The Cure's 13th studio album has been a long time coming. But after watching several release dates come and go, fans of the Goth godfathers will finally see "4:13 Dream" hit U.S. shelves Oct. 28 via Suretone/Geffen.
Though original planned as a double album (33 songs were recorded during the lengthy studio sessions), only a baker's dozen tracks appear on the finished, mostly poppy product. Here's a track-by-track rundown of what's in store:
1. "Underneath the Stars" (6:17)
An ethereal, slow-burning ballad the band used to open many shows on its spring U.S. tour. Robert's Smith's nearly unintelligible vocals are drowned in echo effects, thickening the song's moody ambiance.
2. "The Only One" (3:57)
This jangly, effervescent pop tune is reminiscent of "Wish"-era Cure and was released as the album's first single back in May. Smith delivers his happiest and most enthusiastic vocals, and mentions the word love 23 times!
3. "The Reasons Why" (4:35)
Tension returns on this mid-tempo rocker, punctuated by Simon Gallup's melodic basslines. Smith's melancholy lyrics ("I won't try to bring you down about my suicide...") set the tone as the song builds from its subdued opening to an explosive climax.
4. "Freakshow" (2:30)
The album's most frenzied cut is also one of its shortest. Released as the second single, "Freakshow" is the Cure at its funkiest and friskiest, picking up where classics like "Hot Hot Hot" left off.
5. "Sirensong" (2:22)
Robert gets romantic! Slide-guitar moans, acoustic strums and lithe piano melodies highlight this airy, whimsical pop waltz.
6. "The Real Snow White" (4:43)
Smith begins this song chanting "You've got what I want" in a snarl that's almost ... sexy? But the flirtatious come-on takes a dark turn as the band lays down some of the album's darkest grooves.
7. "The Hungry Ghost" (4:29)
This bouncy tune could have been pulled straight from the "Bloodflowers" cutting room. Greed is the focus of the poppy, guitar-driven song that will satiate fans of the Cure's more radio-friendly fare.
8. "Switch" (3:44)
A robotic drum beat and distorted guitar squalor kick off this mid-album highlight. The band picks up the pace, and Smith adds to the intensity by delivering paranoid lyrics that lament his isolation.
9. "The Perfect Boy" (3:21)
Smith presents both sides of a doomed love affair on the album's fourth single, and most sentimental cut. The bittersweet, quintessential Cure song boasts one of the album's hookiest choruses.
10. "This. Here and Now. With You." (4:06)
A quirky, mid-tempo track, highlighted by chiming guitar melodies, heavy bass tones and another bright, radio-ready chorus.
11. 'Sleep When I'm Dead" (3:51)
The band delivers another energetic jolt on this song, originally written during 1985's "Head on the Door" sessions. Porl Thompson works the wah-wah pedal as the band tears through the cut, which was released as the album's third single and also got plenty of play on the band's 4Cure tour.
12. "The Scream" (4:13)
A dense, brooding track that recalls earlier Cure tunes like "Sinking" and "Lost." The song explodes into a hurricane of howling vocals, screeching guitars and frantic rhythms, resulting in the album's most experimental offering.
13. "It's Over" (4:16)
Contrary to most Cure albums, "4:13 Dream" ends on a fast-and-furious note. "It's Over" kicks off loud, noisy and nasty, and the energy only grows from there. Smith rattles off lyrics like a madman as the world crumbles around him
Though original planned as a double album (33 songs were recorded during the lengthy studio sessions), only a baker's dozen tracks appear on the finished, mostly poppy product. Here's a track-by-track rundown of what's in store:
1. "Underneath the Stars" (6:17)
An ethereal, slow-burning ballad the band used to open many shows on its spring U.S. tour. Robert's Smith's nearly unintelligible vocals are drowned in echo effects, thickening the song's moody ambiance.
2. "The Only One" (3:57)
This jangly, effervescent pop tune is reminiscent of "Wish"-era Cure and was released as the album's first single back in May. Smith delivers his happiest and most enthusiastic vocals, and mentions the word love 23 times!
3. "The Reasons Why" (4:35)
Tension returns on this mid-tempo rocker, punctuated by Simon Gallup's melodic basslines. Smith's melancholy lyrics ("I won't try to bring you down about my suicide...") set the tone as the song builds from its subdued opening to an explosive climax.
4. "Freakshow" (2:30)
The album's most frenzied cut is also one of its shortest. Released as the second single, "Freakshow" is the Cure at its funkiest and friskiest, picking up where classics like "Hot Hot Hot" left off.
5. "Sirensong" (2:22)
Robert gets romantic! Slide-guitar moans, acoustic strums and lithe piano melodies highlight this airy, whimsical pop waltz.
6. "The Real Snow White" (4:43)
Smith begins this song chanting "You've got what I want" in a snarl that's almost ... sexy? But the flirtatious come-on takes a dark turn as the band lays down some of the album's darkest grooves.
7. "The Hungry Ghost" (4:29)
This bouncy tune could have been pulled straight from the "Bloodflowers" cutting room. Greed is the focus of the poppy, guitar-driven song that will satiate fans of the Cure's more radio-friendly fare.
8. "Switch" (3:44)
A robotic drum beat and distorted guitar squalor kick off this mid-album highlight. The band picks up the pace, and Smith adds to the intensity by delivering paranoid lyrics that lament his isolation.
9. "The Perfect Boy" (3:21)
Smith presents both sides of a doomed love affair on the album's fourth single, and most sentimental cut. The bittersweet, quintessential Cure song boasts one of the album's hookiest choruses.
10. "This. Here and Now. With You." (4:06)
A quirky, mid-tempo track, highlighted by chiming guitar melodies, heavy bass tones and another bright, radio-ready chorus.
11. 'Sleep When I'm Dead" (3:51)
The band delivers another energetic jolt on this song, originally written during 1985's "Head on the Door" sessions. Porl Thompson works the wah-wah pedal as the band tears through the cut, which was released as the album's third single and also got plenty of play on the band's 4Cure tour.
12. "The Scream" (4:13)
A dense, brooding track that recalls earlier Cure tunes like "Sinking" and "Lost." The song explodes into a hurricane of howling vocals, screeching guitars and frantic rhythms, resulting in the album's most experimental offering.
13. "It's Over" (4:16)
Contrary to most Cure albums, "4:13 Dream" ends on a fast-and-furious note. "It's Over" kicks off loud, noisy and nasty, and the energy only grows from there. Smith rattles off lyrics like a madman as the world crumbles around him
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