Monday, June 16, 2008

Freakshow review

From the Manchester Evening News:

4 out of 5 stars
Instalment two of the Cure's celebratory singles bonanza (ahead of their 13th album) is a complete peach: cheeky, funky, jerky, but even more essentially, infectiously upbeat.
Porl's wah-wah is put to effective use, pulling major gee-tar moves that are left pleasingly understated in the mix, while Smith babbles like a drunken teenager.
We can hardly wait for part three.

(Thanks Ronan)

101 comments:

  1. It's nice to read a positive review. The last couple reviews of Freakshow that were posted here were pretty negative, but there was a strong ingredient of ... just going through the mainstream Cure talking points. What are, you know... Oh, look, it's the Cure again. It's a taste of the 80s, exactly like they always were. What's the point though.

    I'm glad to hear some positivity because I think Freakshow is richly deserving of it.

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  2. Cool! It's great to see a supportive review for Freakshow. Way too many negative ones out there.

    I really love the song. Fun, poppy & very 80's Cure. I've been listening to it almost non-stop at work!

    Freakshow is so much Freaky Fun!!!

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  4. the negative reviews come from self-conscious hipsters who think it's too cool to like anything, much less the cure. hello, stereogum?

    this song has grown on me in huge ways. i think it's great. it's obviously the cure, but it's not just 'another cure single.' it's different than anything out there right now. congrats on a great song, guys.

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  5. Everything Monkey just said x 100. : )

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  6. a complete peach

    Love it! :)

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  7. cool..

    all kinds of stuff sounds like it was inspired by 65 dos, or the other way around !! pretty thrashy...
    FREAKSHOW is a very cool, boppy fun song.. I love it..

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  8. Finally someone recognizes the be-boppy brilliance of Freakshow! This song cannot fail to make you dance your nipples off!

    The other reviews had a right to be negative, of course, but their TONE was intolerably supercillious, and they clearly did not indulge the tune thoughtfully. They said nothing of substance about the song.

    This song is a pop masterpiece, IMO. After many many listens, I continue to enjoy it immensely. The lyrics, though - again, utter cryptic brilliance.

    In my view, this should have been released first. They need to rework The Only One into a slower lusher song, more like its live versions.

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  9. Oh how I envy your eloquence, Cat! :)

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  10. Cat's BACk people!!! lmao

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  11. oh, and he does babble like a drunken teen in the song... i am amazed v was able to transcribe as well as she did!

    *is determined to learn all the words to FS so she can shout them at shows*

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  12. *takes a bow*

    i am so tired I'm rather hostile today. I just got lunch and am chillin' at the skankhole 'til the show. OH! and the wireless at the skankhole sucks pubic hairs!

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  13. It was really hard to decipher Bob's teendrunk babblings! It's funny, too: words I was sure I had gotten right were wrong, and things I was sure were wrong were right! Go figure!

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  14. "words I was sure I had gotten right were wrong, and things I was sure were wrong were right"

    sounds like a cure song.

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  15. V: I know what you mean. I still can't believe I got "monkeys on the track" right in NYT. : )
    I wanted that one bad! : )

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  16. except of course we'd need to add, "she said, he said"

    as in

    "she said, 'words I was sure I had gotten right were wrong,'/he said, 'and things I was sure were wrong were right' "

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  17. Cat is right. Maybe V should start doing the lyrics and let Robert and the boys handle the music. ; )

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  18. Craig: Yeah, I was so happy when that one turned out to be right. :) *loves that song*

    Great, now I have to listen to it! :)

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  19. Craig: Lol, that will be easy enough! *gets out her Chinese restaurant menu*

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  20. Cat: Hahahahahaha...wait, I shouldn't laugh at that. : )

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  21. Craig: What shouldn't you be laughing at?

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  22. LOL V - Chinese rest. menu! you are hilarious!

    *will miss the chat tonite - wait, I'll be at a cure show! doh!*

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  23. V: Cat's joke about how Robert always has to use "I said" or "You said", etc.
    Don't want the war to start up again. : )
    Robert, don't listen to Cat. You write whatever you want. : )

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  24. Cat: get some wifi, bring the laptop to the show, chat while AT the show. A brand new level of obsession! : )

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  25. Craig: I tried to get my phone set up so I could post from the Denver show, but this site crashes my phone's web browser and/or won't let me post when I'm logged in. ;)

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  26. *really wanted to post a comment here when she ran into Bobby and Porl!* :)

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  27. V: I don't believe it for a second! You wouldn't even be our live reporter. I'll never forgive you for that. : )

    And don't you dare believe that for a second. : )

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  28. Craig: This was *before* the show!!! So it's not the same!! :P There's no way I'd be trying to keep up with all the comments during the show! ;) You know how I am!

    If it hadn't been before the "special reports" started, I would've just sent you an email. :) (Almost did, but figured you wouldn't care! :)!)

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  29. V: I wouldn't care!?!?

    Oh that does it! So begins the great V/COF war. : )

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  30. Very well - if you declare war, then so be it!

    Curse you, COF, and your uncaring, warmongering master!!! You shall rue the day you crossed the almighty V!

    (Not to be confused with the almighty Universal.)

    ;)

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  31. Seriously, though, I was gonna email you something like "OMG I just ran into Robert and Porl!" but I figured you would just roll your eyes and shake your head at my fangirlishness.

    So I sent that email to my mom instead. :) :D

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  32. ya'll is hilarious!

    just talked to anah, who is going to sell me her extra floor seat. talk about obsession - i have one ticket i got with TM that is in section 105, and now i'm buying her ticket that is on the floor. it's not super close, i don't think, but not super far, either. and hopefully i can sneak up front again. hopefully security won't be tight-asses.

    anah sounds really cool!! :-D

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  33. Go, Cat, go! :) Can I have your other ticket?

    Oh, wait - forgot about all of those pesky states between here and NC. *shakes fist at Tennessee, et al*

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  34. V, I would GLADLY GIVE it to you if you were here!

    Still time to make plans for MSG... :-)

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  35. I can't decide whether it's a joy to be here and vicariously indulge in all the Cureness or whether it's a scathing torture to be so reminded of what I am missing out on. AAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHH! It's both. Such. Sweet. Torture. :^\

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  36. Clockwise: Ahh, I wish, but there are many, many stars and moons that would have to align to make that happen... :) Oh well - c'est la vie!

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  37. Craig: Um, can we be friends again? War sucks. :(

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  38. V, why? is it money mainly? if so, I hear ya, darlin'. i had some b-day $$ savings so i am using those. but i kept enuf for house projects, cuz, like, that's what they're for. *blushes heavily*

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  39. I'm not responding to V, since we are now at war. : (

    Aww, I can't stay mad at you V. War over! Would this be V-V Day? : )

    So, speaking of your Mom, anymore on that vicious McDonald's rumor she started? : )

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  40. Clockwise: I spent a lot of money going to Europe already this year to see them, and I have to move soon, so it just won't work out, both time and money wise. No biggie tho - I will do the vicarious thing and be perfectly happy. :)

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  41. Craig: Yay!!! Thank you for agreeing to end our war. :) I'm sorry I made you mad.

    Anyway, no, no more updates on the McDonald's thing - I think she's insane. :)

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  42. V, gotcha totally. i never have gone to euro shows... somehow maybe i can find the $$ to do that one day.

    and it is indeed plenty fun around here during cure shows! looking forward to the next chat on weds!

    i'm gonna head over to the arena, peeps.

    laters! i will text you, craig, with cure-rotica and other reports as i am able. :-)

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  43. Clockwise: Have a great time tonight! Enjoy the show - and the cure-rotica!!! :) I look forward to your reports!

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  44. Freakshow is terrific and catchy. I find myself humming it throughout the day.

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  45. Enjoy, Cat! :^D
    Bring on the Cure-otica!

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  46. *gasps* Oh, it's just you, JPX! You scared me! ;)

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  47. Now I'll have nightmares! :(

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  48. You should make an appointment, I can help you work through them =)

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  49. Looks like a job for the Dream 13 machine! : )

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  50. Hmm, now I have a choice: therapy or Dream 13 machine. Which do I choose?? ;)

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  51. ok... so i think the saying goes "long time lurker, first time poster"... I have been laughing at all your crazy posts for weeks now and missing out on a lot of sleep (oh yeah- and all the other stuff I should be doing everyday- since I am somehow drawn to this site several times a day!). Anyway- you regulars crack me up! Craig- you are awesome and I have no idea how you find the time to keep up this amazing site.

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  52. Dream machine V, dream machine. ; )

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  53. Craig: Do you really think I'd pick otherwise? :)

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  54. Craig, you're stealing my business!

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  55. While I wouldn't describe myself as a self-conscious hipster who is too cool to like The Cure (Being a computer geek, I don't even think thats possible for me)....I still can't get into Freakshow.

    Maybe it'll be one of those grow-on-me songs. I didn't care too much for The Only One at first either...But dammit, it snuck up on me, and yesterday they played it on the radio and I was happily singing along.

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  56. Aww...V always flatters me. : )

    JPX: You want business? Have you seen the insane about of posting Chris and Sara did last night? Start with them. : )

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  57. hey V- I am in Denver too. Are you moving out of state?

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  58. Just heard from Cat, testing her signal. Cat reports tonight!

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  59. Morris, that's why you should always keep some electrical tape with you at all times!

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  60. Craig, that's a good idea, I can help them with their obsessive-compulsive behavior!

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  61. Hey Elise! By the way, it's not morning it's night =)

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  62. Heya Kendra, nice to see you emerging from the shadows! :^D

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  63. Good mornevening to you, Elise.

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  64. JPX - not in my world! I've just dragged my heavy head out of bed.

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  65. Sorry, I don't like the song... probably because I grew up with The Top thru Wish albums.
    I don't know, I'm not sure but I believe it has something to do with the change of drummer. The new one can barely be heard.
    It is my opinion.

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  66. FS is officially one of my favorite songs ever. Live it's just adorable. I am going to make up a wack ass dance to this song.

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  67. More Freakshow love! Yay!

    Thought it would be a nice single since I heard the recording last year. And the studio version is even better.

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  68. Richard, re: the drummer.

    For the first time since joining I think Jason has grown into his own as The Cure's drummer.

    On everything I've heard from the new stuff, albeit only 4 studio songs to date, the band sounds fresher, happier and more experimental and risky than they have done in ages.

    I watched Like Cockatoos on YouTube yesterday from 2004.

    http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=hujit5aTvVg

    Take a listen. Slow. Uninspired. Insipid. This is why I was so put out by The Cure's live performance in Ireland in 2004. I really do think that there were "elements" in the group who were there in name only.

    Look and listen to the acoustic guitar. Can you stay awake long enough to see how flat and uninspired it is and how goddam dull the whole song is as a result? Now answer honestly, can you imagine Porl playing that same guitar part that way? Thought not!!!

    And to point out the smallest little thing that makes me realize The Cure are back. Listen to 'All Kinds of Stuff' loud on headphones. Listen to the guitar part at 01min 06secs. It's just one guitar note over the top of the chorus, right up in the mix. Simple but so damn effective.

    That's why I love The Cure. If they released the sound of Robert banging a tin box and they put their hearts into it I'd love it.

    And that's why I don't like that version of Like Cockatoos.

    I LOVE FREAKSHOW!!!

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  69. "Everything Monkey just said x 100. : )"

    Yeah, well, Craig, I kind of remember you hating 'Freakshow". Now you say you love it. So you used to be a self-conscious hipster but now you are only to happy to go with the COF crowd?

    :-D

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  70. "They said nothing of substance about the song."

    Well, clockwise, the song in question has NO SUBSTANCE at all, so it is only befitting... :-D

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  71. Clockwise, are you crazy?

    That wasn´t meant to insult Craig... I only used words from others, words that apparently had Craig's approval. I just found that the situation was funny, that's all. Anyway, everyone can change their opinions. Specially over music. It´s not a big deal.

    Anyway, you can reply or not reply, as you prefer. I just think you're too tired from all those concerts in a row...

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  72. and it has NOTHING TO DO WITH YOUR DISLIKE FOR THE SONG. i really dislike the only one - i just don't feel the need to bash others if they happen to like it.

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  73. Clockwise, those posts addressed to Craig and to you came with a ":-D". It's all supposed to be in good humour. We are all having a good time around here, that´s all.

    Yes, I am a bit cantankerous- to use your words - as regards music tastes, but that doesn't mean I am insulting those with different opinions. I just happen to like a "good fight", that´s all.

    If I ever wanted to insult any of you I would do it directly. Not that I have any reason to, mind you. And insulting people on the internet is lame, anyway.

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  74. if insulting people on the internet is lame, why do you do it? :-)

    okay, peeps, i have to drive to meet my friend. laters.

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  75. Kendra: I missed your post to me yesterday because of email issues I was having! Cool that you're in Denver - were you at the Red Rocks show? :)

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  76. there's a lot of love around - let's not spoil it folks - Revolt was only on the wind-up

    maybe he'd like to offer up some of the incredible songs he must write for us all to critique!

    :-)

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  77. i think at least the last quote is pretty easy, right v?

    ;) (there's that winky face!)

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  78. V: Not sure if you will be checking this thread anymore, but yes, I was at the Red Rocks show. Did you write the Valerie review? If yes, I think you said that you were in row 4.... very cool. I would have been just in front of you. We were row 3, between Robert and Si. Unfortuantely it was the only show I could go to this tour. Jealous that you got to see them a few times.

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  79. MonkeyButt: No, whoever could the last one be? That one wasn't obvious at all! ;) Heehee.

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  80. Kendra: Yes, that was my review, and yes, I was in row 4 on the Simon side of the stage, so you and I were sitting pretty close to each other! Did you take any pics? I actually found myself in a pic from the show on Flickr the other day, which was kind of spooky!

    I wish I had seen them more in the States on this tour, but I can't complain. :)

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  81. V: So strange how stuff like that happens. I did take pics... and they are on Flickr.

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/26894066@N02/

    Sorry, no idea how to make a real link in a post. I only posted one pic of the crowd. Are you in this one? I also posted a video on youtube- nothing like what so many people did. I hadn't ever used the video feature on my camera so it's not too great, but it is when RS is singing WCIBY and he is over on our side of the stage YAY!!

    Would have loved to go to more shows.... fortunately we have this site so we can hear about all the shows (or unfortunatley as the case seems lately.... ARGH!)

    P.S. I was laughing when you were telling Elise about how the streets here have a lot of the sames names with just different endings (street, lane, circle, court etc....) That drives me crazy!!

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  82. Kendra: Great pics - thanks for sharing, I hadn't seen yours yet! They turned out much better than mine did (my point and shoot camera sucks!). Nope, I'm not in the crowd photo that you posted. ;) This is the one I am in - maybe you'll see yourself in it too? :)

    Ohhh, the streets here drive me INSANE. I don't understand why every street has to have the same name here. :) Every other place I've lived, it hasn't mattered whether it's Place or Ave or Street or whatever - as long as you knew the streets *name*, you were fine. Anyway, don't get me started on Denver streets! :) Hehe.

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  83. V: nope, not in that picture. Don't even think I was there just yet. But I do know the guy that is standing up in the 4th row! So who are you in that picture? I will look at my other pics in a little while and see if I have any other shots that you might be in.

    So where else have you lived? I have lived in Southern California, Dallas Fort Worth area and Northern California.

    OK.... well, I had better go pick up my kindergardner, I will check back here later.

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  84. Kendra: Too funny that you know the guy who is standing up! I am in the lower-right part of the photo - if you look at the security guard leaning against the rail (white sunglasses, white shirt, black pants), my head is right in front of him. You can't really see much of me (whew). :) I'm wearing my black European 4Tour shirt, so you can see the big white letters of the word "Europe" going up my back (that's actually the first thing I noticed about this photo - otherwise I probably never would've found myself!).

    I'm not sure I want to chance seeing myself in any of your photos! ;) Heh. I think(/hope) I am probably too far stage left to have gotten into them, though.

    Oh, and besides here, I've lived in Florida and North Carolina.

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  85. Revolt: Hahahaha...in short, yes!

    I'm not offended by your post at all. But I never really hated Freak, just didn't quite "get it". The hate was reserved for Please Project/The Only One. I've softened on that a bit, but still my least favorite of the new songs.

    And it's nice to know Cat has my back. Thank you. : )

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  86. V: checked my other pics and I don't really have any shots that you would be in. You would have had to be in at least row 10 or so probably to get into the pic. BUMMER!!! Would have been fun to find you in them.

    You said to cat the other day that you were moving. Are you leaving the state or just moving to a different place? How long have you been in Denver? I have been here since 2001... and for the most part I really like it.

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  87. ps freakshow rocks my nipple tips off. it's THAT good!

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  88. I like Freakshow because it's not like anything else They have done. It's a fun song, witty, and Robert sorta' raps when it's played live. It's funny, and the compostion of the song itself is actually quite good.

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  89. anah, hell yes sister! and yet it reminds me of their hotd era b-sides like man inside my mouth and even top and km and wms songs. as i said on the official, like an intoxicating concoction of those songs - and yet as you said, not quite like anything they have done.

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  90. This song reminds me lots of 'Strange Attraction'. One wonders if old and new verse bear a common source of inspiration, and if the rumored butterfly tat does indeed exist.

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  91. CAT ! you are damn right - FREAKSHOW is fucking great - finally i have my hardcopy and it sounds amazing - the first single i really adore since years... they could do a video remix of never enough for it.... remember ? robert playing this strange fat lady again ; )

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