Bloodflowers
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4.4
Average of 17 reviews
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Bloodflowers seemed to divide listeners into two groups: those who adored the entire album and those who loved only half of it. There was rarely any middle ground, except perhaps among those who had drifted away from The Cure over the years, many of whom were so disconnected that they weren't even aware of the record's release. Bloodflowers was an intensely introspective album, much like most of The Cure's work, but here we find Robert Smith at an age where he's reflecting on the past rather than looking forward with uncertainty. It's steeped in a romantic longing against reality, a nostalgic ache for all the things that never were. The album often feels meditative in its acknowledgment of his pain, with the chasm between the pain of reality and fantasy fully exposed, as stark as standing on the edge of a canyon. This made me wonder how Smith managed to carry so much inner turmoil throughout his journey. Here, Smith confronts his idealistic tendencies, saying, “I just thought life would be kind of darkly romantic. Especially on Valentine’s Day when you're young, it's a day of unrequited love. It’s actually one of the most depressing days of the year because you can't tell the person you're lusting after or loving that it's you. There’s elements of that in Bloodflowers, revealing that sense of love never being perfect, like my constant desire for things to be just as they are, as they should be, and for them always to be as they are, which is not how I want them to be.” This had me pondering what I'd gotten myself into as I settled into my listening chair, ready to dive back into the world of The Cure once more. The record instantly captivated me. “Out Of The World” made me feel delightfully disoriented and out of character, as if through some sage wisdom, I was learning something profound about myself. Though, by this point, how many Cure songs have made me feel like I'd just had some intense psychotherapy? As with all Cure albums, these songs take too many turns for me to keep track of. It's an album you have to surrender to, embracing the bright sweetness nestled against a shared sense of disillusionment. Yet, somewhere in the middle, I realized that, like all relationships, my connection with The Cure would eventually run its course. But it was strange to understand that, in the same breath, that course hadn't run its course yet. Smith nearly echoed my thoughts, saying, “When we made Bloodflowers, while we were making it, everyone in the group believed that this was the last Cure album because I wanted to have that sense of finality. There’s no point in making an album like this if you’re going to do something else. I just wanted the record to be so perfect that there’d be no need to ever make another Cure album.” It was odd to hear Smith voice those thoughts, as it's exactly how I felt. This is a very seamless album, equal parts ballad and rock, half awake, half lost in dreams, still filled with melancholy, but with an undercurrent of hope through maturity and wisdom. It gives us some of the most beautiful songs The Cure have ever written. While we can never stay young forever, the night does, music does. All one needs to do is play any Cure record to be swept back in time, as uncomfortable as those years may have been, they were so entirely real, making me glad I never took a single one of them for granted. The Fun Facts: As for the album’s title, the bloodflower, or Asclepias curassavica, is a tropical milkweed native to the American tropics, including the Caribbean, Central America, and South America. It's widely considered one of the most beautiful milkweed varieties, making it a popular addition to butterfly gardens. Though, much like other milkweed varieties, all parts of the blood flower are toxic if ingested or touched, which seems fitting for Robert Smith.
Incredible reissue! The mix is fantastic, featuring a gorgeous low end and a wonderfully warm sound. It's a fantastic addition to my expanding collection of The Cure albums.
Finally got my receiver back from the repair shop and gave this a spin. Forgot it was a double album. It sounds absolutely amazing.
Curious about the audio quality? I'm hoping picture discs have gotten better - just want to confirm if this version sounds good enough to not hold out for the black vinyl. Edit: After getting my copy, and running it through the cleaning machine, I must say I'm really pleased with it. I probably won't go for the black vinyl unless to have a spare, since this one will definitely get a lot of playtime. There's a bit of surface noise between songs (typical for picture discs), but no skips or other issues. While you can notice some limitations from the original recording, the dynamics are overall great, and I'm really glad I got this one.
This pressing is amazing, I'm truly astonished by the outstanding quality.
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