THE CULTΒ – Ceremony (1991 Beggars Banquet)
Only 25 years late, I have finally acquired theΒ Cult’s Ceremony CD, thanks to my kind and generous reader Wardy. Β I somehow missed this album all those years, even though I own all the singles. Β There are some songs here that are completely new to me. Β Ceremony received mixed reviews when it was released, as it represented the band’s furthest move away from their roots, into commercial radio rock. Β Let’s see how accurate that is.
It starts sounding more like some lost Deep Purple album, with big organ and jammy sounds. Β Richie Zito co-produced this disc, and the band got a sharper sound out of the studio than they did with Bob Rock last time. Β Sonically, Ceremony has more impact, more heft, more oomph than the big and echoey Sonic Temple. Β The “Ceremony” in question on the title track is the rock arena, as the Cult had definitely become arena rock. Β They had also been reduced to a core duo. Β Jamie Stewart and Matt Sorum were gone, and the Cult used session musicians during this period. Β Charlie Drayton (bass) and Mickey Curry (drums) helped the band achieve what sounds like a very sincere crack at this kind of rock. Β Accessible it is, but the Cult didn’t really sell out. Β Check out the frantic “Wild Hearted Son”. Β Like the sound of a stampede of horses across the plains, “Wild Hearted Son” does not let up. Β I think I lot of fans were disappointed that the new Cult sound wasn’t more esoteric, but that doesn’t make it bad.
Just as relentless as “Wild Hearted Son” comes the “Earth Mofo”. Β One thing I had never really paid attention to before was the bass. Β Drayton’s get some great bass chops. Β The production of Ceremony leaves a lot of space between the instruments, so you can hear them. Β Those who find Sonic Temple overproduced may dig on this, so give “Earth Mofo” a spin. Β That’s nothing though compared to the powerful “White”. Β Epic in scope, “White” is a massiveΒ groove with layers of acoustic instruments a-la Zep.
I didn’t see the tenderΒ sound of “If” coming, just piano and Ian’s crooning. Β Not after all that heavy hitting rock. Β But then “If” also explodes into something bigger, anthemic and memorable. Β I’m starting to think that if Ceremony got a bad rap back in ’91, it’s becauseΒ people weren’t paying proper attention.
“Full Tilt” is a great name for a rock song. Β Riffed out with generous helpings of rock sauce, “Full Tilt” was reported to have knocked a picture of at least one journalist’s wall.* Β Just wait until the afterburners ignite in the last minute of the song. Β Strangely, the very next track is the acoustic ballad “Heart of Soul”; a good song indeed but not as great as “Edie (Ciao Baby)” was. Β Back to the rock,Β “Bankok Rain” lacks the charisma that the rest of the tunes seem to have in common, though there is certainly nothing wrong with it’s staggering riff. Β By the end you won’t care, because the whole thing Β burns like fire and gasoline until all the fuel is spent.
A fascinating Cult song is “Indian”, a basic acoustic song with cello accompaniment. Β As Cult ballads go, this is definitely a peak moment. Β Ian infuses more passion into one line than most singers can do in a whole song. Β Unexpectedly, the album moves right on to another ballad, “Sweet Salvation”, which is actually less a ballad and more a soul song. Β It’s powerful, asΒ are all these songs in their own ways. Β Ian Astbury breaks out the Morrison poetry jams to kick off the ending track, “Wonderland”, a riff driven slow broil.
That’s the album, and it’s hard to gauge where it sits among the whole Cult catalogue. Β Certainly, this and Sonic Temple are brother records. Β They are stylistically more similar than Cult albums tend to be. Β Ceremony possesses track after track of scorching rock music. Β Does it make as strong an impression as the bombastic Sonic Temple? Β Not quite. Β By stripping the production to a more sparse and live sound, perhaps the Cult sacrificed the nuances. Β CeremonyΒ gleams shiny with amped up guitars and drums aplenty. Β It is hard to find fault. Β It is still a fine album.
3.5/5 stars
* That’s a true story, but I can’t remember what magazine I read it in. Β The reviewer said, quote “‘Full Tilt’ knocked a picture off my wall.”
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