Back in 1989 I left college life to move back in with my parents. I'm pretty sure none of us were too happy about the arrangement. I know none of us were happy about how I had been doing at college academically. Well moving 4 hours away from where all my friends were and back into a town that I didn't care much for and had no friends in was a bit of a downer, and so naturally I was drawn to The Cure and this album in particular.
It was new, depressing, and somewhat popish. In other words it was a perfect fit for me in that situation. I played that album to death over the next 6 months before returning to college and probably have not listened to it since.
I must say that I was curious to see how I would like it now with all of that angst so far behind, and I can say that I was pleasantly surprised. The album has held up very well over time, much better than some of their other stuff and if you drop the two tracks that were bonus on the CD (I had the LP) the album is very very solid all the way through.
The Cure have always had this certain some kind of depressing anger and this album exploits that to the nth degree. The lyrics are solid, the melodies grab you, and they are slow, soft, and yet violent all at the same time. As much as I love Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me this is probably their best album because it is so consistent and so tight all the way through.
