The Cure “Three Imaginary Boys” released either on this date, May 11th, 1979, or possibly May 8th, or maybe June. Whichever, Three Imaginary Boys was The Cure’s debut album and it’s brilliant in its post-punk starkness, atmospheric lyrics and sound. Allmusic describes it as “a semi-detached bit of late-‘70s English pop-punk. Angular and lyrically abstract, it’s strong points are in its utter simplicity. There are no dirges here, no long suites, just short bursts of energy and a rather strange cover of Hendrix’s “Foxy Lady.” [VinylfromtheValut note: I find “Foxy Lady to be very Devo-esque. Also: The “Foxy Lady” soundcheck, with vocals sung by Michael Dempsey, was not supposed to be on the album, and was removed for the American release.] For some, this is the last good Cure record, many fans of this album being in no way prepared for the sparse emptiness and gloom that would be the cornerstone of future releases.”

I really love this entire album but my favorite tracks are “10.15 Saturday Night” with the tap drip drip drip dripping, the boppy rhythm of “Accuracy,” the buzzy Buzzcocky snark of “Object,” “Subway Song” and its brush drums conjuring up dark alleys and skulking men wearing sunglasses and trench coats, and the way “Fire in Cairo” taught me to alway spell Cairo in a lilting singsong fashion. The best track is the album’s title track “Three Imaginary Boys” which portends the direction The Cure would take: a goth-pop sound that borders on sinister but is still kinda danceable.