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: Wish (1992) - Track 1
Ranking: 13
The weight of importance of an album’s opening track cannot be exaggerated. It’s a big, big deal. Track 1 has to set the mood. It has to reel you in. It has to assure that all is good with the band you’re listening to. They haven’t gone off the deep end, but they continued to push things forward. I had high expectations for the Wish album when it came out. Disintegration was the band’s last studio output – a record that put the band on a whole other level. Then a year later, The Cure released a mix compilation called Mixed Up. In my opinion, it was pretty pedestrian. Wish was the band’s opportunity to get back to the studio and create something special. I think they pulled it off – and “Open” did its job as Track 1.
There are several stellar opening tracks by The Cure: Plainsong, The Kiss, One Hundred Years to name a few. “Open” may not be in the upper echelon, but it certainly deserves a spot in that next tier of Track Ones. Curiously, The Cure sounds like The Cure here, but the guitars have adapted almost seamlessly into the grunge era with a new feedback-soaked sound. This characteristic alone makes “Open” a compelling opener. Smith sings. “I really don't know what I'm doing here” as his post punk band stumbles into a musical period built around Seattle, not Crawley. And I’m utterly fascinated – and drawn into Wish. Not their best album, but an output that belongs firmly in the top half of their catalog.
“I really don't know what I'm doing here.”