Head On The Door, The - Cure (The)

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Then came Head On The Door. And this started to introduce The Cure as a much different band, one who could create fun, jumpy pop songs as well as the sombre gothic masterpieces. This album also introduced The Cure to the mainstream, as well as an exciting and innovative singles band.

The album begins with one of these singles. 'Inbetween Days' is very much a classic Cure single: a simple melody driving along at an energetic ...
...biggest departure of all of Head On The Door. 'Close To Me' is a classic Cure single, in the playful, romantic and oddly sexual mould. Beginning with drums and bass, it builds slowly in, while lustful breathing lingers on in the background. It is highly intimate, like being locked in a cupboard with a girl you really like, and who also likes you. "I never thought tonight you'd ever be this close to me" suggests that Smith has found love ... more

The Cure have always been a surprising band. After the new wave feel of the debut Three Imaginary Boys, and then Boys Don't Cry, they then turned their heads to the Gothic, heavily dark and depressing atmosphere for the trio of albums Seventeen Seconds, Faith, and the classic Pornography, which was at the height of depravity and pure moodiness, and of frontman and all together leader of Robert Smith.

Then came Head On The Door. And this started to introduce The Cure as a much different band, one who could create fun, jumpy pop songs as well as the sombre gothic masterpieces. This album also introduced The Cure to the mainstream, as well as an exciting and innovative singles band.

The album begins with one of these singles. 'Inbetween Days' is very much a classic Cure single: a simple melody driving along at an energetic pace with exciting swirls and synth hooks turning it from good to great. And underneath the lyrics seemed as dark as ever. "Yesterday I got so scared I shivered like a child" fits well superficially over the driving beat, but also reveals a hidden meaning to the song, giving it an extra dimension.

The next two songs are more of a return to The Cure's darker side. 'Kyoto Song' is a 4 minute brooding piece which could be accused of never really heading anywhere, but it's a nice song nevertheless, if sounding of a bit of a departure after 'Inbetween Days'. The next song, 'The Blood' is as dark as what can be expected, but it has an excellent pop rhythm under it, inspired evidently by Spanish Guitar and Flamenco, and also Eastern music, drawing in some Indian influences. They pull it off better then anyone could have ever imagined it, creating an intense and distinctive pop song.

The next two songs, 'Six Different Ways' and 'Push', are two more light hearted affairs, which again are pulled off well, with the former using twinkly keyboards and strings to create an intimate feeling, and is probably the most romantic song on the album bar one, showing that Robert Smith may be feeling, dare I whisper it, happy. The next song 'The Baby Screams' is another dark, gothic anthem with all the things you've come to expect, with soaring vocals and echoey guitars. Yet this one seems to be more playful and evil, evident in the lyric "And I love it, when the baby screams" suggesting that ol' Fat Bob may be having a bit of a laugh at his nightmareish image.

The next however, is the biggest departure of all of Head On The Door. 'Close To Me' is a classic Cure single, in the playful, romantic and oddly sexual mould. Beginning with drums and bass, it builds slowly in, while lustful breathing lingers on in the background. It is highly intimate, like being locked in a cupboard with a girl you really like, and who also likes you. "I never thought tonight you'd ever be this close to me" suggests that Smith has found love with someone he never thought he was good enough for, and he is over the moon at letting go of all insecurities. This was the song that got me into The Cure, and is a definite recommendation for download.

The next track is a sad one, called 'A Night Like This'. It sees The Cure at the most anthemic, and is the one song on the album that you imagine hearing in a stadium. It's the most emotional song but at the bands most open, which could accuse of it hitting the status of power ballad, yet to compare this to the likes of Foreigner is unjust and unfair, as Foreigner have never achieved emotion that true.

The last two tracks, 'Screw' and 'Sinking' follow the lines of 'The Baby Screams' and 'A Night Like This' respectively. 'Screw' is based around a bassline, which sounds off, but isn't just any bassline. It's one of the most manic and damn right dirtiest basslines ever, and possesses a great opening lyric in "When you screw up your eyes/when you screw up your face", creating a playful, scary and fun-in-an-evil-way monster. 'Sinking' is more of a step towards the epic sound of later albums like 'Disintegration' and works well as a closing song, and coming in at close to 5 minutes, it is also the longest.

Overall this album would get a 4.5 in my terms, with the only weak track being 'Kyoto Song', but I'm giving it a 5 now because it is more than good, and excellent is a much more fitting description. It is one of the more complete efforts from The Cure, and coming in at only at 10 songs, one of the shortest. It is a streamline pop monster, but with a darker undercurrent underpinning previous influences and their older albums. In my opinion this is the best place to start for anyone wanting to get into The Cure as it hints at all different parts of their career, from the more darker and emotional to the poppier fun material. A must have.

Download:
Inbetween Days
The Blood
Push
Close To Me
A Night Like This

Available from £5 on ebay, up to £12 new. 

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