THE CULT — Electric (review)

THE CULT — Electric album cover Album · 1987 · Hard Rock Buy this album from MMA partners
4/5 ·
UMUR
"Electric" is the third full-length studio album by UK hard rock act The Cult. The album was released through Beggars Banquet/Sire Records in April 1987. It´s the successor to "Love" from 1985. "Love" was a huge success for The Cult, selling more than 2 million copies, but instead of following in the success of that album and producing a "Love" number two, The Cult opted for a more straight hard rock sound and they recruited producer Rick Rubin to make that happen. Before Rubin was hired, The Cult worked with producer Steve Brown and recorded twelve tracks during the summer of 1986, which was to be released under the "Peace" album title, but the band weren´t satisfied with the results and they fired Brown and shelved the recordings.

Hiring Rubin turned out to be a wise choice, as he understood how to tap into the hard rock/hair metal sound of the 80s and transform The Cult to be part of that scene. They sound 100% American on this release, and all their former UK new wave/goth rock/indie rock leanings are completely gone from the sound. Instead "Electric" is a huge and massive sounding hard rock album, designed to be performed in huge arenas and on large stadions. If you´re familiar with the Rubin produced eponymously titled debut album from Danzig (released in August 1988), there are many production similarities to "Electric", although the Danzig album is certainly a little darker, heavier, and features occult themed lyrics. The point being that "Electric" is a very well produced hard rock album and that Rubin is a genius producer.

The material on the 11 tracks, 38:51 minutes long album is hard rocking vers/chorus based rock songs with lead vocalist Ian Astbury´s, Jim Morrison sound-a-like voice in front. The band are well playing, the material catchy, memorable, and energetic and full of great power. This isn´t too polished and therefore devoid of attitude...on the contrary it´s organic, untamed, and filled to the brim with attitude. Just the way a good hard rock album should sound. So upon conclusion The Cult made a very difficult musical transition from their early sound to this American hard rock sound with ease (at least it sounds like it) and with great success. A 4 star (80%) rating is deserved.
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