For the month of October, I’m selecting a song each day from the decade that has the most meaning to me: the 80s. It was the decade that I grew up in. The period of time where I discovered my love for music — and explored many different genres. For the next 31 days, I’ll highlight a handful of songs that I truly loved and that were representative of the decade. #31DaysOf80sSongs
The Cult is one of the most intriguing post-punk bands to come out of England. Though they cite Joy Division and Siouxsie & the Banshees as major influences, I don’t think they sound anything like them. Their contemporaries were the likes of The Cure and The Smiths. But, again, they don’t sound like them, either. And while many other outfits went knee-deep in synthesizers, The Cult went all in with the guitars. There was this interesting thing going on with their sound. Like a blend of hard rock, gothic rock and post-punk new wave. It sounded unlike anything else. “She Sells Sanctuary” was a true 80’s anthem. And right there behind it was a lesser heralded single off the same album, called “Rain”.
Ian Astbury once said that The Cult’s sound is all about the melodies and the guitars. Sounds simple, and it’s true. Those are the key elements of “Rain” and many other Cult classics. On “Rain”, Billy Duffy’s guitar riffs have this muscular structure to them, like something out of Jimmy Page’s almanac of riffs. And, as for the melody, those verses are like choruses — these lyrics that you can really sing along to. But Astbury sings it like he’s part Steven Tyler, part Jim Morrison, part indigenous tribal chief.
“Open the sky and let her come down.”