After releasing a series of preview singles over the last few months, The Cure issued 4:13 Dream, its thirteenth studio album, on October 28. Reviews have been mixed, and I haven’t yet picked up a copy (though I plan to), so I can’t comment on it with any real authority. I did dig the first single, “The Only One,” a smiley-faced song in the tradition of “Friday, I’m In Love” and “Just Like Heaven.”
But there’s another new piece of music that fans of Robert Smith & Co. should seek out: Just Like Heaven: A Tribute To The Cure. It’s the latest in a series of cover sets from American Laundromat Records, a label that’s orchestrated similar indie-artist tributes to The Pixies, Kim Deal, Neil Young, and ’80s film soundtracks.
The lineup on Just Like Heaven includes Tanya Donelly & Dylan In The Movies, Dean & Britta, Cassettes Won’t Listen, and others. Some hew closely to the original source, while others give their selection from The Cure songbook a new twist. One of my favorites is The Brunettes‘ version of “Lovesong.” The New Zealand duo starts off with some delicate music-box twinkling, before twisting into something inspired by ’60s spy films. Hear here:
American Laundromat has set up a Just Like Heaven promo page, with quotes from each of the participating artists, plus a streaming player so you can check out a few tracks before you buy.
Purchase Just Like Heaven: A Tribute To The Cure via American Laundromat Records. Direct ‘pre-release’ orders ship immediately with a bonus track (a second version of “Lovesong,” by Dala). The set will be offered on iTunes and Amazon MP3 this January.