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: Single (1981)
Ranking: 10
A great homage and moment in music history occurred at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame ceremony in 2019. One highly influential person – Trent Reznor – delivered a moving speech and introduction to a band many considered to be one of the most influential acts in alternative and gothic rock. Reznor spoke about the moment he first discovered The Cure on the radio and how the songs gave him a sense of solace. More telling and powerful, he spoke of what The Cure did for all its fans: create a world for us to get lost in. This world is clearly evident in the cloudy, murky beauty of “Charlotte Sometimes”.
I didn’t discover “Charlotte Sometimes” until I got my Standing On A Beach compilation cassette. The song is like a fictitious universe covered in a cloudy haze. Listening to “Charlotte Sometimes” is like stepping into an echo chamber. Smith’s vocals surround us wherever we turn, although he seems like he’s worlds away. The keys create a swirling, encapsulating cocoon for the listener driven by Gallup and Tolhurst’s rhythmic bed. Tolhurst uses electronic drums on this track, reminiscent of incessant, unanswered door knocks.