Customer Reviews

Cream

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I am a major Cult fan from 1985 on. I have everything they have ever done and really admire how Ian has evolved with age. This album was a predictable outcome of that evolution that you could hear in his stuff from the early 90's. BTW- for those who say this album doesn't rock like the Cult albums are forgetting that the Cult didn't always rock. Certainly "Love" and the earlier Southern Death Cult didn't rock like "Electric" and their latter stuff didn't rock like "Electric" either. This is a first rate CD with innovative sounds, enjoyable riffs, and great singing. The songs aren't cookie cutter fluff like so many other solo albums people do. This is a real treasure in my collection.

This is NOT a Cult CD, even though Ian Astbury is the lead singer, so do not compare it to Cult CDs. It's definitely not as "rocking" as the Cult, but there are plenty of guitar riffs and heavy rythms to satisfy most Cult fans and rock fans in general. In short, this CD is great, as long as you aren't expecting to hear the classic Cult style. Actually, I would say this CD is to Cult releases as Alice in Chains' "Jar of Flies" was to "Dirt". Defintely not as heavy, but still a great disc.

In 1995, Ian Astbury, apparently fed up with the internal struggles of the Cult, left the band, resurfacing later with a new act and a new songwriting partner in guitarist Patrick Sugg. The Holy Barbarians, as the band was called, toured with Astbury fiercely avoiding any Cult songs called for by the audience ("that's a different band, mate" were his exact words in Hartford). The band also yielded one album, "Cream", before Astbury canned the project.

Musically, the Holy Barbarians seems to be a lot less muscular than the Cult, drawing as much from '60s pop and psychedelia as the goth and hard rock influences of the Cult. One unfortunate side effect is that without the presence of guitarist Billy Duffy, like Astbury's band before the Cult, this one feels lopsided with Astbury's personality so far over the top. The album seems to excel at its best when it embraces a quieter, hushed sound, in particular standout track "Opium". Filled with gypsy styled acoustic guitar and an impassioned vocal from Astbury that sings of pain, loss and almost torment, the piece stands up alongside anything in Astbury's repetoire. Likewise, title track "Cream" and "Magick Christian" both excel in this sort of puffy, Faces/flower power fusion of sound.

When the band tries to develop more of an edge, it generally is less inspiring-- several tracks are at best unmemorable ("Dolly Bird") or at worst totally lifeless post-punk ("Space Junkie", "Blind"). The exception to this is opener "Brother Fights", which alternates between melodic choruses and fierce verses, somehow the mix works out. But Sugg is no Duffy and when the intensity picks up, he falls by the wayside.

While "Cream" may be a curiosity, it is certainly an intriguing album, if nothing else as an opportunity to see what Astbury would do with a band when he could hide from his legacy.

I had high hopes for this album. Once I heard that Holy Barbarians featured not only the Cult vocalist Ian Astbury but the former guitarist and drummer from Neverland, I knew I had to check it out. I LOVE the Cult and have always thought that Neverland was an unfairly overlooked AOR act.

Unfortunately the album does not live up to expectations. I wasn't necessarily expecting another Cult album, though with a voice as recognizable as Astbury's those comparisons are inevitable. What I was expecting was an album that would stand out from the rest of the alternative rock pack, and in this respect I was disappointed. I can hardly fault Astbury's vocal performance, but the songs he wrote for this album are far from inspired. I'm glad he didn't try and copy the Cult's sound, but it would have been nice if the album captured some of the energy and passion that Astbury brought to that band's albums.

A 3-star rating is the best I can give Cream. It's not a bad album (the players involved guarantee a certain level of quality), but it's not that memorable either.

In 1995, Ian Astbury, apparently fed up with the internal struggles of the Cult, left the band, resurfacing later with a new act and a new songwriting partner in guitarist Patrick Sugg. The Holy Barbarians, as the band was called, toured with Astbury fiercely avoiding any Cult songs called for by the audience ("that's a different band, mate" were his exact words in Hartford). The band also yielded one album, "Cream", before Astbury canned the project.

Musically, the Holy Barbarians seems to be a lot less muscular than the Cult, drawing as much from '60s pop and psychedelia as the goth and hard rock influences of the Cult. One unfortunate side effect is that without the presence of guitarist Billy Duffy, like Astbury's band before the Cult, this one feels lopsided with Astbury's personality so far over the top. The album seems to excel at its best when it embraces a quieter, hushed sound, in particular standout track "Opium". Filled with gypsy styled acoustic guitar and an impassioned vocal from Astbury that sings of pain, loss and almost torment, the piece stands up alongside anything in Astbury's repetoire. Likewise, title track "Cream" and "Magick Christian" both excel in this sort of puffy, Faces/flower power fusion of sound.

When the band tries to develop more of an edge, it generally is less inspiring-- several tracks are at best unmemorable ("Dolly Bird") or at worst totally lifeless post-punk ("Space Junkie", "Blind"). The exception to this is opener "Brother Fights", which alternates between melodic choruses and fierce verses, somehow the mix works out. But Sugg is no Duffy and when the intensity picks up, he falls by the wayside.

While "Cream" may be a curiosity, it is certainly an intriguing album, if nothing else as an opportunity to see what Astbury would do with a band when he could hide from his legacy.

I love this album! From the opening rocker Brother Fights then moving into Dolly Bird, I love how it flows into Cream without dead air. I first heard the song Space Junkie on a local radio show, and thought it was so cool how it sounded so different from The Cult! But Ian's voice is unmistakeable. Bodhisattva is another fave of mine, and a good way to end the album. I think it's awesome that Ian Astbury was willing to do something different, and it's a shame that another album didn't follow. If you can find this album, it's definitely worth it!

what can I say?? this album rocks!! Ian Astbury's voice never fails. The music is straight forward much like the "Electric" cd and it also features drummer Scott Garret who played on the Cult's self titled cd.

I'm a huge Cult fan, and I bought this disc shortly after it came out. I wasn't blown away at first, but I thouroughly enjoy the album every time I listen to it. Ian sings as well as he did on the last Cult album, and the guitar and rythm is pretty strong. Any Cult fan will notice the overall disparity in quality, but still consider this a good buy. If you aren't a Cult fan, this album probably won't impress you.

I look forward to brilliant new Cult material next year, and Ian's solo album (Natural Born Geurilla). I recently saw The Cult live and can tell you they haven't skipped a beat.

I picked up this cd fairly cheap after reading one of the reviews here on Amazon. The reviewer was dead-on. Do not expect the Cult's music, but we all hoped it would sound a little like them anyway. But, even on a bad day for the Cult, this music would not pass as theirs. Some of the sounds do rock okay, but nothing stellar. I disagree with the reviewer that dismissed "Blind". It is the only song that could pass for Ian's former music quality, sort of Love inspired rocker tune, that is really the best of this set. If you must collect Cult-ish music, and I agree, if you can get it cheap, pick it up, just don't bloat your expectations. I recently changed my rating to 3 stars from 2. Listening to the cd a few more times did help.

I wanted to clarify that "Sonic temple" IS NOT The Cult's first CD. That title belongs to "Dreamtime". Which is followed by "Love", "Electric" and then "Sonic Temple". Before the above mentioned albums Ian Astbury lead two bands that put out a single album each called the Southern Death Cult, which turned into The Death Cult.

Cream is a good CD. I think the weakest song is Brother Fights. I always skip it when I listen to the CD. The rest is simply good rock music, with a little alternative flair.