By Genre New Wave / Easy Listening Punk Boys Don't Cry
Boys Don't Cry
Thursday, 09 April 2009 10:46 | 
Author: The Grouch | 
1980 although I think some of the songs are from 78 or 79
The Cure were (are) a band from England that formed in the mid 1970s circa 1976. When I checked the Wiki for information on the band they are listed as a four piece. I thought they were a three piece - as in three imaginary boys.
I am not an expert on the Cure. Frankly I'm surprised I like them. But I do - at least the older stuff. Boys Don't Cry is one of my favorite albums. A friend of mine a long time ago turned me onto the Cure - It was a mind expanding experience. I had just left Detroit for the West (Go west young man) and I had not heard anything like this before.
They weren't Punk. They weren't really Rock. They were "New Wave" I guess, although by the time I heard them the wave was no longer new.
So why do I like these guys if they aren't loud, fast and in your face?
Revolution has many faces kids. If you think that some of the stuff that came out on Boys Don't Cry was written when Led Zeppelin was still king - it makes more sense. Where Zeppelin (and every other "super group") is built around how technically outstanding the musicians in the band are along with the fact that they are also party animals (party sheep is more like it - let's all do the same drugs and have the same deep thoughts...)
The Cure was a smack in the face to the Rock elite - like some of the Punks, but not as violently aggressive - and substantially more intellectual than the Pistols or Minor Threat or Social D or...one of the Cure's songs' lyrics are taken entirely from The Stranger/The Outsider (the American release is called the Stranger, the European release is The Outsider which people who speak French tell me is a better translation of the original title) by Albert Camus they were sticking it to The Man in their own way. The Anti-Zeppelin - simple music with no long solos and a minimum of sound. No drum solos. No calls to come near the stage if you want to catch a contact buzz. Short - melodic - cutting lyrics sung softly. Different!
The Album:
Boys Don't Cry - simple melodic song about love lost and the difficulty felt by Robert Smith as he tries to hold up to the social standard of masculinity by hiding his emotions. Heavy lyrics and perky music.
Plastic Passion - I love the drums on this track. Smith's voice is so cutting and dripping with disdain.
10:15 on a Saturday Night - funky little song - I think its about self pleasure. At least that is what I heard. The bass and drums are so infectious. There is a pretty rocking guitar line for about 15 seconds.
Accuracy - actually a blues number with a cool bass line and jazzy guitar.
So What - the closest the Cure comes to Punk on this album. Intense music with Robert Smith pulling out all the stops and going on a fully British rant similar to John Lennon on Serve Yourself
Jumping Someone Else's Train - one of my favorite songs. I like the music a lot. Nice drums. Groovy bass. Actually good guitar. Smith blasts all the people he deems to be "posers". If you pick up on it quick you can say you were there.
Subway Song - Swing/Blues/Jazz - actually killer track. Very funky bass line. Very disturbing lyrics about something bad happening to a woman who is alone at night in the subway.
Killing An Arab - lyrics by Albert Camus
Fire in Cairo - perky melodic song - its just so catchy. We learn how to spell the words FIRE IN CAIRO.
Another Day - They try their hand at another disturbing mellow groove. Actually nice music as Robert Smith emotes pain. He was the Proto-Emo but unlike the Smithereens singer Smith doesn't annoy me. Perhaps it's the underlying anger I hear in his lyrics as opposed to Pat DiNizio's "whoa is me I'm so deep and sad" narcissistic dronings
Grinding Halt - quick little tune about things stopping and everyone disappearing. I have the feeling this was a protest against nuclear weapons. Never the less I like the song - I really like Smith's voice.
Three Imaginary Boys - I love this song. Its just so Anti-Zeppelin. Plus the music is nice and his voice good. (and a long time ago I played in a band and we picked this song off in under 10 minutes - No we weren't very good - this song is just that EASY) The video for this one is really cool - they turn into monsters.
3 out of 5 scowls.