10/25/1990 Unknown Source
Boys Don't Cry
Over a two-decade, multi-platinum career, the Cure have become known as Kings of Goth, and singer-songwriter Robert Smith's wayward hair and trademark makeup have inspired legions of collegiate imitators. When the Cure formed in the late '70s, the trio of Smith, drummer Lol Tolhurst, and bassist Michael Dempsey carved out a niche somewhere between the willful obstinance of the Gang of Four, the introspection of Joy Division, and the eager melody of the Jam. On the Cure's first album (originally entitled THREE IMAGINARY BOYS but renamed for the 1979 U.S. debut, with additional singles replacing some album tracks), Smith's lyrics were at their sharpest. He based "Killing an Arab" on Albert Camus's book THE STRANGER; "Jumping Someone Else's Train" concerned people climbing aboard new musical trends; and "10:15 Saturday Night" was a classic paean to loneliness. Then, with "Boys Don't Cry" itself, Smith discovered the art of the great romantic pop song -- an art he immediately (and regrettably) abandoned until years later. The Cure went on to record bigger albums and greater hit singles, but BOYS DON'T CRY is the genuinely exciting sound of a great young band discovering itself.
- Tony Fletcher
