Although he’s become an in-demand guest vocalist, Robert Smith says in a new interview that he’s refocusing on The Cure and vows he won’t do another collaboration until he completes the long-promised second half of 2008’s 4.13 Dream — the so-called “Dark Album” that he once suggested could land in spring 2009.
Part of the hold-up, Smith suggests in his interview with Ireland’s Hot Press (via fansite Chain of Flowers’ scans of the magazine), could be that the rest of The Cure — who will play their only European show of the year at the U.K.’s Bestival on Sept. 10 — may no longer be interested in wrapping up the leftover material from the sessions that yielded 4.13 Dream.
Smith says of that album’s second half:
“It’s one of those things that it’s been left so long now I expect it will come out as a half-finished sort of thing. I’m not sure if the band wants to complete it, which is sort of the elephant in the room. What happened to the second half of the album? No one mentions it! We’re aware that it’s there. Nobody really wants to talk about it. Maybe it will come up after a few post-festival beers!”
Later, Smith discusses his recent collaborations with the likes of Crystal Castles (“Not In Love,” which you can download here) and Japanese Popstars (“Take Forever,” which you can stream here), and notes he has two more in the can — although he’s been asked not to talk about them.
He adds:
“But that’s the end of it for this summer. I gave myself a deadline of this month to start thinking about Cure stuff again. The ones that are done to date are done. I’m sure there will be more in the future… But I think between now and this time next year, The Cure will take precedence over anything else. Until I get the second half of this album out, I won’t do another collaboration.”
The Hot Press interview was conducted primarily to discuss Smith’s role in the new John Martyn tribute album, and much of the piece does center around Smith’s memories of the late guitarist and his cover of “Small Hours” for the tribute project (stream it here). Although the article doesn’t touch on the recent “Reflections” concerts in Sydney, other topics covered include Smith’s excitement about playing the first “proper” Cure show in several years at Bestival (“It’s the longest we’ve ever gone”), as well as why he’s slowed down the pace of The Cure’s touring in recent years.
Plus, Smith reiterates comments made by former Siouxsie and the Bansheesbassist Steven Severin about the possibility of a new album from the duo’s early-’80s, one-off side project The Glove: “We do meet up from time to time,” Smith says of Severin “It’s one of those things that I have a feeling in my bones another album is inevitable. It’s just how old will I be when we make it?”
Read the full Hot Press interview via Chain of Flowers.
PREVIOUSLY ON SLICING UP EYEBALLS
- Download: The Cure’s Robert Smith covers ‘Small Hours’ by John Martyn for tribute CD
- Stream: The Japanese Popstars featuring The Cure’s Robert Smith, ‘Take Forever’
- Video: The Cure plays 44-song ‘Reflections’ concert with Tolhurst, O’Donnell
- Robert Smith hints The Cure may perform more concerts after ‘Reflections’
- Milestones: The Cure’s ‘Standing on a Beach’ released 25 years ago today
- The Cure playing first 3 albums in Sydney with Lol Tolhurst, Roger O’Donnell
I truly hope they can do better than 4.13 Dream.
Jay s – Why are you saying that? Though 4:13 was a bit cheesy at times, it still has some of their best music featured: “The perfect boy”, “Underneath The Stars”, “The Reasons Why”, “The Only One”. Stop being so pretentious and just enjoy it when they actually give us something.
I’d be happy if I finally got “The Cure In Orange” on Blu-Ray, or even DVD! And what about all those old 12″ remixes, pre-1989? Still some gaps in the back catalog that they could (and should) re-introduce to the world.
I still have all The Cure VHS stuff from In Orange, Play Out, etc but I have no VCR.
I love The Cure and most of these older bands but seriously, why does it take them so many years to complete and release a new album. The Beatles used to make a new one every 6 to 9 months. I just don’t get why it takes The Cure 3 or 4 years or U2 5 years to make a new album.
I have the same frustration with U2, but with them, they have the material recorded, they just won’t release it. They are too busy touring the world 4 times over with every release.
both bands are epic…nothing left to prove…family obligations
Ugh. Please don’t bother! This is a sad story of a once-great band that just isn’t that great anymore. Take a hint from some other 80s greats. Just tour and play the songs that made you popular and give the fans what they want. Stop trying to make new music, you just don’t have the stuff any more.
Here’s a solution Greg–don’t buy it. Stop whining and bitching in public and mow your grass.
Robert and The Cure still have what it takes. Someone mentioned U2. Now that is a band that needs to go away. They have sucked for so long now and their shows are just too expensive. Last time I saw them I came to see Muse over U2. The tickets were a gift so that was the only reason I was there.
Back to The Cure. The album that turned me on to them is one I really don’t even like. The Kiss Me album just isn’t that good looking back. I have all of their albums just so I have a complete collection but I’ll listen to Wish, Pornography, TIB or Seventeen Seconds over most. Craig has a point about them doing shows and playing what people want to hear. Last time they came to Tampa they did three encores. I’ll say this, they gave the people what they wanted.
u2 way better than muse
The Cure are a unique band, and they have inspired many famous bands who have looked up to them and still do to be fair!
There are many good artists, but very few that have touched people’s soul. The Cure should be on the list of those artists who are a legend (including Elvis, F. Mercury…)!
I don’t think a lot of you are fans at all. I think ALL the Cure’s albums with the exception of “The Top” (Except for Caterpillar, which is good) are wonderful. Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me is a fantastic album. “One More Time”, “A Thousand Years” “Just Like Heaven” “Hot, Hot, Hot”. Awesome time for them as a band. It seems to me like you are just picking and choosing what you want. You’ll most likely be disappointed when anything new comes out again. Good Luck with that.