ALBUM REVIEW
THE CURE – THE CURE
[GEFFEN]


“I don’t want another go around, I want this to be the end,� bemoans Robert Smith on The Cure’s self-titled 2004 album, “I don’t want to start again, I want this to be the last thing we do.� Ever since 1989’s epic Disintegration, Smith has been threatening to disband The Cure. Given their latest “effort�, hopefully this time it’s more than just a threat.

For fans who have yet to actually hear the album, it may be surprising to notice that Smith & Co. have hardly made any of the year end lists. One listen though and you’ll understand why. This album sounds as thrown together as the artwork looks, full of Cure-clichés and Robert Smith moaning and groaning his way through a wall of unmelodious noise. The anti-“war on terror� themed “Us or Them� is especially embarrassing.

It’s time for Smith to stop painting his face and retire The Cure for good.

1½/5

Actually, I've been saying that for 12 years. Wish would have been the perfect swan song, and I haven't liked much since (of course there hasn't been all that much since, either). It really is too bad it came to this though. We see artists stick around too long all the time, but I hate when it happens to someone who has been as brilliant overall as Robert Smith.

I'm not a very big Cure fan, but I appreciate some of their earlier releases, even though I only own a best-of, but this album is indeed very boring...