Title: 4:13 Dream
Artist: The Cure
Genre: Dark Wave / Rock
Release Date: 24th October 2008
Label: Geffen
Album Review
I think I can spare myself the time for the introduction this time round and get straight to the point After delays and more delays, the 13th album of THE CURE ‘4:13 Dream’ eventually has been released last week…
And that begins with ‘Underneath the Stars’, a dreamy melancholic number that could have been on ‘Disintegration’ as well. The synths have been turned down even more in favour of a more guitar oriented sound (More than on the last album) but the distinct /guitar/bass play on the track is just brilliant. A breath of ‘Disintegration’ shimmers through here. ‘The Only One’ links to the poppy phase of the band and comes along with airy, catchy melodies and a Robert Smith who’s in his best temper since years. If you then hear lines like “I won’t try to bring you down about my suicide” of the next piece ‘The Reasons Why’ it seems like it didn’t last long. A relief for many die-hard fans, who don’t want a positive sounding Robert Smith anyway.
‘Freakshow’ must be familiar to some already, being one of the four singles preceding the album release; an untypical fast song in which now and then a short piano melody pops up. Besides that I have come to like the manic guitar riffs gathering in the background. The song could have been a little longer for me than just 2:30. You have to take what you get. It’s getting a bit more romantic afterwards with ‘Sirens Song’ gliding forward with gentle drums and guitar/bass company. The up-tempo track ‘Sleep When I’m Dead’ according to Robert Smith, is based on an idea he already had during the recording sessions to ‘The Head On the Door’. Apart from its pushing character Robert’s voice is strongly reverberated again. I just love how that sounds here in the rather poppy refrain of the song.
‘The Scream’ is a bit weird and dark, so it’s pure THE CURE yet as comparatively calm as the track starts, while progressing it’s escalating to a hurricane of guitars, synths and drums enthroned by the voice of master of suffering. The album closer ‘It’s Over’, apt title by the way, sounds like a rock jam session and is the absolute counterpart to the calm start of the album with ‘Underneath The Stars’.
I’ve read a lot of opinions about the album, many of them basically saying the album would never touch masterpieces like <Insert your favourite albums here> and it’s just bad. Well, maybe it’s certainly not the killer album everyone was expecting, but it’s definitely not the crap album some people want to make it. If THE CURE wants to sound like this today let them for god’s sake and give it a rest. One little complains. The sound-quality good be better. Not that I wouldn’t like it the old-school way sometimes, but we have 2008.
Tracklist
01. Underneath The Stars – 6:18
02. The Only One – 3:57
03. The Reasons Why – 4:35
04. Freakshow – 2:30
05. Sirensong – 2:23
06. The Real Snow White – 4:43
07. The Hungry Ghost – 4:38
08. Switch – 3:44
09. The Perfect Boy – 3:21
10. This. Here And Now. With You – 4:07
11. Sleep When I'm Dead – 3:52
12. The Scream – 4:37
13. It's Over – 4:17
Line-up
Robert Smith – Vocals, Guitar
Simon Gallup - Bass
Paul Thompson - Guitar
Jason Cooper - Drums
Website
http://www.thecure.com/ / http://www.myspace.com/thecure
Cover Picture
Rating
Music: 8
Sound: 6
Extras: -
Total: 7
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