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Seventeen Seconds
From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Work
Seventeen Seconds is the second studio album by The Cure and was released on 18 April 1980 on Fiction Records. After the tour with Siouxsie and the Banshees, Robert Smith wanted a new direction. Bassist Michael Dempsey left, and Simon Gallup and keyboardist Matthieu Hartley joined. Smith worked with producer Mike Hedges. Because of a lack of money the record was recorded and mixed in seven days in January, with working days of sixteen or seventeen hours. As a result The Final Sound was cut down to 53 seconds, because the tape had run out.
The sound is sparse, echoing and sombre, with a drum sound that sets the direction. In retrospect the album is regarded as an early example of gothic rock. A Forest was the band's first single in the UK top 40. Critics called the lyrics vague and at times ominous and the melodies dark and minimalist. Nick Kent of NME thought The Cure sounded a good deal more mature on it.
Listening
Track list
- 1A Reflection2:09Apple Music ↗
- 2Play for Today3:39Apple Music ↗
- 3Secrets3:19Apple Music ↗
- 4In Your House4:06Apple Music ↗
- 5Three2:36Apple Music ↗
- 6The Final Sound0:52Apple Music ↗
- 7A Forest5:55Apple Music ↗
- 8M3:03Apple Music ↗
- 9At Night5:54Apple Music ↗
- 10Seventeen Seconds4:01Apple Music ↗
30-second previews via Apple Music. Listen to the whole album on Apple Music ↗