| ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. | |
| PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. | |
| OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. | |
| NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Parents need to know that The Cure offers no surprises on their new self-titled album. The enduring British goth idols slam through 11 new tunes with self-indulgent angst and a bloody head or two -- nothing shocking to older fans of the band. Except for an occasional "f--k," the lyrics are no cause for concern.
Formed more than 20 years ago, The Cure has become iconic goth idols to more than one generation of music fans. On THE CURE, their 13th studio album, you'll find song after song filled with the kind of self-absorbed angst that teenagers adore and their parents try to ignore. You'll also find a surprising number of love songs, just a bit of poetically violent imagery, one popular swear word ("f--k"), and truck loads of moody posturing. Though the lyrics are not brilliant ("I can't find myself/I can't find myself/I can't find myself/I can't find myself/In the head of this stranger in love," begins the first song) and the musicianship feels somewhat predictable, the whole offers more than the sum of its parts.
This is the first time that The Cure has ever recorded with a producer, and Ross Robinson brought some new ideas and techniques to the project that give this album an intense and passionate sound. For teens interested in dark, guitar-fueled, emotional songwriting, and for parents nostalgic for the 1980s, you could do a whole lot worse.
Families can talk about the poetic lyrics of the band. What do deep lyrics add to a song? How are strong lyrics able to stand on their own without even needing a melody? Families can also ask their kids why they think The Cure has had such staying power over the years.
| Artist: | The Cure |
| Release date: | July 16, 2004 |
| Label: | Geffen Records |
| Genre: | Rock |
| Parental advisory: | No |