In 1996, The Cure released Wild Mood Swings, an album that sold well but somehow failed to find its way into fans’ affections. To celebrate its 25th anniversary, this 35-page feature, curated by Robert Smith and featuring contributions from producer Steve Lyon, asks if it’s time to reassess the band’s most underrated album.
Based on Smith’s own memories of the period between 1993 and 1997, when Wild Mood Swings was written, recorded and toured, it tells a story of wrong turns and forgotten gems, musical innovation and artistic overreach, Halloween parties and the meaninglessness of time. In a detailed analysis of the album, Smith reveals which are his favourite songs as well as which should – and shouldn’t – have been included on the final track listing.
A selection of rarely seen images accompany the article, including behind-the-scenes photographs from the recording of Wild Mood Swings taken by Smith and Lyon, while the cover of issue 03 is by Andy Vella, the designer responsible for so much classic Cure artwork.
In 1996, The Cure released Wild Mood Swings, an album that sold well but somehow failed to find its way into fans’ affections. To celebrate its 25th anniversary, this 35-page feature, curated by Robert Smith and featuring contributions from producer Steve Lyon, asks if it’s time to reassess the band’s most underrated album.
Based on Smith’s own memories of the period between 1993 and 1997, when Wild Mood Swings was written, recorded and toured, it tells a story of wrong turns and forgotten gems, musical innovation and artistic overreach, Halloween parties and the meaninglessness of time. In a detailed analysis of the album, Smith reveals which are his favourite songs as well as which should – and shouldn’t – have been included on the final track listing.
A selection of rarely seen images accompany the article, including behind-the-scenes photographs from the recording of Wild Mood Swings taken by Smith and Lyon, while the cover of issue 03 is by Andy Vella, the designer responsible for so much classic Cure artwork.
Could be quite interesting I suppose. Any idea where one might be able to pick this up?
I think it could be quite interesting to learn the process and thinking behind the album. But even our Bob (although it's one of his favourites) seems to have acknowledged that it wasn't well received by fans & critics alike
I think it could be quite interesting to learn the process and thinking behind the album. But even our Bob (although it's one of his favourites) seems to have acknowledged that it wasn't well received by fans & critics alike <snip>
It's incredibly risky, IMO, to create an album where you hope people are convinced a different band was responsible for every song. It is one band, and it has its own unique DNA.
It was a fun tour and I have positive feelings for several of the songs (I didn't say "many"), but it just goes to show, it's always best to just be yourself.
The record comes across to me like another band doing a Kiss Me Kiss Me Kiss Me attempt, going from The Kiss to Catch to Snake Pit and Hot Hot Hot. I remember one paper describing the album as schizophrenic (which, sure, would be frowned upon today, but lets not go there) (Kiss Me album that is). I kinda thought that this is a reason why Cure fans don't like the album: because it's a forced Kiss Me...it's a forgery, a 'did you just fake that baby?'...Me...ya know...I used to like it but I just can't play it anymore.
I'd love to read the mag but after 25 years I can wait another ten for it to turn up in a £1 find somehow, somewhere.
The shipping is £1 less than the actual item. Ouch.
Ouch. Even UK shipping is nearly 40% of the actual item.
Really, That’s mental! It’s also mental that I just spent $40 on a magazine, but I think it’ll make for a fairly interesting read I think. I’ll call it an early b-day present to myself.