The Cure: Classic or Dud?

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I wouldn't go for _Pornography_ first; I think I'd get _Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me_ and the cassette version of _Standing On A Beach_ in order to get the b-sides.

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Friday, 4 October 2002 11:04 (twenty-three years ago)

Classic until "Stranding on a Beach" came out, after which they descended into the depths of self-parody.

― TMFTML (TMFTML), Friday, 4 October 2002 17:37 (twenty-three years ago)

I kinda saved them also, Kim - owned the two singles compilations for years before actually buying my first proper album (Disintegration) just this year. Though I do like it, it hasn't swayed me into snatching up the others yet. Maybe in another four years I'll get another one.

― Vinnie (vprabhu), Friday, 4 October 2002 17:51 (twenty-three years ago)

They fill(ed?) a niche no one else did (which I usually characterize as "Harlequin romance rock") and they did a perfectly accomplished and unique job of it most of the time but it's not one I care to listen to much at all. I can play Pornography maybe a couple times per year and it's sometimes nice to hear the singles on the radio but overall there's not a big connection. And I couldn't imagine sitting through a whole album of stuff like "In Between Days" or "Let's Go to Bed". The singles comp (Staring At the Sea?) is probably as much as I'd need of that. I'd buy Disintegration if I thought I'd ever listen to it. Wish and Wild Mood Swings were awful.

― sundar subramanian, Friday, 4 October 2002 18:32 (twenty-three years ago)

I honestly cannot comprehend how _Wish_ is AWFUL.

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Friday, 4 October 2002 18:34 (twenty-three years ago)

the cure were/are one of the best bands for dancing to whilst only wearing underwear...hopefully not by yourself...

― g (graysonlane), Friday, 4 October 2002 18:47 (twenty-three years ago)

Ok, I'm a liar. I totally forgot that I also had 'Standing on a Beach' on cassette - played it to death. I don't have it anymore though. I think my brother "borrowed" it and never gave it back! Ooooh...that little...

― Kim (Kim), Friday, 4 October 2002 20:39 (twenty-three years ago)

I like just like heaven, I'm going to get Kiss me times 3.

― jel -- (jel), Friday, 4 October 2002 20:43 (twenty-three years ago)

classic classic classic and why should you not dance to the cure in underwear by yourself! unless you are wearing the underwear out to the goth dance club, of course.

― teeny (teeny), Friday, 4 October 2002 20:44 (twenty-three years ago)

Have you ever been to a goth dance club? Underwear as outerwear is pretty much de rigeur.

― Kim (Kim), Friday, 4 October 2002 20:48 (twenty-three years ago)

Clarke, start with Disintegration first, and then try Seventeen Seconds and then Pornography. I've argued elsethread about this already so I won't go into the details here...just click the link, cause there's a lot of other good talk there anyhow.

― Sean Carruthers (SeanC), Friday, 4 October 2002 20:55 (twenty-three years ago)

Pretend that there's a smiley at the end of my last post. I sound like a meanie otherwise.

― Kim (Kim), Friday, 4 October 2002 20:57 (twenty-three years ago)

ten months pass...

"And yet Robert Smith - the Chatterton of Crawley - had created if not a wall of sound then a very high hedge of sound, over which he seemed to peer at the world like a boy who couldn't be bothered to ask for his ball back."

the "cure=suburbia" part of Michael Bracewell's England Is Mine is one of the best things ever!

― etc, Wednesday, 20 August 2003 08:54 (twenty-two years ago)

"Join the Dots" (B Sides and rarities) is out on October 21st. I presume it'll have the much talked about Cassette b sides from Standing on a Beach on it, but does anyone know that actual tracklisting is?

― flowersdie (flowersdie), Wednesday, 20 August 2003 09:05 (twenty-two years ago)

Hopefully it'll have the stuff off "curiosity", too. And that soundtrack they did.

Classic, BTW. Again, my mid-teens coincided with Disintegration and I was full-on obsessed for a couple of years. I bought a shedload of albums at Oxfam last year, and a friend and I drove our GF/wives insane by listening, back to back, to 17 Seconds, Faith, Pornography and the Top. Divorce was on the horizon by the end of that evening.

― Jim Eaton-Terry (Jim E-T), Wednesday, 20 August 2003 13:04 (twenty-two years ago)

Hopefully it'll have the stuff off "curiosity", too. And that soundtrack they did.

Thing is, there are SO many B-sides and rarities which have officially surfaced that they'd have to put out a box set. As it is, if the remasters that are surfacing next year are going to include bonus discs for each with room for other oddities, then that will partially settle the problem.

― Thy Lethal Zen Ned (Ned), Wednesday, 20 August 2003 13:42 (twenty-two years ago)

This news makes me very, very happy.

― Jay Vee (Manon_70), Wednesday, 20 August 2003 13:53 (twenty-two years ago)

won't come out on Oct. 21st though. That info was wrong

― Fabrice (Fabfunk), Wednesday, 20 August 2003 13:55 (twenty-two years ago)

When is it out then?

― flowersdie (flowersdie), Wednesday, 20 August 2003 13:56 (twenty-two years ago)

No official release date..

― Fabrice (Fabfunk), Wednesday, 20 August 2003 14:01 (twenty-two years ago)

I kind of like the guitars in "Pictures of You".

― sundar subramanian (sundar), Wednesday, 20 August 2003 14:04 (twenty-two years ago)

Recently listened to Dark Side of the Moon and then Disintegration back to back. Confirmed what I already knew.
Fuck the Canon and the Keepers it rode in on. The Cure > Pink Floyd.

― Lord Custos Epsilon (Lord Custos Epsilon), Wednesday, 20 August 2003 14:18 (twenty-two years ago)

Just adding to the calls of "Classic" (up to, and including, Wish, that is).

― David A. (Davant), Wednesday, 20 August 2003 19:47 (twenty-two years ago)

six months pass...

Shall I expound at great length here about The Cure's gig at the Barfly last night? Or does it warrant its own thread?

― CharlieNo4 (Charlie), Saturday, 6 March 2004 12:31 (twenty-two years ago)

either way, spill!

― teeny (teeny), Saturday, 6 March 2004 16:25 (twenty-two years ago)

Yes. Now please. Or else.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Saturday, 6 March 2004 16:30 (twenty-two years ago)

Giz it.

― Lynskey (Lynskey), Saturday, 6 March 2004 16:34 (twenty-two years ago)

You don't want to make The Raggett angry.

― El Diablo Robotico (Nicole), Saturday, 6 March 2004 16:34 (twenty-two years ago)

I'm trying to envision whether turning into a green Lou Ferrigno is merely a lateral move.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Saturday, 6 March 2004 16:35 (twenty-two years ago)

Pretty much.

― El Diablo Robotico (Nicole), Saturday, 6 March 2004 16:51 (twenty-two years ago)

Ah well, the downsides.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Saturday, 6 March 2004 16:52 (twenty-two years ago)

Sorry, too busy right now, but will gush like a geyser tomorrow. In the meantime, drooooool over the setlist...

Shake Dog Shake
Fascination Street
A Strange Day
A Night Like This
Lovesong
Push
Sinking
Pictures Of You
Lullaby
Lovecats
Maybe Someday
In Your House
From The Edge Of The Deep Green Sea
M
Charlotte Sometimes
Inbetween Days
Just Like Heaven
Hey You!!!
Play For Today
A Forest

Fire In Cairo (as a 3 piece)
Grinding Halt (as a 3 piece)
10.15 Saturday Night
Boys Don't Cry
I Dig You (with Porl Thompson and Frank The Postman)
I'm A Cult Hero (with Porl Thompson and Frank The Postman),
Close To Me
Let's Go To Bed
Why Can't I Be You
Friday I'm In Love

Fucking hell, just reading that through sends me into space. I'm still shellshocked.

― CharlieNo4 (Charlie), Sunday, 7 March 2004 19:38 (twenty-two years ago)

WAH! *whimpers and hopes for bootleg...somewhere...ANYWHERE*

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Sunday, 7 March 2004 22:03 (twenty-two years ago)

THEY DID CULT HERO MATERIAL???????

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Sunday, 7 March 2004 23:05 (twenty-two years ago)

With Porl and Frank no less. And was not Charlie saying some months back about how the band has fallen off recently? UNDESERVING INFIDEL! But I will not bear a grudge. Yet.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Sunday, 7 March 2004 23:07 (twenty-two years ago)

Fire In Cairo (as a 3 piece)
Grinding Halt (as a 3 piece)

Genius.

― Chris Ott (Chris Ott), Sunday, 7 March 2004 23:23 (twenty-two years ago)

porl!

!!!!!!

― teeny (teeny), Sunday, 7 March 2004 23:48 (twenty-two years ago)

Porl, remarkably, is now jobbing as the band's guitar tech!

And yes, Frank the postman showed up in all his voluminous glory, the first time they've done any Cult Hero material in (10 years according to Robert).

And was not Charlie saying some months back about how the band has fallen off recently? UNDESERVING INFIDEL! But I will not bear a grudge. Yet.

And I maintain my viewpoint, no doubt. Friday's only iffy moment came 11 songs in, when some (relatively) unfamiliar chords struck up - "What is this," I thought to myself with a grimace, "Joan Osborne's 'One Of Us'?" But no, it was in fact "Maybe Someday".

The Cure should've stopped recording new music after Wish (or more specifically, if you like, after "Fear Of Ghosts"). I love them still, but I shall not be moved on this matter.

― CharlieNo4 (Charlie), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 01:01 (twenty-two years ago)

I forgive you. Since you're going to help me find someone who recorded the show OH PLEASE OH PLEASE OH PLEASE...

Porl, remarkably, is now jobbing as the band's guitar tech!

Wait, what? So essentially he and Perry B. have completed the circle.

Anyway. First batch of reissues in a month. EXCITED!

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 01:04 (twenty-two years ago)

Oh, and Perry's brother is their manager.

I am naturally using all my spider-senses to procure a mixing desk feed of the show. I'll be absolutely amazed if nobody recorded it, but nothing yet. Ned, you will be the f...oooh, among the first to know when I find it!

― CharlieNo4 (Charlie), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 01:09 (twenty-two years ago)

Oh, and Perry's brother is their manager.

That I had heard, seems to make sense! They and Depeche should just finally tour together. ;-)

In all seriousness, thanks for any leads you might have!

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 01:33 (twenty-two years ago)

Where's a good place to go to get the skinny on the order and track listing of the reissues? I just got Join the Dots and I'm liking it a lot. It's time.

― fortunate hazel (f. hazel), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 01:39 (twenty-two years ago)

I've been searching around but as yet no specs seem to be public.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 02:02 (twenty-two years ago)

That was badly worded... is the order the albums are going to be re-released in public knowledge?

― fortunate hazel (f. hazel), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 03:06 (twenty-two years ago)

Chronologically. First batch will be the first four albums, through Pornography.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 03:09 (twenty-two years ago)

very good, i'll start with seventeen seconds and pornography!

― fortunate hazel (f. hazel), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 03:31 (twenty-two years ago)

I just listened to Seventeen Seconds front to back. I think the South Park kid was wrong and that SS is the best record ever.

― Aaron A., Tuesday, 9 March 2004 03:34 (twenty-two years ago)

The Cure were really good for someone born in 1974. You're 17, and you like 'em just fine, cos they're weird, but they're pop (for those born 4 years later, insert pixies) into this equation...They haven't lost it, cos you're into them during their Disintegration - Wish phase. And most important: they help you to get girls. Well, one maybe. Their lyrics don't mean much, but the guitar remains sorta post-punk...it's enough compared to your U2 loving colleagues.
But then! At the same time, Stone Roses, 808 state, Guy Called Gerald comes along, prettier rave girls arrive, the drugs are better , and you don't give a fuck about the Cure anymore. Until you're 30, and buy a greatest hits Cd, cos that's what 30 year olds do.
Dud, then.

― paulhw (paulhw), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 03:34 (twenty-two years ago)

how cynical! are you a record store employee?

― fortunate hazel (f. hazel), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 04:15 (twenty-two years ago)

I was born in 1971 ergo they're better for me! Whee!

Actually I think Dan was born in 1974 and he went through all that shift you did except he kept loving the Cure as well. Rah!

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 04:24 (twenty-two years ago)

Skipping 2312 messages at this point... Click here if you want to load them all.

That link did just not show any stream for me on any of my browsers or devices - I don't get it. Anyway, I'm happy for you I guess :(

― StanM, Sunday, 21 June 2026 05:38 (five days ago)

I'll find it somewhere, no worries :-)

― StanM, Sunday, 21 June 2026 05:41 (five days ago)

Simon had a black eye?

― StanM, Sunday, 21 June 2026 05:56 (five days ago)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=joIICfW-Tw8

https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/the-cure/2026/megaland-south-stage-landgraaf-netherlands-634c9a4b.html

Charlotte Sometimes! (and they messed up Fascination Street)

― StanM, Sunday, 21 June 2026 06:11 (five days ago)

Watching the opening there, I think it's sunk in that "Alone" is one of their all-time great songs, top ten even. It packs an emotional wallop.

― assert (matttkkkk), Sunday, 21 June 2026 07:34 (five days ago)

in the uk, sky arts / sky mix (both freeview) tonight for Isle of Wight festival show. 9 to 11:15 it says but I'm not sure how much of that is the cure's set

― Bog Dork (koogs), Sunday, 21 June 2026 11:01 (five days ago)

Going to see them this Wednesday and there's a Red Extreme Heat warning in effect now

I fear for Bob's eyeliner

― groovypanda, Monday, 22 June 2026 10:11 (four days ago)

Jeez that’s a bit of a concern, playing a 2-3 hour set in your mid-late 60s and not exactly Captain Athletic (altho no doubt match-fit).

― assert (matttkkkk), Monday, 22 June 2026 11:41 (four days ago)

Robert Smith on this track, allegedly:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3mUf_DGhygA

― I? not I! He! He! HIM! (akm), Thursday, 25 June 2026 20:55 (yesterday)

(on guitar only so, it's not like you'd know)

― I? not I! He! He! HIM! (akm), Thursday, 25 June 2026 20:57 (yesterday)

can maybe sort of hear him under the chorus? if I squint

― Cod:Shellfish (emsworth), Friday, 26 June 2026 02:42 (nineteen hours ago)

I liked this song well and better than "Jealous Lover," the other song released today. Not sure where Robert Smith guitar is.

― Bee OK, Friday, 26 June 2026 03:54 (seventeen hours ago)

song put "All Down the Line" in my head. saying Smith adds synth and backing vocals on "Never Wanna Lose You"

― nicky lo-fi, Friday, 26 June 2026 08:29 (thirteen hours ago)

They started with Plainsong in Cardiff (and didn't play Alone)

https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/the-cure/2026/blackweir-fields-cardiff-wales-5b4ea354.html

― StanM, Friday, 26 June 2026 08:53 (twelve hours ago)

Didn’t play a single song from Lost World! I wonder why.

― assert (matttkkkk), Friday, 26 June 2026 13:16 (eight hours ago)

~~They don't listen to it that much~~

― Mark G, Friday, 26 June 2026 13:32 (eight hours ago)

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