Sleep when I'm dead

[firecrasher]

I like the new songs, but the production takes some getting used to. It kind of sounds like The Porl Show, but hey, I like the Porl show! I still prefer Boris to Jason. He's certainly not bad, just not as unique. We do have to give Robert some credit for branching out a bit lyric-wise, from sexual (for him) in The Only One to just kind of bizarre (Freakshow).

[KissKissKiss]

Where oh where are the DRUMS in these songs?!  They are pushed way too far back in the mix ..it sort of sucks the energy right out... 

[Lostflowerboy]

So far, none of these 3 b-sides have fulfilled people's expectations, as nauseareockpig points out, there hasn't been a song yet which leaves you there dribbling and trembling

No, I'm dribbling and trembling since weeks. 
No doubt that the production is sort of "unusual", but besides that I'd rate all three B-Sides we got so far are among my most favourites in the band's history. "NY Trip" is a psychedelic gem, "All kinds of stuff" a nice reendition of "A japanese dream" and "Down under" one of those unique Cure Pop tunes that each and every other band in the world would release as a A-Side.

I bet that 80% of those who moan about the new releases would love to see the band releasing "Disintegration" again and again for the last 19 years.

p.s.: Hi, I'm new!

[revolt]

I bet that 80% of those who moan about the new releases would love to see the band releasing "Disintegration" again and again for the last 19 years.

Well, count me in the remaining 20%, then. I don't want them to release Disintegration or Pornography over and over again, even though those albums are among my favourites. I actually think that a KMKMKM or The TOP kind of album would be the best thing for The Cure right now, but I also think that since they have lost much of their ability to write great POP tunes, they should probably go instead for a more serious type of album, with a mix of slow & moody / trippy / dark / aggressive stuff...

[Lostflowerboy]

Well, count me in the remaining 20%, then. I don't want them to release Disintegration or Pornography over and over again, even though those albums are among my favourites. I actually think that a KMKMKM or The TOP kind of album would be the best thing for The Cure right now, but I also think that since they have lost much of their ability to write great POP tunes, they should probably go instead for a more serious type of album, with a mix of slow & moody / trippy / dark / aggressive stuff...

I think (and hope) that the new album will be of a KMKMKM type with many happy songs and only few epic dark songs (Underneath the stars, A boy...). Actually after songs like "Us or them", "The promise" and "Watching me fall" I'm not really looking forward to get more dark agressive stuff. But moody and trippy sounds fine, actually a collaboration of Robert with some electronic artists (imagine some sort of "Space night soundtrack" chillout tunes with dreamfull vocals) is on top of my wish list for years.   

[Rec-Level]

"NY Trip" is a psychedelic gem, "All kinds of stuff" a nice reendition of "A japanese dream" and "Down under" one of those unique Cure Pop tunes that each and every other band in the world would release as a A-Side.

Well, one thing is the albums, and another thing is the b-sides. Yeah, sure that robert farting in the toilet in d#m would sound a lot better than most musical stuff going around these days (or years!). But comparing A foolish arrangement/A chain of flowers/ 2 late or It used ot be me as b-sides with the present ones... well, I think they're in different divisions, really.

[Lostflowerboy]

  Honestly, you can't pick the 4 best (also in my oppinion) B-Sides out of roughly 60-70 in the band's career and say, that they're better than the new ones. In my oppinion the new ones are among the 25 best B-Sides in the band's career, which is a rather good result. Robert will never reach his creative peak (I'd say: 1985-1989) again in termns of songwriting, but who can seriously expect that?

[pelicanmusicstuff]

The error of this otherwise brillant idea was releasing "The Only One" first

as I recall that first single (and NY Trip) got a lot of 2do on American Itunes and the other ones not so much as time faded. The song "TOO" is just "Cure" it has beautiful music and stupid lyrics, like you'd expect from a band of 30 years. IMO Freakshow/Sleep When I'm Dead/Baby Rag Dog Books/Perfect Boy would have all made a statement of direction. If that first single would have packed more substance this would be more commercialy embraced.

[rodney]

I largely agree, but one difference is that I think that TOO is more commercially viable than the others, so would've made a good choice for the last single.  SWID should've been first.  It's different, but still obviously Cure.  Freakshow should've stayed as second, or maybe moved to third.

[Bloodflower]

I'm not sure Freakshow should have been released as a single at all. As much as it's grown on me, I think they killed a lot of the momentum they were starting to build with The Only One. For instance, the local radio station's played The Only One quite a lot, but I'm not sure they've EVER played Freakshow. It's just too weird for alt.rock stations; and as alt.rock stations are all that play The Cure, they should have perhaps pandered their direction a little bit. Maybe with:

1) The Only One
2) Sleep When I'm Dead
3) The Perfect Boy
4) Baby Rag Dog Book [Some sort of single edit; no more than a minute before the vocals come in.]
That's probably not a great singles line-up either, but I think my point is that Freakshow derailed their radio play and so was a poor choice for a single.

[Lostflowerboy]

I think they should've started with the strongest new song, which is in my oppinion "The perfect boy". A nice comeback-song that would have paved the way for "The only one" and "Freakshow". As a final single I could imagine "A boy I never knew", bringing a new vibe in the Cure's single world. Semi-ballads often do well in terms of commercial success, just remember that "Lovesong" was their biggest hit.
Both, "Baby rag dog book" and "Sleep when I'm dead" are not really songs to be released as a single necessarly. So:   

1)The perfect boy
2)The only one
3)Freakshow
4)A boy I never knew

[Steve]

Have to say that the single version of Sleep When I'm Dead is actually crap.

The live versions were superb. How can this single be that bad (or is it just the 13 mix that's tragic)?

[Janko]

I'm not sure Freakshow should have been released as a single at all.

I agree.

The Only One is the only great song I've heard from the new material and it's the only radio-viable song they made so far. It's overwhelmingly stupid to expect any impact from the remaining three singles...

And this one single a month became really bad idea because  TOO could be a really nice summer hit if only they supported it better (production, sound,  video) ...

I think, this is gonna be greatest flop in their career and with crap like Sleep when I'm dead or Baby Rag Dog Book (WTF?!?!?! What kind of idiot name is that?!) the band doesn't make any sense of a "new direction"...

[rodney]

Oh, I disagree that this new album will be the biggest flop of their career.  It's certainly not going to be the most successful, but I think audiences will be interested in their "new" guitar heavy sound.  They're doing something different, and I think people will notice it.  Even if it's not rewarded with another big hit or radio play.  Who cares about those things anyway? 

[Janko]

Oh, I disagree that this new album will be the biggest flop of their career.  It's certainly not going to be the most successful, but I think audiences will be interested in their "new" guitar heavy sound.  They're doing something different, and I think people will notice it.  Even if it's not rewarded with another big hit or radio play.  Who cares about those things anyway? 

OK

I hope you're right, but:

- Name one weaker album than this one (we heard at least 5-6 new songs that will be on it , so...)
- What are the main elements of the "new guitar sound" that you find so exciting
- What's the main noticeable difference (besides the low quality )
- Why shouldn't we care about hits and airplay?

It's obvious I'm missing something, but I don't know what it is...