The Cure, '4:13 Dream'

Goth godfathers keep it gloomy on 13th studio album

By Adam McKibbin

Special to Metromix

The buzz: Since 1992, The Cure has been releasing a new album every four years. But the synchronization with the election cycle is purely coincidental; goth hero Robert Smith’s concerns have always been much more personal than political. On “4:13 Dream,” guitarist Porl Thompson returns to the fold for the first time since ‘92’s “Wish.”

The verdict: “I won’t try to bring you down about my suicide,” Smith sings on “Reasons Why.” Needless to say, he’s never been very good at lifting spirits--and, whatever his intentions, “4:13 Dream” is a buzzkill of an album regardless of tempo. Whether the mood is upbeat or, as is more often the case, ponderous and morose, the Cure sound like a band on cruise control, rehashing old ideas to mediocre effect. Opening post-rock dirge “Underneath the Stars” drags on tortuously, then is offset in classic Cure fashion by the bouncy romance of “Only One.” The album ping-pongs accordingly between swooning pop and brooding rock, landing some great hooks but generally falling back into overproduced filler. Smith’s warble sounds almost past the point of parody at times, and Thompson’s return seems like a blessing and a curse, as the Cure sound fully recharged--just not driven to new ideas. In other words: save your money for the tour.

Did you know? “4:13 Dream” was originally intended as a double album, but Smith junked half of the songs because they were too gloomy. That quarantined collection is set for a separate release sometime next year.