Disco de The Cure: “Wild Mood Swings”

An album that is generally dispised by fans of the Cure, "Wild Mood Swings" is as different from everything else in the band's catalog as can be, and a the time of release it was a bit jarring. It's an album of acoustic guitars and bright production and of open space, and while it was significantly different from anything the band has done, a decade after its release, it's pretty clear that the album, taken out of the shock of its appearance, is a decent record in its own right.

Of course, from the opener, you wouldn't know it'd be full of bright songs-- "Want" is classic dark Cure stuff-- ringing bass, clean tone melodic electric guitars, and noisy leads supporting a vocal that turns as fierce and jarring as anything Smith has done. But there is a sense of space that's obvious in it that permeates the album, and the record's brightness is obvious throughout, whether in the form of explosive pop songs ("Mint Car", a positively ecstatic explosition of new love), bizarre blues/funk tinged horn driven pieces ('Gone!"), moody, acoustic Bowie-styled reflections ("jupiter Crash") or just downright bizarre (more of the record than you'd guess-- Latin-tinged "The 13th" defies explanatio and the lower register vocal of "Club America" is in direct opposition to the usual Cure). Admittedly, amidst all of this there's a couple bunts (propolsive rocker "Trap", somewhat dull pop song "Strange Attraction") and yeah, the bright production can get irritating in its lack of subtlety ("Round & Round & Round"), but there's a lot to be heard here, just put aside your preconceived notions of what the band should be at the door.

"Wild Mood Swings" found the Cure crippled-- longtime guitarist Porl Thompson and drummer Boris Williams, who had both been with the band for a decade, left, and leader Robert Smith seemed to have felt painted in a corner stylistically. This one is definitely quite a detour, and if you're not one to like your band's drifting from their core sound, this isn't one for you. For the rest of us, "Wild Mood Swings" is one of the more intriguing things the band has done.

This album is by far one of the best from The Cure. Robert Smith introduced Jason Cooper as his new drummer and brought back Roger O'Donnell. Obviously, this was another brilliant decision by a genius. With this new lineup, they made a fabulous album. Each and every song is different, beautiful, and has a brilliant message. This album truly is a wild mood swing. Each song makes you feel either happy (Return), depressed, in love (Jupiter Crash), heartbroken(Strange Attraction), discontent (Want), motivated (Gone), lonely,and lustful (13th). But those are just the moods of the album. The sound is incredible. They're fast and light, slow and dark, heavy, pretty much anything you can imagine is on this album. Even if you're not a Cure you should buy this because there is something in it for every music lover to enjoy.

Never quite understood why people always have the tendency to talk after eachother, and even supposed Cure-heads seem to automatically write off Wild Mood Swings as total trash. I mean, 1-star ratings? What does that make of other, really embarassing albums out there? A 1-star rating would mean that there is NO redeeming quality, not one interesting note to be found here whatsoever. It would be welcome if people gave their ratings a little more thought, instead of throwing with 1 (or 5)-star reviews; as if it's nothing.

Having that said, Wild Mood Swing is a totally decent and actually really refreshing album by one of the most brilliant bands out there. Wildy colorful and eclectic in the vein of Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me and The Top; it is number three in The Cure's Trilogy of Color (atleast in my mind). Opening with a familiar rock-monster (Want), the songs and moods really just sprawl over the place. And so we find Bowie-esque rock (Club America), melancholy strings (the beautiful This Is A Lie), weird, sun-drenched mariachi/carribean-tinged experiments (The 13th), shimmery, gorgeous acoustics (Jupiter Crash), heavenly brassy jazz (Gone!) and total euphoria (Mint Car, Round&Round&Round). And more. All on one disc. Wild Mood Swings indeed.

That's not to say that there IS filler on this album, and there certainly are weaker songs on here, most notably the bordering-on-self-parody of Mint Car and some forgettable tracks near the end. But even the weaker songs have some kind of spark that makes it all worthwhile; and the songs are always enjoyable. In the end, what's so refreshing about Wild Mood Swings is that this really is another different side to The Cure; a side often completely stripped of any underlying gloomyness or gothlike-undertone, which was always present on even their older, overtly cheerful singles like The Caterpillar or Just Like Heaven. It's freshness is an honest fresh breeze, and I think on some points, the music is intended to be pleasant and fun and sunny, no strings attached.

Wild Mood Swings would have been a better album if some songs just would have been cut off, and is not the best starting point for people who just start to take an interest in the Cure. You could better start with Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me, which isn't one of my favorites but a good sampler of their abilities and varying sounds. Being as it is, WMS is a wonderful album with a wonderful atmosphere, and the keeper of a few downright gems (Numb, This Is A Lie, Want, Gone!, Jupiter Crash, Treasure). So why is it so popular to slaughter this album? Please be so wise just to investigate the Cure-discography on your own. These reviews can be a guide, but that guide is an uneven one.

Wild Mood Swings is probably my favorite Cure album. I love Want, Jupiter Crash, Mint Car, Strange Attraction and Round and Round. The people who trash this album are probably just stuck on the "dark side" of The Cure and think that they should only make albums like Pornography or Disintegration. I bought this album in 1997 and I still think its great in 2006.

Why does this record always get shot down by fans of the Cure? It is a great album, with a variety of sounds and moods. The arrangement reminds me a lot of Kiss Me Kiss Me Kiss Me, which any fan knows is an exellent record. The different instruments used reminds me of the Head on the Door, another exellent record. This record is truly worth a listen.