The Cult

[Jérôme Frenchise]

I just got "Pure Cult - Anthology 1984-1995", a collection of the Cult's videos on DVD. It's very well-made, though I realize how much they could be posturers... Ian Astbury was declared "most irritating singer in the UK" some 15 years ago, and I can understand why. I hadn't ever seen any of their vids so far. Besides, I've got all their albums on CD, they've been among my fave bands for a long time.

"Electric" (1987) is grand. Very rough, with very good compositions, even if you'd sometimes swear you've heard some parts on AC/DC's records... Pure rock 'n' roll, anyway!

"The Cult" (1994) is great too. Just as every Cult album sounds different from the one before, this one offers something else. The songwriting is excellent there, the guitar riffs and solos really kick ass, and the bass sound is perfect.

"Ceremony" (1991) sounds like a sequel to "Sonic Temple" (1989). Both albums look a little grandiloquent, but songs are masterfully written (even ballads; I don't like them in general, but these are worth it) and Billy Duffy's guitars damn rock.

"Beyond Good and Evil" (2001) was released just when I thought they'd never record anything again. The year after, Astbury joined "The Doors of the 21st century" (what a bad joke!). It's not a great album, but it deserves listening. Songwriting left too much room to the big sound they used on that one.

"Dreamtime" (1984) and "Love" (1985) were their debut albums, though they'd already released a couple under the name of "Death Cult" or "Southern Death Cult". In "Dreamtime" and "Love", the Cult were young but already kicked ass, even if their sound and style were rather different. There was a little touch of what was called "new wave" at the time, mixed with some heavy intentions. Guitar parts were already very good, as well as the lyrics IMO, and the bass player was damn good (he was replaced for "Electric").

I really think the first four albums I mentioned are gems, generally speaking (the first two above all).
As they are said to have been very big worldwide, especially in the US, I wonder what you all think of them, years after.

[DLR7884]

"Electric" was one of the best albums that came out of the 80's.

DLR7884
It's underrated and underappreciated.

[Jérôme Frenchise]

Here's "Electric".

[Jérôme Frenchise]

And here's "The Cult". Two must have, trust me.

[Jérôme Frenchise]

Originally posted by DLR7884
"Electric" was one of the best albums that came out of the 80's.

DLR7884
It's underrated and underappreciated.

I agree with you. I thought it was curious that in this forum, which includes very diverse kinds of (most often great) music, the Cult was never mentioned.

[sammysucks65]

matt sorum (of gnr fame) is their drummer thats all i know....farewell i will return to the army in 1 week!

[Nickdfresh]

As BEAVUS and BUTTHEAD said, YES!

[Unchainme]

I've been meaning to get into them more, I do like She Sells Sancuatary very good song. Anyone else have any good songs by them that you reccommen me give a listen to?

[Jérôme Frenchise]

Originally posted by Unchainme
I've been meaning to get into them more, I do like She Sells Sancuatary very good song. Anyone else have any good songs by them that you reccommen me give a listen to?

Sure.

"Wild flower", "Lil' devil", "Peace dog", "Love removal machine", "Memphis hipshake" (on ""Electric").

"Sun King", "Sweet soul sister", "New York City", "Fire Woman", "Medicine "train" (on "Sonic Temple").

"Ceremony", "Earth mofo", "White", "Full tilt", "Wonderland" (on "Ceremony).

"Gone", "Black sun", "Universal you", "Emperor's new horse" (on "The Cult").

"War", "The saint", "Rise", Breathe", "Shape the sky", "My bridges burn" (on "Beyond good and evil").

Some non-album tracks are worth it too, like "Wolf child blues" (on the "Love removal machine" EP), or a few rarities that were released on their "Rare Cult" boxed set, but they really got their best out on official albums anyway.

[Jérôme Frenchise]

Here are links to mp3.com.

"The Cult" (black ram's head):

http://www.mp3.com/albums/159155/downloads.html

"Electric":

http://www.mp3.com/albums/4041/downloads.html

[DrMaddVibe]

They're an awesome band!

[Jérôme Frenchise]

Thank you Doc' (and DLR7884, Nick, Sammysucks and Unchainme) for approving!

There's one I forgot to mention (in "Electric"), so here are the lyrics (a kind of rewriting of "Crossroads", relatively speaking of course):

"King contrary man"

I saw the devil
The contrary man
I saw the devil down the long, long road
He said to me "boy"
He said to me "boy"
He said to me "boy, I want your soul"
I said "no", I said "no"
I said "no, you can't take my soul"
No, I said "no", I said no", I said "no, you can't take my soul"

I took a while, I thought about it
Down at the crossroads tempting fate
I took a while, I thought about it
Down at the crossroads tempting fate
"Yeah-eh, yeah-eh, yeah-eh, you can take my soul"
"Yeah-eh, yeah-eh, yeah-eh, you can take my soul",
Take my soul, I want it all, yeah...!

(solo)

Zany antics of a beat generation
In their wild search for kicks
Fightin', drinkin', scornin' convention
Makin' wild love, makin' wild love
I saw the devil
The contrary man
I saw the devil down the long, long road
He said to me "boy", he said to me "boy"
He said to me "boy, I want your soul"
I said "yeah", I said "yeah",
"I said yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah (...)
I want it all, I want it all,
Yeeeeeeah"

The main riff kicks a bull elephant's ass.

[EbDawson]

Sonic Temple, great CD!

[Jérôme Frenchise]

Originally posted by EbDawson
Sonic Temple, great CD!

It's their best seller. I don't know the figures, but they sold millions of that one.

[DrMaddVibe]

I forgot to add...buy them all.

You won't be sorry. Forget what "critics" say about them...they rock!

Caught them once in Germany and twice in the US live...they brought it!

[Soul Reaper]

Sonic Temple is a monster of a CD!!!!

[Mr Badguy]

I love "Electric" and "Sonic temple" but I think "Love" is my favourite.

It doesn`t sound like anything else whereas "Electric" sounds like AC/DC and "Sonic temple" is like Led Zeppelin.

I dug "Beyond good and evil" but I don`t think it was pushed hard enough.

It just came out then disappeared.

[Jérôme Frenchise]

Originally posted by Mr Badguy
I love "Electric" and "Sonic temple" but I think "Love" is my favourite.

It doesn`t sound like anything else whereas "Electric" sounds like AC/DC and "Sonic temple" is like Led Zeppelin.

I dug "Beyond good and evil" but I don`t think it was pushed hard enough.

It just came out then disappeared.

They toured back in 2001, even though the tour didn't last long enough because of Astbury's treason (as he joined the "Doors" of the 21st century in 2002).
Last year I got a DVD that is really worth it IMO:

"LIVE CULT: Music Without Fear - live at the Grand Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles".
Ian Astbury had gone mad (it was recorded not long after 9/11/2001...), giving little speeches in between songs - but how could one criticize that, it was such a mess in almost everybody's minds at the time...

The whole concert was very well filmed, the sound is glorious!
Plus 26 minutes backstage, press conference in a record shop...

The set list is:

1. Intro/Rise
2. In the Clouds*
3. Lil' Devil
4. Peace Dog
5. Take the Power
6. My Bridges Burn
7. Rain
8. Edie (Ciao baby)
9. The Witch*
10. Breathe
11. Fire Woman
12. Sweet Soul Sister
13. Wild Flower
14. She Sells Sanctuary
15. True Believers
16. War (the process)
17. Love Removal Machine

*non-album songs that are like live faves. "In the Clouds" is particularly kick-ass because of its big riff.

The band sounds great, but Astbury's voice is failing a bit; he himself does not really appear as a great guy IMO...
Yet this DVD sure is worth purchasing.

[Figs]

"Electric" kicks ass! I love the clean & powerful sound of that album.

[Jérôme Frenchise]

Originally posted by Figs
"Electric" kicks ass! I love the clean & powerful sound of that album.

Damn yeah! And there's such a collection of riffs on that one!

For those who could be interested, here's a scan of the sleeve of that DVD (just so as it can be noticed more easily):

[Mr Badguy]

Originally posted by Jérôme Frenchise
They toured back in 2001, even though the tour didn't last long enough because of Astbury's treason (as he joined the "Doors" of the 21st century in 2002).
Last year I got a DVD that is really worth it IMO:

"LIVE CULT: Music Without Fear - live at the Grand Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles".
Ian Astbury had gone mad (it was recorded not long after 9/11/2001...), giving little speeches in between songs - but how could one criticize that, it was such a mess in almost everybody's minds at the time...

The whole concert was very well filmed, the sound is glorious!
Plus 26 minutes backstage, press conference in a record shop...

The set list is:

1. Intro/Rise
2. In the Clouds*
3. Lil' Devil
4. Peace Dog
5. Take the Power
6. My Bridges Burn
7. Rain
8. Edie (Ciao baby)
9. The Witch*
10. Breathe
11. Fire Woman
12. Sweet Soul Sister
13. Wild Flower
14. She Sells Sanctuary
15. True Believers
16. War (the process)
17. Love Removal Machine

*non-album songs that are like live faves. "In the Clouds" is particularly kick-ass because of its big riff.

The band sounds great, but Astbury's voice is failing a bit; he himself does not really appear as a great guy IMO...
Yet this DVD sure is worth purchasing.

Hey great.

I had seen that advertised but never knew what it would be like.

I will check it out.

Thanks for the heads up.

[PHOENIX]

The Cult is one of my favourite bands. I especially like Love and Electric. But that 1994 album was fucking boring. I wouldnt recommend it to anyone.

[Jérôme Frenchise]

Originally posted by PHOENIX
The Cult is one of my favourite bands. I especially like Love and Electric. But that 1994 album was fucking boring. I wouldnt recommend it to anyone.

Not that much IMO. Some tracks are boring, maybe, but I find a few other really worth it.
"Gone", "Black Sun" and "Emperor's New Horse" are great compositions, aren't they?
Oops, that's very few to state an album is kick ass!
But the rest is far from being bad; maybe you need to listen to it when you're down or angry (like I do), then it might sound different.
In fact, I've played all the Cult's albums so much that I hardly listen to them anymore ("Love", "Sonic Temple", and "Ceremony" above all); I only keep on really digging "Electric" (though it's the one I've most played over the years by far) and "The Cult".
"Electric" for the good times, "The Cult" when I've got the blues.

"Electric" eventually appears as the most frequent fave, then "Sonic Temple". It looks fair, after all...

[Antman]

Always dug em. Saw them with Metallica in 89. I got their best of compilation.

[ALinChainz]

I was disappointed in the DVD of the live show.

I thought Ian was awful.

But a big fan of their stuff.

[DLR_EngineRoom]

Originally posted by Jérôme Frenchise
"Electric" (1987) is grand. Very rough, with very good compositions, even if you'd sometimes swear you've heard some parts on AC/DC's records... Pure rock 'n' roll, anyway!

'Electric' was the only album that was solid, front to finish. Also, IMO, this album was one of the best Rock CDs ever released in history.

[Phil theStalker]

mman, i remember da fir1st time i saw da Cult..

possessed, they were and unknown..

still, noboody has heard enuff aff them..

love mme doo..