Perhaps the oddest thing about the release of “Never Enough,” Jeff Apter’s 300-plus page biography of the Cure, is that, well, there’s not any particular reason for it to come out right now. There’s no new Cure album, the band isn’t really touring (a charity show on April 1 hardly constitutes a tour), and the news page on their official website gives no indication that new material is en route anytime soon. Well, if nothing else, this means the book will remain up to date for a few months or so. Apter’s certainly done his research, having amassed endless quotes from the various band members, including new interviews with drummer/band co-founder Lol Tolhurst done exclusively for the book. Frontman Robert Smith, however, did not participate, so all of his quotes come from magazine and TV interviews, as well as from the band’s official biography, “Ten Imaginary Years,” released back in 1988. “Never Enough” is certainly the most in-depth tome out there, easily trumping the official volume and providing the reader with all the information about the band you could ever want. Unfortunately, however, it isn’t always the most enthralling read. It’s not entirely Apter’s fault; the album-breakup-album cycle was set into motion by Smith years ago, and it’s to blame for things getting a bit samey toward the end. Still, sometimes there’s just too much information to absorb and, unless you’re an obsessive fan, you may struggle to reach the closing pages.
3.5/5 Stars
Author: Jeff Apter
