Robert Smith is one of the greatest songwriters in the history of music, and also one of the worst decision makers. Per usual, many great b-sides were left off this album. The production is overcompressed, overprocessed. The keyboards, an essential pillar of The Cure sound, were canned for no reason. It makes me want to scrEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAM!!!
The band sounds fresher and more contemporary than they have since the early nineties. It really benefits the album - the track-list is bubbling with warmth, confidence, maturity and most markedly, potential for the future of a band that seemed too old to walk months ago. '4:13 Dream' is thoroughly enjoyable, and solid from start to finish, leaving one with a quiet confidence for 'Part 2', should it ever see the light of day.
I really did not enjoy this album. I love the Cure, but this particular release rubs me the wrong way. Possibly because it sounds like the Cure is trying to appeal to a younger audience and the song writing is a bit too light for my tastes. Its funny, the only song I wholeheartedly enjoy from the album is "Sleep when I'm Dead" which is actually an older song that was meant to be released on Head on the Door!
