The Cure – The Top

The Cure – The Top

Released in 1984, The Top is one of the most adventurous and unconventional albums in The Cure's catalogue. Arriving during a turbulent period for frontman Robert Smith, the album moves away from the stark gothic atmosphere of earlier releases and embraces a more psychedelic, surreal, and experimental sound.

Recorded largely with Smith playing multiple instruments, The Top combines post-punk, gothic rock, psychedelic pop, and avant-garde experimentation. The arrangements are often deliberately chaotic, with distorted guitars, unusual percussion, swirling keyboards, and atmospheric effects creating a dreamlike and sometimes disorientating listening experience.

The album opens with the intense "Shake Dog Shake," one of its most aggressive tracks, before moving into the exotic, psychedelic textures of "Bird Mad Girl." "Wailing Wall" introduces a darker and more atmospheric mood, while "Give Me It" delivers a frantic, almost manic burst of post-punk energy. The first side closes with the playful and sensual "Dressing Up."

Side two begins with "The Caterpillar," one of the album's best-known tracks and a striking example of The Cure's more psychedelic direction. "Piggy In The Mirror" and "The Empty World" continue the album's eccentric journey, while "Bananafishbones" adds another dose of restless, surreal energy.

The album closes with the sprawling title track, "The Top," an intense and hypnotic piece that encapsulates the record's experimental character. With its shifting rhythms, unusual instrumentation, and increasingly psychedelic atmosphere, it remains one of the most distinctive recordings in The Cure's catalogue.

The Top is particularly important for collectors interested in the transitional period between The Cure's early post-punk and gothic rock and the more colourful, psychedelic sound that would emerge on subsequent releases. It's an album that rewards repeated listening, revealing new textures and details with every spin.

Essential for fans of Siouxsie And The Banshees, Bauhaus, Joy Division, Echo & The Bunnymen, The Jesus And Mary Chain, and alternative 1980s post-punk, The Top is a fascinating and essential Cure album.

Tracklist

Eye Side

1. Shake Dog Shake – 4:55
2. Bird Mad Girl – 4:05
3. Wailing Wall – 5:17
4. Give Me It – 3:42
5. Dressing Up – 2:51

Cross Side

1. The Caterpillar – 3:40
2. Piggy In The Mirror – 3:40
3. The Empty World – 2:36
4. Bananafishbones – 3:12
5. The Top – 6:50