Freakshow (Mix 13) [Single]

The Cure | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 10, 2008)
• Original Release Date: 2008
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Single
• Label: Geffen Records
• ASIN: B0019M82EO
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #168,409 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Freakshow (Mix 13)

2. All Kinds of Stuff

Editorial Reviews

Following up from the first single 'the only one', 'freakshow' is the second of four strictly limited edition, highly collectible singles to be lifted from the cure's eagerly awaited forthcoming album released worldwide on september 13th. Includes the non-album "b-side" 'All Kinds of Stuff'.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Expanding the comfort zone, June 19, 2008

By 

Kevin Kochanski (Atlanta, GA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Freakshow (Mix 13) (Audio CD)

After hearing "The Only One," a pleasant enough song that's a clear rehash of other Cure singles, "Freakshow" really surprised me. It's a very adventurous, unique single that works within the Cure's sound but with a welcome new energy. It's most similar to "The Man Inside My Mouth" or other goofier mid-80's Cure songs, but it mostly sounds unlike anything they've done. A great, catchy song!

The B-side is well-matched, and it's also a great song. I'd given up on Cure B-sides, which haven't been exciting since Wild Mood Swings, and reached a low with the crap that backed their self-titled album. But "All Kinds of Stuff" actually has a tune! Good times.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Easily fits in with The Cure's other hits....sort of, June 11, 2008

By 

Eric Edelin (Baltimore, Maryland USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Freakshow (Mix 13) (Audio CD)

After giving us a dose of familiar, lush Cure-pop with 'The Only One' last month, The Cure head into a more danceable and rhythmic direction with 'Freakshow'. All 2:32 long of this song are packed with energy and drive as opposed to the laconic and wistful singles of yesteryear (and yestermonth, actually). To a point one could almost say 'Freakshow' has a definite jazzy, R&B vibe to it without having to sound like either genre directly. The rhythm section (long-time bassist Simon Gallup and drummer Jason Cooper) keep a groove-heavy, stop-start beat while Porl Thompson's wah-wah treated lead guitar nimbly weaves in and out of the mix. Smith's vocals are the icing on the cake; as frenetic and herky-jerky as the rhythm. The b-side, 'All Kinds Of Stuff' is an upbeat rocker, that while not quite as frantic as say 'Shiver And Shake' is a close cousin to 'Cut' from the 'Wish' album. The b-side explores more angsty territory ("So maybe I took too much/ Maybe I lost my touch/ Maybe I'm all kinds of stuff/ Maybe...") and backs it up with a fast tempo and more fierce guitar playing.

'Freakshow' is now appearing in The Cure's current tour as an encore, usually played with older classics like 'Why Can't I Be You?' and 'Close To Me' to favorable, but still mixed reactions by the fans. Smith seems to be making the statement that this single easily stands up to his best dance hits, which it does.

How do you think fans who bought 'Pornography' felt when they heard 'Lets Go To Bed' about six months later? How did fans react to 'The 13th' after a four-year hiatus from recording new material? 'Freakshow' shows that this aging group of alternative rockers still have a few pleasant surprises and are more than willing to throw us a curveball every now and then.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Freakshow, June 18, 2008

By 

Andrew Vice (Plano, TX) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Freakshow (Mix 13) (Audio CD)

Freakshow, the second single in the Cure's set of four heralding the arrival of their 13th album, is a very nice song, and reminiscent of the funky sounds of the band that we haven't heard done well since The Head on the Door and Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me. Both the single and the b-side are fast pieces, the disc itself clocking in at six minutes for two songs. The guitar on both tracks is excellent and very wah-ful, which is a clear indicator of the importance of Porl's return to the lineup. The lyrics in Freakshow continue Robert's fascination with romance and sexuality seen in The Only One and NY Trip, though the b-side takes a darker turn, sounding akin to an outtake from their 2004 self-titled album. Though some fans may prefer the poppier sound of The Only One to this single, I find that Freakshow has a kind of excitement and ballsiness that Robert Smith hasn't shown in a long time. The singles have gone from good to great so far, so keep an eye out for the third single due in July.