Depeche Mode vs The Cure

http://www.stylusmagazine.com/articles/vs/depeche-mode-vs-the-cure.htm

you are a brave man.

I'm just a humble messenger.

GAY

Depeche Mode (whose name is French for “Fashion Update”)

If they can't get their facts right in the first freaking sentence then I'm not reading it.

Look out for the New Order vs Brother Beyond issue!

as long as it's to the death then it's fine with me

Anyone fancy bringing public hangings back? We do have rules around here!

Digi Mike Binoche wrote: GAY

Hmmm, that was one category surprisingly absent from the match-up...

Snorri xx

Well, I thought it was fun, anyway, though a bit silly in parts. Not something to be taken too seriously.

One thing, though. He said the Cure's The Cure album was received? Is that supposed to be funny?

Shellshocker wrote: Well, I thought it was fun, anyway, though a bit silly in parts. Not something to be taken too seriously.

Exactly.

Snorrimon wrote:

Digi Mike Binoche wrote: GAY

Hmmm, that was one category surprisingly absent from the match-up...

Snorri xx

I think they're tied. Both had rough starts and a few iffy albums here and there, but I love both bands.

The Cure - more varied instrumentation. The keyboards are usually for effects, although Roger O'Donnell pulled a few awesome solos here and there (like Homesick). Porl Thompson, Robert Smith, and Perry Bamonte are all strong guitar players. And better lyrics. Unfortunately, they have Wild Mood Swings and The Cure (although 1000X better live) to live down. And the fact they worked with Ross Robertson.

Depeche Mode - It's all synths and a 4 track drum machine, basically, but Dave Gahan and Martin Gore both have great voices in the studio and live. The lyrics can be perceived as enigmatic or frivilous. Or both. However, without Alan Wilder's arrangements and keyboard skills, they would've been a short-lived, one-finger New Romantic Act. They have Speak and Spell and Exciter to live down. And, why doesn't Martin Gore go back to the keyboards? His guitar playing gets old after two albums.

This blue-eyed boy that wants to be wrote: I think they're tied. Both had rough starts and a few iffy albums here and there, but I love both bands.

Well, yes, but the Cure is still the better band.

This blue-eyed boy that wants to be wrote: The Cure - more varied instrumentation. The keyboards are usually for effects, although Roger O'Donnell pulled a few awesome solos here and there (like Homesick). Porl Thompson, Robert Smith, and Perry Bamonte are all strong guitar players.

Porl is beyond "strong." He's one of the greats.

And better lyrics. Unfortunately, they have Wild Mood Swings and The Cure (although 1000X better live) to live down.

Perhaps not their strongest albums, but Wild Mood Swings has Strange Attraction, and The Cure has Labyrinth, both brilliant.

Comrade Shampanyov wrote:

This blue-eyed boy that wants to be wrote: The Cure - more varied instrumentation. The keyboards are usually for effects, although Roger O'Donnell pulled a few awesome solos here and there (like Homesick). Porl Thompson, Robert Smith, and Perry Bamonte are all strong guitar players.

Porl is beyond "strong." He's one of the greats.

And better lyrics. Unfortunately, they have Wild Mood Swings and The Cure (although 1000X better live) to live down.

Perhaps not their strongest albums, but Wild Mood Swings has Strange Attraction, and The Cure has Labyrinth, both brilliant.

I agree about both tracks, but in general, they are much weaker overall compared to Kiss Me x3 and Disintegration. The promise and Labyrinth are both good tracks on The Cure, but they sound better live, with the production filter taken off. What disappointed me about that album was not so much the songs itself, but how the sound always had a haze of scratch over it, like the mics in the studio weren't working properly. I saw them live before the album came out and the sounds had the same clearness that the Cure always has.

how the hell can anyone describe the music on faith,pornography,disintegration albums as gay music

banshee wrote: how the hell can anyone describe the music on faith,pornography,disintegration albums as gay music

the band's 3 best albums. nothing remotely gay about them. great stuff.

yesssss,i suspect the cure critics have not experienced them albums and are a bit thick when it comes to the truth about the advancement of music

none of the above

I think The Cure did more of their own makeup and hair for the most part, so you sort of have to respect that compared to Depeche Mode's "we pretend we're gay but we're not, it's all a shallow facade" media product

oh, + The Cure was a better band, had better albums, and better singles

Think the author is waaaaay off on the "follow up album" part. Songs of Faith and Devotion has to be one of DMs worst albums, bordering on unlistenable, while Wish is one of the better Cure albums.

I think cure put out more good-music, but I find that DM is more listenable to me 25 years later.

EdelBrock wrote: Think the author is waaaaay off on the "follow up album" part. Songs of Faith and Devotion has to be one of DMs worst albums, bordering on unlistenable, while Wish is one of the better Cure albums.

I think cure put out more good-music, but I find that DM is more listenable to me 25 years later.

I agree with you there. While the singles from Wish weren't great choices, the album as a whole is much more solid than SOFAD. And, actually, All Mixes Up is technicaly the follow-up to Disintegration. SOFAD is what happens when Alan Wilder is forbidden from playing keyboards and Martin Gore becomes religious. Didn't they remember "Told you so" and "Blasphemous rumors"? Plus, the absense of keyboards and too much guitars was kind of a sonic indication that they wanted to look straight. And, touring-wise, I think the Wish tour had much better shows. DM looked horrible. Alan looked like he didn't want to be there, Martin was off playing his four chords, and Dave went from a clean-cut pop singer to a washed-up scuzzy, has-been rock star. Not to mention his singing was really out of whack. And Fletch was just Fletch. I can't watch Devotional without feeling depressed.

This blue-eyed boy that wants to be wrote: I can't watch Devotional without feeling depressed.

Surely that's the point?!

I would add more comparison to that article:

Best Sophomore Effort:

Just compare A Broken Frame to Faith....no question. "A Photograph of You" or "The Meaning of Love" vs. "Primary" or "The Funeral Party", like choosing between a Kia and a BMW....albeit a very depressing BMW. Winner: The Cure

Best Post-1990 Output:

I still play Ultra and Playing The Angel, while the only post 1990 Cure songs I can even tolerate are "This Twilight Garden", "Wrong Number" and "Cut Here". Winner: Depeche Mode

I'm afraid The Cure should have packed it in after Disintegration, while DM should wind down about now...we don't want them to bow out with Exciter II.

you mean you want The Cure to quit before Robert's big duet with Ashlee Simpson?!

Only if he refuses to join her for an on-stage jig contest!

oh lord, if only i was kidding :barf:

In the immortal words of Crow T. Robot, You have GOT to be kidding me!

That's all we need....a new generation of tweens who's knowledge of true alternative rock from the 80s begins and ends with "Just Can't Get Enough", "Blue Monday" and "Just Like Heaven"

Sheds on a Plane wrote: I would add more comparison to that article:

Best Sophomore Effort:

Just compare A Broken Frame to Faith....no question. "A Photograph of You" or "The Meaning of Love" vs. "Primary" or "The Funeral Party", like choosing between a Kia and a BMW....albeit a very depressing BMW. Winner: The Cure

Best Post-1990 Output:

I still play Ultra and Playing The Angel, while the only post 1990 Cure songs I can even tolerate are "This Twilight Garden", "Wrong Number" and "Cut Here". Winner: Depeche Mode

I'm afraid The Cure should have packed it in after Disintegration, while DM should wind down about now...we don't want them to bow out with Exciter II.

I don't know about the post 1990 out put. The Cure has Bloodflowers, which I thought was amazing overall. Ultra was uneven in my opinion, and altough PTA was great, they both lacked Alan Wilder's arrangements and keyboard lines.

His Holiness, The Pope wrote:

This blue-eyed boy that wants to be wrote: I can't watch Devotional without feeling depressed.

Surely that's the point?!

I don't know. Whenever I watch 101 and The World We live in and live in Hamburg, I have fun. I enjoy the performances. I like Dave's voice and dancing, and Martin's voice, and Alan's hands moving all over the synths. Devotional makes me feel really sorry for the band. I want want to hand Alan an Emulator II and the four-track tape player to relieve his pained expression. And it's the first time when I find Dave's singing to be truly annoying.

Utter Garbage both of em

This blue-eyed boy that wants to be wrote:

Sheds on a Plane wrote: I would add more comparison to that article:

Best Sophomore Effort:

Just compare A Broken Frame to Faith....no question. "A Photograph of You" or "The Meaning of Love" vs. "Primary" or "The Funeral Party", like choosing between a Kia and a BMW....albeit a very depressing BMW. Winner: The Cure

Best Post-1990 Output:

I still play Ultra and Playing The Angel, while the only post 1990 Cure songs I can even tolerate are "This Twilight Garden", "Wrong Number" and "Cut Here". Winner: Depeche Mode

I'm afraid The Cure should have packed it in after Disintegration, while DM should wind down about now...we don't want them to bow out with Exciter II.

I don't know about the post 1990 out put. The Cure has Bloodflowers, which I thought was amazing overall. Ultra was uneven in my opinion, and altough PTA was great, they both lacked Alan Wilder's arrangements and keyboard lines.

I def. agree, Alan is missed. Just imagine what PTA would have sounded like if he was in the studio (or even behind the mixing desk!). Alan would have laughed them out of the booth if he got a chance to be involved with Exciter. I can't even get through that whole thing, not in 2001, not now.

On the subject of Bloodflowers, I've only played a few times, and I wasn't impressed. I don't think I've listened to "Watching Me Fall" in one sitting, gets way too boring. The album just sounds to me at least like a less poppy Wild Mood Swings (which I also strongly dislike). I still can't see the connection between Pornography/Disintegration/Bloodflowers. Maybe a few more listens are necessary...I just generally don't like what they've done since Perry Bamonte joined in '90, even less when Boris left in '95. Their sound is too generic and poppy for my liking. But again, after an album like Disintegration, where do you go from there?

Sheds on a Plane wrote:

This blue-eyed boy that wants to be wrote:

Sheds on a Plane wrote: I would add more comparison to that article:

Best Sophomore Effort:

Just compare A Broken Frame to Faith....no question. "A Photograph of You" or "The Meaning of Love" vs. "Primary" or "The Funeral Party", like choosing between a Kia and a BMW....albeit a very depressing BMW. Winner: The Cure

Best Post-1990 Output:

I still play Ultra and Playing The Angel, while the only post 1990 Cure songs I can even tolerate are "This Twilight Garden", "Wrong Number" and "Cut Here". Winner: Depeche Mode

I'm afraid The Cure should have packed it in after Disintegration, while DM should wind down about now...we don't want them to bow out with Exciter II.

I don't know about the post 1990 out put. The Cure has Bloodflowers, which I thought was amazing overall. Ultra was uneven in my opinion, and altough PTA was great, they both lacked Alan Wilder's arrangements and keyboard lines.

I def. agree, Alan is missed. Just imagine what PTA would have sounded like if he was in the studio (or even behind the mixing desk!). Alan would have laughed them out of the booth if he got a chance to be involved with Exciter. I can't even get through that whole thing, not in 2001, not now.

On the subject of Bloodflowers, I've only played a few times, and I wasn't impressed. I don't think I've listened to "Watching Me Fall" in one sitting, gets way too boring. The album just sounds to me at least like a less poppy Wild Mood Swings (which I also strongly dislike). I still can't see the connection between Pornography/Disintegration/Bloodflowers. Maybe a few more listens are necessary...I just generally don't like what they've done since Perry Bamonte joined in '90, even less when Boris left in '95. Their sound is too generic and poppy for my liking. But again, after an album like Disintegration, where do you go from there?

Give Bloodflowers another listen. It's the opposite of Wild Mood Swings; nothing on it is really poppy. It's dark and melodic for most of the album. "Watching me fall" is one of my favorite songs by the Cure. I love the guitar solos and bass parts.

As far as post-Alan Wilder efforts for DM go, Alan says he refuses to comment about all post-SOFAD albums. I don't think that's a good sign. Ultra has a few good tracks - "It's no good," "Useless," "The Bottom line," and "Insight," but a lot of filler. And the keyboards seem mostly for effect as Martin goes about his guitar wanking. Exciter is unlistenable. I think if Alan would've been there, "Dream on" might have sounded more like "Halo". Or else, he would've quit the band there for having to put up with such ridiculous songs. But, I think even the band realizes how bad Exciter is now. They only played "Goodnight lovers" on their last tour from that album, and much more older stuff.

Can't you post this on a Cure or Depeche site ?

Digi Mike Binoche wrote: Can't you post this on a Cure or Depeche site ?

No. This is the off-topic board, anyway.

Can't you post about Juliette Binoche on juliettebinochehasflabbytits.com?

I have to agree with the assessment on post 1990 albums. The only good one was Wish. Though I like WMS alot when it first came out, I find it unexciting anymore. Anything since seems to be a band that is hanging onto the past. The last ST album was terrible....and yet there have been write ups on how great thier single was "the end of the world" which has to be one of the worst cure songs of all time.

Dm on the other hand, has matured into thier own sound, but remain sounding fresh. I like Ultra alot, Exciter not that much, but they really brought it in with their latest. All the songs are good (with the exception of Damamged People, WTF were they thinking when they released that one?).

If either bands put out a new album right now, I would buy the DM and skip over the Cure.

EdelBrock wrote:

If either bands put out a new album right now, I would buy the DM and skip over the Cure.

Agreed. DM are definately back on track after one middling (Ultra) and one pathetic (Exciter) album. I am really looking forward to what they attempt next.

Unless The Cure brings in a more original drummer, dusts off the keyboards and/or tones down the lazy guitar work, I would probably pass as well.

Also, does anyone have Join The Dots? Costs close to $50 here new, but it's mostly brilliant!

Sheds on a Plane wrote:

EdelBrock wrote:

If either bands put out a new album right now, I would buy the DM and skip over the Cure.

Agreed. DM are definately back on track after one middling (Ultra) and one pathetic (Exciter) album. I am really looking forward to what they attempt next.

Unless The Cure brings in a more original drummer, dusts off the keyboards and/or tones down the lazy guitar work, I would probably pass as well.

Also, does anyone have Join The Dots? Costs close to $50 here new, but it's mostly brilliant!

I have looked at this box set many times, but put it down since I have about 90% of the b-sides, but mostly on vinyl. I have a hard time repurchasing music, even though I don't have a record player at the moment (that works anyways). How is it? I notice that a few are missing like carnage visors.

EdelBrock wrote:

Sheds on a Plane wrote:

EdelBrock wrote:

If either bands put out a new album right now, I would buy the DM and skip over the Cure.

Agreed. DM are definately back on track after one middling (Ultra) and one pathetic (Exciter) album. I am really looking forward to what they attempt next.

Unless The Cure brings in a more original drummer, dusts off the keyboards and/or tones down the lazy guitar work, I would probably pass as well.

Also, does anyone have Join The Dots? Costs close to $50 here new, but it's mostly brilliant!

I have looked at this box set many times, but put it down since I have about 90% of the b-sides, but mostly on vinyl. I have a hard time repurchasing music, even though I don't have a record player at the moment (that works anyways). How is it? I notice that a few are missing like carnage visors.

I'm a fairly novice Cure fan, as I've said I just got all the remasters from Three Imaginary Boys through Kiss Me 3X and I've d/l'ed Standing on the Beach and Galore. I would say it's great however. I cannot speak for the vinyl, but the sound is fairly good on all the tracks.

Mini-breakdown: Disc One - Very experimental era (punky to post-punk to goth to bouncy synth-pop to jazzy psychadelia to Head on The Door uniqueness), 1978-1987 <---My fave Disc Two - Settling into a Grove of Kiss Me 3X and Disintegration, 1987-1992 <---Second fave Disc Three - Getting kind of stale around the Wish era, 1992-1996 (too many useless covers and soundtrack mess) Disc Four - I personally dislike everything post-Wish, 1996-2001, so I am biased. <---Least fave

Overall, I would recommend it. From several critics, the B-sides are as strong or even stronger than some of the singles (i.e. "Just One Kiss", "The Dream", "A Japanese Dream", and "A Man Inside My Mouth" are all beter than their A-sides, IMO)

What I love is hearing the evolution of the B-sides from the demos on the remasters to the final product. FYI, "Carnage Visors" is available on the Faith remaster, as is "Airlock: The Sountrack" on the remaster of Pornography....scary stuff!

Both bands have done some good stuff, and both have released unlistenable shit. So have New Order for that measure!

Personally I prefer The Cure, but would never go so far as to say that I actually like them. Half a dozen tracks maybe, which is more than my DM favourite tracks.

Little-known fact.....a band I was in back in the late 80s used to do a cover of Just Can't Get Enough as an encore.

Must say, I really like Exciter. Dug it out for the first time in ages a while ago and I think it's fantastic. Very laid back album (bar The Dead of Night) and Goodnight Lovers is beautiful. Only problem was that the songs didn't work in huge arenas which is why the live DVD is so flat.

The Cure packed it in for me after The Head on the Door. They've had great moments since but the albums are full of fillers with The Cure being a nadir.

What do you lot think DM and cure's fan think of New order recent output?

jonathan wrote: What do you lot think DM and cure's fan think of New order recent output?

NUFFINK But i like THE CURE

jonathan wrote: What do you lot think DM and cure's fan think of New order recent output?

Well, I think WFTSC totally whoops the ass of the self-titled album for the Cure. I still listen to WFTSC a lot, more than I can say of the self-titled Cure album. It sounds fresh, particularly the dance numbers. The guitar tracks are weaker than those on Get Ready, but out of both albums, you have one that shows their strengths crafting dance songs; the other crafting guitar stuff you can listen to. It's what Low-Life and Brotherhood should've been, if NO had actually put some effort into Brotherhood.

Well, I think WFTSC totally whoops the ass

There you go talking about arses again

Digi Mike Binoche wrote:

Well, I think WFTSC totally whoops the ass

There you go talking about arses again

You seem to be the only one on here with an anal fixation.

I' not the one talking about it, read the threads

Digi Mike Binoche wrote: I' not the one talking about it, read the threads

Fair enough, but you're the only one who seems to have a problem with it.

Digi Mike Binoche wrote: Utter Garbage both of em

The Voice Of Reason...

Some of the very early Cure stuff is ok, but I've never 'got' DM...

Snorri xxx

Cheers Dave

Sheds on a Plane wrote: I would add more comparison to that article:

Best Sophomore Effort:

Just compare A Broken Frame to Faith....no question. "A Photograph of You" or "The Meaning of Love" vs. "Primary" or "The Funeral Party", like choosing between a Kia and a BMW....albeit a very depressing BMW. Winner: The Cure

Best Post-1990 Output:

I still play Ultra and Playing The Angel, while the only post 1990 Cure songs I can even tolerate are "This Twilight Garden", "Wrong Number" and "Cut Here". Winner: Depeche Mode

I'm afraid The Cure should have packed it in after Disintegration, while DM should wind down about now...we don't want them to bow out with Exciter II.

1990: Never Enough, off Mixed Up. Perhaps doesn't quite qualify as "post-1990"?

1992: Wish, surely one of their better efforts?