The Head On The Door: A Goth Masterclass (40 Year Anniversary)

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The Cure is undoubtedly a staple band and aesthetic within gothic subcultures. Their sound, which combines rock, new wave, and post-punk, helped to form a cultural movement as well as a musical one. ‘The Head On The Door‘ is the sixth studio album by the band, who had been refining their sound for several years by this point. The album is varied in sound and masterfully created, with every track telling its own story.

In Between Days

The track opens strongly with one of The Cure’s most beloved songs. ‘Inbetween Days‘ is bright in sound, with lyricism filled with melancholy. Being the first track on the LP as well as the first single release from this record, it gives the listener their first taste of this particular soundscape. It’s a brave move putting such a well-loved and accessible track as the first in succession, yet it seems to pay off. It gives the listener a taste of what to expect and prepares them for a varied journey.

Following this up is ‘Kyoto Song‘, which I think instantly lowers the vibe from the opener. The energy felt almost mystical, as though it was made to be danced to and to find some deeper meaning within its lyrics. I found it a solid second track, which kept the record interesting.

The acoustic guitar, which carried ‘The Blood,’ was yet another major shift in tone. Robert Smith is credited as the primary guitarist on this track. His playing here almost felt like it had a classic Spanish influence to it.

Six Different Ways

The opening to this song feels strong and grand, with a prominent keyboard hook playing throughout. Despite this, this song isn’t one of my favourites on this record. Something about the production quality feels dated, reminding me that this is a creation of the 1980s. I feel a similar way about the pipe effect that plays throughout. Notwithstanding, this is another example of the group experimenting with their sound and not sticking to the same formula for each track, which I really enjoy.

The long instrumental opener for ‘Push‘ instantly made me take note. As the song progresses, I felt the melody and overall style reflected a sound that is heard frequently in modern alternative rock. It isn’t too dissimilar from what I’d expect from the likes of Bring Me The Horizon. This only furthers the influence The Cure has had on modern music.

‘The Baby Screams‘ delivers high energy with an interesting riff following the chorus. The track is layered with plenty going on in the production, resulting in quite an intense listen. This is something that varies throughout the record, with some tracks being quite calm and mundane in comparison to others.

Close To Me

Another well-known song from ‘The Head On The Door‘ is the second single release, ‘Close To Me‘. To me, its sound is quite progressive and reflects a more 2000s mainstream sound than I anticipated. The guitar work is yet again very unique and enjoyable.

If you’re looking for a song that reflects the style The Cure is well known for, ‘A Night Like This‘ is for you. It’s dramatic as well as melancholic, with a ginormous sound. Even so, it fits nicely amongst songs that are more pop-leaning.

The most notable element about its follow-up, ‘Screw,’ is how dirty the guitar is in the opening minute. Smith wrote the entirety of this LP, and I think this is made an even more impressive feat when comparing tracks like this to the ones surrounding it. I’ve seen this song described as ‘post-punk electro’ before, and I think that sums it up quite nicely.

‘Sinking‘ wraps the record up with some classic Cure-esque doom. My biggest takeaways from the closing number were the strings and the bassline. Simon Gallup is a great bassist who manages to put his own flair into every song he works on. It’s another example from this album of a long instrumental opener that works well.

Final Thoughts

Fans of ‘The Head On The Door‘ are treated to a second disc, which contains Smith’s demos from the conception of the album. I wouldn’t necessarily say it is anything notable; however, I think it is definitely worth a listen for the sake of understanding how this LP came to be.

Overall, this release is experimental and monumental in equal parts. It delves into a variety of genres and keeps the listener on their toes from start to finish. There’s no denying the huge impact The Cure has had on alternative music and the goth subculture of today. If this style and sound are for you, this is a staple record.

Album Rating: 7.5/10

The Cure are on Instagram, X, and TikTok. You can stream ‘The Head On The Door‘ below or buy, and read more anniversary pieces here.

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