The Cure
Country of origin:
England
Type of music generally:
Alternative rock
Status:
Most recent studio album, 4:13 Dream (2008)
See also:
The Cure's site
Comparisons:
Their particular altrock sound is unique, but is related to Siouxsie and the Banshees, The Smiths, Bauhaus, etc.
Covers/own material:
Own
General comments:
Can we just say that The Cure is the *saddest band* ever? I can only think of a few happy songs: "Friday I'm in Love" (as someone mentioned earlier), "Love Cats," "Let's Go to Bed." (mlowry@startext.com)i don't think there's any "best" cure album because they all have been my favorite at one time or other. for a band that hasn't strayed too far from their original musical concepts, there certainly is an awful lot of variety in mood throughout their oeuvre. (cjmacs@micronet.net)
Recommended first album:
Disintegration appears to be the ecto favourite
Recordings:
- Three Imaginary Boys (1979)
- Boys Don't Cry (compilation, 1980)
- Seventeen Seconds (1980)
- Faith (1981)
- Pornography (1982)
- Concert: The Cure Live (live, 1984)
- The Top (1984)
- The Head on the Door (1985)
- Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me (1987)
- Disintegration (1989)
- Mixed Up (remixes, 1990)
- Wish (1992)
- Wild Mood Swings (1996)
- Bloodflowers (2000)
- The Cure (2004)
- 4:13 Dream (2008)
- Bestival Live 2011 (live, 2011)
Three Imaginary Boys
Release info:
1979—Fiction
Availability:
Wide
Ecto priority:
Recommended for The Cure fans
Group members:
Robert Smith—guitar, vocals
Michael Dempsey—bass, vocals
Laurence Tolhurst—drums
Produced by:
Robert Smith, Chris Parry
Comments:
my one word description: anger (life sucks and i'm pissed). (cjmacs@micronet.net)
Seventeen Seconds
Release info:
1980—Elektra
Availability:
Wide
Ecto priority:
Recommended
Group members:
Robert Smith—guitar, violin, vocals
Simon Gallup—bass
Mathieu Hartley—keyboards
Laurence Tolhurst—drums
Produced by:
Robert Smith, Michael Hedges
Comments:
I nominate Seventeen Seconds as the group's best and most depressing album. For some reason, "Secrets," "In Your House," "A Forest" and the title track are all very introspective and cathartic tunes for me. (mlowry@startext.com)my one word description: desolation (life sucks, i'm all alone but there must be somebody out there). (cjmacs@micronet.net)
Faith
Release info:
1981—Elektra
Availability:
Wide
Ecto priority:
Recommended
Group members:
Robert Smith—guitar, keyboards, vocals
Simon Gallup—bass
Laurence Tolhurst—drums
Produced by:
Mike Hedges
Comments:
my one word description: bleak (life sucks, i'm all alone and there's nobody out there). (cjmacs@micronet.net)I find Pornography and Faith too dark and dirge-like to listen to usually, although I respect both albums enormously. (afinney@ozonline.com.au)
Pornography
Release info:
1982—Elektra
Availability:
Wide
Ecto priority:
Recommended
Group members:
Simon Gallup—bass, keyboards
Robert Smith—cello, Composer, guitar, keyboards, vocals
Laurence Tolhurst—drums, keyboards
Produced by:
Robert Smith
Comments:
my one word description: misery (life really sucks so i may as well die). (cjmacs@micronet.net)I find Pornography and Faith too dark and dirge-like to listen to usually, although I respect both albums enormously. (afinney@ozonline.com.au)
The Top
Release info:
1984—Sire
Availability:
Wide
Ecto priority:
Recommended
Group members:
Robert Smith—guitar, various instruments, vocals
Andy Anderson—drums, percussion
Porl Thompson—guitar, keyboards, saxophone
Phil Thornalley—bass
Laurence Tolhurst—keyboards, various instruments
Produced by:
Robert Smith, Dave Allen, Chris Parry
Comments:
my one word description: despondance (life sucks so i may as well dance). (cjmacs@micronet.net)
The Head on the Door
Release info:
1985—Elektra
Availability:
Wide
Ecto priority:
Recommended
Group members:
Robert Smith—guitar, keyboards, vocals
Simon Gallup—bass
Porl Thompson—guitar, keyboards
Laurence Tolhurst—keyboards
Boris Williams—drums, percussion
Guest artists:
Ron Howe—saxophone
Produced by:
Robert Smith, Howard Gray
Comments:
my one word description: resignation (life sucks so i may as well make the best of it). (cjmacs@micronet.net)
Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me
Release info:
1987—Elektra
Availability:
Wide
Ecto priority:
Recommended
Group members:
Robert Smith—guitar, keyboards, vocals
Porl Thompson—guitar, keyboards, saxophone
Laurence Tolhurst—keyboards
Boris Williams—drums, percussion
Simon Gallup—bass
Guest artists:
Andrew Brennen Saxophone
Produced by:
Robert Smith, Dave Allen
Comments:
my one word description: frustration (life can be ok sometimes but it still mostly sucks). (cjmacs@micronet.net)
Disintegration
Release info:
1989—Elektra
Availability:
Wide
Ecto priority:
Recommended
Group members:
Robert Smith—vocals, guitar, keyboards
Simon Gallup—bass, keyboards
Boris Williams—drums
Porl Thompson—guitars
Roger O'Donnell—keyboards
Laurence Tolburst—other instruments
Produced by:
Robert Smith and David M. Allen
Comments:
I *love* Disintegration immensely. (mlowry@startext.com)I'm a long time total curehead and I'd pick Disintegration as the best of theirs, as much as I love 'the trilogy.' (lcliffor@bbn.com)
my one word description: despair (life sucks and what the hell can i do about it). (cjmacs@micronet.net)
Disintegration is one of my absolute favourite albums, and stands head and shoulders above everything else The Cure have done (excepting the odd song here and there). It's an absolutely beautiful, epic album. I don't think there is a single flaw on there. Also one of my favourite album openings (the crashing synths on "Plainsong"). (afinney@ozonline.com.au)
Mixed Up
Release info:
1990
Availability:
Wide
Ecto priority:
Recommended for Cure fans
Comments:
Ok, maybe the Cure's Mixed Up is merely diverting rather than essential, but I didn't feel like I'd wasted my time with it. (neal)
Wish
Release info:
1992—Elektra
Availability:
Wide
Ecto priority:
Recommended
Group members:
Robert Smith—bass, guitar, keyboards, string bass, vocals
Perry Bamonte—6-string bass, bass, guitar, keyboards
Simon Gallup—bass, keyboards
Porl Thompson—guitar
Boris Williams—drums, oercussion
Guest artists:
Kate Wilkinson—viola
Produced by:
Robert Smith, Dave Allen
Comments:
my one word description: emptiness (life is nothing). (cjmacs@micronet.net)
Bloodflowers
Release info:
2000—Elektra
Availability:
Wide
Ecto priority:
Recommended
Group members:
Robert Smith—guitar, keyboards, vocals
Perry Bamonte—bass, guitar
Jason Cooper—drums, percussion
Simon Gallup—bass
Roger O'Donnell—keyboards
Produced by:
Robert Smith, Paul Corkett
Comments:
This album fits in with Disintegration and Pornography, very somber but some great songs. No big hits here, but "Maybe Someday", "Bloodflowers" and the first track are great and the rest is nice. If this is their last album as they say ( and some of the lyrics suggest it as well) then this is a good way to go out. (nnadel@hotmail.com)Yes, a wonderful album. (Dirk.Kastens@rz.Uni-Osnabrueck.DE)
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