The Cure The Perfect Boy & Sleep When I'm Dead
Robert Smith & Co. Release 2 Singles, B-Sides & Hypnagogic States EP
The Cure’s marketing campaign, whereby they release two new tracks complete with B-sides in the months leading up to their new album, began on May 13 with first single “The Only One” and continued in June with “Freakshow”, backed with “NY Trip” and "All Kinds Of Stuff" respectively.
In July the band released “Sleep When I’m Dead” backed by “Down Under” and August saw the release of new tracks “The Perfect Boy” and B-side “Without You”. All 8 songs were produced by The Cure front man, Robert Smith, and Keith Uddin.
While any new Cure release causes celebration, with these singles, the band has managed to place three simultaneous tracks in a Billboard chart. “Sleep When I’m Dead” topped Billboard’s Hot Singles Sales Chart, a tally based uniquely on record sales, in its first week.
“Freakshow” peaked at number 2 and “The Only One” reached number 4 on the same chart, proving the influence and longevity of this highly creative band even in their forth decade as a charting act. The Cure have previously scored hits on Billboard’s Hot 100, Modern Rock and Hot Dance Music/Club Play charts.
Hypnagogic States
“The Perfect Boy” completes the four song lead-up to The Cure’s new album, re-scheduled for a fall release. To tide over fans anticipating the new album, the band has announced on its official website that the first four singles (“The Only One”, “Freakshow”, “Sleep When I’m Dead” and “The Perfect Boy”) will get re-mix treatment and appear on a special 5-track EP.
Hypnagogic States, includes remixes by 30 Seconds to Mars (“The Only One”), Jade Puget of AFI and Blaqk Audio (“Freakshow”), Gerard Way of My Chemical Romance and Julien-K (“Sleep When I’m Dead”) and Pete Wentz and Patrick Stump of Fall Out Boy (“The Perfect Boy”). The EP, with all artist royalties going to The International Red Cross, will also include bonus track "Exploding Head Syndrome", a mash-up of all four singles remixed by 65 Days Of Static.
“Sleep When I’m Dead” & “The Perfect Boy” Reviews
Sleep When I’m Dead – A bouncy and often distorted guitar fuelled jam. A fun, classic Cure record and the best single to come out of this experiment. Worth repeated listens.
Down Under – Countering the bouncy nature of A-side single, this track infuses darker moods and a harder edge. This single doesn’t re-invent the wheel but compliments “Sleep when I’m Dead” and could have been an A-side in its own right. If the rest of the album sounds this good, The Cure have a winner on their hands.
The Perfect Boy – More guitar-driven, this mid tempo burner warms up slowly but steadily. Not the best output from the band, but easily accessible.
Without You – As close to an acoustic ballad as the Cure will ever come. One of the better B-sides to come out of this collection, this track stands well on its own and could have been included on the album.
The Cure’s, as yet, untitled new album will be released on October 13 (or will it?). The Hypnagogic States EP drops on September 13. None of the B-sides will appear on the album or EP.
The Cure - The Perfect Boy
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The Cure - Sleep When I'm Dead
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