Review: Japanese Whispers stands as a crucial juncture in The Cure's evolution, capturing a transformative period for the band. Amidst lineup changes and creative exploration, this compilation album bridges their gothic roots with a newfound synth-pop sound. Tracks like 'Let's Go to Bed' and 'The Lovecats' showcase Robert Smith's emerging versatility as a songwriter and producer, marking a departure from their earlier introspective rock. Despite its status as a compilation, Japanese Whispers is a gem often overlooked for its significance. This reissue offers fans a chance to rediscover its brilliance. With its effervescent melodies and cheeky nods to jazz and dance music, Japanese Whispers laid the groundwork for The Cure's future endeavors and remains a testament to their enduring influence.
Review: The Cure's live album 'Paris' catches the band in the summer of 1992. This tour came after a siesmic shift in the previously fairly static line up of the goth pop icons, with original frontman Robert Smith and long serving bassist Simon Gallup joined by drummer Jason Cooper, keyboardist Roger O'Donnell and guitar player Perry Bamonte for the first time, all of whom remain part of their live ensemble 30 years later. The setlist starts with their evergreen opener 'Shake Dog Shake' but this selection double vinyl captures more deep cuts - 'The Figurehead', 'One Hundred Years' and 'Apart' as examples - than hits, although the dark pop of 'Close To Me' does make an appearance close to its end.
Review: This album, originally released in 1989, and now expanded for a deluxe edition, is god-tier stuff from The Cure. The 'Pictures Of You' melody is emotional enough to draw tears from those with stone hearts. And similarly to many of the tracks on this album, 'Lovesong' still forms a really important part of their live set as there's beautiful interplay between keys and bass, whilst Robert Smith's heartfelt poetry is filled with conviction. In terms of album openers they don't come much stronger than 'Plainsong', which is a melancholic, dark synthgaze-y masterpiece that will stop you in your tracks whatever you're doing.
We use cookies to personalise content and ads, to provide social media features and to analyse our traffic. We also share information about your use of our site with our social media, advertising and analytics partners who may combine it with other information that you've provided to them or that they've collected from your use of their services.