Wish
A shimmering, melancholic journey through rain-soaked dreams and electric hope.
Wish is a landmark studio album by the English rock band The Cure, marking their transition from gothic post-punk into a more accessible, melodic alternative rock sound. Released in April 1992, it served as a bridge between the dark introspection of their early nineties work and the shimmering pop sensibilities that would define their subsequent commercial peak. The record is often celebrated by fans for its lush textures, emotional depth, and the seamless integration of Robert Smith's distinctive vocals with intricate guitar layers.
Quick Facts
- Artist
- the Cure
- Released
- 21 April 1992
- Recorded
- Fall 1991 – January 1992
- Studio
- The Manor (Shipton-on-Cherwell, England)
- Genre
- Alternative rock
- gothic rock
- jangle pop
- shoegaze
- Length
- 66:23
- Label
- Fiction
- Producer
- David M. Allen; the Cure
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The era surrounding Wish was defined by a desire to refine their sound for a global audience while maintaining artistic integrity. The band crafted songs that could stand alone as radio-friendly anthems yet retained the depth required for deep listening sessions. This duality created a unique space in their history where the music felt both familiar and refreshingly new, inviting listeners into a world where sorrow is often accompanied by a strange, beautiful optimism.
Reader's Guide
Wish was released in November 1992, serving as the band's tenth studio album. It features a tracklist that balances upbeat, rhythmic tracks with slower, more atmospheric ballads, showcasing the group's versatility. The production, handled by Robert Smith and Sean Slade, emphasizes clarity and depth, allowing each instrument to breathe within the mix. Critically, the album was well-received for its melodic strength and emotional resonance, though some purists initially questioned the shift toward a more polished sound. Commercially, it performed strongly in Europe and found significant success in North America, aided by the inclusion of re-recorded versions of classic hits that introduced older songs to new listeners. The specific era represented is one of evolution, where The Cure moved away from the heavy gothic textures of their previous work toward a brighter, more radio-ready alternative rock style. This period set the stage for their continued exploration of pop structures in later years.
Track listing
Disc 2: Demos
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Big Hand (1990 demo) | 4:38 |
| 2 | Cut (1990 demo aka "Away") | 3:31 |
| 3 | A Letter to Elise (1990 demo, aka "Cut") | 5:01 |
| 4 | Wendy Time (1990 demo) | 5:13 |
| 5 | This Twilight Garden (instrumental demo) | 3:25 |
| 6 | Scared as You (instrumental demo) | 2:33 |
| 7 | To Wish Impossible Things (instrumental demo) | 3:33 |
| 8 | Apart (instrumental demo) | 3:38 |
| 9 | T7 (instrumental demo) | 2:40 |
| 10 | Now Is the Time (instrumental demo) | 2:20 |
| 11 | Miss van Gogh (instrumental demo) | 2:48 |
| 12 | T6 (instrumental demo) | 3:14 |
| 13 | Play (instrumental demo) | 2:28 |
| 14 | A Foolish Arrangement (instrumental demo) | 2:28 |
| 15 | Halo (instrumental demo) | 3:06 |
| 16 | Trust (instrumental demo) | 4:02 |
| 17 | Abetabw (instrumental demo) | 2:26 |
| 18 | T8 (instrumental demo) | 2:17 |
| 19 | Heart Attack (instrumental demo) | 2:41 |
| 20 | Swing Change (instrumental demo) | 2:10 |
| 21 | Frogfish (instrumental demo) | 2:35 |
Disc 3: Lost Wishes, studio out-takes, 12-inch remixes, live, rare, previously u
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Uyea Sound (Instrumental Dim-D Mix) | 5:28 |
| 2 | Cloudberry (Instrumental Dim-D Mix) | 5:22 |
| 3 | Off to Sleep... (Instrumental Dim-D Mix) | 3:47 |
| 4 | The Three Sisters (Instrumental Dim-D Mix) | 4:12 |
| 5 | A Wendy Band (Instrumental) | 3:47 |
| 6 | From the Edge of the Deep Green Sea (Partscheckruf Mix) | 7:36 |
| 7 | Open (Fix Mix) | 6:51 |
| 8 | High (Higher Mix) | 7:15 |
| 9 | Doing the Unstuck (Extended 12-inch Mix) | 5:54 |
| 10 | Friday I'm in Love (Strangelove Mix) | 5:29 |
| 11 | A Letter to Elise (Blue Mix) | 6:36 |
| 12 | End (Paris Live 92) | 8:38 |
Track listing from the source article.
More in Albums & EPs
Elsewhere in The Cure
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