The Cure

About this product

Pornography is the fourth studio album released by British indie band The Cure. It is a tumultuous cry of anguish and the soundtrack of a band in turmoil. A fascinating, compelling mood piece, this album is their most biting and accomplished release.

This deluxe edition contains 14 extra tracks, including the Rhino Studio Demo of 'The Hanging Garden', a live version of 'All Mine' recorded at the Hammersmith Odeon and a version of 'Siamese Twins' recorded in Brussels.

The Cure are an "oppressively dispirited" trio. Frontman Robert Smith has stated that he has undergone a great period of mental stress during the recording of this album. With the opening lyric of 'It Doesn't Matter If We All Die' Pornography's bleak tales are a comment on how this band are viewing the world, and this work will no doubt become a key seminal work for the entire dark or gothic rock movement.

Bass player Simon Gallup says that the opening lyrics of the album are well in tune wit the overall air of depression hanging over the band during the making of this record. The textured mood is reflected in the cover art, which shows a photo of the band members, washed completely out of focus.

It is the first album to rely less on melodic riffs and hooks, and more on the dense amalgam of drums, bass and guitar and keyboard. 'The Hanging Garden' is a rhythmic tom-tom bash of a record, a jungle type beat with the wail of Robert Smith in top ghoulish form. Pornography is a superbly crafted album that belies the internal struggles of the band, with bass player Simon Gallup already having left the band at the end of the 'Pornography' tour. The emotion involved on this album does provide testament to the strength of this work.