Had to laff the other day when on one of the satellite music channels they were supposed to be showing Astbury & Duffy’s all time favourite rock videos but instead kept on airing ‘100 greatest soft rock hits’! Hence the thought of Astbury & Duffy singing along to Foreigner, REO Speedwagon and Aerosmith style slushy ballads seemed unintentionally hilarious. On a serious side though it does highlight the fact that their new album ‘Born Into This’ is also a bit of a cock up. 

Thing is I love this band. But where do you draw the line and say something just isn’t working and take the old blinkers off. I wanted this to be a welcome return to form but sadly Cult fans will be disappointed as ‘Born Into This’ just sounds lazy. Stylistically the album seems to fall between too many stools and neither relates to their earlier Goth period or their AC/DC inspired Electric era.  

It wouldn’t be bad if the new direction was anything to write home about. But I’m afraid apart from a couple of highlights it’s all a mediocre mid-paced plod with Duffy sounding surprisingly subdued. However tracks like ‘Diamonds’ show Astbury’s limited but effective style off well and the albums best track (in my opinion) ‘Illuminated’ saves the whole sorry mess from the abyss…well almost. 

Some of you may have read my Circus Diablo review where I described ‘Commercial Break’ as the most horrible track this year. Sadly it’s now got a rival. ‘Holy Mountain’ starts with Astbury singing so deep and slowly he makes legendary crooner Bing Crosby sound like Geddy Lee on helium. Don’t play this track in the car – you’ll nod off if you’re not careful. When he croons (for there is no other word for it) ‘You’re a wild thing, you do wild things’ the only possible repost is: ‘and you’re a mild thing, Ian, who sings mild things’. Well these days anyway. 

So we’re led to believe that Astbury and Duffy are reunited and The Cult are back. On this evidence they needn’t have bothered. Sure there are a few moments of class. But not enough to make this anything other than one of the disappointments of 2007.

Let us know your views on Born Into This

 Track Listing

Born Into This
Citizen
Diamonds
Dirty Little Rock Star
Holy Mountain
I Assassin
Illuminated
Savages
Sound of Destruction
Stand Alone
Tiger in the Sun

Line Up

Ian Astbury - Vocals
Billy Duffy - Guitars
Chris Wyse - Bass
John Tempesta - Drums