4:13 Dream

[scottm]

Hi, I'm Scott. I used to post on curiosity.de and for awhile, hosted an mp3 site at http://mr-monty-hall.members.easyspace.com. If I'm lucky, some of you might remember me. (I see cult_hero on here at least so far, hopefully there are some more).

I finally listened to the new cd yesterday. I posted a longwinded review on curiosity.de but I don't think that site gets a lot of activity any more so I hope no one minds if I repost it here. Comments welcome...

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I bought the singles through amazon a month or so ago but I just finally got the cd today and am listening to it for the first time now.

I heard Underneath the Stars during their tour so I knew I'd like that one. I'd also heard Freakshow and knew that I wouldn't like that one. It does sound better on the cd than it did live though. (But I think Underneath the Stars sounds a little better live than on cd).

The Reasons Why starts out kind of boring and, i dunno, meh. But it turns into a rich wish-like experience shortly into the song. The vocals have been toned down a little since the last cd and I think that's a good thing.

Wow - Sirensong captured me during the first listen. It reminds me a little of Jupiter Crash but in a good way - not a rehashed way. (I always considered alt.end a rehashed version of In Your House - not in a good way).

I like that the songs are shorter on this cd. Starting with Bloodflowers - it seems like a few of the songs became bloated because they ran on a minute or so longer than they needed to. Here the band expresses an idea and moves on before they beat it to death. It's refreshing.

The Real Snow White. I need a few more listens before I can comment on this. It's ok so far. Nothing special. Music aside - the lyrics on this cd have been refreshing so far. Between Bloodflowers and The Cure - a lot of the songs just had really tired lyrics. In a lot of cases he'd just say them twice with slight variations on them in the same song (Like There is No If, Bloodflowers, Labrynth) sometimes even more than that (god, remember I Don't Know What's Going On?). But on the new cd - so far none of that.

The Hungry Ghost really reminds me of Robert's wish-style of singing. I miss that style and I'm glad it's back. On a second listen, it reminds me a lot of the Doing the Unstuck demo called "Slvvy" that you might have heard around. Again, not in a rehashed way, it is just a little reminicient. It doesn't build up like Slvvy did though.

Ok - I'm not going to get into a Jason/Boris thing because that's stupid, but the drums are a little light on the cd. Not just the drums but the whole 'wall of sound'. I wish a few of the songs had a little more energy in them.

Switch - ask and ye shall receive. Good tempo with a lot going on in the song. It gets the blood pumping a little bit. And damn what a line "I'm tired of being alone with myself; I'm tired of being with anyone else." That's a gem. Ok this is one of my favorite tunes so far.

Parts of The Perfect Boy remind me of Let's Go to Bed but better. (I hate Let's Go to Bed and the rest of this song doesn't sound like it, so...). I really would have loved this tune if the guitar was just a little stronger on it.

The Only One reminds me of a hybrid of Just Like Heaven and High. Unfortunately it does seem to be in a slightly rehashed way. Oh well - still a pleasant song.

This. Here and Now. With You kind of came and went without catching my attention. I guess I need a few more listens. If it were up to me, I'd have dropped this from the cd and replaced it with All Kinds of Stuff.

Sleep When I'm Dead was sort of annoying live. It is less annoying on the cd. I wish he said Sleep When I'm Dead a little less often and that it sounded a little less like Icing Sugar.

Man, The Scream has one hell of a catchy riff and Robert downplays the vocals - appropriately to my ears. Listen to it develop as the electronics are introduced and the vocals pick up, but in a controlled way. The chords get rich and the drumming stays impressive. Wow this is what Us and Them should have sounded like. Best song on the cd in my eyes putting Switch at number 2.

Finally, It's Over. Creative and progressive tune. Any of you guys remember Exit from the Joshua Tree? Seems almost like a nod to that.

Wow - ton of stuff to write and I bet nobody reads it. Oh well. I hope to hear comments from other people.

[cane5]

Scottm

Overall It seems you have given a thumbs up to 4:13 dream. My overall feelings have been posted already so I will not comment accept to say there is a little here for everybody.And I am very happy in this day an age Robert could do amazing stuff and his voice stay so strong.

I reaally think if the production was toned down. 'This. Here and now. With you is a song that is core. Its a song I play over and over again because of the feel good sound.Something Robert said he wanted to create especially for this disc. Also the lyrics are more impressive as you hear it more.

I really think people miss what "The Reasons Why" has to offer.Talking about suicide and doing it in a upbeat way is simply remarkable and something only Robert could pull off.

In the Hungry Ghost you have a song with some quality quitar rifts yet not too over the top. And this is a song where Robert connects lyrically with a message that is universal in its appeal.

The beginning of 'Underneath the stars is stunning in sound and actually better than live versions. Its a song needed to offset some of the upbeat stuff.

'Siren song' and the 'Perfect Boy are the kind of songs Robert tried to do well and he pulls it off. Simple basic but in each there is some relly nice string work and I agree it would have been nice if he expanded that in these songs.

I agree with you on 'Freakshow'. Its out of place. Probably belongs on Dark album.

'Real Snow White' is perhaps the tune that few seem to understand. Interesting title. Haunting lyrics but its unique chorus that is a sound Ive never heard from Robert. A touch of Beatles 'Rubber soul album'.

I am convinced that the diversity of songs overshadows any shortcomings here. At first I thought too much was made from posters here about the production of the album I am now in agreement. It doesnt have to be so loud and it makes all somewhta rough sounding.

[tigermilk]

"This. Here and now. With you" is a song that is core. Its a song I play over and over again because of the feel good sound. Something Robert said he wanted to create especially for this disc. Also the lyrics are more impressive as you hear it more.

I really think people miss what "The Reasons Why" has to offer. Talking about suicide and doing it in a upbeat way is simply remarkable and something only Robert could pull off.
...

cane5 I totally agree with everything you wrote. "This Here & Now With You" is wonderful and it really makes me feel good too. And I love "The Reasons Why" and I'm wondering if it was written about Ian Curtis or Van Gogh perhaps? I like that there is a bit of mystery on this record. The more I listen to 4:13 Dream the more I fall in love with it, it's definately not a boring album.

[scottm]

Scottm

Overall It seems you have given a thumbs up to 4:13 dream.

Definitely, yes. After a few listens, I do agree with some folks about the production. It seems that the parts I want to hear are sometimes drowned out by other parts. Maybe that's why I liked the live version of Underneath the Stars better. But I do like this album.

Anyway, thanks for your thoughtful reply.

[cane5]

Tigermilk

Its just amazing how some people dont really seem to get this CD. One song I wish they hadnt left off is 'The boy I never knew'. If you havent already  go to youtube and give it a listen.

The diversity of albums and songs are as diverse as the many opinions that Cure fans have about what is their favorite. For some reason 4:13 has evoked a avalanche of this kind of dialogue on many sites I look at.

Whats the point of that. I cant think there are 3 better songs from any number of standpoints as whats on 'Bloodflowers. 'The last day of summer, 'Where the birds always sing and 'Out of this world are wonderful listening songs and well put togeather. 'A night like this,Push and 'In between Days were the songs that drove me to my Cure addiction. And lets not leave out Disintegration and 'Wish'. Or 'Just like Heaven' How about the B-sides. On and on it goes.

Cure fans are spoiled. They are not going to see but what they want to see. Fortunately Robert has given us a large pair of binoculars to look through.

It reminds me of Bob Dylan fans and how they endlessly banter about on which Dylan song or album is the greatest.Dylan is still touring and making CDs.

4:13 has its innovations and its similarities as every Cure album before it.And I guess that is the really good thing because in every project is something we all can at least like and put them all togeather and we all can agree the Cure is alive and well and we should be enamored at just its longeveity and what they can still bang out. Not to mention Roberts voice is still solid as a rock.

[tigermilk]

True, Cure fans are extremely spoiled. Look at a band like The Smiths, they were only around for 5 years. Imagine if The Cure were only around for 5 years! After all of these years the band still sounds fresh and haven't gone electro or emo like the current trend in todays music (with the exception of the Hypnogic States EP of course, haha). They have stayed true to themselves and to their fans. Sure the production on 4:13 Dream is a let down, but that's it really, everything else is on point. The lyrics are brilliant and the band sounds very tight. These are a bunch of old guys when all is said and done, and they've made probably the most energetic and interesting albums of the year. We are very lucky indeed.

[Strange Attraction]

I love 4:13 Dream !

[billbones80]

http://www.godisinthetvzine.co.uk/content/content_detail.php?id=2869&type=Features

[scottm]

http://www.godisinthetvzine.co.uk/content/content_detail.php?id=2869&type=Features

I think that's awesome that she thinks 4:13 doesn't recapture the glory days of Wild Mood Swings since I like about half of that record and two thirds of this one.

Since Mixed Up, I've had to cherry pick. I can live with that. Even before somtimes - I wonder how many people love EVERY SONG off of Kiss Me x3.

[scottm]

After a number of listens of the whole cd and the B sides - here's the tracklist I've saved for 4:13. I don't have NY Trip or maybe I'd add that.

Underneath the Stars
The Only One
The Reasons Why
Sirensong
All Kinds of Stuff
The Hungry Ghost
Down Under
Switch
The Perfect Boy
Without You
The Scream
It's Over

[tigermilk]

After a number of listens of the whole cd and the B sides - here's the tracklist I've saved for 4:13. I don't have NY Trip or maybe I'd add that.

You should definately get 'NY Trip', it's my favourite B-Side of the bunch, followed by 'Down Under'. 

[japanesebaby]

a reviewer (someone i believe does know a thing or two about the cure indeed) in a local music paper called (Sue) wrote about the contradictory nature of 4:13.
how 'underneath the stars' represents the best cure for quite some time but how all that wonderfulness is being delivered in a form of a wall of sound

"which is like a copy of a copy of an audience recording of a soundcheck, just moments before the guy behind the micxing desk shouts "stop the playing! all settings wrong!""
(my translation)

a fitting description.
in the very beginning of the review the reviewer also said how he first thought that her kid been toyying with the EQ settings of the stereo amplifier and gotten them all upside down and wrong - but was surprised to find that wasn't the case, there was indeed nothing wrong with his stereo.

other quotes:
"robert smith still has the capability to lead his team through a studio session and produce great material in the process, but his good judgement what comes to the studio treatment of the material has started to sink with age."

[M]

a reviewer (someone i believe does know a thing or two about the cure indeed) in a local music paper called (Sue) wrote about the contradictory nature of 4:13.
how 'underneath the stars' represents the best cure for quite some time but how all that wonderfulness is being delivered in a form of a wall of sound

"which is like a copy of a copy of an audience recording of a soundcheck, just moments before the guy behind the micxing desk shouts "stop the playing! all settings wrong!""
(my translation)

a fitting description.
in the very beginning of the review the reviewer also said how he first thought that her kid been toyying with the EQ settings of the stereo amplifier and gotten them all upside down and wrong - but was surprised to find that wasn't the case, there was indeed nothing wrong with his stereo.

other quotes:
"robert smith still has the capability to lead his team through a studio session and produce great material in the process, but his good judgement what comes to the studio treatment of the material has started to sink with age."

I think that's quite fair, except that she mention his age. That gets me pissed.

[japanesebaby]

a reviewer (someone i believe does know a thing or two about the cure indeed) in a local music paper called (Sue) wrote about the contradictory nature of 4:13.
how 'underneath the stars' represents the best cure for quite some time but how all that wonderfulness is being delivered in a form of a wall of sound

"which is like a copy of a copy of an audience recording of a soundcheck, just moments before the guy behind the micxing desk shouts "stop the playing! all settings wrong!""
(my translation)

a fitting description.
in the very beginning of the review the reviewer also said how he first thought that her kid been toyying with the EQ settings of the stereo amplifier and gotten them all upside down and wrong - but was surprised to find that wasn't the case, there was indeed nothing wrong with his stereo.

other quotes:
"robert smith still has the capability to lead his team through a studio session and produce great material in the process, but his good judgement what comes to the studio treatment of the material has started to sink with age."

I think that's quite fair, except that she mention his age. That gets me pissed.

a he, not a she.

about the age reference: i think it would make more sense if i had translated the whole review and not just quoted some segments. because the reviewer also first pointed out how the previous album ('the cure') already had a weird production and how this new one has even weirder. therefore one can can understand the comment. so i´don't think it was intended as age racism (considering the way he put it and the context it was in, i actually didn't get that kind of idea at all myself when i read it). i think it was just an observation concerning the production of the last (two) albums - which, for fairness sake, really has been gotten worse. there's no denying that.

[M]

a reviewer (someone i believe does know a thing or two about the cure indeed) in a local music paper called (Sue) wrote about the contradictory nature of 4:13.
how 'underneath the stars' represents the best cure for quite some time but how all that wonderfulness is being delivered in a form of a wall of sound

"which is like a copy of a copy of an audience recording of a soundcheck, just moments before the guy behind the micxing desk shouts "stop the playing! all settings wrong!""
(my translation)

a fitting description.
in the very beginning of the review the reviewer also said how he first thought that her kid been toyying with the EQ settings of the stereo amplifier and gotten them all upside down and wrong - but was surprised to find that wasn't the case, there was indeed nothing wrong with his stereo.

other quotes:
"robert smith still has the capability to lead his team through a studio session and produce great material in the process, but his good judgement what comes to the studio treatment of the material has started to sink with age."

I think that's quite fair, except that she mention his age. That gets me pissed.

a he, not a she.

about the age reference: i think it would make more sense if i had translated the whole review and not just quoted some segments. because the reviewer also first pointed out how the previous album ('the cure') already had a weird production and how this new one has even weirder. therefore one can can understand the comment. so i´don't think it was intended as age racism (considering the way he put it and the context it was in, i actually didn't get that kind of idea at all myself when i read it). i think it was just an observation concerning the production of the last (two) albums - which, for fairness sake, really has been gotten worse. there's no denying that.

Do you've got a link to the review? (I sadly have to agree that the production has getting worse)

And maybe a bit off topic; is the reviewer a man called Sue?