Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me (studio album) by The Cure

From HoldenM 09/07/2023 23:02

A record I've gone back and forth on over the years, but I am ready to accept it as yet another masterpiece from The Cure. Like The Top and The The Head on the Door before it, Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me sees the band trying everything, proving beyond a shadow of a doubt that, at their peak, they can do just about anything. Perhaps there's a more restrained version of this album that's tighter and better, but The Cure earns every track on here. Even the weaker cuts have their charms and ideas. Truly a group that can do no wrong.

This album is a mess, we have some great tracks here that are embracing their new pop aesthetics (If Only We Could Sleep, How Beautiful You Are, Just Like A Heaven) as well as their old gothic ones (The Kiss, Torture, All I Want). Unfortunately after track One More Time the quality decreases to mediocre and the last six tracks feels like boring filler for me. But still, it's a strong output with one of the best opening tracks in their career and one of their biggest masterpieces - Just Like Heaven.

This is one of the more inconsistent Cure records but as its The Cure that means there are only 4 or 5 songs that aren't as great as all the others are. I do also think there are less outstanding tracks on here than there are on most of the other records by them. With that being said this is still an elite level record and is up amongst the greatest of all time. There is such a huge contrast between the songs on this album and in my opinion it works brilliantly. One minute you will be listening to pure pop bliss in Just Like Heaven or Why Can't I Be You? and the next you will be in this dark and gloomy atmosphere created on songs like One More Time and If Only Tonight We Could Sleep. The group are geniuses for making this all work and also make it sound fantastic while doing it. Furthermore, they create such a unique sound on here that I don't think they capture on any other album making it such a special release and one that demands your attention. Just like with every Cure record Robert Smith gives it an additional edge over other albums with his sensational lyrics and wordplay and his brilliant vocal delivery. Overall, this may not be their greatest release but it is still incredible and deserves more praise for how different it is and for the amount of quality on display from the whole group.

From Brandon8 12/23/2022 04:04

Double album that hits the bullseye and is the beginning of the band’s peak years with this and Disintegration. The Kiss, Catch, Why Can’t I Be You, Just Like Heaven and The Perfect Girl are favs here.

The Gothic white album

Too many songs, the majority of the second half is unremarkable filler. But it contains their best song in my opinion, Just Like Heaven, which is an easy 100/100. How Beautiful You Are is also great, and I like Catch.

Kind of their White Album. All over the place, mostly brilliant, sometimes head-scratching.

From TheDude85 04/09/2019 12:32

Favorite Track: "How Beautiful You Are"
Least Favorite Track:"Like Cockatoos"

I'll admit an agree, in general this album is too long and there are too many songs on it which are simply not that good/not good enough.

But even though, I really like the cheerful vibe in some songs and Just Like Heaven really is a masterpiece.

And don't forget, their best work (Disintegration) was still too come when they released Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me!

From adnielsen 01/27/2019 00:22

At least five songs too long