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May 12, 2008

New Cure - "The Only One"

thubmnail icon: New Cure - "The Only One"

When we told you the Cure were planning to release a single a month until the September release of their still-untitled 13th album, a commenter asked, "Does anyone care????" (give or take a ?). Well, the rest of the thread shows quite a few of you do. So then -- the first of four singles are out, though it might not sound too new if you're a big fan: We first heard "The Only One" last year when the band was in Mexico. There's the live take and then the one they put to tape in the studio, where you get a slightly clearer sense of Robert's sensual, lip-sucking and hips-loving sunniness.


(Via P4K)

Yeah, it's not one of their best love songs, but it is one of their loves songs, and we're usually pretty happy to hear new songs from the Cure, especially when they're so happy. Plus, the Cure wrote some of the best love songs ever ... kinda hard for them to top themselves at this point. So what are we saying? We're not amazed, but we're also not surprised at that lack of amazement.

"The Only One" is out 5/13 on Geffen. More to come.

Posted at 5:44 PM
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25 Comments

at this point in our lives, it IS just another cure single, but it's a heck of a lot better than anything they've released in the last 15 years, give or take. there's a passion that's been lacking, and the production is brilliant. also, the b-side, 'ny trip' is another matter entirely. that song's amazing. can't wait for the new album.

Posted by: elise at 05/12/08 7:16 PM | Reply
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Scott

Where's the b-side at?

Posted by: Scott profile link in reply to elise's comment at 05/12/08 7:53 PM | Reply
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in regards to the statement that the cure haven't released anything passionate in the last fifteen years, what about bloodflowers?

but yes, this single sounds great. hopefully the rest of the album lives up to it.

Posted by: michelle profile link in reply to elise's comment at 05/12/08 9:35 PM | Reply
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I'm with you, Michelle. Bloodflowers is one of my favorite Cure albums ever, not just in the last 15 years. I like this one, but it didn't blow me away.

Posted by: Mike in reply to michelle's comment at 05/12/08 10:08 PM | Reply
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I'll drink to that! Bloodflowers was the last time The Cure really grabbed a hold of me..... That album always works for me. Bouncy Cure isn't usually my favorite - but would love to hear the rest of the album before I speak on it any more

Posted by: Alison Ferrara in reply to michelle's comment at 05/14/08 5:03 PM | Reply
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As I move through my 30s, anything my by heros makes me feel good...The Cure, Morrissey, Oasis...all are well past their peaks, but it makes me feel young and happy to hear their familar voices...


Posted by: Zazous Project at 05/12/08 10:01 PM | Reply
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b-side isn't actually available yet, except in illicit places that i won't admit to visiting. but it's a great song. should be downloadable legally tomorrow.

bloodflowers was a bloodless, self-conscious aping of the cure sound by smith, done because that's what he thought fans wanted. there's no soul to it.

Posted by: elise at 05/12/08 10:09 PM | Reply
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i like it and have a lot of hope for the album. this here is another new song that, while live and really not completely readable, has great potential as a studio version:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e7OOMGWiTTU

Posted by: sam the frog at 05/12/08 10:15 PM | Reply
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Oh wow, it sounds like any number of other cure songs. Surprise surprise.

Posted by: Evan at 05/12/08 10:40 PM | Reply
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Robert Smith is getting more and more ridiculous with his teenage whinning. What is that ?A desperate attempt at replicating a winning formula ? "Just like heaven" guitars" with "Friday i'm in love" melody ? It sucks. Completly pointless release.

Posted by: ph at 05/13/08 5:00 AM | Reply
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whinning? i don't hear it.. it's a love song

Posted by: ben profile link in reply to ph's comment at 05/13/08 9:17 AM | Reply
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Sounds like about 5 or so older Cure singles thrown in a blender. Why bother.

Posted by: Todd Dominey at 05/13/08 9:11 AM | Reply
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Should better listen to the last And Also The Trees' album, "(Listen for) the Rag and Bone Man"... They began at the same time, were quite close with The Cure at their beginnings but And Also The Trees are still alive... creatively, I mean. But who cares ?

Posted by: Alex at 05/13/08 9:16 AM | Reply
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elise: agree completely about bloodflowers. it was an utter waste of time and what was with the crappy insert? ugh. the whole thing was like a parody.

ph: actually it sounds nothing at all like 'friday i'm in love' and quite a lot like 'high'. you got the wish similarity though, so good for you.

todd: we fans listen to the cure because they do have their own distinct sound. the way you know a u2 song from the first guitar riff. if this song/album garners comparisons to wish- that's quite a compliment. for us.

i think porl really saved the cure's ass this time. i haven't been happy with a cure album since wms and even then the b-sides should've clearly been replacements for certain album tracks (club america, numb, etc...) were it not for some instant classics like jupiter crash- it would've been a throwaway album like the last two.

i can't wait for september.

Posted by: sofia at 05/13/08 11:12 AM | Reply
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you gotta admit, smith's adolescent pining love songs are better than 98% of the toss on the radio these days. it may not be 1989 anymore, but i still really like this song.

check around youtube like the frog said, there's some great new songs in live form, and chain of flowers readers have posted some good ones too on their blogs.

Posted by: stiffy at 05/13/08 12:10 PM | Reply
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This new single blows. I haven't liked a single from them since I don't know, A Letter To Elise I'd say. The B Side NY Trip is much better, but isn't that the case with a lot of their singles. I remember listening to the B Side side of my Standing On A Beach tape far more than I ever did the singles side.

Posted by: Mehdi at 05/13/08 1:06 PM | Reply
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I think its good, He dosent have to write songs, they do it cos they love it! If the cure came out with half the shit that is on the radio these days they would get ripped apart. Lucky enough the cure are very highly regarded by some other highly regarded people!

How many bands have the cure influnced! Great stuff! me happy

Posted by: Daz at 05/14/08 9:52 AM | Reply
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This is such a great spring/summer tune. It's no artistic masterpiece...it's just a good, bouncy, catchy Cure song. Those are always the Smith's best.

Posted by: Bob F. at 05/14/08 10:12 AM | Reply
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I must agree with a lot that has been said. It is weak Cure at best, but I still would rather hear his than most of the new emperor's new clothes bands (insert band name here) that suck from day one, and never have an original idea.

Posted by: james christian at 05/14/08 10:40 AM | Reply
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I love the Cure. They are one of the best bands that ever graced the planet!!!! They have consistently put out amazing albums, Bloodflowers being the last. The 2004 self titled was really good, but started showing some of where the cure was headed, which is modern sounding rock. All that to say...

This new song kinda sucks!!! Production is TERRIBLE. Robert is annoying.

They are sounding here, like a spoof of themselves!!!!

Cure fans are so much like Radiohead fans, they can never give a great band constructive criticism. and be honest when a great band is putting out half hearted music!!!!

Posted by: Stephen Sarro at 05/15/08 1:55 PM | Reply
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Guys, the cure is crucial driving music for faux hipsters like me-so I am happy. Honestly they don't get remixed enough, as well. And where is the ska tribute cd to the cure?!

Posted by: Anton at 05/15/08 7:29 PM | Reply
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lol wut

Posted by: daffy at 05/18/08 4:55 PM | Reply
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There are complaints that it sounds like the last 50 Cure songs, and yet tjhere are still complaints that the last couple of albums lacked passion and commitment. Now, how can both of those be true? It seems to me that Cure fans are full of people who want the Cure to reproduce the same album over and over again and not to grow. But the last couple of albums have indicated to me a growth in the Cure's sound and there's nothing wrong w/ that. You can't please everyone, I guess.

I like this song all right, but it sure does sound like "The End of the World" from the last album.

Posted by: holland4punk at 05/21/08 1:15 PM | Reply
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Robert Smith and Northside made a single together?

Posted by: older&wiser at 05/24/08 8:36 PM | Reply
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OK, I will say it, I'm about to turn 40 and I have not bought anything new by the Cure since Disintegration. Goodness, I worshipped that man back then - although, I couldn't figure out why he felt so old when he looked fine to me. He was 30 - at 30, I got it. LOL!

During my final year college, facing the dismal job market, mired in Bush Depression er... Recession v 1.0 out here in the States I couldn't bear to hear a ebullient Robert Smith announcing that it was Friday and he was in love. Who cares! I was SUFFERING! I preferred to wallow in self pity along with my contemporaries: Cobain, Corgan, Cornell, Staley and Vedder.

To paraphrase Dickens - the early 90s were the best of my times (P A R T Y) and they were the worst of my times (adjusting to adulthood at a time where job prospects were nil). They were not a time for "Friday! I'm in L O V E"

I'm over that now - they may have not created any masterpieces in the last 18 years but hearing it now "Friday, I'm in Love" isn't terrible. It just wasn't where most of the Cure's no longer teen fans were in 1992.

If you see them live they are better than ever. The show at Mountain View last year was phenomenal, the one last weekend in Hollywood was even better. "Only One" may not be "Pictures of You" but its better than anything his wanna be heir apparent: Pete Wentz will ever churn out and let's be honest - at 50, it's kind of cute that OLD Bob is still thinking about sex.

Posted by: RachKat at 06/06/08 2:10 AM | Reply
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