Blue Plate Special: The Cure
With a new album set for release on Nov 1st, I thought it was about time to feature this band that was so pivotal in shaping my musical tastes.
The Cure, an English rock band formed in 1978 in Crawley, West Sussex, is renowned for their pivotal role in shaping the post-punk and gothic rock movements. Led by the enigmatic Robert Smith, the band’s only constant member, The Cure gained prominence with their debut album Three Imaginary Boys (1979), which established them as a force in the emerging new wave scene. With their second album Seventeen Seconds (1980), the band adopted a darker, more atmospheric style, cementing their influence on the goth subculture through Smith’s distinctive appearance and their brooding soundscapes.
While I knew a couple of their singles from the early 80’s (A Forest, Primary, Boys Don’t Cry), it was the 1984 release of The Top with the single The Caterpillar that made me a fan. A good friend caught me up with copies of their back catalog, and by the time the album The Head on the Door and compilation Standing on a Beach hit the stores, I was a full-fledged member of their fanbase.
Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, The Cure achieved worldwide commercial success, especially with albums like Disintegration (1989) and Wish (1992), which included timeless hits like “Lullaby” and “Friday I’m in Love.” Their ability to blend melancholic themes with a pop sensibility helped them reach a global audience, selling over 30 million albums worldwide. Despite numerous lineup changes, Simon Gallup, who played bass for nearly the band’s entire history, was a key collaborator alongside Smith. Their induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2019 solidified their legacy as one of the most influential alternative bands of their era.
The Cure’s influence spans across genres and generations, impacting a wide array of artists from Smashing Pumpkins to Chvrches. Their music, characterized by atmospheric guitar riffs, poignant lyrics, and an ever-present sense of existential despair, has stood the test of time. In 2024, they continue to make waves with the highly anticipated release of Songs of a Lost World, their first studio album in sixteen years, set to debut on November 1st.
While it’s difficult to only list a dozen favorites from their extensive catalog, here are some of my favorites:
Just Like Heaven – from the album Kiss Me Kiss Me Kiss Me (1987)
A Forest – from the album Seventeen Seconds (1980)
The Caterpillar – from the album The Top (1984)
Push – from the album The Head on the Door (1985)
A Strange Day – from the album Pornography (1982)
Never Enough – from the album Mixed Up (1990)
The Drowning Man – from the album Faith (1981)
High – from the album Wish (1992)
Like Cockatoos – from the album Kiss Me Kiss Me Kiss Me (1987)
Alone – single from their forthcoming album Songs of a Lost World (2024)
This Is a Lie – from the album Wild Mood Swings (1996)
