Love (studio album) by The Cult

From buzzdainer 09/16/2020 22:45

The Cult was one of my favorite rock bands of the eighties, with Ian Astbury's Jim Morrison-like persona and Billy Duffy's scorching work on the guitar leading the charge. The Cult managed to weave together New Wave eighties vocal stylings, the loudness and grittiness of metal, and the New Age mysticism of post-punk, producing on their second full-length album one of the most undeniably great albums of the eighties. The high point here is the mysterious and hard-rocking "She Sells Sanctuary," one of the best, if not also one of the most lyrically impenetrable, songs of its generation. Unfortunately, The Cult never came close to making another album anywhere near this great, and they've gradually settled back into obscurity. But for the brief time that they shined, they sure did shine brightly.

Atmospheric. The album has a consistent tone, and despite all the singles, this is the peak of gothic-version Cult. It is almost a concept album, lots of elemental / weather references, missing people, returning, spirituality. Whereas by the time of the Ceremony album the same lyrics came out as "the same schtick all over again". Astbury doesn't over-sing, whereas in later albums he seems to feel the need to fill every gap.

From stefano 11/25/2017 16:06

A good album, psychedelic oriented hard melodic rock.Nice songs on this and a characteristic atmosphere and guitar sound all over the album.

From LedZep 06/15/2017 16:17

Really fantastic album, so many great singles and it doesn't even feel like a singles album... It creates the atmosphere and is coherent which is unusual for the "singles" albums

An album of good consistent songs with one stand out track - She Sells Sancroary. I enjoy this album but I've not been driven to seek out any other Cult album.

Nothing mind-blowing but "Rain" and "She Sells Sanctuary" hint that The Cult could have been something better with a little more application... or taste.

Energic album, many great pieces. Rain's guitar riff is fantastic. Very good

From timtooky 04/24/2014 21:32

feels like a mixture of u2 and the mission. quite enjoyable music but something is missing. couldn't quite catch what it is... maybe strangeness?

From junodog4 07/28/2013 19:53

At least at this point they still had their own sound. After this, they join the hair metal masses. This album is OK - good guitar driven rock.

From jhuik 01/04/2013 04:47

Lots of smoking guitars and seering vocals here, before the band got too polished and poppier. Rain, Brother Wolf and Sanctuary make it worth your while.