Review Summary: Find a cure..
'Weird and outlandish' is what comes to mind when The Cure's somewhat overshadowed 'Pornography' is mentioned.
One might even begin to feel uncomfortable with their first listen through its incredibly morose tracklist. The Cure's brainchild, Robert Smith, gave more than enough details about how Pornography was created under a rather melodramatic time. And whilst listening, I could feel much of the remorse and sense of being lost that Smith, Gallup, and Tolhurst integrated, making something much more than your average angsty album. No, you could say 'Pornography' is an acquired taste, even by The Cure's standards. But what you have when you look into the very guts of what it has to offer, is nothing short of a masterpiece.
The first track, 'One Hundred Years' quickly sets the tone with lyrics such as-
"Stroking your hair as the patriots are shot. Fighting for freedom on television. Sharing the world with slaughtered pigs." and "The soldiers close in under a yellow moon. All shadows and deliverance under a black flag, A hundred years of blood."
Paints a picture of our war-torn world, giving a disgusting epiphany that makes it harder than ever to digest the reality of it all. This doesn't go without saying how well the instrumentals are. The crying guitar and rhythmic, borderline repetitive drums complement each other quite well.
Smith said that he wanted 'Pornography' to be "Virtually Unbearable". And I could agree that it is, but when I say unbearable, I mean that in the most listenable way possible. The second Track, 'A Short Term Effect' is a good example of what I mean by that. With distorted echoes that follow each verse, and an even more distorted instrumental, it makes you wonder what kind of substances the band might have been on. However, unlike most bands who are under the influence during their projects, The Cure managed to use it to their advantage. Either knowingly, or unknowingly, it's quite remarkable.
With 'The Hanging Garden' following up, we have one of the strongest tracks on the album. Smith stated that he wrote this song under his impression of the impurity when animals ***. Needless to say, the message gets across while building incredible momentum. 'Siamese Twins' falls into an identical premise of sex and lust. The verse, "Push a blade into my hands. Slowly up the stairs and into the room. Is it always like this?" is just an example of how twisted the band's perspectives were at the time.
On the fifth track of the album, I'm given a true idea of just how deep into depression the band truly was.
'The Figurehead' being about depression and thoughts of suicide, throws out some of the most memorable verses I've ever been confronted with.
"Dust on the lips of a vision of hell, I laughed in the mirror for the first time in a year".
Indeed, the guitar and bass in this coincide so well, that it gives a feeling as if you're being chased in the dark. And if that wasn't enough, the sixth track 'A Strange Day,' comes in with the strongest impact 'Pornography' can offer. This work of sorrow, woven into brilliance, starts off with a dreadfully creepy and eery intro. Progressing into slow and intense drums, then guided by Smith's rich, thought provoking lyricism and distinct vocals. It feels like the appropriate soundtrack to one's personal demise.
'Cold' comes next, feeling somewhere in between the band's current approach and somewhat reminiscent of their previous album 'Faith'.
The amazing experience comes to a close with the final track 'Pornography'. The beginning of the song starts with distorted recordings of people talking, slowly fading into a white noise while proceeded by excellent drums and more of Smith's vocals. This track gives off a strong sense of doom, shame, and inevitability. A fitting way to end a record that was produced under horrid conditions.
But that's what makes 'Pornography' such an extremely rare achievement. It was Smith, Gallup, and Tolhurst's ability to take all that negative energy, and create something that would redefine Gothic Rock.
To anyone who hasn't given this blood stained gem a listen, what the hell are you doing? Face your demons.
