I think true Cure fans will know what I'm talking about when I say that, for the most part, many people have a selective memory of The Cure. I couldn't tell you how many times I have read reviewers mislabel Wish as a happy album or brand The Cure as "Goth" and it hasn't bode well for the band who seem to have to constantly fight off distorted preconceptions. People seem to love just one of the many sounds the band makes and reject everything else.

Cue 4:13 Dream. This is The Cure being The Cure. Everything the band ever was and ever will be is touched upon in this album. From the hauntingly relentless howls and tribal drumming of Pornography (summed up in The Scream and It's Over) to the layered beauty of Disintegration (Underneath the Stars) and the jaunty pop of the bands more popular singles High, Catch, Just Like Heaven (The Only One, Siren Song and The Perfect Boy respectively). However, most importantly this is the first Cure album in 16 years to finally feel like a step… more »

I think true Cure fans will know what I'm talking about when I say that, for the most part, many people have a selective memory of The Cure. I couldn't tell you how many times I have read reviewers mislabel Wish as a happy album or brand The Cure as "Goth" and it hasn't bode well for the band who seem to have to constantly fight off distorted preconceptions. People seem to love just one of the many sounds the band makes and reject everything else.

Cue 4:13 Dream. This is The Cure being The Cure. Everything the band ever was and ever will be is touched upon in this album. From the hauntingly relentless howls and tribal drumming of Pornography (summed up in The Scream and It's Over) to the layered beauty of Disintegration (Underneath the Stars) and the jaunty pop of the bands more popular singles High, Catch, Just Like Heaven (The Only One, Siren Song and The Perfect Boy respectively). However, most importantly this is the first Cure album in 16 years to finally feel like a step forward. While the aforementioned parallels to earlier work are clear it never feels like déjà vu, it never feels like a rehash or a remake (with the exception of The Only One). It is fresh and new.

It's clear that this is the best album by The Cure since Wish. If you remember The Cure for what The Cure really are, an eclectic mix of emotions told through a range of sounds, then this is the album for you. While The Cure have never officially been gone, this is them back, and they are very much welcome.

Each new cure album is eagerly awaited and this one seems to have been a long time in the making. Tracks from their new album were debuted on the recent leg of their tour so its great to finally hear the album. For me previous albums have never quite come close to the sheer masterpiece that is Disintegration. Robert Smith has been a prolific songwriter for 30 years and lets face it we all question whether he can still do it.?

So to the album.... First track Underneath the Stars immediately takes you back to 1989 a wash of sound that is injected with all the lustre of disintegration. The familiar bell chimes (aka plainsong) ring out albeit a bit overused perhaps. Luxurious production and suddenly you get sucked into thinking that perhaps Smith has found his form again. Then straight into The only One, a stock song with a catchy melody but somehow lacking something, probably the least enticing song on the album!
Reasons Why sounds refreshingly different. Hooky style bassline… more »

Each new cure album is eagerly awaited and this one seems to have been a long time in the making. Tracks from their new album were debuted on the recent leg of their tour so its great to finally hear the album. For me previous albums have never quite come close to the sheer masterpiece that is Disintegration. Robert Smith has been a prolific songwriter for 30 years and lets face it we all question whether he can still do it.?

So to the album.... First track Underneath the Stars immediately takes you back to 1989 a wash of sound that is injected with all the lustre of disintegration. The familiar bell chimes (aka plainsong) ring out albeit a bit overused perhaps. Luxurious production and suddenly you get sucked into thinking that perhaps Smith has found his form again. Then straight into The only One, a stock song with a catchy melody but somehow lacking something, probably the least enticing song on the album!
Reasons Why sounds refreshingly different. Hooky style bassline at the beginning and evolves into a song that leaves you wanting more. Freakshow is always gonna be Cure fans favourite. The kind that Smith will probably lump together with Close to me and The Walk live, but sadly this song lacks the attraction and immediacy of those forementioned songs.
Sirensong is a fortunate piece of musical wizardry. Nice slide guitar and Smith sounds like he wrote this song with great ease, lyrically its gentle and simple but simplicity is good!!
Real Snow white an interesting song but not brilliant!. Similarly Hungry Ghost just not actually a song to make you jump up and down with joy.
The final song Its Over really took me by surprise. This really reminded me of 'shiver and shake' days and sounded really inspiring.
Ok so what can you say about this album? A bit confusing really, neither one thing or the other. Good albums rely on good songs and a good producer. Robert Smith has co-produced this album with Keith Uddin who is pretty much in the infancy of his production career. For me his production mark isn't stamped clearly enough and the album lacks direction and more importantly the transfixing sound that earlier Cure albums offer. Whatever happened to Dave Allen?? There just doesn't seem to be consistency running through it. Smiths vocals lack some edge, the lyrics lack imagination. Having said that I salute Robert for still being able to write music that is far superior to a lot of the dismal music out there today. 4:13..... you want to like it, thousands of cure fans will like it but you have to be honest with yourself and say the album is great but not great enough!