The Cure

[Irregular Regular]

 

[hand in glove]

 

[g23]

I like the schizophrenia of Kiss me. For me, it represents nearly everything that The Cure are known for. Heavy psychedelia, downer jams, sweet catchy pop, chilly atmospheric pieces. It's the well done precursor to the failure that was Wild Mood Swings.

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Disintegration is flawless. For me it's the best album of the 80s, or damn close.

It's a great album, but for me, some of the synth patches used haven't aged so well. Also, it kind of rides the same feeling throughout. Not that it's a bad thing, but I thought that Faith, in its minimalism, achieved more with less somehow. Disintegration just feels like there's a little excess to it.

 

[Skylarker]

I like the schizophrenia of Kiss me. For me, it represents nearly everything that The Cure are known for. Heavy psychedelia, downer jams, sweet catchy pop, chilly atmospheric pieces. It's the well done precursor to the failure that was Wild Mood Swings.

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It's a great album, but for me, some of the synth patches used haven't aged so well. Also, it kind of rides the same feeling throughout. Not that it's a bad thing, but I thought that Faith, in its minimalism, achieved more with less somehow. Disintegration just feels like there's a little excess to it.

Well yes but also, there's context that informs people's appreciation of it. It came at the end of an era of sorts (Phase 1 Modern Rock, 79-89) and right before the beginning of Phase 2 Modern Rock. And it kind of encapsulated and summed up not only what The Cure had done up to that point but what the genre itself had done up to that point. It was one of those records that hit in the right way at the right time, with enough crossover appeal to succeed on radio...and it reached people.

And it was probably the last important album they did.

 

[g23]

Well yes but also, there's context that informs people's appreciation of it. It came at the end of an era of sorts (Phase 1 Modern Rock, 79-89) and right before the beginning of Phase 2 Modern Rock. And it kind of encapsulated and summed up not only what The Cure had done up to that point but what the genre itself had done up to that point. It was one of those records that hit in the right way at the right time, with enough crossover appeal to succeed on radio...and it reached people.

And it was probably the last important album they did.

I hear you on those points. I first got into them around the time that awful Mixed up album came out. I would say Wish was important to degree, even though there is a lot of hate for that album, which with time, I would say was mainly because of how radically different it was from Disintegration, and the sugary juggernaut that was Friday I'm in love.

All I know is that I like the fact that they are still playing, and seemingly for the fun of it. I caught their reflections show in LA the same night Moz was across the street, which was a really strange pick a side sort of moment, literally expressed for the first time for me. (I caught M in Vegas 2 nights later) I'm hoping that they are worth the drive back to California in May, but given the crazy sets they've put on in the last few years, I think it'll be a good time- and a good time to have seated tickets!

 

[Skylarker]

I hear you on those points. I first got into them around the time that awful Mixed up album came out. I would say Wish was important to degree, even though there is a lot of hate for that album, which with time, I would say was mainly because of how radically different it was from Disintegration, and the sugary juggernaut that was Friday I'm in love.

All I know is that I like the fact that they are still playing, and seemingly for the fun of it. I caught their reflections show in LA the same night Moz was across the street, which was a really strange pick a side sort of moment, literally expressed for the first time for me. (I caught M in Vegas 2 nights later) I'm hoping that they are worth the drive back to California in May, but given the crazy sets they've put on in the last few years, I think it'll be a good time- and a good time to have seated tickets!

I got into them around the same time as Mixed Up as well (I'm nearly 40)...but I like Mixed Up, though I rarely listen to it. I loved Wish, and still do love it. I just don't think it was an important album for them...people stopped caring somewhere around 1991.

Don't get me wrong; Smith is still great. Still a great musician and writer and performer. They're a great band; any incarnation. But that magical time is gone. Which is OK.

 

[g23]

I got into them around the same time as Mixed Up as well (I'm nearly 40)...but I like Mixed Up, though I rarely listen to it. I loved Wish, and still do love it. I just don't think it was an important album for them...people stopped caring somewhere around 1991.

Don't get me wrong; Smith is still great. Still a great musician and writer and performer. They're a great band; any incarnation. But that magical time is gone. Which is OK.

You and I are pretty much the same age then. I think Wish was important, in that it turned a new generation of kids on to the Cure, and got them to delve into the back catalogue. I never really got into the grunge thing, despite being from the Pacific Northwest. So that last push from bands like the Cure, Morrissey, and Siouxsie, etc, was important and transitional in some regard. It proved that they weren't just "80's bands." The early 90's was a great time for alternative music of all kinds.

 

[Irregular Regular]

 

[Anonymous]

I agree, it's right up there.
I can't listen to it back to back these days though, too many memories, a beautifully sad album.

Kiss me, Kiss me, Kiss me definitely brings back memories for me. The song one more time always gets me... Catch is great, All I want... Oh man, I'm gonna go put that album on right now...

That, Disintegration, Boys Don't cry, and Standing on a Beach would be my go to albums. I know that last one is just a comp, but still...

I would love it if they released the MTV unplugged that they did in the early 90's. Both on vinyl and DVD/Blu Ray would be awesome.

 

[Anonymous]

so howd it go down edils. dd you take to either as an album or are the cure still a hit and miss frustration

 

[everydayslikesunday]

so howd it go down edils. dd you take to either as an album or are the cure still a hit and miss frustration

Still struggling a bit to see the magic, a few more listens are required. To be fair, I haven't had the time to give them my full attention what with Xmas and my daughters fifth birthday.

 

[Anonymous]

Still struggling a bit to see the magic, a few more listens are required. To be fair, I haven't had the time to give them my full attention what with Xmas and my daughters fifth birthday.

cool no worries or reports to me to me as i was just curious as your take on them is very close to my own. i just love some songs but never listen to an album whole unless it be head on the door, faith (this s a personal one for me but i wouldnt expect many to like this whole album) or boys dont cry (the american debut which is also a good place to start). i only own those three albums and just youtube or playlist certain songs i want but songs like killing of an arab have some neat guitar moments that catch me by surprise sometimes. in that regard i will say that the debut has some interesting moments that they dont repeat to much later on. i really struggled with disintegration as i just really wanted to like the band and that album but was just frustrated by the subject matter of the material and the whole atmospheric aspect to the pop album. if head on the door doesnt do it for you id say your better off just making a playlist but i often feel the same way, looking hard to see the magic but im also out of step with many many on here in terms of eighties music. i dont care for susie or joy division gang of four etc and it seems like many who go for the cure like those bands and im just not one of them. i would go house of love or felt before i went joy division or the cure

 

[Gregor Samsa]

Forget about the pop side to The Cure (at least to begin with), and delve into their heavier and more atmospheric side. Faith, Pornography, Disintegration, Bloodflowers. Also certain elements of Kiss Me (One more time, A Thousand Hours, The Kiss, The Snakepit) and Wish (Trust, Apart, To Wish Impossible Things).

 

[Irregular Regular]

 

[Ryan]

 

[Irregular Regular]

 

[everydayslikesunday]

Still can't love The Cure albums, perhaps it's the lacking vocals that irritates me? Take ‘Push’ as an example, musically a great track but no vocals until over 2 minutes into the song! It would have made a great single if Robert had added more lyrics. I purchased ‘Staring at the Sea’ to remind me how brilliant The Cure can be. I haven’t given up completely on the albums but it is a struggle.

 

[alainsane]

Just bought a CD by The Cure today. They're one of the few bands/artists who inspire completist tendencies in me. This copy of Faith looks like a mispress in that it lacks the normal red parts of an Elektra CD from that era.

 

[Irregular Regular]

 

[Ryan]

The Cure in 'Sing Street'. No idea if it's a new song or what:

http://craigjparker.blogspot.com.au/2016/01/cure-song-in-sing-street.html#comment-form