The 1970s brought us numer-ous forgettable bands. The proliferation of disco in the late ’70s in the United States and the punk scene of England produced few bands that anyone wants to remember. The Cure, however, continues to bring their dark, brooding sound to audiences both in the United States and England into the ’90s. Nineteen years after their first release, The Cure is still helping to define “alternative” music. Their first single, “Killing an Arab,” was released 19 years ago this month. Ever since, fans throughout the world have fallen in love with the distinctive sound that defines The Cure. Over the years, The Cure has branched out from its gothic rock roots in England to a wider variety of music. This variety is part of what makes “Galore” such a strong album — both the upbeat tempo of recent Cure releases and the darker style of the late ’80s are reflected in “Galore.” “Disintegration,” released in 1990, was The Cure’s melancholy masterpiece, and was widely considered their best album. “Galore” has four of the hit singles from this release, including “Pictures of You,” “Fascination Street,” “Lovesong,” and “Lullaby.” The distinctive voice of lead singer and founder Robert Smith is one of the band’s most recognizable characteristics. He started the band “Easy Cure” with schoolmates Lol Tolhurst on drums and Michael Dempsey on bass in 1975. In 1978, Chris Parry heard their song and signed The Cure up for a limited edition single. The next December, in 1979, The Cure started touring in earnest. Its moody and atmospheric sound was a sharp contrast to the punk sound of the ’70s in England. While the new album may only have one new song, it has such a wide collection of singles that even die-hard Cure fans may not have heard every song on the album. It’s definitely well worth the buy. “Wild Mood Swings,” released in 1995, helps define the band’s new style. It seems that Robert Smith has finally cheered up. The Salsa beat of “the 13th” and the jazz of “Gone!” are a remarkable contrast to the music of the band’s first decade of existence. This compilation is aptly named “Galore,” because it has all the changing elements that have kept The Cure popular throughout the decades. Whatever the mood, The Cure seems to contain an emotional intensity that few bands have captured, let alone retained. Two decades after fans first heard the band’s inventive, distinctive sound, The Cure is still just what the doctor ordered to cure the monotony of mainstream music. |
