Favourite album by The Cure

This is the first time i have started a poll thread so, after seeing another thread discussing their music, I thought we might like to discuss the Cure's albums - seeing as everyone has done the New Order ones in every way imaginable.

As far as I know this is the list of all the proper albums they have put out - i'm ommitting the greatest hits and live ones cos theres simply dozens of them around.

So which album does everyone who appreciates the Cure prefer? Mine has to be 17 Seconds (followed by Pornography and Head On The door)

:)

Only have one proper studio album, Head On The Door, but that came out so long ago (I also have the tape version of the first live album w/ a bunch of outtakes and stuff on the second side) that I can't remember why I bought it.

None of them have sufficient good songs on to merit a vote.

Originally posted by Benny's Cobweb Eyes None of them have sufficient good songs on to merit a vote.

Seconded.

i have most of there stuff, but i always like head on the door the best, with an honorable mention for Wish

I've got the American version of the first album, Head on The Door, Kiss Mex3, Disintergration, and Wish so I'd have to choose either Boys Don't Cry or Dis...

17seconds is very good.

Originally posted by Benny's Cobweb Eyes None of them have sufficient good songs on to merit a vote.

Well, I can't imagine a Fall obsessive to even think about listening to a Cure album.... isn't it just a little pointless you replying to this thread when it's very clear that a fair proprtion of you have no time for them? So why bother even clicking into this thread? Let those who DO appreciate at least some of their records have a vote on the matter.....

Poll thread saboteurs, dont you just love them?!

Most Cure fans I have met would say Disintegration...that album is held in such high regards. BUt tis not my fav. I am also partial to Head on the Door, Faith, Wish (Open is one of my fav Cure songs), and yes Disintegration. Recently picked up a single for Pics of You. Sounds great, about 4 or 5 live versions of Dis songs. between that and Show you almost have all of Dis live. Cure live = bliss.

I voted for Pornography, chiefly because, as an old review once had it:

"Ian Curtis was, by comparison, a barrel of laughs".

Originally posted by Mr. Streak Most Cure fans I have met would say Disintegration...that album is held in such high regards. BUt tis not my fav. I am also partial to Head on the Door, Faith, Wish (Open is one of my fav Cure songs), and yes Disintegration. Recently picked up a single for Pics of You. Sounds great, about 4 or 5 live versions of Dis songs. between that and Show you almost have all of Dis live. Cure live = bliss.

The tracks from that single come from the live album "Entreat". It's out of print, but worth tracking down. From what I remember, it's like 8 songs from Disintegration. "Paris" is also a great live album. It has alot of their earlier gloomy stuff.

Pornography is their best in my opinion. Although I would not call it exactly 'listenable.'

Pornography is possibly their most notorious album because of the way it sounds. Its certainly bleaker then anything Joy Division has ever produced... some would say it's just too oppressive. But maybe that's why its considered such a strong album. They've never surpassed the level of angst on that record since have they?

Yes, that's why I voted for it. It's something of an achievement to get such oppressive atmosphere (much unlike the real Atmosphere, of course!) onto a record. Disintegration seems like a self-conscious effort to duplicate the misery of Pornography, with Bloodflowers an even more self-conscious attempt to duplicate... well, you get the idea. The first time was the best.

Originally posted by still point Yes, that's why I voted for it. It's something of an achievement to get such oppressive atmosphere (much unlike the real Atmosphere, of course!) onto a record. Disintegration seems like a self-conscious effort to duplicate the misery of Pornography, with Bloodflowers an even more self-conscious attempt to duplicate... well, you get the idea. The first time was the best.

Good point there....

I also noticed that Robert Smith liked to see Pornography as part of not one but TWO trilogies of Cure albums - the first being the 17 Secs/Faith/Pornography one and the second being the Pornography/Disintegration/Bloodflowers one.

I always thought that this was a bit of a cop out cos no matter how much Smith wants us to believe that the second trilogy was such, if anything Disintegration is more like a continuation of FAITH more than Pornography. As for Bloodflowers being a follow up to Disintegration...that speaks volumes about the Cure running out of ideas ever since 1989, in that they had to go and re-tread former glories with Bloodflowers sounding not unlike a re-heated version of Disintegration.....albeit a very tired one indeed.

They really should have split up after Disintegration, like he seriously promised he would....

Disintegration starts off well, but it's about 35 minutes too long. I was just listening to it, and almost forgot that was even ON during one of those interminable second-side songs (Last Dance), until the weary keyboards of Untitled seemed to come out of nowhere... Those last last two songs are the sound of a band that would never have anything more to offer. No other way to describe them.

"Pornography" gets my vote. shortly after that it's "Faith". i like the instrumental minimalism they were working with in their early stages. "Wish" would be a great guitar-driven album if "Friday..." wasn't on it, it ruins the the whole album. "to wish impossible things" is marvellous!

I pretty much agree with Marco. Pornography followed by Faith.

79-82 was my favourite period of The Cure. There was good stuff on other albums, but this period was there most consistent. Faith, like Movement, is a beautiful, sombre collection of songs that captured the mood of the time (for me, anyway).

all are good with maybe 'the top' as the exception

I am glad Pornograpy has such a high percentage ... I say 'the top' head on the door then pornography - that reminds me to play there albums more!

I just remembered "all cats are grey" A fav of mine

Disintegration in my opinion is their best, and is my all time fave album.

If your saying the cure havent made any great albums you could easily say the same thing about new order. It depends on whom you like more. I think The Cure's consistently high standard of great material is unequaled by most groups.

And next in line after Disintegration would be Kiss Me, Boys Dont Cry, Pornography and Wish. But you could have Faith and 17 Seconds up there too.

And Disintegration being a remake of Pornography, I don't agree at all, its far different and shows the cure as a different band to the one on Pornography.

Cheers ALEX

I played 17 Seconds again last night and was pleasantly surprised at how ageless it still sounds even now over 20 years on.... That is an understated gem of an album that one - despite it being eclipsed in favour by the likes of your Pornographys and Disintegrations and Kiss Me's.

my favorite Cure song is Plainsong - the opening track on Disintegration. for a long time, it was my favorite song and Disintegration was my favorite album.

I actually voted for their first lp, which is special in the way that only stuff you first loved when you were a spotty 13 year old can be. But I also really like Bloodflowers simply because it was nice to find they hadn't completely lost it after the diabolical WMS.

Like I said earlier, it beats me why the Cure are still continuing now.

Disintegration was surely their high point, commercially and artistically. They should 've quit while they were ahead.

They blew it all soon after by bringing out endless pointless live albums, remix albums, compilations, and three more studio albums that were just tired old rehashes of earlier ones. Wish, for example, should have been better titled "Pish". A good 60% of that album was utter crap.

Originally posted by Ulan Bator I voted for Pornography, chiefly because, as an old review once had it:"Ian Curtis was, by comparison, a barrel of laughs".

Never heard that quote before, but I agree 100%. Pornography is dark, compelling and simply sublime.

Originally posted by Ulan Bator Like I said earlier, it beats me why the Cure are still continuing now.Disintegration was surely their high point, commercially and artistically. They should 've quit while they were ahead.They blew it all soon after by bringing out endless pointless live albums, remix albums, compilations, and three more studio albums that were just tired old rehashes of earlier ones. Wish, for example, should have been better titled "Pish". A good 60% of that album was utter crap.

How dare you sir! Wish was an excellent bit of happy pop. Somewhat superior to Disintegration.

I don't know what the problem is with live/remix/compilation albums - nobody forces anyone to buy them (especially these days). Also its hard to say who's the worst offender in that respect, the cure or New Order.

Originally posted by Ger > Originally posted by Ulan Bator> I voted for Pornography, chiefly because, as an old review once had it:> > "Ian Curtis was, by comparison, a barrel of laughs".

Never heard that quote before, but I agree 100%. Pornography is dark, compelling and simply sublime.

Pornography is pretty good, but I still don't think the cure in gloom mode were ever entirely convincing. Being grim is best left to Northerners.

Originally posted by Benny's Cobweb EYES-UH !!! None of them have sufficient good songs on to merit a vote.

In many ways, you're right, and so I asked myself a question: why really do I like The Cure? A few moments after, I discovered that it's because their most successful album, "Standing On A Beach", which was my first one of them - as well as almost everybody, I guess - and it's not a studio album, it's a compilation of their greatest songs, their only entirely excellent disc. But as long as this poll is about their best studio album, I voted for "The Top", filled with their rawest and honest songs.

New Order Online is the only place where i've ever "met" a New Order fan who wasn't also a Cure fan. the same thing applies to Depeche Mode. everyone i've ever met who likes one band likes the other two, as well - except here. it's really strange...

Not suprised at my vote. Everyone gives The Cure such a load of shit. Why? Don't know. Top one.

Head on the Door, even though it's the only one I own. I like every song on it, so it's a safe bet that it would be my favourite given what I've heard of their "best of".

Originally posted by Lady 21 Head on the Door, even though it's the only one I own. I like every song on it, so it's a safe bet that it would be my favourite given what I've heard of their "best of".

The Head On The Door is fabulous! songs like Inbetween Days, Close To Me, and Push are absolute classics!

Originally posted by film586 New Order Online is the only place where i've ever "met" a New Order fan who wasn't also a Cure fan. the same thing applies to Depeche Mode. everyone i've ever met who likes one band likes the other two, as well - except here. it's really strange...

Hasn't that been discussed before? I thought the 'concensus' was it was a UK/US difference. Though I'm in the UK and like both. But then I'm a southerner...

Pornography .... cold.... dark... the best... but disintegration is beautiful ... and kiss me kiss me kiss me motivates me... But Pornography is the best...

I have two albums by the Cure - Head On the Door, and Kiss Me Kiss Me - both of them are brilliant pop records but I would also like to hear some of their darker stuff from their earlier albums.... Can anybody recommend me the best choices?

Kiss me, Kiss me album is, in my opinion one of their greatest works. The Snake Pit, If only Tonight we can Sleep, I mean great songs. The Top, Pornography, Faith, and 17 Seconds round it out.

I'd say Disintegration, hands down. I actually like them as much as new order, but I own more albums of their since I've been a longer fan. But, disintegration is an absolute gem, in my opinion, although Kiss me and 17 seconds are good, as well. I refuse to own Wild mood swings, though, for most of the singles from that album (13th, gone, mint car, strange attraction) aren't terribly good and their lyrics make those of "shell shock" seem to make sense. Japanese whispers is also good, but often overlooked since it actually makes the cure sound somewhat happy, since it contains "let's go to bed" and "the lovecats."

who are the cure?

Originally posted by Joseph Valkeirie I have two albums by the Cure - Head On the Door, and Kiss Me Kiss Me - both of them are brilliant pop records but I would also like to hear some of their darker stuff from their earlier albums.... Can anybody recommend me the best choices?

definitely get Faith and Pornography - particularly the latter. they're both incredible.

Head on the door...great song "Push" and Disintigration: "Plainsong", "Pictures of you", "Disintigration and many more"

Has to be THE TOP 4 me - the best Cure record BY FAR to listen to when you're completely off your face on all manner of stuff. Reminds me of the unforgettable time I spent tripping out to them at the Elephant Fayre at the Coliseum in 1983 ripped off me tits..... Too bad then they went shit ever since.....

Originally posted by 404 error > Originally posted by Ulan Bator> Like I said earlier, it beats me why the Cure are still continuing now.> > Disintegration was surely their high point, commercially and artistically. They should 've quit while they were ahead.> > They blew it all soon after by bringing out endless pointless live albums, remix albums, compilations, and three more studio albums that were just tired old rehashes of earlier ones. Wish, for example, should have been better titled "Pish". A good 60% of that album was utter crap.

How dare you sir! Wish was an excellent bit of happy pop. Somewhat superior to Disintegration.

I don't know what the problem is with live/remix/compilation albums - nobody forces anyone to buy them (especially these days). Also its hard to say who's the worst offender in that respect, the cure or New Order.

New Order, I hate to say. At least All Mixed Up isn't painful to listen to, unlike (the rest of). And no remixer has added inapproprate backing vocals to a moody cure song, unlike what some hack did to "state of the nation" and "sub-culture." Seriously, backing female vocals on a song about wanking off?

Originally posted by eduardo maura Head on the door...great song "Push" and Disintigration: "Plainsong", "Pictures of you", "Disintigration and many more"

i agree. Push is one of their most overlooked songs. i really wish it had been made a single.

Plainsong is my absolute favorite Cure song, though. it's one of the only songs i've ever heard that takes my breath away every time.

Originally posted by Who is this man that follows me? > Originally posted by 404 error> > > > Originally posted by Ulan Bator> > Like I said earlier, it beats me why the Cure are still continuing now.> > > > Disintegration was surely their high point, commercially and artistically. They should 've quit while they were ahead.> > > > They blew it all soon after by bringing out endless pointless live albums, remix albums, compilations, and three more studio albums that were just tired old rehashes of earlier ones. Wish, for example, should have been better titled "Pish". A good 60% of that album was utter crap. >

How dare you sir! Wish was an excellent bit of happy pop. Somewhat superior to Disintegration.

I don't know what the problem is with live/remix/compilation albums - nobody forces anyone to buy them (especially these days). Also its hard to say who's the worst offender in that respect, the cure or New Order.

New Order, I hate to say. At least All Mixed Up isn't painful to listen to, unlike (the rest of). And no remixer has added inapproprate backing vocals to a moody cure song, unlike what some hack did to "state of the nation" and "sub-culture." Seriously, backing female vocals on a song about wanking off? i love the backing vocals on the single mix of Sub-Culture because it makes the song so incredibly campy. i always thought the song was about cruising, though - which makes the campy element extra pertinent.

Originally posted by Monkey Wrench Kiss me, Kiss me album is, in my opinion one of their greatest works. The Snake Pit, If only Tonight we can Sleep, I mean great songs. The Top, Pornography, Faith, and 17 Seconds round it out.

my problem with Kiss Me is that it's so incredibly inconsistent. some of it is brilliant and some of it strikes me as mere filler. but when it's good, it's really good.

Going for Disintegration. The other album I have is The Top. Never listened too much to The Cure though because of Smith's singing. The approach of 'one song at the time' works ok for me.

Originally posted by film586 > Originally posted by Who is this man that follows me?> > > > Originally posted by 404 error> > > > > > > Originally posted by Ulan Bator> > > Like I said earlier, it beats me why the Cure are still continuing now.> > > > > > Disintegration was surely their high point, commercially and artistically. They should 've quit while they were ahead.> > > > > > They blew it all soon after by bringing out endless pointless live albums, remix albums, compilations, and three more studio albums that were just tired old rehashes of earlier ones. Wish, for example, should have been better titled "Pish". A good 60% of that album was utter crap. > > >

How dare you sir! Wish was an excellent bit of happy pop. Somewhat superior to Disintegration.

I don't know what the problem is with live/remix/compilation albums - nobody forces anyone to buy them (especially these days). Also its hard to say who's the worst offender in that respect, the cure or New Order.

New Order, I hate to say. At least All Mixed Up isn't painful to listen to, unlike (the rest of). And no remixer has added inapproprate backing vocals to a moody cure song, unlike what some hack did to "state of the nation" and "sub-culture." Seriously, backing female vocals on a song about wanking off? i love the backing vocals on the single mix of Sub-Culture because it makes the song so incredibly campy. i always thought the song was about cruising, though - which makes the campy element extra pertinent.

Well, yea, I mean 'i like walking in the park when it gets late at night'? and the title? A bit Ron Davies or what? (Though I guess then it would be 'I like watching badgers by the layby')

Originally posted by film586 > Originally posted by Joseph Valkeirie> I have two albums by the Cure - Head On the Door, and Kiss Me Kiss Me - both of them are brilliant pop records but I would also like to hear some of their darker stuff from their earlier albums....> Can anybody recommend me the best choices?

definitely get Faith and Pornography - particularly the latter. they're both incredible.

Thanks for the tip! I'll certainly go for one of those two seeing as so many other people recommend it - along with Disintegration - sounds like these two seem to be the most popular choices aas regards the band's less commercial sounding records. All I know off Disintergration is LOvesong which of course was a huge hit in the States at the time, but this is probably due to it being very poppy and immediate. I take it the rest of this album isnt quite in this vein.?

P.S. Nice use of the DazzleShips avatar there! (It's one of two records I possess by them)

"Pornography" for me, but "Faith" is a close second.

Entreat. Sure its the live version of Dis but it sounds so much better than Dis. Dis is great, their best, but Entreat takes it to a higher level. The Cure live is better than the Cure studio. 17 Seconds is my second fave. Not a bad track on it. The Door and the Top.

Originally posted by Benny and the Cobwebs None of them have sufficient good songs on to merit a vote.

Troll?