The Cure: Classic or Dud?

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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)

I was born in '74 and at age 17 ('92) I played Wish for a friend, Jill, on the plane to Athens (school trip to Italy/Greece). We got it on a few days later.

― Aaron A., Tuesday, 9 March 2004 04:26 (twenty-two years ago)

My.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 04:27 (twenty-two years ago)

ok, was just describing how it was for me. (for me) the cure were a band that you listened to, liked for 3 years, spent some precious time with a girl, then discovered that there was more exciting music/girls/drugs. And if anyone else got all that from the cure, repeatedly, for 25 years...erm, grebt.

― paulhw (paulhw), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 04:41 (twenty-two years ago)

Skipping 2281 messages at this point... Click here if you want to load them all.

and at 7.30pm to 8pm

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m002xtxb

Highlights from The Cure at Primavera Sound 2026.

― djmartian, Monday, 8 June 2026 18:20 (six days ago)

Chat with Robert Smith at Primavera 2026
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m002x7bk
This episode will be available soon

― djmartian, Monday, 8 June 2026 18:37 (six days ago)

Get ready for New Music

🚨 New Cure album update!

Robert Smith has confirmed in a new BBC Radio 6 interview that the next The Cure album is finished and ready to be delivered. He also hinted that a third album is still part of the plan.

After years of waiting for Songs of a Lost World, it looks like… pic.twitter.com/7QEGodT60C
— The Fanbase files (@dror_nahum) June 8, 2026

― djmartian, Monday, 8 June 2026 18:54 (six days ago)

Yeah, not gonna fall for that just quite yet…

― licorice oratorio (baaderonixx), Monday, 8 June 2026 18:59 (six days ago)

In Bob we trust.

― Dan Worsley, Monday, 8 June 2026 19:41 (six days ago)

him saying it's ready for release is a little different than saying it's almost done, no?

― fluffy tufts university (f. hazel), Monday, 8 June 2026 19:53 (six days ago)

I think he was saying the next record was already recorded back when SOALW came outside

― licorice oratorio (baaderonixx), Monday, 8 June 2026 20:35 (six days ago)

'about to be delivered to universal' at least gives me some room for optimism that it might actually be happening

and yeah he'd previously talked about how they'd recorded two albums worth of material during the songs of a lost world sessions

― ufo, Monday, 8 June 2026 21:11 (six days ago)

the fact that the last album was received with love instead of indifference might change the equation a bit

― Cod:Shellfish (emsworth), Monday, 8 June 2026 21:32 (six days ago)

last night in Austria, no live stream but another ! setlist

https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/the-cure/2026/pannonia-fields-ii-blue-stage-nickelsdorf-austria-5341f309.html

― StanM, Saturday, 13 June 2026 01:15 (yesterday)

"Shake Dog Shake," "100 Years" and "Plainsong" :swoon:

― Bee OK, Saturday, 13 June 2026 01:43 (yesterday)

Tonight: Firenze Rocks - no live streams for any of the previous days, so probably none today either.

On BBC6 Robert said they have rehearsed 55 songs for this Summer festival tour, so we're not done yet :-)

― StanM, Sunday, 14 June 2026 10:49 (three hours ago)

look forward to that elusive Descent / Splintered In Her Head / Happy The Man encore

― Cod:Shellfish (emsworth), Sunday, 14 June 2026 11:15 (three hours ago)

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