The Cult
Pure Cult: The Singles 1984-1995
Beggars Banquet
Like a butterfly metamorphosing into a caterpillar, the Cult went from writing fragile, beautiful songs to straight up cock rock over their life span. And I like it. You would almost think these were different bands if not for the distinctive crooning of Ian Astbury. The big hits of course being “She Sells Sanctuary” (butterfly life-stage) and “Fire Woman” (cock-rock stage), and this album covers a lot of the other good ones. According to the preeminent writer of music critiques known only as “P,” all the albums recorded after Sonic Temple “sucked.” The songs included on Pure Cult from these “suck”-ing albums are the only let downs on this rockin’ album.
Beggars Banquet, 580 Broadway, Suite 1004, New York, NY 10012; http://www.beggars.com