Bloodflowers

Editorial Reviews
Album Description
Japanese edition of Robert Smith's latest. Includes one bonus track 'Coming Up'. A return to darker material like 'Pornography'. 2000 release. Standard jewel case.

Tracks:

Out of This World
Watching Me Fall
Where the Birds Always Sing
Maybe Someday
Last Day of Summer, The
There Is No If...
Loudest Sound, The
39
Bloodflowers

Amazon.com

No one revels in the sumptuous pleasures of melancholy like Robert Smith, the Cure's leading mopemeister. In Smith's world, it is always raining, comfort and happiness are fleeting, love is epic and torturous. On Bloodflowers, the band's 11th studio album, his lyrical prowess continues to astound. Considering the subject matter, Smith's always managed to steer clear of the clichéd, bad-high-school-poetry trap, and on Bloodflowers, the imagery is some of his most vivid and stabbing. On "The Loudest Sound," a story about a couple who are, of course, growing apart, he sings of their tension: "She dreams him as a boy / And he loves her as a girl / And side by side in the silence without a single word / It's the loudest sound I ever heard." The music grows out of the same dichromatic marriage of love's eternal hope and heartbreak's inevitable bleakness. Layers of the Cure's signature ethereal, buoyant guitar licks are paced at the momentum of a lava lamp, while melodies lurk only in an understated synth or distorted guitar. None of the songs scream "radio hit" like Wish's "Friday I'm in Love" anomaly; and although Bloodflowers is less abstract, comparisons to Disintegration are easily drawn. If this really threatens to be the last Cure album--no, really, the real end--it's a vision of loneliness and loveliness, a low note rarely surpassed in beauty and breadth. --Beth Massa

Album Description

Aussie reissue of 2000 album includes one bonus track 'Coming Up'. Polydor. 2004.

Album Details

Digitally Remastered Edition of the Final Cure Album of the Trilogy which Joins "Pornography" and "Disintegration".

Customer Reviews:

beautiful music.......2007-06-12

This is a great CD. The melodies the Cure amasses here are amazing. The lyrics are profound, and unlike some of their earlier CD's--although good--they make sense! But 4 stars because they can get a little wallowing and blurry at times and stuck in the depression rut, but only a little. Definitely worth the purchase!

Melancholic masterpiece.......2007-02-15

I'll admit that when I first heard "Bloodflowers," I wasn't blown away. I suppose that at the time of its release, I was more into the pop side of The Cure, having been a fan since 1985's "Head on the Door." However, after witnessing the album performed live on the "Trilogy" DVD, I've had a "change of head." I now believe that "Bloodflowers" is an amazingly understated piece of work. It's a guitar-drenched and somewhat psychedelic affair, and, like "Pornography," a little impenetrable upon first listen. And, like "Pornography," it gradually grows on you, indeed nearly attaches itself to you, immersing the listener in a world of brooding introspection. However, unlike "Pornography," "Bloodflowers" is never scary, only darkly ethereal.

"Bloodflowers" represents the classic and art rock facet of The Cure, and at times calls forth the influences of Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd. The title track, the album's most haunting song, and certainly the band's darkest since "The Hanging Garden," even boasts a delicious Hendrix-style guitar solo.

Aside from the title track, highlights of this album include the lushly solemn "The Loudest Sound" (which provides an unsual flourish when Robert Smith croons the song's title and a chiming guitar riff competes with his lyric), the contemplative "The Last Day of Summer," the exquisitely existential "Where the Birds Always Sing," and "There is No If...," which showcases Smith's quirky romantic humor. For some, the album's weakest moment is the epic "Watching Me Fall," but for me, it's one of the best tracks, and it's enhanced by eerily erotic lyrics.

"Bloodflowers" has been maligned for its lyrical flatness, but honestly, I think these are some of Smith's best lyrics yet. Yes, they are less typically ambiguous and surreal (save for the chilling dialogue that embellishes the title song, and the words adorning the aforementioned "Watching Me Fall"). Their peculiar power lies in their taut simplicity, explicit introspection, and restrained pathos.

Some people have criticized "Bloodflowers" for not living up to the melancholic grandeur of "Disintegration," while others have lamented the lack of sinister edge so prevalent on "Pornography." But I think "Bloodflowers" was not intended to be a replication of either of those albums, but rather an amalgam of the best aspects of both, and I think it works masterfully well. The subtle potency of "Bloodflowers" will elude the masses, but patient listeners will reap many rewards from this CD.

Another Creative Peak for the Cure.......2007-01-07

Unfairly maligned by many who see this as the Cure playing to those stereotypes of anguish and morosity that were either earned or not ( that is another argument entirely ), "Bloodflowers" is in my estimation one of the highlights of this band's catalogue. It is certainly miles ahead of the two albums that bookend it. "Wild Mood Swings" is a tossed off, sloppy mess, an apparent stab at another "Kiss Me..."-styled eclectic pop celebration. And the self-titled disc that followed "Bloodflowers" is a disaster of monumental proportion, a misguided attempt by Smith and company to get "heavy, man" with the aid of a young, brash, producer who had his sights set on turning the Cure into something they're not. "Bloodflowers" is a good example of all the pieces of a puzzle falling neatly into place, creating a whole that is far greater than the sum of its parts. The production is fantastic, subtle and nicely layered, and each member truly shines. There are several pretty ferocious electric guitar leads, and acoutic guitar features prominantly. Keyboards are not as obvious as on say "Disintegration" - that is to say they don't stand out as grand orchestrations. Again, very subtle, very considered. Jason Cooper's drumming is outstanding. Fans of Boris Wiliams will call me out but I think he's the best drummer the Cure have ever had, very dynamic, capable of both enormous power and quiet beauty. And Robert Smith here turns in some of his most compelling vocal performances ever. The only thing I really don't like about this album is the cover - the font type of the band logo and the album name don't work together , and the photo of Smith is one of the worst I have ever seen, truly a turn-off. But that alone doesn't diminish the power and urgency of this great work. "Bloodflowers" is essential Cure listening, and Very Highly Recommended.

Looking back on this CD almost 7 years later.......2007-01-04

This CD holds up very well over the last 7 years. I would say this is the best Cure CD since 1989's Disintegration. Maybe Someday is the best Cure single this decade. Called the 3rd part in the trilogy series that included Pornography and the aforementioned Disintegration this CD is what the Cure is to me. A slow grind it mope rock band that writes deep iconoclastic lyrics, yet keeps it interesting with deep musical leanings.

The World Is Not Fair Or Unfair.......2006-11-27

I have enjoyed almost all of the Cure's work. Every album is rewarding and The Head On The Door, Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me, and of course Disintegration are brilliant. This album is their best, well my favorite. Every song is a picture of a puzzle that fits perfectly together creating an awesomely powerful atmosphere. Listening to this album from beginning to end is an incredible experience that easily rivals listening to any classic album. Every listen makes me appreciate this album even more, if that is possible. This is a masterpiece and if this is the Cure's last album they are going out on top.

String Quartet Tribute to the Cure Whisper

Average customer rating:

It's a bunch of violins doing Cure. And?
There is no zero stars...
Forget about it!!!
Weak. Very, very weak.
At Last!

String Quartet Tribute to the Cure Whisper
Various Artists
Manufacturer: Vitamin Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Rock | Styles | Music

General | Compilations | Rock | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

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String Quartet Tribute to the Smiths
String Quartet Tribute to New Order and Joy Division
The String Quartet Tribute to Depeche Mode
Strung Out On U2 : The String Quartet Tribute

ASIN: B000063RVM
Release Date: 2002-04-09

Tracks:

Lullaby - Quartet Illumina
Pictures Of You - Quartet Illumina
Boys Don't Cry - David Stout Quartet
Love Song - Quartet Illumina
Hot Hot Hot - The Section
The Lovecats - David Stout Quartet
Bloodflowers - The Section
Maybe Someday - Quartet Illumina
Just Like Heaven - The Section
Zazen - The Section

Product Description

1. Lullaby
2. Pictures Of You
3. Boys Don't Cry
4. Love Song
5. Hot Hot Hot
6. The Lovecats
7. Bloodflowers
8. Maybe Someday
9. Just Like Heaven
10. Zazen

Format: CD

Customer Reviews:

It's a bunch of violins doing Cure. And?.......2005-03-12

Ok, so, what the hey. The String Quartet tributes are popping up like bloody mushrooms after a spring rain, which isn't necessarily a good thing. Not that it's a bad idea -- many of the bands covered are probably well managed by these instruments -- but this one, and the two TOOL I also own, are not exactly inspiring. (And if you can recognize "Hot Hot Hot !!!" by ear without being told, you deserve an award.) Everything is played blandly, and, in some cases, fairly oddly -- many notes are played counter to what would conceivably work better.

The selections are crap; possibly, the group wanted a mix of everything, but it's all mostly new, and mostly music that isn't even suited to the instruments. I shudder to think what would have happened if "The Cure" came out before this one. Terrible songs played even worse, most likely.

But, if you simply like instrumental music, it's not bad. It's just not necessarily The Cure.

There is no zero stars..........2004-07-15

... so I give this one ill deserved star. I love classical music. In particular I love string quartets. The Cure is fantastic. I thought this piece of junk might be magical. Hah! The arrangements are boring. The pace is ponderous. These "tributes" completely miss the point of the original wonderful cure songs. The only selection that isn't utter trash is "Lovecats". It's actually pretty good. I actually did discard this useless CD after the second bleak listen.

Forget about it!!!.......2004-05-29

If you are a fan of the Cure, or if you are a fan of any string quartets, forget about it. This album (and all the rest of the String Quartet Tribute albums for that matter) is BS. I am a classical cellist and a huge fan of the Cure, and this CD just pisses me off. These guys are trying to make some profit off of some amazing original music. The sound is horrible, technically they areextremely average, and there is no spirit to the music. Some ass clown probably arranged all of these songs for a bunch of classical players who don't even appreciate the original artist. They play like a bunch of greedy dinguses, and they sound phony. Don't support these guys, just stick to the originals.

Weak. Very, very weak........2004-04-24

** Two stars generously given for the idea and production. **

Okay I'm not a fan of Cure covers, in fact I can't seem to think of one that I like, most of them make me mad that it was even attempted. I love strings and the fact that Roberts vocal lines arent attempted I thought this was going to be the missing link of Cure covers/tributes...

So when I first saw this album, my jaw dropped, I couldn't believe my eyes. Stared at it in awe for a minute, purely overjoyed, bought it and RAN to my car to listen to it. . . . Was interesting... Then I got it home, sat down and really listened to the entire thing, to be incredibly disappointed. It's not "BAD", it's a great idea, it was put together very good .. BUT .. The track selection is everything that is wrong with this. In my opinion, most of these songs were HORRIBLE choices. I don't think many of these work well with a string quartet. A few, yeah okay, aren't bad, but could have been much better with the proper tracks. They selected mostly the more upbeat pop singles, Just Like Heaven? Lovecats? C'mon...

This would have been INCREDIBLE if they did songs like Same Deep Water as You, All Cats are Grey, Kyoto Song, Sinking, If only Tonight we can Sleep, Faith, Apart... Things like that, slower songs. The upbeat pop songs, don't work for me with a quartet.

Great idea, wonderfully done, but terrible terrible track selection.

If I had heard this before I bought it, I wouldn't have, think about this before you purchase this.

I really thought this was going to be something special, like the Joy Division string Tribute which I HIGHLY recomend over this one, in fact go and get that right now if your looking for a string tribute.

At Last!.......2002-05-06

I've been waiting a long time with a fantasy that someone would do some symphonic versions of some Cure songs. While a quartet is less grand than a full orchestra, "Whisper" still does the trick, and the quartets here are nothing to be disppointed by.

The songs on this album are imaginative versions of Cure songs, arranged for string quartet. Duh, right? Well, this project COULD have been drums and guitar with a violin playing Robert's vocal parts...considering this, I give "Whisper" high marks, even though I wish other less-known but more appropriate songs would have made the album ("A Few Hours After This," "To the Sky," "Treasure," etc). Bonus points for the covering of two newer tracks, "Bloodflowers" and "Maybe Someday." The version of "Just Like Heaven," The Cure's most covered song, joins the ranks of such great covers as Deadsy's and Dinosaur Jr's.

As I say, the arrangements are very close to the original songs, but don't adhere so closely that you think "why bother?" Vocal melodies are approximated - not duplicated - by the strings, which is what I prefer. The arrangement of "Hot Hot Hot" varies the furthest from the original, making a surprisingly wonderfully sombre piece out of the original chintsy tune. Pizzicato figures in nicely on a few tunes, as well.

The original tune "Zazen" sounds more like a Cure pastiche than a Cure-inspired tune; you'll probably be placing different parts of it with different songs. However, as nice as this tune is, I'd much rather have heard another full cover than this. (Granted, I'd rather the track be on it than have only 9 tracks on the album).