Review Summary: Besides a number of filler tracks, the album is generally enjoyable as a whole
After the phenomenal album “The Head On the Door” that will forever be known as the Cures “Poppy” record, the band were stuck in a rut over which direction to take. Could they continue with the album chart orientated rock they had gone for over the past two albums? Would they revisit their more cult following days with their extended intros and minimalist instrumentation? Or would they try experimenting with something completely different?
The answer, of course, is all of the above.
Straight from the word go, it’s obvious the Cure wanted to try something different. “The Kiss” begins the record on a 4 minute intro, a 3 verse vocal section, and ending rather abruptly. Sound familiar? This could be because it’s the formula for the majority of the bands magnum opus “Disintegration”. One might even say “Kiss Me Kiss Me Kiss Me” is the prototype for the next album, and it sure seems that way.
Musically, the album takes in a number of different styles from everything from pop, all the way to epic stadium rock, and then even further up the experimental ladder to reach Asian influenced rhythms and instrumentation on the brooding “If Only Tonight We Could Sleep”. These different styles may apply to different points in the Cures time line, but on this album Robert Smith tries to bring them all together.
The highpoint of the album is, and perhaps always will be, the fantastically catchy “Just Like Heaven”, where Smith explores his most pop orientated song to date. I challenge anyone to listen to this song and not at least bob your head. Go on...try it... harder than you thought, isn’t it? Other highlights include the simple “Perfect Girl”, the experimental “Snakepit” and the generally funky “Hot Hot Hot!!”,
But, as always, with an album of over 12 tracks, there is going to be some filler tracks. Towards the end, these tracks become closer together, tracks like “Icing Sugar”, “like Cockatoos” and “A Thousand Hours”. Those familiar with the Cure will know a number of their best B Sides came out from this era, and I often find myself wondering why the lovely “Snow In Summer”, the heart breaking “A Chain of Flowers” and the catchy “Sugar Girl” didn’t make it onto the album in place of some of the more boring tracks. One song jumps to mind, “Like Cockatoos”, as it appears to try too hard to be different, and it just doesn’t fit the album.
Kiss Me Kiss Me Kiss Me would be better suited to a 10-12 track album I would say. Although the last 7 tracks must have their own little cult following, the album is just too long. But, you certainly get what you paid for in terms of length. And I guess that’s all that matters, no? As I’ve stated earlier in the review, “KMKMKM” is a worthy prototype to the brooding and melodic “Disintegration” that would following a few years later.
Recommended tracks:
Just Like Heaven
Catch
Hot Hot Hot!!
Why Can’t I Be You?
One More Time
If Only Tonight We Could Sleep
For the more dedicated fan:
Torture
The Kiss
All I Want
The Perfect Girl
Fight
Generally just skip...:
Like Cockatoos
A Thousand Hours
Hey You!
Hope this review helps you when deciding to buy this album or not. Thanks for reading!
