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June 10, 2008

New Cure - "Freakshow"

thubmnail icon: New Cure - "Freakshow"

2 down, 2 to go. The Cure's monthly march of singles in anticipation of LP13 is well underway, and gets a new chapter today with "Freakshow." Halfway into this thing we can say it's not exactly a hit parade. It's a hit-or-miss parade. Now nobody's gonna say "The Only One" is groundbreaking, and that's because it isn't, but it brought to mind some of Robert's sorta upbeat and poppy, lovelorn jangle gems, and that's more than OK with us. "Freakshow" also is not groundbreaking, but it is a different sort of tune: different because it's a mildly funky, cowbell and shaker rocker, with lots of wah-wah guitars, and different because it could maybe have been written by a high school band? I mean, granted, one with a legendary voice (I'd sign them if I worked at a record lable and saw them at the talent show, if either of those were still a thing), but still -- that verse is just rote and plodding wah-funk. The hook has a moment, though. I know that's not a glowing endorsement, but still all this can be yours for a dollar at iTunes. If you want to try before you buy, sample it live:

Yeah. But know, the studio version's a little better. Also, it sorta grows on you. I'm waiting for "A Perfect Boy" studio-ized. Some live dates:

06/11 - Tampa, FL @ St. Pete Times Forum
06/13 - FT. Lauderdale, FL @ Band Atlantic Center
06/15 - Atlanta, GA @ Gwinnett Center
06/16 - Charlotte, NC @ Charlotte Bobcats Arena
06/18 - Cleveland, OH @ Wolstein Center at Cleveland State
06/20 - New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden
06/21 - New York, NY @ Radio City Music Hall

Posted at 10:47 AM by amrit in , ,
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4 Comments

wow that was embarrassing.

I'd understand it if Lily Allen sung it.

Posted by: joni at 06/10/08 6:55 PM | Reply
Score = -3 Vote up Vote down

whatever. you nerds have no frame of reference. it sounds like a really old b-side (we're talking 'the top'. you guys ever heard of that one?) only with guitar instead of piano.
i like the b-side AKOS myself.

Posted by: frankie at 06/10/08 7:24 PM | Reply
Score = 0 Vote up Vote down

Stereogum, do you ever let anything sink in before impetuously posting your ill-formed thoughts? Also, are you at all familiar with the Cure's outstandingly bulky back catalogue? If so, you'd know that this song is the descendent of such trippy songs as Do The Hansa, Pillbox Tales, etc., and is also very much like songs on the sometimes maligned but still great, The Top.

Also, you do realize how silly you look bashing a band just for the sake of bashing them.

Now go back and listen to Linkin Park.

Posted by: Clockwise Cat at 06/10/08 7:34 PM | Reply
Score = 3 Vote up Vote down

Wow, what a crap piece of 'journalism', learn how to write properly. That's probably one of the worst reviews I've ever read of anything. You can't write, don't give up the day job.

Posted by: carbon at 06/11/08 9:15 AM | Reply
Score = 1 Vote up Vote down

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