Smith’s genius a cure for malaise

Spencer Patterson

Friday, Jan. 23, 2004 | 8:24 a.m.

Robert Smith may be considered something of a gloomy Gus, but the musician must empathize with comedian Rodney Dangerfield from time to time.

The Cure, the band Smith has fronted for more than 25 years, has never truly earned the respect it deserves.

Throughout the 1980s, the British outfit maintained a loyal, primarily young fan base both in America and overseas.

But far too many rock 'n' roll listeners wrote the Cure off as the lightweight group of choice for high school goths dressed in black clothing with rings through their noses.

Thankfully, that assumption is finally starting to fade, in large part because many of today's buzz bands -- The Rapture, Interpol and British Sea Power among them -- are so overtly influenced by the mighty Cure.

Beginning in 1979, Smith's band released a string of consistently heady albums, many of which can serve as a good jumping-off point for the uninitiated.

"Staring at the Sea," a collection of early singles, is generally tagged as the group's most essential disc. But since hits compilations are rather obvious, and also a bit unnatural in their composition, we'll instead recommend 1989's "Disintegration" for Cure newcomers.

The band's last truly great studio effort, "Disintegration" put a giant exclamation point on the Cure's dazzling '80s run. The album expands on earlier work, taking the band's signature somber sound and stretching it out over 12 songs that span nearly 73 minutes.

Along with the well-known "Pictures of You" (currently featured in a Hewlett-Packard television commercial), spellbinding tracks such as "Lullaby," "Fascination Street" and "Prayers for Rain" are filled with enough cascading guitars and layered keyboards to help anyone drift into a trance-like sleep.

Listening to the Cure can also be an uplifting experience. Even as he sings melancholy lyrics, Smith's distinctive voice rings out with an underlying sense of optimism, preventing its heavy themes from sinking into despair.

Local Cure fans should circle May 2 on their calendars. That's the night the band plays the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival in Indio, Calif., a four-hour drive from Las Vegas.

Count Coachella organizers among those finally giving Smith and his revolving lineup of bandmates their due. They've pegged the Cure to cap a two-day event loaded with hot new acts as main stage headliners Sunday night.

Artist: The Cure.

Title: "Disintegration."

Year of release: 1989 (Elektra Records).

Tracklisting: "Plainsong," "Pictures of You," "Closedown," "Love Song," "Last Dance," "Lullaby," "Fascination," "Prayers For Rain," "The Same Deep Water As You," "Disintegration," "Homesick," "Untitled."