The album “Kiss me, Kiss me, Kiss me” by The Cure was released in May of 1987. It is the band’s seventh studio album, and it was the album that allowed them to get into the top 40 of the Billboard 200. Their song “Just Like Heaven” helped them achieve this popularity.
The album contains 26 songs on its tracklist, bringing the runtime into around 74 minutes total. The tracks all vary in length, with the opening song having a run time of six minutes and 15 seconds. The shortest song, however, is around two minutes and a half minutes long.
Overall, this album is praised highly for its eclectic sound. It was considered a welcome change in the more gothic and dark side of the Cure’s music that could be seen in its previous albums. It was a far more pop album than anything the band had produced before, garnering the group more popularity with its release.
Several tracks consist of their usual sound, and often contain longer instrumental intros that build into the verse and chorus of their songs. Often, these introductions provide a basis for the listener to feel out what the vibe of the track will be. “The Kiss” and “If Only Tonight We Could Sleep” both contain examples of these lengthy intros. “Just Like Heaven,” their most popular track from this album, also contains a slightly longer intro.
The Cure’s genre of music shines through this album, with soft, dissonant guitars that can also be loud and depressing. “Why Can’t I Be You?” is a great example of a wacky, twangy song that is upbeat and utilizes the sound of horn instruments.
I would say that my favorite songs from this album are “Hot, Hot, Hot!,” “Why Can’t I Be You?,” “Torture” and “Just Like Heaven.” They vary in tone of voice, especially in “Torture,” featuring the sound of Robert Smith’s almost desperate and raspy sounding vocals into his microphone. “Just Like Heaven” is a softer, more calm song, detailing a romantic relationship between the speaker and his lover that he describes within the tune.
Overall, I adore this album. I would rate it a nine out of 10. I love the instruments used in this album and the cover art is really pleasing to look at. I would recommend this album to anyone trying to get into the Cure or the romantic goth genre in general.
