Necromag.co.uk

Following The Cure’s tradition of releasing an album every 4 years they are indeed back, albeit a tad later than previously specified, and their new album is cryptically called 4:13 Dream.
Of the apparent 33 tracks that were recorded for this album, the final 13 tracks are, im proud to report, a delight to listen to. Opener “Underneath The stars” boasts a lengthy intro before kicking in, showing the songwriting and structuring that 30 years of experience have brought the band. “The Only One” follows, the bands first single from the album taken way back in May, which is perfectly pop tastic for the first single, and catches the attention instantly. In direct contrast, opening with the line “I won’t try to bring you down about my suicide”, next song “Reasons Why” brings in classic Cure melancholy moving along at a gentle pace which dips in and out as the album plods along. This seems all to easy for the Goffs at this point. A couple of oddball songs dot the album, including “Freakshow” which, at only 2:28 in length shows that they are still not afraid to experiment with the quirky. “The Real Snow White” is also a testament to this, beginning with the sinister repetition of “You’ve Got What I Want”, having a fantastic sing a long hook and ending with the snarling menace of “It’s only for the night, i’ll give it back tomorrow, I swear…..” My favourite track, which in my humble opinion sums up the band as they are in 2008 is “The Hungry Ghost.” A simple guitar riff plays through the song which you only need one listen to remember forever it’s that catchy, odd psychedelic guitar sounds play in the background with a hypnotic quality that makes it a joy to listen to. “Sleep When Im Dead” is a fantastic piece of nostalgia for Cure Fans who want to recall what they sounded like back in the 80’s, mostly because it was originally supposed to appear on 1985’s “The Head On The Door” according to Robert Smith.
One of my main disappointments with their eponymous 2004 album was the production. Ross Robinson is a metal producer and does it incredibly well. Although he never wanted to take The Cure into the world of metal, his presence brought in a heaviness that seemed unnatural with Robert Smiths voice and songwriting style, and this mistake is not repeated on 4:13 Dream with Robert Smith getting on top of production duties. While the previous album aimed, and arguably failed, to take The Cure into a different realm, this album allows them to do what they do best. Write memorable, heartfelt music with the right mix of quirkiness and experimentation. And while we wont ever get back the bleak, dark gothic mastery of albums like Seventeen Seconds and Pornography, The Cure have evolved over the years and this, while by no means their best album, is a fantastic addition to the discography. Yes, there are enough sparks of imagination on here to rival any new bands today who call upon The Cure as influences. And yes, The Cure still rule.

[TheOxKing]