Customer Rating: 
Summary: The hottest album from The Cult
Comment: Truly one of the most expansive and vocally intense albums. The Cult took the songs on this album and rocketed them to the moon. I have to say that "Edie" is my all-time fave, but the rest of the music is outstanding and if you had to buy just one CD from this group...get this one without a doubt.
Customer Rating: 
Summary: Transformation to rock band complete
Comment: With this album, The Cult completed their transformation to a rock band. There are many strong songs on this album - Sun King, Sweet Soul Sister, Soul Asylum, Fire Woman. However, my feeling is the second half just drags. I have a certain degree of nostalgia for this given when it came out, I just don't think it had the same degree of complexity or interest as 'Love'. Having said that, you could do much worse than buy this album, which is arguably the Cult's second best.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Sonic Departure
Comment: This is probably The Cult's most highly regarded release. Many rock listeners turned to The Cult after hearing this. While there are some timeless tracks, others are just forgetable.
Used as The Cult's rise to stardom, Sonic Temple is the bands album for the recording industries behalf and not necessarily their own. The talent is there, obviously, and was contorted and arranged in a manner to sell records, which it did. "Sun King" starts this off on the right foot driving the beat home. "Medicine Train", the album's finale, is the most stripped song on the list and is mainly a heavy handed tune, harmonica and all, that makes you think that this wasn't done in the eighties. This is probably their best cut on this release.
"American Horse" is a powerful hard rocking slow ride with thundering power chords and Lead Gutarist Billy Duffy's frentic fretting is a breath of fresh air. Anthemesque in nature, this may be the best cut on this release. "Fire Woman", a quite catchy tune, can be regarded as a made for TV movie. The guys play the tune but don't seem to be presenting it FOR you which is a trademark of The Cult. Sticking in your head is what this track does best.
The power ballads of the decades metal caught on with "Edie (Caio Baby)", a tribute of sorts to Edie Sedgwick. The orchestral accompanyment conveys all that is a metal ballad. If this is for you, this would most likely fill your cup. If good rock is what your craving, this likely will have you throwing that cup out the window. "Sweet Soul Sister", a constant on the show setlists,(why?) "Automatic Blues", and "Soldier Blue", are considered filler for a release to get this band some damn airplay. "Wake Up Time For Freedom" can be considered what? I'm sure they'd love a do over with this one.
A less than inspiring effort is what I feel for this record, shallow in depth and the furthest thing from what The Cult is all about. Many people who believe this as The Cult's finest hour, I believe became fans of The Cult during this time and sees "Sonic Temple" as the benchmark of what they can do. Well that's okay. They're one of, if not the most, unique bands of our time. Try to categorize them. Go ahead.
There is a reason why there has never been another release similar to "Sonic Temple". This is not them. They saw what the mountaintop looked like, did what it takes to get and stay there, and knew for themselves that this is not what they were doing what they were doing for. Been there, done that. Good, back to business. That is why they are MY Cult since 1985. It's all about the music. I'd give this two stars but hey, they are The Cult.
Customer Rating:
Summary: lost cd
Comment: Already knew product, glad I could find it at all. BOUNUS POINTS!! was in stock.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Catchiest Cult Album
Comment: I just recently purchased this cd along with Love and Electric. I have to say this is the catchiest of the 3. Astbury's voice is borderling ridiculous (over the top), but I don't see that as a bad thing at all. Songs like Fire Woman and American Horse have been stuck in my head ever since I heard them. Some people like put down this album for being "commercialized" in order to sound sophisticated, but I don't really agree with that. Sometimes music has to be taken at face value; The Cult didn't write deep lyrics for the most part. Duffy's guitar riffs are something to be admired, made me pick up my guitar and learn them. Overall I think this CD is a must for any rock fan period.
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