We have been waiting for years and now we finally got the new album! Some already wrote down it’s their best album ever. Fact is that it’s a mix between Wish (but without the happy songs) and Disintegration (the long intro’s, the synth sound, …). Cool thing is the full integration of Reeves Gabrels. Some say it’s only killers, I think of one filler and 8 songs is a bit short (but I hear there are 2 more albums coming up, so maybe the happier songs will follow later).
Fact is that Robert Smith wanted to stop a few years ago when he performed in front of a huge crowd, but the fun fact is that it gave him a boost and festival asked him to headline after that one. Yeah, we all know how much he loves to perform. Robert Smith doesn’t do it for the money (check what he did with the price of concert tickets). He just loves it and want people to pay a fair (low) price. Just like Robert Smith: I’m getting older and that also means knowing more people who die. This had clearly an influence on the album and I understand it (hence my age).
Alone: The song slowly builds up, with a haunting melody (check my intro). Once you hear Robert Smith sing you know it's a great song (it takes a while but no need to pin that one down again as you all heard the song by now already many times, over and over). I hear some lamenting, some great guitar play and a bit of a depressing mood. This kind of song can give you goosebumps, tears in your eyes, … it will for sure touch you. It's as if this one will be the end song of their career (unlike some where thinking when they released End on the album called Wish).
And Nothing Is Forever mixes a piano and a synth that sounds like as if you get strings out of it. The beginning sounds very positive, but hey just read the lyrics and you’ll know it’s about getting older and fearing you’ll loose your beloved ones. It’s a romantic and yet very realistic song where you ask not to die alone and live your life in the best way, together as nothing is forever. Love, passion, friendship … when we get older it all marks us, it all matters in the end … It’s a very emotional song, true emotions and sung from the heart! It’s a beauty!
A Fragile Thing, as Silke wrote it down: “The typical The Cure sound is here, that's clear. The new song has a lesser depressive sound (but still with a bit of melancholia), however the lyrics still go deep. I can say that the global sound is very much typical for The Cure (think about the period on Mint Car), the end reminds me a bit of High (btw). The synth piano touch gives an deeper feeling to the song whilst the guitar sounds reminds us that this is The Cure.” I have to add: the intro is shorter, the piano has clearly a leading role, just as the bass guitar. Robert voice is as majestic as always, but also very poignant.
Warsong is a very hard song (lyrics but also sound wise with a wink towards Disintegration). It’s the shortest track on the album.
Drone:Nodrone starts with rambling guitars (the kind you hear when you listen to Doom metal bands), but you will also hear a modern synth sound, a sharp guitar sound and a globally very loud sound. I hear a bit of From The Edge of the Deep Green Sea in it. I’m not sure what to think about the lyrics. It’s my least favourite track on the album (but mind the gap: it's a slow grower, so give it some time).
I Can Never Say Goodbye is a very emotional song as it talks about the death of his brother. Listen to his voice, let the piano and the guitar play bewitch you. The sadness is real, just as the emotions. I’m wandering how he can still sing this song. It’s powerful and yet pulling out tears …
All I Ever Am is a typical The Cure track (think about Wish), but with on top the excellent guitar play from Reeves Gabrels. To me this guy was the missing link. And real fans know that it was thanks to David Bowie’s 50th birthday party that they met, the rest is history (thank you mister David Bowie). Be prepaired to become (yet again) emotional after listening to this song. Hell, the darkness reigns.
Endsong is literally the last song on this album and will take more then 10 minutes of your time. The intro is very long, but also fits well as it slowly builds up. The lyrics remind me a bit of End (on Wish). Looking back from when you where a little boy: looking at what you have become, left alone with nothing. Can we bare more sadness? It’s a strong song and a strong end. When the song ends it’s done and leaves you literally with nothing, except the hope that there is indeed a trilogy coming up … It’s the strongest song on the album and actually got me crying. I didn’t even notice the 10 minutes passing by, that says it all!
Yes: it’s the most personal album from The Cure and Yes Reeves Gabrels did a great job as new member and yes: Robert Smith still has his voice and his magical darkness. Yes it’s a strong album and yes it was worth the long waiting. And yes: I bought the album. I missed the first gig, but watched it all from the internet and thanks to BBC. I’m happy and a bit sad, realising my own darkness, my age, the people around me who died … So Yes: I feel it, I feel the real emotions (unlike the actual plastic stars on TV). It’s all real: hard, heavy, dark, emotional … So now leave me alone as I need time to live with all the emotions that came up whilst listening to this pure and honest album. Thank you!
Enjoy the full gig here:
