The Cure - Wild Mood Swings

After the relatively straightforward pop of Wish, the Cure moved back toward stranger, edgier territory with Wild Mood Swings. Actually, that's only part of the truth. As the title suggests, there's a vast array of textures and emotions on Wild Mood Swings, from the woozy mariachi lounge horns of "The 13th" to the perfect pop of "Mint Car" and the monolithic dirge of "Want." In between the extremes, Robert Smith and the Cure -- which now feature a radically reworked lineup, with several key players from Wish now missing -- explore some simpler territory, from contemplative acoustic numbers tinged with strings to swooning neo-psychedelia. But what ties it all together is conviction -- Smith sounds more content than he ever has, but he sings with more passion than he has for a number of years. Of course, the Cure haven't significantly changed their sound -- tinny synthesizers and guitar effects that haven't appeared on an album since 1988 are in abundance throughout the record -- but the variety of sounds and strength of performance offers enough surprises to make Wild Mood Swings more than just another Cure record. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide

Name Credits Adrian Sherwood Mixing Alan Moulder Mixing Andy Vella Art Direction Audrey Riley Arranger, Cello Chris Tombling Violin Ian Cooper Mastering Jason Cooper Drums, Percussion Jesús Alemañy Trumpet John Barclay Trumpet Leo Payne ?, Violin Louis Pavlou Drums Louis Paylou Drums Mark Price Drums Mark Saunders Mixing Mister Chandrashekhar Violin Paul Corkett Mixing Paul Q. Kolderie Mixing Perry Bamonte Guitar, 6-String Bass, Bass Richard Edwards Trombone Robert Smith Bass, Vocals, Mixing, 6-String Bass, Producer, Guitar, Arranger Roger O'Donnell Keyboards Ronald Austin Arranger, Drums Sean Slade Mixing Sid Gauld Arranger, Trumpet Simon Gallup Guitar (Bass), Bass Spike Drake Mixing Steve Dawson Trumpet Steve Lyon Mixing, Producer, Engineer Steve Sidwell Trumpet Sue Dench Viola The Cure Art Direction Tim Palmer Mixing Tom Lord-Alge Mixing Will Gregory Arranger, Saxophone William Gregory Arranger, Saxophone