I’m not sure if there’s a band that I can claim as my favorite of all time, because the reality is I have a different favorite every day. This process of choosing one favorite over all others seems futile. But, for me, The Cure, is about as close as it gets. For me, their music is irreplaceable. There are things that I feel when I put on a Cure record that I can’t experience with anything else. For the month of June, I hope to share some of this as a I cover a different Cure song each day – counting down from #30 to #1. And, in this case, I have no qualms stating my #1. #30DaysofTheCure
U.S. original release: Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me (1987) - Track 3
Ranking: 18
This month, as I’ve been picking my favorite Cure songs I’m reminded of the sheer depth of the band’s music. Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me is generally regarded as one of the better albums – ahead of the stinkers (The Top, I’m lookin’ at you), but behind the heavy hitters: Disintegration, Seventeen Seconds, Pornography and The Head On The Door. Thing is, listening back to this album, I’m thoroughly impressed at how deep this album is. For a double-length album, it has very few low points. The record captures a very fruitful period of songwriting for the band. And Track 3 is right up there with the best of them.
The Cure has some real bangers – and this is one of them. I don’t care so much for the lyric’s meaning (is it about domination?). For me, the strength of the song is the instrumentation. The song kicks off like a solemn march into a dark dungeon where escape isn’t an option. Once inside, the torture begins (“Hanging like this. Like a vampire bat.”) Gallup’s bass line erupts like a volcano, and sounds like the thing that’s administering the pain. “Torture” is a song I wish they would play live more – I’d go for this one over “Just Like Heaven”, “Hot Hot Hot!!!” and “Why Can’t I Be You?” any night of the week.
“I'm here for one more treacherous night.”