POLLography: The Cure poll results, ILM artist poll #23

i voted "The Figurehead" glad it showed up at 39. speak of "39" i think that song would have been my number 41, so no it didn't make the cut.

Although my life is (I hope) much less goth than it was when I was first into the Cure, I find it's the heavier stuff that's stuck with me. Instead of sounding too adolescent, records like Pornography and Faith engage me more than ever while the whimsical pop songs irritate me way more than they did. I have no interest in hearing Love Cats, Friday I'm In Love, Why Can't I Be You, etc ever again.

― Get wolves (DL), Thursday, August 16, 2012 10:36 AM (3 hours ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

Oh god I could not feel more differently.

― (✿◠‿◠) (ENBB), Thursday, August 16, 2012 2:07 PM

#38 - Lament, 311 points, 12 votes

Japanese Whispers, 1983

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hHUhfTz80Kw

love "Lament" but didn't vote for it because i already picked four songs from Japanese Whispers.

oh another amazing song

Japanese Whispers was the second album I ever heard by these guys and, while I was infatuated with "Let's Go To Bed" and "Just One Kiss", it was when it hit "Lament" that I said to myself, "this might be my new favorite band".

If the album tracks and obscurities keep popping up I'm really curious to see which songs on Staring and Galore get the shaft.

If it were a studio album I'd pick JW as my favorite.

I expect to see every single up until "Catch" appear on this countdown, aside from maybe "Jumping Someone Else's Train"

Only pre-"Mint Car" non-remix ones I didn't vote for were "The Walk", "Lullaby," "Never Enough" and "A Letter To Elise", with only "The Walk" not plausibly making a top 50 ballot.

waving with a last vanilla smile

Surprised this arrived so low.

#37 - The Caterpillar, 323 points, 16 votes

The Top, 1984

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYWcCRhdClY

love "The Caterpillar" but didn't make the cut though two songs from The Top did. so to make up for that a bit i voted for it in the video poll.

"The Caterpillar" is the only classic single I've been meh about in recent years.

It was my number 6.

The Cure is definitely a band where I'd love to see the results of a "no singles" poll

#36 - M, 325 points, 14 votes

Seventeen Seconds, 1980

http://www.youtube.com/watch? v=AeNRYUVkIzE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AeNRYUVkIzE

this is one of the songs that ended up in my 41-50 range; it's fucking great

with something like "M" placing it makes me realize that i really should have paid a bit more attention to Seventeen Seconds and Faith. though i did get two songs off each of those albums i feel like they are way underrepresented in my ballot.

Since voting in this, I've been noticing how much I hear the Cure just sort of out and about. "High" was on the radio somewhere the other day, "Friday I'm in Love" came on in the supermarket last week, and last night I heard "Jumping Someone Else's Train" in a local bar.

I know 17S is underrepresented in my ballot because when I tallied up my votes, nothing from it was on it. That still doesn't sit quite right.

#35 - Shake Dog Shake, 330 points, 17 votes

The Top, 1984

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_qg6xNslnpM

aww yeah

YES, one of the 17.

a revelation when I bought the remastered album a couple months ago

love these results so far, great job Nate Woolls!

i agree with that. the remastered of The Top really makes it come alive.

blergh

I was the other #1 voter for The Figurehead. Its close relative and near-equal Siamese Twins was my #5. All of Pornography was in my top 30. In fact, my ballot was overwhelmingly tilted towards the run of albums between 17S and The Top, which is the Cure that's stuck with me the most, possibly because I was introduced to it very young, or possibly because its deep and mysterious poetry still makes me shiver and dream

But yeah, The Figurehead - the way it emerges from the raging instrumental torment with each new revelation ("I could lose myself..." and "Too many secrets...") - some of the greatest lyrics ever written, no doubt. Would agree with Dan about that run of tracks, albeit I'd probably extend it two in either direction. Pornography is probably among my top 5 records of all time - it's absolutely monumental, every track is great. That said, the two aforementioned centrepieces really do stand above and apart - holy hell, what music

My breakdown, then

Pornography - 8
The Top - 7
Faith - 4
17 Seconds - 3
Bloodflowers - 2
The Cure - 2 (really! Yes, they were Labyrinth and The Promise! Obviously!)
KMKMKM - 2 (probably should have been 3 as I forgot to include The Snakepit)
Wish - 1
3 Imaginary Boys - 1
The Head On The Door - 1

THE TOP IS FUCKING AMAZING BTW

#34 - Untitled, 344 points, 12 votes

Disintegration, 1989

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CYCkbgb1rMw

love these results so far, great job Nate Woolls!

― Bee OK, Thursday, August 16, 2012 8:28 PM (14 minutes ago) Bookmark

Thanks!

didn't vote for that one as Disintegration already got like half the album in my ballot anyways.

I was the other #1 voter for The Figurehead. Its close relative and near-equal Siamese Twins was my #5.

Without giving a shit about spoiling anything, Siamese Twins was my #2. I am Mr Pornography.

Is that how you introduce yourself on dates?

Not until I have dropped my trousers.

Smooth

Yes, circumcised.

Although I am not actually circumcised, it just seems like the right punchline.

Although why that is even relevant, as none of you will probably ever see my penis and I am not trying to chat any of you up.

It probably is not helping that I am watching a Richard Herring live show as I type.

(It is 'What Is Love Anyway', in case you were wondering)

#33 - The Upstairs Room, 350 points, 13 votes, 1 #1 vote

Japanese Whispers, 1983

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zV08rRjglEM

Now I want to see your penis.

get an upstairs room, you two

teehee

Great post LJ.

That performance of 'M' that DJP posted is incredible. Gah, I love 17s so so much. The drum sound throughout, the consistent mood. Such a great album.

xxp

ALCOHOLIC AND SLOW

another one of my votes.

Haha, it always works.

<clicks heels, Tommy Steele style>

xp

If I was ranking Pornography it would be:

Siamese Twins
The Hanging Garden
A Strange Day
The Figurehead
One Hundred Years
Cold
Pornography
A Short Term Effect

Seems a good time to post..