Their prior album, Pornography (1982), had the band on the cusp of a breaking point. Smith was in a deep depression, purportedly considering suicide, while the rest of the band were heavily abusing drugs. Fighting, drama, and an overall state of exhaustion could have broken the band indefinitely.
That's not to say there weren't casualties during this period. After continuous fighting between bassist Simon Gallup and Robert Smith, one such altercation which almost turned physical (over a bartab no less), Gallup would leave the band.
While Andy Anderson would join the band for 1984's the top, it would be on drums. This was because prior drummer, Lol Tolhurst, would opt to switch his roll to keyboards. This may have been the best decision for The Cure, as the group would enter their more mainstream period as a result, and finally have a commercial breakthrough.
The album would also be notable for its experimentation and different sounds from previous works. In place of the drab doom and gloom were flutes, violins, and more complexe guitar work. There was also an incorporation of different styles, such as those from Spanish, and metal genres.
The Top was recorded in correlation with Siouxsie and the Banshees' Hyæna, which Smith was also the guitarist for. However, unlike the Banshees' album, which in my own personal review, sounded more so like an album from The Cure, The Top took a more psychedelia sound approach. The end result left critics praising not only for what it was, but what they speculated generations to come would appreciate it for.
Right from the starting gate, the sound is definitely different from what the band have brought to the table in the past. It sounds almost as if the core members have been reinvigorated since their last outing. Dare I say, happier? Is that a thing Robert Smith can experience?
Wailing Wall stood out to me for its guitar work. It was reminiscent in retrospect to the sounds that would eventually come with their 1994 song, Burn, from The Crow soundtrack, but ultimately wasn't one I added to my shuffle.
What I did end up grabbing were Shake Dog Shake, Birdmad Girl, Give Me It, The Caterpillar, and Piggy In The Mirror. This is the style of The Cure I like. This is what I want to hear more of. Frankly, if The Top was this good, I can only imagine how blown away I'll be when I finally make it to 1989's Disintegration, touted as their best work ever.
The Top is the clear winner when compared to Siouxsie and the Banshees' Hyæna. In fact, there's simply no competition in this one. Ironic, since Smith was involved with both. A new round kicks off tomorrow with Siouxsie and the Banshees' 1986 released, Tinderbox going up against The Cure's 1985 album, The Head On The Door.
Before we get there, there's something we also need to take care of, and that is to determine who is advance to round two between the Banshees A Kiss In The Dreamhouse, and The Cure's The Top. Now we're in the weeds. How do I choose between these two? Both were pretty solid.
Round three is going to be no easier task, when I have to decide between A Kiss In The Dreamhouse, and The Cure's Faith. I'm going to need to think on that one before revealing the winner.
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| THIS WEEK ON THE CHARTS July 22, 1989 |
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