) – 3:34

18."Sinking" (live bootleg Bercy Paris 12/85) – 5:06

Personnel

•Robert Smith - vocals, guitars, keyboards

•Lol Tolhurst - keyboards

•Porl Thompson - guitars, keyboards

•Simon Gallup - bass guitars

•Boris Williams - drums, percussion

•David Allen - producer

•Ron Howe – saxophone on "A Night Like This"

Charts

Album

Certifications