The Cure
– Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me
If The Head on the Door cracked the door open for The Cure’s mainstream breakthrough, Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me kicked it off its hinges. A sprawling, 18-track double album that refuses to be pinned down, it’s Robert Smith and company at their most indulgent, eclectic, and gloriously unfiltered. Psychedelic freakouts, icy synth-pop, brooding goth epics, and funk-inflected detours all collide here, forming a dizzying mix of sounds and emotions. It’s ambitious, chaotic, and messy in the best way possible—a band at their creative peak throwing everything at the wall and making almost all of it stick.
Best of…
What makes Kiss Me so compelling is its refusal to settle into a single mood. One moment, The Cure are crafting lush, dreamlike soundscapes (“Catch”), the next they’re slamming through feverish, jagged post-punk (“Shiver and Shake”). Smith’s songwriting is at its most dramatic and unpredictable—sometimes whispering in your ear, sometimes howling from the depths of romantic despair. And yet, despite the sheer range, there’s an undeniable sense of cohesion. Even when the band takes a sharp left turn into something unexpected, it still sounds unmistakably like The Cure.
But the album isn’t just about range—it’s about intensity. Every emotion here is dialed up to its absolute limit, whether it’s the seductive swagger of “Hot Hot Hot!!!”, the pure devastation of “One More Time”, or the towering, windswept romance of “Just Like Heaven”. This is The Cure in widescreen, unafraid of grand gestures and full-blown catharsis. Some might argue it’s too much, too long, too scattered, but that’s part of the magic. Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me is excess done right—an album that doesn’t just demand attention but pulls you deep into its strange, beautiful world.
Choice Tracks
Just Like Heaven
Arguably The Cure’s most perfect pop song. Dreamy guitars, urgent drumming, and Smith at his most lovesick and poetic—this is romance bottled into sound.
Why Can’t I Be You?
A playful, manic burst of energy that sounds like The Cure crashing a new wave dance party. Smith’s vocal delivery is completely unhinged in the best way.
The Kiss
A blistering, six-minute firestorm of distortion and fury. Smith’s venomous vocals and the searing guitar work make this one of The Cure’s most intense moments.
If Only Tonight We Could Sleep
Hypnotic and brooding, this track drifts through a haze of Eastern-influenced instrumentation, creating an atmosphere of haunting melancholy.
Catch
A delicate and wistful moment that contrasts beautifully with the album’s heavier moments. A simple melody, a sad little story, and a perfect two-minute escape.
One More Time
Slow, heart-wrenching, and filled with longing. Smith’s voice floats over lush instrumentation, making this one of the most emotionally raw tracks on the album.
Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me is The Cure at their most expansive—sometimes euphoric, sometimes agonizing, always captivating. It’s not just a collection of songs but a full-spectrum experience, pulling the listener through passion, madness, joy, and despair. If Disintegration would later refine their sound into a singular, immersive statement, Kiss Me is the thrilling ride that came before—the glorious, messy proof that The Cure could do absolutely anything and still sound like no one else.