Release Date: 21 April, 1992
Audio CD
Tracks
- Open
- High
- Apart
- From the Edge of the Deep Green Sea
- Wendy Time
- Doing the Unstuck
- Friday I'm in Love
- Trust
- Letter to Elise
- Cut
- To Wish Impossible Things
- End
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Rating 4.5
A natural "High", a perfect balance of happy and sad"Wish", quite simply lies at the peak of the creativity of Robert Smith's The Cure. Considered by most as an incursion by the band into commercial territory (think "High", "Doing the Unstuck", "Friday I'm In Love" and "Letter to Elise"), it also happens to house some of Robert Smith's greatest songs.
On a rather upbeat level, along with the tracks accused of being commercial, lie the extraordinary "From The Edge Of The Green Sea" and the uptempo "Open" and "Cut". To counter the effect of these songs, and accomplishing a perfect balance are "To Wish Impossible Things", "Apart" and "Trust", three of Robert Smith's most beautiful songs ever.
At the time of this writing, over thirteen years after its release "Wish" still leaves an indelible and fresh mark in your heart with every listen. I can recommend it without doubts. Own it to get on a natural "High".Good Things Come To Those Who WishTo review the Cure is like judging art- tastes change and fads come and go and through it all is the sound of Robert Smith. Many Cure fans disregard this release as commercial and for many the thought of this CD faded just as soon as "Friday I'm in Love" fell from MTV rotation. (Please note that there was a time when Music Television played what were called "music videos") Cure fans should revisit "Wish" often and enjoy the fine music it has to offer. Open, High, Apart, From the Edge of the Deep Green Sea, Doing the Unstuck, Friday I'm in Love, A Letter to Elise, and End stack up with the best of the Cure's work and make "Wish" one of their best pieces of art.The Cure's foray into commercialismThe album "Wish" was an important moment in the history of The Cure. First and foremost, it followed the magnificent "Disintegration," the pinnacle of the band's achievement. After waiting three years, fans didn't know what to expect. Of course, the album wasn't as good as "Disintegration," but that could hardly have been expected, and "Wish" turned out to be a strong effort. Second, "Wish" marked the departure of the band's next most important member to Robert Smith up until that point -- Lol Tolhurst. I have read that it was a painful divorce, which must have effected Robert Smith in some way. Third, "Wish" is easily the most commercial of the band's albums, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. I've always thought that some of The Cure's most "commercial" songs were among their best (i.e. "Lovesong" "Just Like Heaven" "Pictures of You").
In fact, "Wish" contains several hit-oriented songs, the most obvious being "Friday I'm in Love" which, despite the criticism, still elicits a big response when performed in concert, and is still a pleasure to hear on the radio -- it's irresistible. Even better is "Doing the Unstuck," an infectious song in which Smith repeats the phrase "Let's get happy" (although probably sarcastically).
Although some of the album's songs kind of drag, I also particularly like "Open" "Cut" "Trust" and "To Wish Impossible Things." However, by far, the best track is "From the Edge of the Deep Green Sea" which is easily one of my favorite Cure songs. The hypnotic guitar riff, swirling sound, and driving beat, are extremely compelling. This is a song that must be listened to on good headphones with eyes closed at a healthy volume. I'm often unclear as to the meaning of Smith's lyrics, but I think this song is about a man who is in a long-term relationship with a wonderful woman who he knows loves him deeply. Unfortunately, he simply is unable to feel the same way, even though he constantly struggles to reciprocate. The conflict and anguish in Robert Smith's voice reveal itself loud and clear.
Footnote: In my opinion, "From the Edge of the Deep Green Sea" was the last of The Cure's truly great songs. Therefore, I will repeat my list (which I gave in my review of "Boys Don't Cry") of all the Cure songs that I believe rise to this description. They are, in chronological order:
1. Jumping Someone Else's Train
2 Killing an Arab
3. A Forest
4. Primary
5. The Hanging Garden
6. A Night Like This
7. Just Like Heaven
8. Pictures of You
9. Lovesong
10. Fascination Street
11. From the Edge of the Deep Green Sea
There are may other Cure songs that I consider "near-great" as well.
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