The Cure: Robert Smith (vocals, guitar, 6-string bass); Perry Bamonte (guitar, 6-string bass); Roger O'Donnell (keyboards); Simon Gallup (bass); Jason Cooper (drums, percussion).

Additional personnel: Leo Payne, Chris Tombling, Mr. Chandrashekhar (violin); Sue Dench (viola); Audrey Riley (cello); Will Gregory (saxophone); John Barclay, Steve Sidwell, Sid Gauld, Jesus Alemany, Steve Dawson (trumpet); Richard Edwards (trombone); Mark Price, Ronald Austin, Louis Pavlou (drums).

Recorded at St. Catherine's Court, Avon, England and Haremere Hall, Sussex, England.

Personnel: Robert Smith (vocals, guitar, 6-string bass); Perry Bamonte (guitar, 6-string bass); Chris Tombling, Mister Chandrashekhar, Leo Payne (violin); Sue Dench (viola); Audrey Riley (cello); William Gregory, Will Gregory (saxophone); John Barclay, Steve Dawson , Jes£s Alema¤y, Steve Sidwell, Sid Gauld (trumpet); Richard Edwards (trombone); Roger O'Donnell (keyboards); Simon Gallup (bass guitar); Jason Cooper (drums, percussion); Ronald Austin, Louis Paylou, Louis Pavlou, Mark Price (drums).

Audio Mixers: Robert Smith ; Adrian Sherwood; Alan Moulder; Mark Saunders; Paul Corkett; Paul Q. Kolderie; Sean Slade; Spike Drake; Steve Lyon; Tim Palmer; Tom Lord-Alge.

Recording information: Haremere Hall, Sussex, England; St. Catherines Court, Avon, CT.

Unknown Contributor Role: Leo Payne.

Arrangers: Robert Smith ; Ronald Austin; William Gregory; Will Gregory; Audrey Riley; Sid Gauld.

Robert Smith pulled another surprise from his trick bag on WILD MOOD SWINGS, an amazingly fresh album for a band that at this point had been at it for over two decades. Here Smith's penchant for catchy melodies laid against song structures that build in intensity continues.

WILD MOOD SWINGS includes some of the most cheerful tunes Smith has ever penned, including the festive "Strange Attraction," punctuated with bells and ukuleles, and the jaunty joyride of "Mint Car." "The 13th" is perhaps the most original song on the album, its melody relying on a Spanish fanfare (the first extensive use of a horn section on a Cure song since 1987's "Hey You!"). WILD MOOD SWINGS is a solid collection.

Entertainment Weekly (5/10/96, p.72) - "...WILD MOOD SWINGS...reveals Smith, now approaching middle age, to be a reasonably well-adjusted pop star whose best new songs are downright inspiring..." - Rating: B

NME (Magazine) (5/4/96, p.62) - 7 (out of 10) - "Huge panoramic vistas of maudlin introspective guitar tinkling....you'll soon find yourself remembering why you [love] them....a grab bag of all The Cure's myriad specialties..."