I know Cure fans probably aren't hungry for yet another album review, but I can't be silent.

I'm one of the few Americans who have heard "Going Nowhere" in full fidelity, and I'm shocked and disgusted
that such a beautifully wrought, and passionately performed, work of art is NOT on the album. Buying imports is
for suckers. If Robert didn't care enough to get his track listings together and demand final cut, why should I
make the extra effort?

It sounds like there was a great album somewhere in there fighting its way to get out, but Smith kept beating it
down, firing the good songs. In the end, Smith won, but the rest of us lost. The first five are brilliant, the next five
are terrible, and the last one suffers from the stench of what came before it.

I haven't heard Robert expend this much energy in such a wrong direction since Wild Mood Swings. On "Us or
Them," he seems to think primal scream therapy equals real passion. However, even if he had sung the song
instead of shouting, it still wouldn't have been all that great, just a substandard, lyrically underdeveloped, song.

I had hoped that by now, he'd have learned from his mistakes. Wish is a weaker album without "This Twilight
Garden" and "The Big Hand". Wild Mood Swings is a weaker album without "Used To Be Me." The Cure is
weaker album without "Going Nowhere." Is there something in Robert Smith's subconscious that keeps him
from making a great album? Did the success of Disintegration scare him that much? I know I'm being a lot
harder on him then I have any right to be, but damn it, Robert Smith is one of the greatest songwriters on the
planet, and seeing him water things down like this is painful. I KNOW in my heart that he has it in him to make
another masterpiece. I'll never understand what makes a musical genius self-sabotage like this.

I was going to see them this summer, but I'm going to pass. Why should I make the effort to travel hundreds
of miles to see the Cure play a shorter set with a bunch of unimpressive bands? With my luck, they'll play all the
new album killers. If I can go my whole life without hearing "Never" live, I'll be okay.

"And I'm still waiting..." for an album worthy of the title: The Cure.

- Mr. Jinx
 
 

Best Cure album since Disintegration in my not so humble opinion :)
 
There's definitely no Friday I'm in Love on this one.
Poppy tracks like : Taking off and I don't know what's going on and alt.end but they're great !
Heavy and experimental tracks like : Lost , Us or them , Labyrinth and even Never ;)
The atmospheric songs : Anniversary - Going nowhere
And of course an epic song : The promise
 
All in all a more solid collection of songs than Wish was. A whole lot more emotional than Wild mood swings was
and a great bit more original sounding than Bloodflowers was.
 
- Frank
 
 

While it has it's moments in the end this album is a huge disapointment. I had my hopes up because of all the
hype with Ross producing and all the rave reviews from the rock press. I mean usually it's the rock press that is
luke warm to cure records and the cure fans that are the ones doing the praising isn't it?. I heard there were
around 30 tracks recorded in these sessions with Ross Robinson. How on earth did songs like never and taking
off make the cut? There is nothing worse than bad cure pop songs.They are so bad it's embarrassing. If you're
going to give me filler at least have it be some 5 minute dirge with layers of sounds that i can lose myself in and
grow to like. I think taking off wins the cake for the worst cure song on an album i've ever heard.  Overall if you
take away never and taking off the music and production on this album is good. Oddly the most disapointing
aspect of the album is the lyrics. They are simple, dull and lack any kind of romantic imagery and symbolism that
the cure has been known for.

Lost- this is a great song but lyrically it's so straighforward " i cant find myself, i cant find myself"  The energy of
this song is magnificent.  It's a 9. Would have been a 10 with more lyrical imagery.

Labyrinth- the music works but the effect on the vocals for the first half of the song never lets the song take off
and it becomes repetitive with the lyrics "say it's the same song spinning in the same sky, say it's the same song,
say it's the same song, say it's the same you , say it's the same you"  This song could have worked with good
lyrics and some lyrical structure. It comes off as too wordy and unimaginative. 5/10

before 3-  this is a great cure song. it's catchy without being too poppy. I love the lyrical structure and the way
Robert lifts his voice at the end of each ending word. The lyrics are strong with some poetic imagery. My only
problem with the song is that it's a little long. 8/10

TEOTW-  everyone knows this song. It's an ok song. I skip it. It's not really something i like to listen to. I like
some modern cure pop songs but not when they are so vocally driven. Great cure singles were catchy because of
the music and the guitar hooks. This song relies on Roberts voice . The music is a scratchy powerchord dirge and
again lyrically it's very straightforward and dull " i couldn't love you more" Just doesn't have the staying power
of a good cure single 6.5/10.

anniversary-  now why couldn't the album have more of this? this is a mood piece with some great keys and
vocals. It's subtle and just right 9/10

us or them-  i'm not sure what this song is about. I had read this had a political feel to it but i am not getting that
at all. I could get into this more if there was more lyric imagery. The "i dont want you anywhere near me get your
fucking voice out of my head"  does nothing for me. wasn't that a line in shiver and shake anyway?  6/10

alt.end - i actually like this song. I know others have panned it but i think this is one of the better songs on the
album. It has some hooks and the lyrics show some reflection and a look into roberts mind set.  7.5/10

IDKWGO-  i dont know what's going on either. This song could have been brilliant with some good lyrics. The
first change to the chorus is beautiful. The problem is the lyrics are so straightforward and after a few listens and
after you've experienced the luscious change to the chorus the song just comes off as shallow and uninspiring. "i
dont know what's going on, i dont know what's going on" "i'm so in love with you" What happened to the
symbolism robert?  cure songs used to have this feeling to them. The lyrics used to be more ambigious and you
could get your own meaning out of them. The songs on this album are so straighforward and dull that after a few
listens you just dont want to listen anymore. This song is a perfect example. The music is great but why should i
listen again? nothing intrigueing will develop.  5/10 (with good lyrics 10/10)

taking off- ugh..again..the music is good..the vocals are too wordy and the way robert sings is too reminscent of
wild mood swings. The worst song on the album. Lyrically it's down right embarrassing and riddled with cliche. At
the bridge robert sings "it's always here and never thereeee...always here and never where, it's always here and
never how, it's always here and always now"  fucking pitiful.  1/10

never- if it weren't for taking off this would have been with worst song. Not much to say really. Lyrically it's plain
and repetitive. Musically it's boring. 2/10

the promise-  it's about time!  i love this song..lots of energy and passion..lots of noise. But by this time i'm so
depressed by how bad the whole album is this song lets me get out that anger 9/10

so there we have it. I think this could have been a good album if more went into the lyrics and the song structure.
At times it feels like a powerchord dirge marathon. It has it's moments but if these were the best songs from that
30 song recording session then how bad were the others? Then again..i think most of the blame for the finished
product here lies with the uninspiring lyrics and vocals. Robert Smith....please retire.

- sjones
 
 

My review after a first listen:
First thing i have to say: it's Jason's most brilliant output!!!!!! Each song has its own wonderful drum parts where
he just kicks ass!

Then, song by song:

Lost: absolutely powerful. It just grows and grows.
Labyrinth: strange song, did not like it too much at first
Before Three: the intro is just wonderful.
The end of the world: we knew it, it's ... average with propension to improve
Anniversary: THE BEST SONG!!!!!!!!!!!!! It's just wonderful. This is in the Bloodflowers tone, absolutely like
"This is a lie", but let me say it, way better. Could it be he was influenced by Perfect Blue Sky in this one?
Us or them: angriest song. Very good.
alt.end: Seems to me a rock à-la-Wild Mood swings, with an overflow of guitar effects. Not bad at all. Its chorus is
the thing that most grew on me, together with Lost crescendo.
(I don't know what's going) on: oh my god, I want this to be the next single! It's perfect! Think about it! Mint car
and Friday I'm in love are its parents.
Taking off: this one too has great catchy powers.
Never: nice lyrics, i did not understand them at first, but they explore an area in which Robert didn't dig too much.
or did he?
The promise: improves with time, in Imola i did not like it.
Going nowhere: nice melodic song. You're right, Craig, Roger rocks in here!
Truth goodness and beauty (it's on the DVD, don't know it it's the final version): good. could have stayed in wish,
maybe as a b-side.

Final Rating: 8. Ranking? mmmhhh...it's not possible. the cure albums are too much different to assemble them
together. The album itself seems much more rock-oriented, and honestly, i can't understand why robert said this
was the "poppiest" tracklist he could make (he said something like that, didn't he?). if it is so, what are the
b-sides? Iron Maiden? Metallica? : D

- Pietro
 
 

Well I'll keep it short and simple, I've been a fan for a long time and my biggest mistake always was expecting
way to much from an album.  That's why I hated WMS for a long time but kinda like it now (not bloodflowers
though, that still sucks).  Thanks to the other reviewers on this site my expectations for this album were at an all
time low ,with the scary review of that Koenraad  on top (dude get over it, there are other bands around you
know).  And guess what, I kinda like it, reminds me a lot off KMKMKM.  For the first time in twelve years the
sound fresh again and I'm probably the only one who really really likes (IDKWG) on, I mean it sounds nice and
makes me feel quite happy. And I for one like the fact there are no electronic sounds involved.  So it's no
disintegration (which is, i know, their best work) but neither was wish and that's still their least "dated" album.
And please, what's with all this resembling thing?  I mean, that song sounds like that song combined with that and
stuff...  There just songs and either you like them or you don't.  And if you don't that's fine with me but please
don't make such a big fuss about it. It's just a band doing their thing and for once in a long time I think they're
doing it the right way.

- Christoph Sack
 
 

The new album is out in Italy. I bought it today, it costs 15,99 Euros.
"Anniversary" is the best song of the album, a masterpiece to me.
"Going nowhere" is short but very intense and sad.
"Lost", "Before three" and "The promise" are very good songs.
I listened to the album only one time, so I'm giving only my first impressions about it. There are two songs I don't
like very much (Taking Off, Never) but maybe they'll get better at the next listening.

- Deepwaters Dark
 
 

I’ll refrain from posting thoughts on all of the songs (mostly because I can’t stand to listen to five of them).  I love
the first five songs…I was sure this was going to be an absolutely stunning Cure album based on those first
tracks…

Then…WHAT THE HELL HAPPENS?  After Anniversary everything sucks until “The Promise”….weird.  I
ordered the UK version so hopefully “Truth Goodness and Beauty” and “Going Nowhere” improve the album
somewhat…although they don’t interrupt the series of five atrocious songs in a row.  At least the crappy tunes are
all together in the tracklisting so they’re easily skipped…truth be told I’d rather pay full price for the album and
have “us or them” through “never” completely removed…I’m happy we live in the age of cd-burners so I can
create such an album…

So my verdict about this album is: The Cure at their best…and worst.  As always, I’m buying the album and
seeing the tour…

- Devin Hamlin
 
 

I'm a nearing -middle -aged lifelong Cure fan – and I  found this album, uh, interesting. Indeed. In my humble
opinion:

First the bad -

Taking Off.  Wow – what can I say?? Does anyone hear the similarities to the song “Heaven tonight” by Hole?
Except the Hole song was actually quite good

Alt.end – What is happening here??

Does anyone else hear The Kiss on Us or Them? Except The Kiss was really good.

Never as in NEVER should be on the album?

Now The Good!

Anniversary. Yup, its real real good.

Before 3 – I like this more and more as I listen to it!!

Lost. Not my favorite, but it is a real great song. Very cool.

(What..)On – I must confess I like this a lot.

Same with End of the World -

Not sure how I feel about the album as a whole– but I do like that is has a mix of brooding and melody. Really
new vibe.

all in all – it is just what we wanted: a new album. Love or hate it? Nope, it is what it is!

- Alison Derick
 
 

Hello to all fellow cure fans, a friend of mine works at local record ditribution store, so i already have the new cd.
it is very different from other cure albums, but they all have been. it seems to reach back through their archives
and put a new edgier twist on their sound. his vocal are alot more expressive, and for the most part , is the best
aspect of the album. i agree with many who have proclaimed never as the bomb of the album...it stinks like a
dead fish. that being said.. lost, labrynth & anniversary are grand. anniverersary is a meloncholic peace of
perfection. i always fear when they try to get bright and beautiful with more energenic, upbeat songs. the songs
before three, taking off, alt.end & i don't know what's going on are done well. i fell that those who were neutral on
these will have them grow on them. over all , it is a much edgier and louder album than they have done. i love it!!!
i can't wait to hear these toronto in august!!!

- Erick
 
 

I didn't listen to any coachello songs because i wanted to hear the new songs pure. i heard them today and  i must
say this: it's the worse cure album allong with the top. i'm a fan for many years, owning a great deal of rare items
but this... there are no words for.
cure have always given me a special room to relax, the music had such an impact on me, it meant rest and beauty.
the only thing i hear is a record without any line-up, a guy screaming in my ear, rip off from other albums (i thought
i recognized in your house, too late, pornography,...) there's no melody in it! it sucks! it sucks! it sucks!
let's keep this in mind and i know there aren't much people who will read this (throughout experience: we cure
fans cannot stand any critisism) they promised us all those things over the years:
- 10 dream tour cd's
- the greatest hits site which was just a teaser (not!)
- join the dots with songs on everyone already had exept for some idiot remix (bob listened to more than 300
cassettes for the right songs!? just took the b-side list!)
- trilogy dvd mixed so bad, hard to believe...
-and many more stuff i try to forget
i mean which band has ever been so arrogant towards their fans? YOU PROMISED US!
i've had it and i don't want to get more dissapointed than i'm already am. one more gig and then it will be over. if
there's anyone who wants my siamese twins ballet video from 1983,come and get it.

- Koenraad de Maesschalck
 
 

(I don't know what's going) on....everybody wants to hear old Cure songs or sounds...Ok!, then go to old albums,
I am really sure you have them all!!!!. I am 34 and I an Cure fan since 1985....and I just want to say that THIS IS
THE BEST CURE ALBUM I HAVE HEARD since 15 years. I really love Robert singing with real POWER and
EMOTION. There is no room to review song by song,  THEY ARE ALL CURE SONGS, pop and heavy, light
and dark. It is just THE CURE, and IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT, THEN YOU DON'T LIKE THE CURE. By the
way, I was not waiting for another Wish or WMS, these are good albums....but they are in the memory of the
majority (not hard fans) because of their commercial success, not for their high music quality. I am really glad,
the band have demonstrated they were capable to make an excellent album....and I think most of you were
concened about it I already pre-order all the formats!!!!.

- Roberto Alcalde H.
 
 

I really don't know what's going on... I've been a huge fan since I was 14 years old (today I'm close to 30) and I
had really good feelings about the new album. Trilogy was amazing, probably the best thing ever made on DVD
(even that I don't like some visual effects on some songs). And the b-sides collection was a nice even that it
wasn't anything new for most of us. I've listened to the new album for about 10 times now and can't believe how
bad it gets with each listen, it makes me feel extremely sad for Robert and The Cure. I honestly think that this is
one of the worst albums I've heard. Except for WMS and 3 Imaginary Boys I like 90% of their music. Anyway,
track-by-track thoughts on the new album:

- Lost (8.5): the only song I would save from this album and I do know it could have worked better recording it
as they used to (not live) but it's very very good!
- Labirynth (5): Reminds me of Nine Inch Nails. Nothing special musically and I don't like the way he sings.
- Before Three (6): Nice lyrics, music just ok and Robert's singing was best at Coachella.
- The End of The World (4): An american single that hasn't grown on me!
- Anniversary (7.5): The intro isn't good but the rest is ok, good song!.
- Us or Them (4): I can't stand the singing on the lines: I don't want you anywhere bla bla bla... Cure nu-Metal?
Rubbish! (Musically nothing special too). Like Shiver & Shake and also this one wasn't by far the best from Kiss
Me.
- Alt.end (2): I just can't listen to this, awful! How boring it gets as long as you listen to it. Terrible!
- (IDKWG) on (4): As catchy as stupid!
- Taking Off (2): There's no need for things like this. ('But tonight...' boring boring boring!!!)
- Never (0): What the fuck is this? It has to be a joke!
- The Promise (7.5): Remembers me of The Kiss, Forever... The lyrics could have been better, but I like how
heavy it sounds. It'll be better listening to it at concerts. Too long but good!

So, there's only 1 song I really like: Lost. The Promise, Anniversary and Before Three are ok but there's
something that doesn't work how they should or could. The rest of the album is awful. As a whole it's even worse
than WMS, I can't believe it. Where's the QUALITY music we were used to (and every album has been different
from the others)?... I really respect the Cure, they've been (and still are?) my favourite band but please listen to
any other Cure album and you'll notice how bad this is. Where the fuck is Rob's talented voice? Where the fuck
is Roger? Where are the beautiful intros to the songs? Where are the beautiful sounds that only them are capable
to create? What's going on Bob? If the next thing to do is going to be like this: GIVE UP!. (Maybe there will be
some dignity left for you).

WHAT A NIGHTMARE!!!

- Paul Clarke
 
 

Just what I wanted.  Joy Division in the Cure.  Something darker?  Yes, but something more.  To be able to say i
am that, "starnger in love," as well as, "I couldnt love you more," is the Cure.  To give it a rank... well what else
would you listen to besides this?  Nothing!  at least for a short while :P  Kuddos to the guys!

- Ryan Karttunen
 
 

Here is the short version of my review of the cure. Look for the enhanced edition next month after I receive the
whole album, vinyl that is.  You will never actually get all of my review; I will keep about 25% in a recording
studio collecting dust. That 25% is the real meat of the review but hey why would anyone want that.

            Ill ask did Robert have the eye of the tiger during the recording of this album? Yes. Would he have beaten
down Clubber Lang a.k.a. Mr. T with this one? Too the ground, no doubt about it. How about Ivan Drago a.k.a.
the Russian. Well let’s just say it would be a great match. Maybe one too many moments of a bit too little heart
into a couple of the songs. I don’t know that this album would bring down the red army like our hero but it sure
comes close. Here without further ado I give to you a few opinions.

1. Lost.  Reminds me of my days in nom lost in the jungle, very heavy, it echoes through my head like the ak47
rounds that whiz by me in my dreams. Heavy, desperate, a brooding beat and the raw strain. Brilliant. Very angry,
after that whole heaviest album ever thing I had expected an album along the lines of this sound. I love it! A solid
9.924.

2. labrynth.      Perry used to be a snake charmer. Actually that sounds a lot like Porl (fast fingers with a million
little bends in the riff). This song is very well put forth. The open space the symbolism almost Jorge Luis Borges
2004! Ahh give me more I need more give me more. Needless to say another great song! 9.876.

3. before 3       An instant Favorite of Mine. I don’t know why but I get so stirred up over this song and then it
just turns to anger a lots and lots of anger. Really not the type of lyrics that I find myself falling for but hey I did.
J-lo eat your heart out. A not so solid, solid 9.857

4. teotw           I must admit the title threw me off before I had heard the song, I had visions of a self destructive
Hesse driven heavy song (boy was I wrong). I saw this at Leno very close to the stage then again at Coachella. I
like the changes in the song. I think it works. I love the video! I miss cure videos, I mean cut hear was good but it
wasn’t like the type of greatness of many cure videos. This has it. As for the song 7.8

5. Anniversary O man! I won’t even try. Just put your sennheizer head phones on and turn this song up to
reference level!!! A very solid 9.886!

6. Us or them.  Despite popular belief this song is not about Canada’s secret plot to take over Alaska. The
Canadians do put terror in even Roberts heart! Deadly frightening those Canadians deadly frightening! If you
ever thought, why Jason? Here is why! I love this song and much like Bobby Brown it’s my prerogative. Some
may hate this song but we can all agree on the genius of Mr. Brown! 9.864

7. alt. end        It took a few listens background, foreground, headphones, and now I like this song a good bit. I
feel the mood shifting. O no please, so great so far please don’t do anything my aunt Beth would not approve of.
7.777

8. I don’t know what’s going on

I don’t either. What just happened the first half of the album was epic! Looking like one of the best cure albums
(don’t freak out I only said one of the best, not the best or even top 5). This song does not fit my bill. Maybe yours
though. Short, and that’s sweet. 7.212

9. Taking off    Don’t everyone fret. Robert is not punching in any time clock. Maybe when he gets older he can
be a door greeter at wal-mart, I don’t think so. He did bring the 12 string out for this pop based song. It’s not a
bad song, of course not great like faith but I don’t mind it 7.521

10. Never.       It’s not good. I would rather hear this on the radio then most of what they play, good background
music, maybe. The kids will love it (there so dumb).                       ----Chorus please,

I  want so much  to  like   this   song

All  day  and   every night

I  will  never  really    like   this  song

It  will   never   be  enough   for   me

I   will   have   this  song  stuck  in  my   head

All   day   and   every  night

SHOOT ME PLEASE    5.111

11. The promise  Well we have come to the end of our short journey. And a great ending it is. I loved this song at
Coachella and I love it on the album, an instant classic cure song! How great is that. See it live and I just don’t
think you can argue the power of this song. I think I have played that Coachella set five thousand six hundred and
eighty nine times. Play this loud! Does that ring a bell? I thought lost was a bit better on the album then the
promise and the promise a bit better live then lost so it gets A very solid 9.918

And the 19th hole.

Maybe this cure album did not further punctuate how much I hate life most of the time (don’t get me wrong I still
hate life) but it still brought with it the power and emotion that I thrive from the cure. Not extremely thought
provoking but very raw and stripped down, I like that. A good cure album always makes you want more of the
same. I cannot count the times that I wish I had faith 2 or pornography part 6. The songs that I love from albums
like this are the cure to me. The new album is no exception; I have already fallen in love with many songs and wish
there were 368 more just like them. My view is pointless though so don’t think I am just standing up for the cure
(I’m not). If I did not like the album I would not have wrote anything. The album is very good.

-Brandon Flyg
 
 

Just got my first listen to the much anticipated album, and I have only one word to describe it....stunning!!!! For
me personally, this is perhaps the greatest Cure album ever, mainly because it contains huge elements of my
favourite albums...Pornography, Disintegration, and Kiss Me. Robert's vocals are the most powerful yet, an
interestingly different recording technique seemingly having being used ( kudos Ross!! ). When I initially heard
that Ross Robinson was producing, I had my doubts, but now it would appear that he was the perfect choice. In
short, this is the first Cure album since Disintegration, that I have instantly liked. The others since then have
had to grow on me, which took time, but which was well worth the wait. Hell!, I even remember upon first hearing
Wish thinking that it was terrible ( now some of the songs on there are in my favourites. ). And you know what the
beauty of this album is? The Cure are going to get a whole new legion of fans. I predict a return to their status
circa The Prayer Tour.  Happy days!!!

- Peter Slevin
 
 

Well, I must say this album is different, but of course it is the stream version and I am hoping the CD will sound
much better.  I discovered the band back in 1989 with "Disintegration" and of course I will forever love that
album.  I guess we can never expect to see another great album like that one, but I wouldn't say the new album
is the most terrible thing in the world.  I have heard worse.  From what I have heard I like everything but
alt.end, (I Don't Know What's Going) On, Taking Off, and Never, and I am hoping that some of these songs will
grow on me in time.  The rest of the album seems really good.  I must say Robert yells a little to much on this
album and The Promise is bit to long for my taste but it's something new and refreshing.  I have ordered the
import CD and I am hoping the 3 bonus tracks will be great.

- Joey Nabors
 
 

I wont go through every single song because well other people have already done that and it would be A LOT of
reading and writing on my part.  Anyway, I have listened to the album a couple of times and I have to say that I
think it’s BRILLIANT!!  I am looking forward to hearing the bonus tracks that we in the U.S. got screwed out of
I’m sure they are just as great if not better.  The b-sides usually are just that.  So back to the album, I haven’t
heard the band put something out like this for a long time.  It’s about time.  I love that it is so heavy and intense
in the singing and lyrics all the way through.  This to me is what The Cure is all about.  They never do anything
that any of us expect do they?  And for a lot of us that is why we love them.  That is why I love them.  Every
album is a piece of the ongoing puzzle that is The Cure and this is another piece.  I agree with most that it has the
intensity and drive of Pornography and the Kiss Me album and the romance of Bloodflowers and the emotions of
Disintegration.  My favs so far are Lost, Us or Them, Alt.end and call me corny but I like Taking Off.  I agree
that this is an album that will need to grow on some people and me included, but I’m sure there were fans that
needed Pornography to grow on them and Kiss Me as well as some of the other early ones.  I say give it some
time I know I will.  I agree with Craig that we all have the right to change our minds.  I think this album is going
to be AMAZING live and I cannot wait to hear it.  So overall I give it a 9 its great. Thanks for listening.

- Jenny Guynn
 
 

Some quick thoughts on the new album...

It's a very good album. Not excellent, but very good.
The first three tracks are classic Cure, Us or Them, alt.end and (I Don’t Know...) On are great songs.
The chorus to Never is awful though, but it’s the only really weak part of the album.
Rating of 7,5/10 and belongs somewhere between Wish and Bloodflowers.
A couple people have mentioned the stream quality and they are right: We’ll only know if this is an excellent
album after we listen to the CD! Can’t wait ‘til Tuesday!

- Rick.
 
 

While it's only of interest to Dutch readers, I'd still like to mention my first 'few' thoughts on 'The Cure' as just
posted on my website: www.kleinedingen.nl ('kleine dingen' means 'little things').

- Menno
 
 

Cant say Im hugely impressed on first listen.....

Best Songs: Anniversary, Going Nowhere, Lost, The Promise, alt end
And , to me, these wouldnt be classic Cure Moments,
However its been a long time since a Cure album has had to "grow" on me...so opinions may change,

Also the DVD isnt great by any stretch of the imagination (although the instrumental - think its called "Broken
Promises" is really really excellent (16 minutes long!!)

This album is a Major Grower...Add Before 3 Taking Off and Never to list above....serious U-Turn on the way..
(and glad to admit it!!)

- Donal Kelleher
 
 

e viens d'écouter le nouvel album quatre fois et je lui mets 7.5 sur 10 en note global.
L'album est comme Watching me fall, long et ennuyant.
Cependant il y a certaines chansons qui se démarquent:
LOST Superbe entrée.  9/10
LABYRINTH: un ptit côté indou 6/10
BEFORE THREE: a cure pop song  9.5/10
EOTW: simplement génial. Excitante. Une ligne de basse comme je les aime.10/10
ANNIVERSARY: Cela fait penser à SLOWDIVE???????? 8.5/10
US OR THEM: Une chanson nerveuse, on sent Robert en colère. 5.5/10
ALT END: In your house en moins bon.......5.5/10
IDKWG ON : Pas mal, une autre pop song mais moins bonne que before 3. 8/10
TAKING OFF: J'aime vraiment celle ci. Son côté dansant me rappel MINT CAR. 9.5/10
NEVER: Rien à dire. Je ne ressens rien. Ou veulent ils aller????????  3/10
THE PROMISE: Une trés bonne fin.. Le concept est là: un début, une fin..Un peu longue mais une superbe
ambiance.9/10

- Mikael Lambing
 
 

I've listened to the new Cure album several times... And i really appreciate the things other cure fans said about
the album, but i have this really weird feeling... Ok, it's not the perfect cure album (but then again, my perfect cure
album is - almost sure - not your perfect cure album), but, hey, it's about the best album i've heard in months! It
has the intensity of Pornography, the variation of KMKMKM, Wish and WMS, the anger of 'Give me it', the
romance of Bloodflowers'...

I can understand that some people don't like robert screaming, and i can understand that some people don't like
the structure of some songs (like, oops, this is not a verse-chorus-verse song, blimey...) and i can even understand
that some people don't like the fact that The Cure recycles their own songs... But just close your eyes and listen
to the power of the songs, listen to the voice, listen to the intensity of the lyrics and the music...

How much everyone (?) wanted a 'Disintegration II' this is not 'The Cure 1989' anymore (that was 15 years
ago !!!! it's like yearning for the first nick drake album...be real, please). Let's face it: this is The Cure 2004 and
although i 'follow' them since 1981 (yes yes, youngsters, since charlotte sometimes) i really love this album... It's
much much much better than 99% of the other albums i heard lately and it's real, not fake... You know,  it reminds
me of the 'pornography' period  where almost every cure-fan over here in belgium hated the album and thought
The Cure were losing it... And we all know that Pornography is still considered as the weakest cure album,
no??? ;-) So please, hold your reins...

And after all: even if you hate it, it's just a record, no... Keep your anger for the things that really count...

- Robbertc
 
 

First off i'd like to say that my favorite album above all is wish. after that it's kiss me, and then WMS. after that
it's probably a tie for HOTD and disintegration. but i pretty much love everything the cure has ever released, with
the exception of 'Watching me fall'.. i absolutely have a terrible dislike for that song.. i don't want to say hate
because it's such a strong word.. but you get the idea. now. i'm not really going to give a number rating on these
songs, i'm just going to tell my thoughts. i've been listening to this constantly since i got it, so this is probably after
about 20 listens..

lost - when i heard it first live from coachella, i didn't really care for it.. and then i heard the studio version, which
i didn't really like at first.. but now i find it getting stuck in my head, and it's really such a powerful song.. i do
quite like it a lot now, and will probably like it more as time passes.

labyrinth - weird eastern musical sounds, the strange vocal effects, all cool. but the lyrics remind me a lot of
'watching me fall'.. and so i don't really like the lyrics all that much.. also noticed lots of 'watching me fall'/'39'
guitars in there.. it also seems to take a while for the song to "pick up". this is another one of those cure songs
where i have just no idea what he is singing about.. lol so, i give this one a 7 out of 10 because i do like it, i just
don't love it. maybe with time.

before three - such a great song! when i heard the coachella version i wanted to hear the studio version so bad,
and that was the first thing i listened to when i got the album. i love the lyrics and the music fits very well.. despite
what lots of people say, i still love the 'owwww!'s :) this may be my favorite song on the album, also get this one
stuck in my head. as for the people getting mad because robert uses the F word.. that's like his trademark cuss
word, leave him alone! ;)

TEOTW - i loved this song the first time i watched it on TV. still love it, love the longer version even more than
the single version.. i happened to like the "ooo ee ooo"s :) for some reason this song really reminds me of 'cut
here'.. lol

anniversary - could have been on 'wish' i think. some of the music doesn't quite "flow" with the lyrics, but overall
i really like this song. it's a good love song, but not a sappy poppy one. very sweet, and sad.

us or them - i was really scared when i read this song started out like 'watching me fall'. but i think it's done
MUCH better. angry robert song. it's not a favorite, but i don't dislike it either.. i'm guessing the lyrics are really
political which is not really my thing, so the lyrics don't quite appeal to me as much as maybe someone else.

alt.end - it really is 'in your house' meets 'let's go to bed', but i really love the music in this song, that guitar part
is great. i didn't even notice the "claps" until i really listened for them. the lyrics are your typical robert "i want
to end the band and never make another album".. hehe, we all know that's not going to happen! (especially since
they have a 3 album deal w/ ross...) i would have to say i don't really care for the lyrics, but it is a 'sing along'
song.

(IDKWG) on - i really really love this song, maybe my 3rd favorite on the album. i only wish it was longer! great
little poppy love song. some of the lyrics are nonsense, but it's OK, it works.

taking off - probably my 2nd favorite song on the album, yes, i like the poppy songs.. a lot of people say this
reminds them of 'just like heaven' but i really hear more 'friday i'm in love' in there.. especially the beginning of it
. the lyrics are great, really catchy. this song also reminds me of some of the WMS b-sides, like 'a pink dream',
the singing style.

never - this song is just odd.. for some reason it reminds me of early green day.. think 'welcome to paradise'. it
really doesn't sound like anything the cure has ever done before. as someone else mentioned, the lyrics/singing
don't really fit the music.. they said it was like singing 'plainsong' on top of 'mint car'... and yeah..i'd have to agree.
hehe this song is just weird.

the promise - wow.. this may be a runner up for me on the strong dislike list.. i heard the live coachella version,
and i wasn't impressed.. and the studio version is really not much better.. this song just annoys me to no end.. all
that guitar solo in the middle of the song, i really just think it has no place. and everytime i hear robert say "and i
waited" i think "for this song to end!" i know lots of other people love it.. but for me, if it's a long song, it needs
more lyrics, a story, or something, not just "waiting" and guitar solo.. i mean, my FAVORITE cure song is 7:44..
'from the edge of the deep green sea'.. so it's not that i just don't like long songs, this one just bothers the hell out
of me.

and i happen to get my hands on

going nowhere - THIS is what the album is missing, the sad songs with the piano/keyboard.. like trust, apart,
treasure, this is a lie, i'm hoping that more of the 'b-sides' are like this song, because the album is terribly lacking
with out a song like this.. this song is beautiful, i've only heard a bad quality version, but it's definitely what the
album is missing, i can't believe they left it off!

so overall, i think it's a pretty good album, it may come in 4th on my favorites list. the only thing i really didn't like
about it, was the 'live' recording.. the instruments being done that way is fine, but robert's voice NEEDS TO BE
MIXED.. if i wanted him to sing it live i would go see him in concert! (and i am, twice!) i really just miss the way
his vocals sound on a recording from this album.. that's my only real complaint, and the lack of "sad" songs.. but i
think the b-sides will make up for that.

- Lisa Flach
 
 

Okay, i'm going to play the "bad guy" tonight. please let me preface by saying this... i have been a huge cure fan
since i was seven (yes, the singles do reach out to some of us)... and am now listening to a great album,
"Disintegration"... i need to listen to something great...because i've listened to something truly terrible. "The
Cure".... where to begin. i won't take a track-by-track approach. i just want to make some comments. first, i think
there have been so many positive reviews from people because it is only natural for those who are excited to start
spouting of praises. i am willing to bet that more negative comments will come in after the actual record is
released. i'm sure many people who feel the way i do are simply hoping they are wrong, and that the actual cd will
sound so terrifically better that they won't dislike it as much. when they are disappointed all over again they will
write in.
     I just want to say that i agree that the first half of the record isn't all that bad. "Lost" isn't as good as other
openers, but it is passionate. I really like "End Of The World"...even though i could do without the little kid "ooo
eee ooo's". Lastly, "Anniversary" is one of the better Cure songs I've ever heard. skipping to the very end....of
course "The Promise" is a great song. I should mention that I'm here in Chicago. Thus, "Going Nowhere"...which
actually is the best song by far...won't be included on my cd. So, i get to order an import too...but, i'll get back to
that. anyway, those songs are really good. there's a couple that aren't too bad. yet, let's just be blunt...the rest of
the record is a joke. please tell me it is. so, we've waited around another fours years for this? a record that i
know from day one i'll be skipping half the songs? someone please honestly tell me that "Never" is a great song.
could you really say that with a straight face? please believe me... i have nothing against a "new" sound, but this
isn't it. this is a mess. i'm not going to get into details because it bothers me too much to talk about the cure in
such a negative way.
      still.... let me get this off my chest. i really dislike this record. i have a good dozen serious cure fans as close
friends...i mean serious fans. not a single one likes it even a little. it is only the few people on here that say they
like it that i've heard anything positive about it from. they hate the record. speaking for all of us... we hate the
festival type tour with bands that don't matter to us, or we simply don't like.  we're not happy about the subsequent
cost of such a "festival" show. we are beside ourselves over a record that has four different track listings...from a
guy who only a year ago wanted to release it himself and not have to deal with a record company ever again. have
we forgotten that one? to get all the songs...at least right now, because you can never trust what robert says about
releasing all the songs everywhere anymore... we need to buy the domestic version for the dvd, and at least one
of the imports, or an import and the single (which the single is better than the album version). doesn't this all seem
quite disappointing? i know people who are fighting with themselves to buy the record. they feel like they're letting
down their best friend if they don't buy it...even though they HATE it. one friend in particular... she cried...cried...
and told me that she felt like she lost her best friend. she has Cure tattoos, and she doesn't know why anymore.
for all the people who love the record...and have no problem with all these things... i'm glad you don't. i really hope
you enjoy the record...we all have different tastes and reasons why we love The Cure. but....
i will end with this.... i know some of you love him...some of you hate him.... but, i have always said that i was a
Cure fan, then a Morrissey fan secondarily. i've spent 3/4 of my life listening to the cure. i basically grew into the
darker themes as i grew up. robert smith is the only thing that has stayed the same in my life... he taught me...he
pleaded for me to..."stay the same". now he's changed. it's not the same. he'll never be the same. (now i sound
like a robert lyric). he says...' if you don't like this record, you don't like "The Cure".... i guess i'm a morrissey
fan now. i can't believe i said that...and i used to detest Morrissey as much as any one of you ever has. now i'm
going to cry too.... sorry everyone.

- Erik Andrew
 
 

There appears to be so much moaning about this, that and the other on 'The Cure'.  "...Disappointing..." seems
to be mentioned quite frequently.  But what right have we got to be disappointed?  At the end of the day, The Cure
are writing these songs because they want to, not because they are thinking about how well received they will be.
The Cure leave that to people like U2.  Just as beauty is in the eye of the beholder, music is in the ear of the
beholder.  And in my opinion there are some great songs on 'The Cure'. The anger and the passion comes across
so well in Robert's voice and in the music.  Let us not forget that it will sound much better on CD as opposed to
streaming audio.

A lot of people are drawing comparisons with other albums as well.  Stop! Each Cure album is an entity unto
itself, and cannot be compared.  And each song within each album is unique.  So take each song on its own without
trying to workout what it sounds like.

One last moan - and not about the album.  A lot of Cure 'fans' take an immediate dislike to anything 'poppy'.
Yes, I know the press have always projected The Cure as 'Goths', but let's face it, if you know The Cure then
you know they are not Goths.  Sure, the vast majority of their material is gloomy and atmospheric, and I myself
happen to prefer that.  But let's not forget that the guys that conceived 'One Hundred Years' and 'Cold' also
brought us 'Just Like Heaven' and 'Why can't I be you?'.  I happen to really enjoy 'alt.end'.  I love what Robert
does with his voice and, shock horror kill-this-guy-cos-he-is-a-traitor, I happen to like some stuff to be more
upbeat.  You don't have to be miserable ALL the time to be a Cure fan!!! That is not what the Cure is about. Look
at Robert, our 'hero'; in interviews he has got that cute nervous smile look going, he dotes on Mary and has
written her some of the most beautiful love songs ever released, he's up for having a joke with friends, he has got
shit loads of money in the bank (not that money is everything, but of course it helps).  This clearly shows that he
is not the miserable person that everyone perceives him as.  So for you Cure fans out there that want to be more
like Robert, start smiling a bit more and stop moping and complaining about anything you think isn't miserable
enough.  You are allowed to be happy as well, you know.

Over the years The Cure have given a huge mix of emotions: angry, desperate, happy, sad, stoned, in love, out
of love etc. 'The Cure' fits right in with all that.  I think it is classic Cure in the sense it is so different to so
much of their back catalogue.  Remember what he said, if you don't like this, then you don't like the Cure. Keep
bringing it on Robert & Co.

- Paul Rimmer
 
 

Robert Smith and crew always amaze me with what you can do with music.  This album is really good and im sure
will move up the charts, but who cares about charts.  They mean nothing.  I have listened to the album several
times now and its awesome.  Its music!  To me it doesn't have any bad moments.  Its all Smith and he knows how
to express himself through music and it shows. 10/10

- Chris Satterwhite
 
 

I cant believe there are some cure fans here that after listening to a streamed version of the album are writing such negative reviews. I wonder what reviews they would have given Disintegration if the first time they heard it was from a compressed stream over the internet. They probably would have wondered where their just like heaven was. Wait for the cd version you lunatics and then you can complain.

This is a great album. There are two bad songs here that no amount of production could fix. Taking off is just an embarrassment. The music to the song works. The vocals are plucked right out of the WMS era. Someone needs
to get Robert in a headlock and give him indian burns until he cries uncle and agrees never to record any poppy
quirky wild mood swingy songs ever again. But every album has filler ok? The Killers debut album..everyone
says it is brilliant. I agree..it's good but there are like 3 songs on the album that are obvious filler. Noone cares.
But with the cure the bar was raised so high with disintegration(a beautiful album with no filler) that cure fans
continue to compare each subsequent album with that masterpiece. Let it go.

- Bloodyface
 
 

Well, in this time, most of you have written track-by-track of the new cure album, and that's enough i.m.h.o. but i
have to say: i've been waiting for this kind of sound for so long! A new "the kiss", "all i want" or "shiver and
shake" atmosphere. i was expecting for a powerful cure and finally they showed me this new work. It fit very
well with my wish. "Us or Them" is rock! The best part of the show! I hope I can see them in Brazil.

- Álvaro Ghiraldini
 
 

I find that I’m liking the new record for a lot of the reasons some folks aren’t liking it, or at least certain parts
of it. Sure sure, we can argue that it doesn’t sound like the classic Cure of old, (i.e. Disintegration, Kiss Me,
entire back catalogue) but then…it’s not supposed to. Yes, there are elements that remind us of older songs but
there are new sounds to relish here. As someone knowingly pointed out in an earlier review, this is the Cure
today, now, at this moment. We could never expect anything less. We could never expect another Disintegration,
nor should we. I say let the artists grow. Let them delve into uncharted territory. Let them do something fresh.
We’re lucky we have anything new at all.

I may seem defensive but I’m one of those fans that has been a cheerleader for ‘new Cure’ (or, post-Wish Cure).
I’m one of those blokes that loves songs like Round & Round & Round and Trap and Cut Here, just as much as
older songs. And yes, there’s nothing like 80’s Cure, but there’s nothing like today’s Cure. Ross Robinson has
done wonders for a band seeking new inspiration. Case in point:

Lost – Love the crash noise in the beginning. It develops the live in-studio feel immediately. The rawness of the
song, how broken down it is, it’s genius. The Cure have done everything musically. A song this wrung dry, this
thirsty...I haven’t heard this from Bobert before. Not in this way. 10/10

Labyrinth – The Snakepit’s charm circa 2004. Scary and beautiful. The effects on Robert’s voice are cool. A
smart choice as it spices things up. We all know he has a great voice. This doesn’t modify it. I think it just keeps
things interesting. Labyrinth is also a great ‘second’ song. Heavy, to keep your interest until Before Three. 9/10

Before Three – A perfect song. Everything here confirms The Cure are the best band in the world. 10/10

TEOTW - Actually, the oooooo-eeeeee-oooooooo's kinda make the song. I think that without them, the song
wouldn’t bounce the way it does. I look forward to that part, actually. An otherwise welcome new single. It gets
better with every listen (which is surprising because I thought I’d be over it by now).  8/10

Anniversary – Best opening I’ve heard in awhile. The weaving of guitar and keyboards is just fantastic. I’m glad
it’s short. The best songs usually are. Thrilling. 10/10

Us or Them – Overtly political or just generally angsty? Who cares! Great dark stuff. Simon rules this one. 7/10

alt:end – “…not about running out on you” drew me in immediately. Great lyrics. I love the claps!!!!!!!!! I say
it’s about time, yes, bring back the old elements already!!! The Let’s Go To Bed/The Walk period is a vital part
of the Cure’s sound. Dust off the old casio! Mixed with Simon’s vintage bass..it’s butter. This song is necessary
as it lightens the load from earlier, heavier tracks. It’s good to have something sparse and effects-driven to break
up the back-in-business guitar havoc. 8/10

(IDKWG) On – Another wonderful wonderful song. It’s exactly the type of song you need ¾ the way through a
record. It is constantly building. It’s poppy and it keeps the pace. That’s the great thing about this record. It has
extraordinary pacing. Usually by this point in a record the listener gets bored. This song has a profoundly positive
vibe. I get chills. 10/10

Taking Off – Another new classic. Sure sure, it’s very Just Like Heaven/In Between Days/Exploding Boy/Pink
Dream but it’s delicious. I’m pleased to know Robert still has some of the great songs left in him. 10/10

Never – This song sounds very cathartic. Like an unfinished thought. Or a meandering run-on sentence. But it
works. It has its place. 39 was the same way. Second-to-last songs usually do. (I know, on the UK proper, it’s
second-to-second-to last.) This song is also a testament to Jason. A brilliant drummer, finally with a chance to
shine on this album. 6.5/10

The Promise – Einstein brilliant. ‘Nuff said. 10/10

Verdict: A frickin’ 10. It saved my summer. I was in a foul mood before I heard it. Now I’m bright and shiny.
Without comparing it to other Cure albums, I will go as far as saying it’s one of their best. (Their best song
however is Bloodflowers…a matter of opinion.)

- John McKenna
 
 

I have listened to each tracks several times by now... It all feels awkward to me. Musically, I have little to say.
It is all expected... But I will not repeat what most of you have written already for my feelings about the songs are
very similar.

What I am mostly uncomfortable with is some of Robert's vocals and lyrics. I have been following The Cure from
The Top period. Never have I felt like this listening to a new cure record. Vibratos? Seriously... And I question
how serious he was on a song like (I Don't Know What's Going) On... I mean, maybe it was the point but it's
nearly painful... He truly sounds like a little annoying girl who's much too joyful for her own good, singing every
word on every beat forcefully... Very strange... But it gets worse! Taking Off is embarrassing... A kind of 2
Late / Halo gone terribly wrong... Not even worthy of being a b-side. Should have been obvious from the sound of
Alt. End.

Overall, not a single song from this album is a strong favorite or offers anything other songs haven't. I must be
honest, I'm extremely disappointed. I'll end up doing the same as I did with Wild Mood Swings and edit the cack
from the album and bring in the amazing b-sides to burn it all as a new cd to listen to! Seriously, why would the
best stuff be kept for b-sides? What's the point? This isn't The Cure I admire... And the worse to it all is that I
can't keep myself from buying all the releases yet again.

Truly not a great cure moment... When was the last great cure moment again?

(...)

Burn... Possibly Dread Song too... Off album great moments... Tells all!

Maybe the next album is it!"

- Steeve Patrick
 
 

After listening to the VH1.com stream five times or so (and many more for some songs), here is my track-by-track
rundown:

1.  Lost -- Excellent song, very Nine Inch Nails-like, the buildup is awesome.  It goes from an okay song to an
astonishingly excellent one when Robert starts screaming and the music falls apart.  A solid 8.

2.  Labyrinth -- Another awesome track that gets better with every listen.  It reminds me of "Snakepit"
music-wise, but the vocals are dubbed differently than they ever have been before, and it gives Robert a deeper
voice (though nothing like the Elvis impersonation on "Club America", thankfully).  Very spooky song.  I give this
one a 9.

3.  Before Three -- Of all the happier songs on the record, this is the best by far, probably because there's a bit of
a dark side to the song.  The lyrics are really good, as are the vocals and the music, but the mix is just off.
Hopefully this one will improve when I hear the actual CD.  For now I give it a 7.

4.  The End of the World -- This song would be great if it weren't for the breakdown oooooo-eeeeee-oooooooo's.
The same goes for the squeals and the Yeah Yeah Yeah's of some of the later songs -- that shit was okay ten
years ago, but now it just mars otherwise good songs (or at least decent ones).  But having said that, I like most
of this song, so I'll give the first half a 7 and the rest a 4.

5.  Anniversary -- Finally, a song that tugged at my emotions, and what a song it is.  The lyrics are among the
best Robert's written.  It's like "Same Deep Water As You" and "Bloodflowers" had a child, with a driving
drumbeat that reminds me of ocean waves.  This one is without a doubt a 10.

And then, after a fairly solid first half, the next five tracks come and shit all over everything.

6.  Us or Them -- Absolutely hated it on the first listen, but I might be warming up to this one.  Just maybe.  I
can't listen to it right after "Anniversary" -- it just does not belong coming after that masterpiece.  There's just
something off about it, and I'm not convinced that it's genuine.  I'm on the fence, so it gets a 5.

7.  alt.end -- I probably wouldn't be able to figure out what to call this musical turd either, but Esc would have been
better.  The guitar part is interesting but absolutely nothing else is, and there's a lot more of the else.  It gets a 3
because 1 and 2 are reserved for the absolute worst Cure songs, and this one's just like one of the lesser tracks
on Wild Mood Swings.

8.  (I Don't Know What's Going) On -- (I Don't Give a) Fuck.  One of the absolute worst, and therefore a 1.

9.  Taking Off -- Just Like Heaven Part Deux.  Only this sequel doesn't improve on the original, it just turns it
into a shitty song.  You know the label is banking on this being the money shot, but to me it's just a big old number
2.

10.  Never -- This one goes directly on the bottom of all the 1's -- I'd rather listen to the previous two tracks again.
And again.  This one is a 0 all by itself.

11.  The Promise -- As many of you do, I love the version from Coachella, and this album version just doesn't
quite capture the feeling right.  It's still an awesome song, at least an 8 until I hear it on CD, but it just wasn't
enough to pull the record from off the floor (or my mood up after the previous five songs).

Overall, I'm just plain disappointed.  Most of Wild Mood Swings in better than this, and Bloodflowers is far
superior -- this pales in comparison.  Starts off killer and ends in the shitter (except for "The Promise", which
somehow manages to crawl out of the bowl).  The missing tracks better be awesome, because this is not the album
I had been waiting for.  As a collection of songs it's severely half-cooked -- the great moments are truly amazing,
just unfortunately too few and far between.

- Woland
 
 

Not that my opinion means much, but I may as well throw my two cents in since others have.  I am a Wish
generation Cure fan.  I was never exposed to the Cure until 1992 due to the fact I lived in Nashville at the time,
and the Cure was not promoted their, nor had they ever played their until the WMS Tour in 1996.

Thus being said, Mixed Up was actually my first Cure CD (actually it was a tape, which I wore out quickly and
purchased another copy).  I worked my way to Wish, then back to Disintegration, and so forth.  I have seen the
Cure a few times, and have amassed a substantial collection of signed items, posters, and CD's (singles,
full-length, import, bootleg).

I get the feeling long time Cure fans (those before 1992) were not receptive to Wish following the amazing
Disintegration.  I however love the sounds of the much disrespected Wish, the applauded Disintegration,  and
Bloodflowers.

After saying all this, I am a bit disappointed in what I have heard from the new CD.  Maybe I just need repetitive
listening, but normally with Cure CD's I dont need repetitive listening. DIFFJUZ makes a great point, that I dont
wanna live in the past, and I am not opposed to new  sounds and material, but I wish there was more of the Cure I
grew to love in my early days.  He is right about the new bands, The Gloria Record, and Pretty The Quick Black
Eyes, being heavily influenced by the Cure.  By my standards the last Pretty The Quick Black Eyes sounds
more like the Cure than the new CD.

Before Three and Anniversary are by far the best tracks.  As I write this, I am ordering the Japanese Import
from IdealCopy, so dont doubt my allegiance as a fan.  I will buy the US copy of the CD with DVD, the Japanese
copy, and TEOTW single to obtain all the tracks, and I will see the Cure in Nashville at the end of July.

To the band, keep up the great work!!! To many of us, your music has been a joy to our lives,filled voids, and
helped many of us through difficult times.

- Curefanatic2100
 
 

Lost 8/10

Like the live version better then the strange studio sound version. But its a great track.. Maybe a little bit to
short. The best lyric of the album I think.. " I cant find myself" will be a classic cure line.. Couldnt have been
on the " darkest album ever " like Robert used to call the album...

Labrynth 9/10

I really really like this mix on Roberts voice.. One of the best tracks on the album . Maybe I wanted a little more
to happen to the song along the way than just Rogers coming in with his keyboard in the middle . I love it anyway
The best track for now..

Before Three 7 / 10

Still Disappointed! It was perfect live. Now the guitare sounds bad and it doest work with Roberts voice.. The
really fucked up a perfect song.. But its still Good. Bright.

The End of the World  6 / 10

Its allright. Its too long!!! Whitout the video that is.. Ok its a single but still .. This song is also better live.. I dont
know what they have done in the studio.. Damn you Ross

Anniversary 7.5 / 10

I like this song. But more dark strings Roger.Like on Cold , That would have been perfect. And I also want more
to happen to the song . Not as good as The Loudest sound.. It feels like that type of a song

Us or Them 7 / 10

Could have been more melody to it I think. I like when Roberts doing his sounds.. Like in the start of this one.
The bass is cool.. Never Enough feel to it.. I must say.. and thats not bad at all I think..

Alt. End 3 / 10

Everytime the song starts I start to sing on The walk or is it Lets go to bed hmmm I forgat.  This is bad.. What
was you thinking when you wrote this.. Bloodflowers I think didnt have a bad song on it.. This is not enough
to be on a Cure album. Crap. Why?

(I dont know whats going ) On 8 / 10

This is how a The Cure Pop song should sound Like I think.. Like Spilt Milk! You get so happy hearing this. Im
a much more fan of the dark songs by the band.. But this is not a filler song.. I read that many people dont like
Robert when his doing his bright voice thing.. I love it..

Taking off 5.5 / 10

Head on the door !! It really is Exploding boy 2004.. This I think is a B-side track. To happy and boring. Not got
the right hook to be a single I think.  Release Lybrynth as a single and make a dark video! maybe it wont sell
but does it matter. Who though Disintegration would sell...hmmm

Never 4.5 / 10 . Nooo! Im sad when I hear this. What the fuck it isnt even a song. Sometimes you think his lost
his touch but then he makes songs like Lost.. I think I should choose what tracks that should end up on the
album.. Like when a perfect Cure song like It used to be me where put a side for crap songs like numb and Round
and Round And Round on WMS

The Promise 8.5 / 10 The End of the song is perfect. This is how The cure should sound like more. Desperete
sound . Robert screaming out You promise me .. makes you almost scream yourself in anger.  This is a perfect
way to end before . The Homesick+ Untitled type of song Going Nowhere

The album is like Wish. Some Dark and some really Bright But its more uneven then Wish.. Wish has so many
good songs like End, Trust ( The best song ever made ) To wish impossible thing , The edge of the..... and also
got perfect pop songs like High and doing the unstock...  But " The cure " lack that.. I dont like Alt.End ´, Never
,..At all.. There fucking bad..  Why does he always do this.. Put away dark song for the b- side of some single..
When Robert said this will be the darkest and Heaviest album ever.. had he written Taking off then !!!! But i
Like the album its nice you. Some good songs that no other band can come close to...
Its after 1. Disintegration. 2. Bloodflowers. 3. Wish . 4  Pornography 5. "The Cure"

It didnt save the summer, but almost..

- Pont wist
 
 

First off, I should say that I have recently taken to re-sequencing Wish and Wild Mood Swings, substituting
b-sides for crap tracks, and have discovered that WMS is a great album, and Wish is a true classic; they
were just released wrong. So this opinion is based on an mp3 player mindset. :)

Lost: Something about this song sounds "off", and that's what makes it great! Very intense, and a great lead-in
to the overall sound of the album.

Labyrinth: This is where the album really establishes it's mood. Similar to The Snakepit, but far more interesting.
There is a groove here that  strangely reminds my of Primal Scream. I can't wait to get this going full blast while
barreling down the highway.

Before Three: This song just make me feel really happy that I'm alive and breathing air - nothing wrong with that!
I can't wait to hear it live, and only hope I have someone to make-out with while it's playing. :P

The End of the World: It's not a bad song, but it has bored me silly since I first heard it on Leno. The brilliant
keyboards in the middle save it. (Where the hell is Roger on the rest of the album?!?)

Anniversary: Starts off dancey, but quickly becomes oppressive as hell. While the sound is different, the mood is
like Faith or Pornography. Easily my favorite so far. This song alone makes the album. Too short!!

Us or Them: Must be the most overtly political song they've ever done. The bass rules. This is another that will
make you envision crosshairs in your car's windshield. :P

alt.end: Sadly, this is where the mood of album changes. Not bad, per se, but generic as a rice cake. Should have
been a b-side.

(I Don't Know What's Going) On: Another generic pop track. I actually really like it, but any longer, and I
wouldn't. The whole song sounds like bridge to a much greater track.

Taking Off: A great pop song. This has to be the next single. It will bomb commercially, but pick up the perfect
type of new fans.

Never: This song is shit. It's 12 pounds of hammered shit. It should have never made it past the demo stage.
Sounds like the fucking Gin Blossoms working grunge.

The Promise: A good track, but not enough to pull the album from mediocrity.

My initial impressions after a couple listens are that this starts out as the best live Cure album ever, but it really
falls flat at alt.end, and never really recovers. I can't help but think about what these songs "could have been"
with proper production. I do appreciate the live sound of the album as a nice change from a sound that was frankly
getting a bit stale, but part of me will inevitably miss the differences between the live and studio versions in the
future.

The two standouts for me are definitely "Before Three" and "Anniversary". "Never" should be jettisoned and
forgotten about. Jason's drumming is massively improved (really one of the highlights of the album), but Roger is
sadly buried beyond recognition. Simon is as great as ever.

Based on what is reported, a quick ripping and rearrangement once all  the b-sides are released will make this
album a true great. For now it's merely good.

- James Mcvay
 
 

I dont know what's going on. Third time I listen to the Cure (the album) and it just doesn't work with me. Maybe it
will grow, but at the moment this record is worth three songs: Lost, Labyrinth, Promise. I don't feel it is any more
the time neither the case to give the guys a hard time because it would be unfair, other than not helping in making
the record any better. Let the younger fans do that. Me, I dont say much ... the ghost of WMS is just too heavy
here, and they completely lose me when they resort to the hysteric/self-referential electropop of the mid-album
(by the way, am I listening to Depeche Mode echoes in tracks 5,6?). That is where this record fails to ... take off
for me. But differently from 8 years ago instead of reacting angrily I just turn it off. Maximum respect to the Cure
(the band), we have a summer (and hopefully more later on) of great moments such as Cure concerts ahead and
that is good enough for me now. This isn't how it's always been / Everything has to have changed ... Or it's me ...

Just wanted to amend my statement of yesterday for fairness ... "this album (for lucky UK fans) is worth FOUR
songs". 'Going nowhere' gives us back a 3 minute glimpse of the band that we appraise. Touching and intense,
one of those songs that makes the 4 years wait worthwhile.
Outside of the corporate logic of Geffen, here is the touch of the musicians that have inspired us through closing
years. Will start looking for the missing songs asap. I no longer have hopes but I still have faith.

- Davide Consoli
 
 

I've just listened to "the Cure" ...and let me tell u....is great!! it makes u forget the last 12 years of "mediocrity".
U got the power and passion that u can find in "Kiss me Kiss me", the melancholic atmospheres of
"Disintegration", some pop echoes from "the head on the door", Robert Smith's voice look so great, not tired
and bored like in Bloodflowers......the cure are back, are younger, more beuatiful, more powerfull....u can't wish
better!! listen to "the cure" and get bedazzled!....so happy and enthusiast ....

-  F.E.
 
 

Well, you did ask for album feedback, so here's mine (hope you're not overwhelmed with reviews yet!). I work at
a radio station here in Vermont, so I have an early promo copy of the album (as opposed to listening on 4-inch
computer speakers at VH1, I can give it a spin through my expensive stereo!)

Robinson's influence is definitely felt here, but with Robert's blessing, for good or for bad. His decree - tone down
the keyboards and pretty melodies and crank up the angst and guitars, as evidenced by " Lost", surely one of the
most directionless and boring songs I have heard by this band. Sure to appeal to the youngsters, I'm sure!!
"Labyrinth" - not much better, really. An often-heard eastern melody that really ends up going nowhere. I'm not
impressed so far. Ah, but "Before Three" - now we're talking; classic Cure here. "TEOTW", I'm already
overfamiliar with - ok, but nothing great. "Anniversary" - again, nice and dark, but with an odd rhythm I can't
quite wrap myself around yet. "Us and Them" is pretty damn heavy for this band - shades of "Watching me fall"
but thankfully not as long! "Alt.end" I actually like a lot more than you - has a nice "Kiss Me" (album) feel to it,
but I need it to grow on me. "I don't know" and "Taking off" I like, since both offer some "Classic Cure"
sounds and arrangements that remind me of both "Kiss" and "Wish". "Never"? God, what were they
thinking??? The "Mint Car" of this album. Out of place, pointless, without a hint of melody! Wouldn't have even
made an acceptable B-side! And "The Promise"? The ten-minute epic I was so looking forward to? Good, but not
great, and way too long for what it is. Seems like a way to pad the already too-short running length of the album.
So what to do we have? A album designed to appeal to both old fans and new, young ones who will be discovering
them at Curiosa - hence, the album starts in angst and ends in noise. Overall, with only one listen under my belt, I
classify this in the range of "Wild Mood Swings" - some great songs mixed with several that will be victim of my
"skip" button. I'm a big enough fan to have purchased the vinyl version for the extra songs - that way I can have
a larger selection to choose from when listening. Really looking forward to that! I need more of "The Cure" on
"The Cure", and the 11 songs here are not really givin' it to me!

- Dave Parker
 
 

It took me a couple of listens before i could really formulate an honest opinion. Overall, I think it's the most solid
album since Disintegration. Wish had some classic cure tracks, but there's a few on there that i HATE. WMS...
well no explanation necessary there....Bloodflowers? good but not great. I'm ranking the songs in order of
preference with 1 being best:

1) Lost - incredible song. I love the intensity in his vocals and i love the bass and guitar.

2) Never - I just love the rhythm section and vocals on this song. This will be a great live song due to it's
intensity...I can see it as a main set closer, but i doubt it.

3) Anniversary - I love the slow emotional songs...and this one has a bit of tension in it which works nicely. I love
the scary sounds in it.

4) Labryinth - I like the build up and the vocal effect, great powerful heavy song.

5) Promise - Lot's of guitars and noise. I love it

6) Before 3 - I could do without the squeal and yeah yeah yeah in the beginning but i love everything else about
the song especially the fluctuating notes on some words.

7) I don't know - love the lyrical stylings. Music and lyrics remind me of the band The Sea and Cake.

8) Alt end - I don't know what to say that hasn't already been said

9) Us or them - Nice dark heavy song.

10) EOTW - I guess it's just that i've heard this so much already

11) Taking off - So so song...good generic cure sound, but nothing special...kinda reminds of Friday I'm in love
meets mint car. The "tonight" part reminds me of the "Tonight" in doubt.

- Roger Mercier
 
 

Awful! If Robert wasn't singing it would have been impossible to know its the Cure. Dull, average rock. Going
nowhere is the best track. I can't stand labyrinth, Us or them, I dont know what's going on, the promise or never.
Where are the elements that made the Cure so special? No melody, no emotion, no nothing. And the dvd was just
waste of money.

- Antti Hietamäki
 
 

I listen to the all the songs three times now. And i have to admit: THIS IS A FUCKING GREAT ALBUM !!!
Well done Roger, robert, simon, jason and perry !!!!!!!!

My favorites are  LABRYNTH, ANNIVERSARY and THE PROMISE.
And this album does not remind of anything they did before. Only when you listen to the promise you will reconize
the same guitar sound they did with THE KISS. And i love this kind of guitar playing.
Cant wait to see them at the werchter festival next week. Hope they will play THE PROMISE !!!

- Marco
 

So I got ahold of a copy tonight from some .afx tricks and here goes my review Of a very important cure album,

Lost     rating 10

An amazing track, totally different from every song the cure has ever opened an album with. The slight detune in
the opening bars is amazing and again so unformulated for the cure,
First initial thought, This is my new favorite cure song

Labyrinth    rating 9

If u took the structure of head on the door, wish and kiss me and threw them in a  blender u get this song, Nice
to hear a song like this make it to the album, in the past it would be discarded as a b-side. Really reminds me of
a continuation on the sound that they perfected on “burn”. Changes into a nice new updated wrong number sound.
Nice to hear the reverse effect on the drums. Overall a great movement forward for them.

Before Three    rating 7

The intro is totally built from the work accomplished on head on the door. I assume every wish fan should love this
song, and hopefully shut them up about all there problems they’ve had since then, there complaining about WMS
should finally end. Once again this track has a b-side feel. Lyrics are ok, I usually like the repeating vocals but
kind of drags on this first listen. Will probably like this song a lot more tomorrow when I can’t get it out of my
head. Ends in a total wild mood swings feel.

TEOTW    rating 8

We all know this one, Nice pickup for the album Sounds so much better in context, Also another great “different”
single for the cure, In hearing it in order I would never think of releasing it as a single, But works both ways.
Great keyboard change!!!! Go roger go!!!
Though that damn animation from the video keeps going through my head.

Anniversary   rating 9

Fucking beautiful opening. The guitar and keyboards blend beautifully, you can tell this is all Roger and Robert,
A signature cure song, Could be longer with maybe one change that would stand out a little more.

Us Or Them     rating 8

VERY BLOODFLOWERS (watching me fall) Good drums, Lyrically u have to wonder Is this song about g.w
bush or usama bin laden? Though im not a drummer I think Jason does an amazing job on this one

alt.end     rating 8

Ok the beginning part of this song is “in your house updated” and it repeats here and there But then totally like
the name implies it hits u, This is an alternate version to “end” off of wish. Lyrically it makes sense, musically it
makes sense, am really interested to hear what Robert says about it. Interesting to put a song like this at the mid
point, good choice.

(IDKWG) On      rating 8

Great intro, organ is fucking perfect!!!!!! Reminds me of push in this weird way but much more well rounded
Perfect cure pop song. The hey u fade out is good, but reminds me of the hey u fade3 out to much.

Taking Off     rating 10

Strong drums, nice to hear Roberts guitar sounding like the pits of hell again, fucking perfect chorus, Friday im
in love guitar kicks in at one point with a new perfect quality, Beautiful slight piano, This should definitely be the
next single. Cant wait to hear this live!! Though the one fault in the song is it’s abrupt ending. But still one of the
best songs on the album

Never   rating 5

Great bass, great drums, great guitar But the vocals and mix kill it Only song on the album that feels forced.
If rogers keyboards were more pronounced it might have helped but those vocals, ouch.

Track 11   rating 9

Very very very bloodflowers intro (once again “watching me fall”) Very classic cure ending and Is very
predicatble (cant wait to hear Japanese version) The most amazing thing about this track is the lyrics,
I can feel Robert singing here and no matter what material I hear from past songs I forget about, Robert smith
is the best lyric writer in sometime and he proves it on this song, Great guitar perfect madness, Jason is definitely
here.

As always I can tell this will leave me wanting more,

- James
 
 

As much as I hate to say it, this would probably go in my bottom 3 albums. I don’t know what’s going on, Taking
off, and Anniversary are the best. Before Three gets an honorable mention. The Promise and The End of the
World are disappointing, they’re awesome live, and TEOTW is better than the single version, but The Promise
seemed a lot more boring than when it was live. Lost and Labyrinth are alright. Us or Them is powerful, but it
seems odd that this album has a complete unprecedented amount of F-bombs which makes Kiss Me look like
soap. That was lame.. but I guess there is some anger than requires more swearing in Us or Them, good song
anyway. Alt.end and Never like most people said are the worst. I can’t wait to hear Going Nowhere, This
Morning and Fake later on.

So, I’d put this in my bottom 3 with Wild Mood Swings and Three Imaginary Boys, probably in between them.
Even I could defend any WMS song besides Round and Round and Round.

I guess from best to worst, my album order would be Disintegration, Kiss Me, Head on the Door, Pornography,
The Top, Wish, Bloodflowers, Seventeen Seconds, Faith, Wild Mood Swings, The Cure, Three Imaginary Boys.

Around a B-, or so. Close to C+

- Nik Davila
 
 

I want to hate this album.  I really do.  Reading everyone's comments I was preparing myself for extreme
disappointment (and I WAS disappointed by the audio quality... but it was a stream...), but I can't hate this album.
I can't hate it all.  It's really good.  It's the Cure, but it's the Cure right now.  The albums post-wish seem to stick
in a rut... there seem to be a lot of wish elements in WMS and it's b-sides, and there are a lot of mixed elements
in Bloodflowers that make it feel like it's meant to be taken in context with what the Cure have done before.  This
album is new. This album has a freshness.  Not a freshness in terms of contemporary music, but in terms of the
Cure.  If I had no idea, no concept of the Cure beyond their singles, or at all, I could listen to this record and it
would blow me away.  This album can't be taken in context with everything they've done before.  People complain
that there are some "filler" songs on the album... but what's "Screw" then?  What's "Wendy Time"?  To me it's
not filler...  it's another piece of this time... this right now of the Cure. I can't complain about this album at all,
even though I was expecting to. No, this album is fucking great.

- J. Thompson
 
 

First let it be said that The Cure will always be one of the best bands ever! I divide Cure fans into 2 catagories:
the "singalongers" (the ones who love to sing along every word and dance to all the pop songs at the shows like
its a U2 concert) and the "musiclovers"(the ones who go because of the deep emotional connection with the
sounds that this band can create, dark or light). Both kinds are great but this new album is for the singalongers
only, Roberts mouth is all over it. With that, let me ask, where is the atmosphere?!?! Damn, did Roger quit? I
long for the Disintegration era or even Wish when the songs haunted me, and i couldnt get them out of my head.
This new one does have its moments of course cause its THE CURE but why save them for the b-sides. I guess
my expectations should not have been high after the epic of the Trilogy, they had to do something and very little
could match. It could be worse, "wildERmoodswings", but it could be a hell of al ot better aka Mogwai, The
Gloria Record, Pretty the Quick Black Eyes, or many other newer bands that are inspired by The Cures epic
catalog history.Dont get me wrong, I dont want to live in the past, bands have to grow and it would be boring to
do the same album"over and over and over" but I prefer the more moody songs so im just waiting for the NEXT
album (3 album deal right?) maybe it will be more my favorite Cure style. 2008 I cant wait!!!

- DIFFJUZZ.
 
 

Well, first of all this album is NOT a masterpiece.
But after 25 years of music, the only thing i can need from The Cure is an album with some good songs. And this
is. For the first time in 12 years, they have do something intresting. Things like "lost", "us or them" or
"labirynth" are very good and intresting. I don't care if there's some stupid thing, like "(i don't know what's going)
on" or "alt end"(a copy of in your house...), and I don't care if Robert have made the "copy and paste" from
siouxsie's "desert kisses" for the chorus of TEOTW(very good pop single).
This is the Cure in 2004, a band who can't do again masterpieces like Faith or Pornography, but surely can be
much better than the boring band of the last 12 years. Welcome Back.

- Max1334
 
 

on first listen, a lot of the songs sounded vaguely "kiss me kiss me kiss me"-ish. "shiver and shake" and "fight
fight fight" are the songs that come to mind. but i don't quite know why.  there's a much edgier feel,
maybe even an angrier feel, i guess.  but that might be because of ross, he is a nu-metal producer, after all.

(also, the feed from VH1 sounds a bit tinny, so i don't think i'm getting the full experience, you know?)

porl's presence is there.  subtle, but there, and i like that a lot.

the other reason i think this album reminds of "kiss me" is because it seems like a melting pot of different moods
and sounds. "kiss me" is very kaleidoscopic, and i think this album is too, but the colors in this kaleidoscope are
a bit darker.  more dark reds and dark blues and dark greens.

the artwork amazes me.  i really like it.

not nuts about the single.  it's okay.  they've had better singles.

i don't think this is their "best album ever."   it's certainly hyped up to be, but it's not. i don't think they have a
best album.  i think they give us all everything they've got to offer at the time that they offer it.  and then they
change and grow...and they return with something new; new, yet familiar.  there's always that definitive CURE
spark in all their songs.

favorites so far:  Lost. Labyrinth.  Anniversary.  The Promise.

i ordered the japanese import, so i'll be listening to the bonus tracks soon as i get it.

- Tim Cummings
 
 

Ouch.  Will VH1 please post the real copy of "The Cure"?  Great collection of shit karaoke guys.  The shouting
worked for me on "Us or Them", but the running on talking/shouting on other tracks can't capture my attention.

- William
 
 

I don't care what anybody says...This is one heck of a great album. I love the energy that it presents. I love the
song lost. I love the gradual buildup and how Robert screams at the end. Labyrinth is a good song. I like the vocal
effect that Robert uses. it took me a minute to get used to the studio version of Before Three. Like everyone else
I have heard and fell in love with the Coachella version. I think the studio version loses some of the desperation
that is in the Coachella version....but I still really love this song.The more that I hear the song TEOTW the more
I love it. It has really grown on me.I really like anniversary. The beginning does remind me of depeche mode's
Song of faith and devotion. It is an awesome song!!!! Whoever said that "Us or them" was a song that you would
hate or love was right. I love it. It has that in your face aspect that the song "Trapped" had in WMS. I like the
whole watching me fall feel. It is an angry song...that I will play when I am pissed off at the world.. or when I am
in an aggressive mood.I think that it is a superb song!!! I don't care what any of you all say...I love the song
alt.end!!! The acoustic guitar feel is great in the song. It does remind me of the guitar line of "In your house" I
don't care...It is one of the songs that I think stand out on the album. I think that the song "I don't know whats
going on" is ok...it is my least favorate song on the album. It really has the feel of a "filler" song. I really
believe that it is underdevolped. On the second listen through I did like it better...I still think that they should
have left it off and put something like "this morning" or "fake" in its place. I think that the song "Taking off" is
a great song. It has a JLH feel meets the "head on the door" meets "a pink dream." I love the words...It is a
good song and deserves its place among the great cure songs.
Never is another song that so far I am not a great fan of. I really love the words...that is my favorate part of the
song. "The promise" is a song that has surprised me. I liked the coachella version...but it didn't hook me like the
song "Lost" did. But the studio version of this song blew me away and I now see this song in a completely
different light. This is a powerful song and makes this album phenomenal!!! All in all I will give this album a 9 out
of 10. I think this rates up thre with Pornagraphy, Distentigration, wish, and bloodflowers. Robert said it best
when he said..."If you don't like this album....then you don't like The Cure" That says it all doesn't it!!!

- Tyler
 
 

I'm a long time patron of the Chain of Flowers site, and a long time Cure fan, and since I never contributed a
review of Bloodflowers, I wanted to write a few words about "The Cure."  First of all, I think the confused
reactions are a sign that this is surely one of the great Cure albums. It is by far the most raw since Pornography.

Before Three is immediately one of my all time favorites.  I love the intro and all of the melodic relationships that
come up between the guitars and the six string basses and what ever else they're playing these days.  The lyrics
and singing are also intriguing.  I would disagree with those who complain about the vocals being mixed too loudly
because I think the loudness and dominance of the vocals is part of Robert's art, and the sound of the Cure.

I'm not going to write about every track because I'd have to listen to them several more times, but I'll write about
the one's that struck me immediately.  Right from the beginning you can tell that this cd is going to have a
different sort of sound.  Robert's singing on Lost is amazing.  I'd heard the live MP3, but the studio version lets us
understand how the arrangement builds up. This song and most of the cd seems to pull some influence from noise
rock, maybe Mogwai.  That said, the Cure's take on those influences is still very original and  the noise rockin'
tendencies have been around for a long time, think of some of the songs on Wish.

I almost couldn't believe Us or Them.  From the lyrics, this was probably the track I was most interested in hearing.
I've never heard Robert screaming like this before.  I'd like to say that this song is actually "anti-Bush" or
maybe "anti-Blair," and disagree with some of the other reviewers, but I won't.  It probably isn't about terrorism
at all and I'm sure Robert will eventually let it out that it was based on a story in some obscure book.  The music
is cool, it's pretty dark and heavy, but never looses that weird sort of grooviness.

Labyrinth is another excellent one.  I'm glad they didn't go overboard here and just stuck to the concept of that
repeating Arabic or Indian influenced phrase.  I think the effect on the vocals is cool also, and Jason's drumming
on this is fantastic.

As for the poppier stuff, I'm going to disagree with several of the other reviewers and say that I like all of it,
including (I Don't Know What's Going)On.  There's a heightened degree of creativity here.  TEOTW is probably
my least favorite of the pop tracks.  IDKWGO made me think of some of the B-sides and rarities, particularly
"To the Sky" and "Halo." One of the others reminded me of of  "The Exploding Boy."  To me, those are good
comparisons.  Anniversary is another great one.  Yeah it is short; short and sweet is a good description.

I guess the only song that I thought was questionable was "Never."  It may grow on me.  To bring this to a close
I should say the new sound is good.  It sort of sounds like they were playing really loudly in a small room and it
made me picture the video for Never Enough.  I don't think this one tops Disintegration, but it's up there with
Bloodflowers and Pornography.  This is really a very punk album and worth the FOUR YEARS of waiting.

- Tim Gouin
 
 

Ok thoughts on the new album - it's very cure, but it isn't - like the fact they went in a different direction with
some songs - hopefully when I listen to it with good sound quality I can get a better appreciation for the material -
really like alt. ending and lost.  I put the money together to get the vinyl because apparently two of the tracks not
included on the cd, one of which you mentioned are very good (thanks geffen).

- Jeffrey Trigger
 
 

I am really liking this record. I'll state for the readers that my favorite Cure records are in this order, so you
have been warned!

1)The Top
2)Kiss Me
3)Head on the Door
4)Pornography
5)Seventeen Seconds
6)Faith
7)Disintegration
8)Wild Mood Swings
9)Three Imaginary Boys
10)Wish
11)Bloodflowers

Overall, if I had to compare this record to any other record, I would say it reminds me of a of Wish (just much
heavier and intense), Pornography, and a few bits from Wild Mood Swings. There is almost no way that anything
would replace my first 5 favorite records unless Mr. Smith was able to ingest the same number of chemicals as
when he was 25 years old.  That being said I might put this record at either a new number 6 (replacing Faith), or
perhaps just making it the new number 7 (replacing Disintegration). The Promise could have been a Janes
Addiction song! (who I also like).  I'm sure everyone thinks I just uttered blasphemy, but that's just my
impression.  The comparisions that I'm putting below are just for frame of reference.

Easily my favorites are Labyrinth, Anniversery, and The Promise.

Lost - 8/10. Intense, reminds me a bit of something that could have been on Ponography

Labyrinth - 10/10. Probably my favoriate on the record.  Classic "eastern" sound of the Cure. The bass playing
on this is really, really fluid...excellent.

Before Three - 6/10. This one starts out somewhat dry, but gets moving throughout the song. This song seems
like it could have been on Wish.

The End of the world - 4/10.  My least favorite on the record.  I am warming to this now, but to me this one seems
out of place.

Anniversery - 10/10. Probably my second favorite on Album.  This could have been on Faith, just with a much,
much bigger and modern drum/keyboard sounds.

Us or them - 8/10. This one actually reminds me a bit of Watching Me Fall, though it is more aggressive
sounding,and faster.  It has a less drunken feel to it, and is way, way angrier sounding (as opposed to the more
melancholy sound of Watching Me Fall).

Alt.end - 7/10. Also sounds like a Wish type song, just much dryer and less atmospheric overall.

I don't know what's going on - 7/10. Probably the second most poppy song on the record...but there is really a
great single melody that sounds like it's being played on the infamous 6 string bass.  When I hear this song, I
think of some of the B-side's of around Head on the door time frame or B-side's just much less acoustic-y

Taking Off - 8/10. easily the most poppy song on the record.  Acousticy, upbeat song that could have been on Wild
Mood Swing (or maybe Wish...thankfully not like Friday I'm in Love or Doing the Unstuck), but more close to
Mint Car. This reminds me of the B-side - 2 Late (Disintegration era).

Never - 7/10.  The verse has a very slight similar feel to the "1979" by the Smashing Pumpkins (again very,
very slight).  The chorus is standard heavy cure chords and heavy vocals, but I can't really think of anything that
it reminds me of for a comparison.  Maybe could have been on WIsh, but only because Wish was a guitar driven
record as well.

The Promise - 9/10.  Love this one too. Heavy, heavy, heavy...think Jane's Addiction meets End (from Wish).

- Smithy269
 
 

I have seen many people complaining about the new album but I thought it was so much better than what they've
done the past ten years. Wild Mood Swings has nothing on this (except for Want) and Bloodflowers feels like the
excellent prequel to this album. Its an album where you can see the motivation and work that went through every
single chord, through every single line, not only resting on their laurels but creating new and imaginative songs
that can only be created by this band. I rarely see bands that pull such emotion in their songs and such love,
charisma, this is an album filled of what I call music. Many people were like,  this is going to be the new
pornography or the new disintegration but no it isn't, its a NEW (and excellent) Cure album if you know what I
mean. "The Cure" rightfully deserves to be in the top 5 best Cure albums ever.

1. Lost: 10, Incredible anger, Ive never seen such frustration in a singer not even from all this emo bands trying
to imitate The Cure's signature sound like Bright Eyes or Thursday

2. Labyrinth: 8, Its growing on me, another amazing song like those in KMKMKM, the snakepit, and if only we
could sleep tonight

3.Before Three: 10, just a great song with the best lyrics from the whole album in my opinion), just completely
beautiful

4. The End of the World: 9, sounds kind of subdued compared (maybe because Ive heard so many times before)
with the other incredible songs, but still great

5.Anniversary: 10, It reminded me a lot of Radioheads "OK computer" mixed with faith, its bleak but with a lot
of sounds in between. Really good stuff.

6.Us or Them: 10, one of the best songs of the album, maybe but it is the angriest, it speaks to me in so many
different levels and specially to what is happening in the middle east at this moment right now. It does not remind
me of watching me fall but of "100 years."

7 alt. end: 5: The stinker, After so many wonderful songs this almost completely ruined my perception of the
album but luckily the rest of the songs are so good, I can forgive this, but why not change this for "Going
Nowhere."

8. I Dont Know Whats Going On; 8, classic Cure song, really great, made me happy after hearing alt end.

9.Taking Off: 9 ,Another classic Cure song, love the Just Like Heaven type riff

10. Never: 6, its ok but the chorus is way to repetitive, please Robert take this song of as well, maybe a special,
special edition with the DVD included and the missing songs

11. The Promise: 9, just as good a bloodflowers and I will probably grow to like it more

All in all, I would give it a 10 but Never and alt. end, but the nine other songs make it up. I think a 9 would
suffice, it is up there with their best and many fans seem disappointed but Ive never heard a Cure album thats
easy to grasp. It takes tons of listens just to get the beauty of them. My favorites, Pornography almost took me
two months to love it and Disintegration took about a week. Just a give this album some time, I love it already and
Ive only heard three times.

- Nirvana111222
 
 

My first impression are noted in this list:

Lost: 9.5, FUCK YEAH!  The more he screamed, the more I loved it.

Labyrinth: 7, I started out hearing Mission U.K. "Never Again" especially with the vocal distortion thing being
so similar to certain aspects of certain other songs on Masque, though the music was more "Never Again"-ish.
After the first half, it sounded more like "Torture" and "Snakepit" (and the guitar line was... ummm... familiar...)
It sounded like the whole idea behind playing live in the studio as opposed to too much studio-ing... very live feel
to it...

Before Three: 6 first one that reminded me of wish sincerely and utterly. Couldn't get "High" out of my head the
whole song...

The End of the World: 8.5 though I have heard it a million times now (as my son finds the video and plays it every
chance he gets), this time I heard the middle part almost like a skipped record and it comes right after "I want
you to fly/ not start and stop" and I had a mini-epiphany...  I like this song...  what can I say?

Anniversry: 9.9, Take off "The Promise" and this is my favorite song. Hands down. It sounds like a 'Kiss Me'
b-side, and I hear Depeche Mode 'Songs of Faith and Devotion' in it.

Us or Them: 9, I thought this would be in the bin with "Where the Birds Always Sing" when I read the lyrics,
but this is angry and cathartic and the music really got me... More Pornography than any other influence here. I
hear things about the issue of aging/dying and relationships that don't work, all thrown in with the idea that the
outside world tries to thrust that "you should be scared, you're going to die!" mentality down our throats...  Could
have worked before 9/11, in that respect, but really appropriate now...

alt.end: 4.5, I wrote, "Lucky you" in response to him congratulating himself on all his dreams coming true,
over and over...  and made a note that this seems to be a summation of how he felt in the process of recording
'Bloodflowers' or making 'Trilogy'...'Seventeen Seconds' "Play for Today" theme...

(I Don't Know What's Going) On: 5, shoulda been on 'wish', felt a "We Are the 70's" thing in certain parts. Dead
on the voice on 'Kiss Me' Not my style, at all.

Taking Off: 6, shoulda been on wish again. Could grow on me later, maybe.

Never: either a 3 or an 8... ambivalent love/hate going on with this song. Hear "All of This" that Robert did with
Blink 182 in several parts. Theme seems to be the predecessor of "All of This" as well... Some Led Zeppelin
tribute at the end??? What was that all about?

The Promise: 10, still my favorite, we'll see after I get the vinyl on the 29th... Sound was turned all the way up...
heh... will be playing this a lot... Anger, desperation, catharsis, frustration all with accompanying wall of guitar and
driving drum beat that is somewhere between "The Kiss" and "Pornography" and "Disintegration"...

Overall, I'll give it an 8, there are a couple songs I became impatient to get over with, so I could hear the next
one, but it will be in my CD player for months, I bet...

- Pyra Artmeier
 
 

There seem to be a few different groups of distinct Cure fans and you can tell which ones they are based on their
album preferences. So, before my review:

Wish is, IMHO, the culmination of Cure music. I will live and die by that statement. It's been a decade and a half
and it hasn't even *begun* to age for me.  When I need more synths, I put on Disintigration. When I need
something else out of an album, I'll put on KMKMKM.  If I don't need an entire album, I'll grab *any* Cure CD
and put it on. There isn't anything other than the atrocity with Republica's singer that I don't like in their history.

That said - You have almost have to like KMKMKM or Wish to enjoy this album. It doesn't feel like
Disintigration or the Pop Albums at all. It has elements of them here and there, but not across the whole thing.

I really enjoy the direction they've taken themselves here - from the apathy/resignation of Bloodflowers to the
slowly waking anger and intensity of The Cure.  No one has quite the emotional volume as the Cure and it shows
here.  I don't mind Ross's production in the least (possible exception noted below) - and I can definitely hear some
things that have to be his that I like a lot. Other than some poor choices (obviously, as everyone has said, Never)
on the track listing, this will probably be 4th on my list of favorite Cure albums.

What don't I like?  Two things. One of them is Robert's singing (vs yelling/semi-chanting). I LIKE it when he
sings.  :)  He doesn't do enough here, but he he been "singing" less and less since Wish.  Don't get me wrong -
he sings well here - but it's no match for Disintigration.  This isn't a top-3 killed for me at all..

The top-3 killer is The lack of keyboards. I don't know if Roger isnt into the band, doesnt have the creative
inspiration any longer, Robert/theband want to move in a more guitar-driven direction, but the lack of keyboards
shows. Even in the background, they've been an ever-present Cure staple.  They (and the drums) always added
depth and layers that I adored.  I'm fairly sure it's *not* Ross's production as I felt the same way with
Bloodflowers...

Regardless, it's a healthy, vital, intense album that would make me fall in love with them all over again if today
was the first time that I had heard a Cure album...

- Jack Whitsitt
 
 

On the first few listens, I would agree that the album is one of the best releases since Pornography.

When I heard Lost, it reminded me of Forever live from 81/82, and I was excited about the new album.

I really like the "live" feel of the album, the last few albums have been ruined by over-production. Interesting to
note that lovers of Disintegration find this album a little hard going. It has been far too long since The Cure
challenged us.

Welcome back!

- Hugh Wright
 
 

I discovered The Cure while in college during the KMKMKM album. I bought the older records and was amazed
at how each record sounded a little different, but still connected to the others. Each record after Disintegration
(Wish, WMS and Bloodflowers) seemed forced and pale in comparison to the classic stuff. So here we are again,
and I must say I think Bob has seen his better days. Before Three is the only song that has really grabbed me. A
few others are good, but taking off sounds like such a ripoff of Just Like Heaven it's embarassing. I think this
one will collect dust like the past three did. Even the old B-sides put this to shame.

- Jim Burch
 
 

"Lost" 7 of 10- I love the Lyrics to this song and I love the way Robert sings it. But even though the music is
supposed to make you feel a Lost feeling I do not like it at all.

"Labrynth" 6 of 10- To BLAAH....This song is just so boring....

"Before Three" 6.5 of 10- Disappointed with the choice of Language but an okay song.

"TEOTW" 9 of 10- I love this song and the lyrics are great. ( Not the Video Though) I know a lot of you weirdo's
think the cure is all about Depression and everything they have to do has to be hard or you won't like it ( Not that
I don't love that stuff too!) but I love POP and I love this song. It's not my favorite stuff The Cure does but I Still
appreciate it.  Love this song!!! Plus I have heard it 1,000 more times than the other ones.....

"Anniversary" 9 of 10- Now this is great Cure music not the bet but really good. Lyrics are awesome and the
mood is crazy cool.

" us or them" 7 of 10- Really powerful feeling. I feel the anger towards those terrorist idiots too!

"alt.end" 7 of 10- Great Lyrics okay song, music does not live up to the lyrics.

"(I Don't Know What's Going) on... 8.5 of 10- I love it and I love Roberts Falceto awesome song.

"Taking Off" 7 of 10-Good Song

"Never" 7 of 10- Love the End of the Song

" the Promise"- Okay song not the best ever...............

Here is my total opinion on the Album ( keep in mind this is only after 1 hearing of it) I hate the way it was
produced.  The mixing and the way everything is edited sucks............I would have really liked to hear a better
sound coming from this CD and don't really like the live recording that Ross has done.....This album does not
compare to "Wish" and "Disintegration" my all time favorites.  The Lyrics are so awesome Roberts voice is
Good but the Music does not compare and is not good enough.  Maybe it will grow on me with a whole bunch of
listens.....I really was hopeing for something better.....But there is still hope, I can't wait for my Japanese Version
and for the extra songs.............

Yesterday when I first heard the album, I did not like it too much!! I have listened to it a few times now and I also
realize that I am listening to it on the internet not off the finished CD whick makes a difference.  I do like it a lot
more and am starting to appreciate everything a lot more.  Like bloodflowers it seems it will only get better with
time(Bloodflowers is a top 3 Album for me) Yesterday I would have given the album a 6 of 10 but today I am at a
8 of 10.......I love the cure and the album WILL ONLY GET BETTER!!!!!!!

- Matt Gonzales
 
 

Lost : Really really good. The best song of the album. This is the kind of song that I missed in bloodflowers: the
song that sounds like any other cure song but that can be only writen by the cure, like pornography, the kiss,
open or want. The perfect opening song.

Labyrinth : Interesting sound. But not enough inspiration in the music and SOOOOOOOOOOOO boring
lyrics/vocals. Sounds like the worst improvisation at the end of a forest or forever. Or a mix between bloodflowers
and watching me fall.

Before Three : Really good song. Good lyrics, good vocals.

The end of the world : A good "cure silly song". But I think I've heard robert saying something like "i'm too old
to write pop songs now" when he was 41. "don't believe a word"

Anniversary : Good music. Unfortunatly here comes the "never let you go and then the "over and over" (could
have been the "ever and ever"...). But it is still a good song.

us or them : excellent "mitch mitchel" drums by jason. Good overall but the voice is mixed way to high. The
vocals become boring at 2:00.

alt.end : I like the way the main guitar drive the song. But I hate the "clap" and the words and vocals on the verse.

i don't know what's going on : good intro... Fuck! the "doo doo doo" is back. It's probably one of the worst cure
song ever. The chorus is so bad... Maybe demoed at the time of WMS.

taking off : It remind me of stuffs for kiss meX3 or wish b-sides. Nothing new here, nothing really bad (maybe the
keyboard) but something is missing.

Never : Could have been a really good song. But what are these lyrics? they don't fit at all with the music! It is
like singing mint car on plainsong...

The promise : Good, but a bit too long. It is like a loop copied and pasted hundred of times. But I like it. And I
like the vocals.

The music in this album is good, really good, the band is at his best, but most of the time robert lyrics are
uninspired (feel like listening 100 of time to more than this or the blink 182 song) and I disliked the
bananafishbone/hot hot hot way he sings. What happened to his sweet voice? Anyway Jason made an excellent
job. He proves here that he is the best drummer the cure ever had. But now he should go on his way...

- Pilal
 
 

The best The Cure offering since "Head on the Door"!!!!!  I'm not kidding, yes I love "Disintigration" but this is
the most powerful Cure album in years.  I've been listening to The Cure since "The Head on the Door" came out
my freshman year in high school.  It's been a long time since I have heard a Cure album that moved me this much.
 "Disintigration" and "Kiss Me3" were very important to me but this is so revolutionary.

There is not a stinker in the bunch!  Well, maybe "IDKWG on" is a bit weak but it is better than most of
"Bloodflowers"  and "Wild Mood Swings".

I think I have to disagree with Craig on most of his opinions.  This combines classic Cure with a revived hard
freshness.  Incredible....can I find words to describe it?

Let's go for "Jaw-Dropping, harsh, heartfelt, painful, screaming, guitars(thanks for leaving your 12-string alone
for awhile!), hard, heavy, refreshing, drums, atmosphere, great, excellent, the best cure album in years, renewed
interest, masterful, bleeding, ringing, wonderful..............."

The list goes on!  Even the negative words I used are but positive descriptions.

I give this album a wholehearted 9.5 out of 10.

- Adam Brutto
 
 

I won't do a song by song, but my overall thoughts are that, just like wms and bf, the vocals are mixed too high.
the essence of the cure are their guitar and bass lines. of course, i am listening to it from the vh1 link and will
probably have more thoughts once i buy the album. i really thought "lost" rocked. i liked "us or them". angry as
hell. "anniversary" is beautiful. i was amazed at how much "taking off" made we want to dance, just like
inbetween days or the exploding boy do. "never" really sucks. "the promise" is like a bloodflowers b-side. i can't
wait to hear "this morning", "fake" and "going nowhere". i'm glad i pre-ordered the japan version, and i will
be first in line at amoeba on june 29 for the vinyl version. robert sounds alive again. thank god. i was afraid when
i heard the words "ross robinson" but i truly feel now that he's a real fan.

7.5 out of 10 so far.

- Scott Otto
 
 

It’s interesting to see everyone’s reactions. Quite mixed, already! Here’s my take:

1.      Lost – 10/10.  After hearing this song live @ Coachella I have been listening to it non-stop. I love how it
almost sounds out of tune & Robert’s vocals seem so passionate, strong, and I like the screaming quality to them.
Already one of my favorite opening songs.

2.      Labyrinth – 9/10.  Its snakepit quality. Another strong vocal performance and Simon’s bass is dead on.

3.      Before 3 – 8/10.  One of the better poppy songs.  As with Lost, this song  has grown on me more and more
since Coachella.

4.      The End of the World – 7.5/10.  I’m one of the few that actually likes the ooo-eee-ooo which almost sounds
borrowed from Bananafishbones.

5.      Anniversary – 10/10.  It’s today’s The Drowning Man. Perfect Cure sadness.

6.      Us or Them – 10/10.  Watching me fall pt. 2.  I’d really like to see them play live Watching Me Fall into Us
or Them.

7.      alt.end – 6/10.  Should have been a b-side., if that.

8.      (I don’t know what’s going) On – 6/10.  I don’t know what’s going on either.  Might have fit well on WMS.
Total fluff.

9.      Taking Off – 7.5/10.  Wasn’t’ this on Kiss Me? Wait, that was Just Like Heaven. I can see this being their
next single, though. Poppy Cure to appeal to the masses.

10.     Never --  6/10.  The music towards the end reminds me of Shiver and Shake. The ending “In Love” needs
to go.

11.     Promise – 10/10.  It’s 2004’s The Kiss. Slow building and awesome vocals.  This song was so powerful live,
it’s nice to hear a clean studio version of it.

That puts it overall at an 8.2/10 for me.  I’m really curious to hear the tracks missing from the US version.  From
what I’ve read so far, it might have been a stronger album if 3 of the 4 “missing” tracks replaced tracks 7, 8, and
10 (and perhaps pull it to a 9/10).  Then again, it wouldn’t likely appeal to the new, casual fans.

I’m planning on purchasing the vinyl version in the hopes that, with the additional tracks, it was more how the
album was originally intended and that I won’t be as annoyed with 'alt.end', 'On', and 'Never' taking up
valuable time & space…

- Kelly Badger
 
 

Here's some initial thoughts from a super fan of 16+ years:

Lost: Vocals are too high for my tastes in the beginning. I like the way it builds and that it is not the normal
instrumental laden opening we are used to. I think it will be a great concert opener(if only they were touring
outside of a festival this summer then I'd probably get to see it too...I hate festivals). I imagine total darkness as
Robert starts singing "I can't find myself."

Labyrinth: Great song but it sounds like a second opening song to me. It should have been later in the album if it
wasn't used as the opening number...in my opinion.

Before Three: Getting so tired of that "Ooooww" thing he does! Sounds like a Wild Mood Swings B-Side, which
were mostly better than the songs on the album, so not a bad thing just nothing new to me.

The End Of The World: At first I did not love it but with the arrival of the video it has become a favorite single.
Better or as good as any single released for quite a long time. The true test of it's catchiness was when I happened
upon my 4 and 5 year old daughters singing it while they played Barbies...very surreal.

Anniversary: Sounds like a Wish b-side to me actually. Again, good songs in that group, so not a negative
comment but just not up to snuff with what I expect as a Cure album cut.

Us or Them: That "Ooooww" thing again...Hehe When I read the Watching Me Fall comment I thought it couldn't
be true, but here it is. Different enough to be cool though and the vocals are up there with some of the more
passionate.

Alt.End: Sounds like another forced attempt at a potential single (I.e. Cut Here, Mint Car)

(I Don't Know What's Going) On: Music is good but the melody and lyrics sound a bit incomplete. Maybe it will
grow on me.

Taking Off: Great single. In my opinion, should have been the second song on the album instead of Labyrinth.

Never: Did they steal this from some indie brit band that is trying to make it? This should have been a B-side
though I would actually give it a D.

The Promise: Could do without the opening scream from Robert. Love the music and the pace. Great song for
future jamming during live shows.

All in all I liked about half of it. One thing I have always liked about the Cure albums was the production that
went into them. I like that Robert is his own back up singer on songs and that cool multi-layer thing that happens
is missing from this release. I LOVE seeing the Cure live. Seeing the lights and the how the guys get into playing
and feeling the bass hit you during certain songs...nothing can match it.  Just hearing them live on the radio or CD
has always lacked something for me. Upon listening to this album I realize it's the production and layering that
went into previous records that I miss.

- Wayne Marshall
 
 

It's the U.S. 11 tracks only : ( but hey - now that I've heard those!

Here's my reader's digest review - Not one song did I dislike in any way. I did find myself in the catharisis of it all
though. It seems like the boys took some of the best 'moments'(if you will) from the previous albums and gave
them that -25 years later look back at it all and that could have been done better this way- approach, and very well
succeeded. Buying albums of The Cure since 1982 and sitting alone in my room and listening from beginning to
end each one as I bought them the day they came out and feeling those emotions with them each time, I found
myself reminiscing back to many of those instances - so in my opinion - it isn't the BEST Cure album - its definitaly
the best OF The Cure album. I felt most with Taking Off and Labyrinth was a flashback to Burn for me. I think it
is a brilliant album full of emotion and signature Cure everything and there will be many new Cure-babies with this
new installment. This album should also be recorded live and very LOUD! A tear in my eyes and a lingering smile
on my face and butterflies in my stomach for Curiosa- If this is the end of the world (esp. The Cure's) then I can
die happily ever after.

- Bryan Whitmore
 
 

It's surely one of THE STRONGEST album The Cure ever made since Pornography !! That album is not one of
the so called kaleidoscope or retrospective ones. Ok, the instruments, the line up and the year are far from the
Pornography  times but this album is much much closer to the Pornography album's spirit  than any album from
The Cure : we find the depressive violence, the anguishes, the anger and the hardest despair. I am really
surprised by the incohérance of the album's sleeve. This is absolutely not the spirit at all.

However, we can find in this terrible album, somme happier songs, more fun, like "The End Of The World", "(I
Don't Know What's Going) On " et "Taking Off" (that reminds me of the "Hot Hot Hot !!!" song ...)
They'll surely be the next singles.

But that doesn't get the album lighter, that doesn't make it less violent. Its darkness stays very compact.

I love the whole album, except maybe "Lost" and ... the sleeve :o))

I tell it again : we've never heard something like that since Pornography. REALLY GREAT !!!!!

- Annydrin
 
 

Well, its no Disintegration and from what Ive heard of the US 11 track version, there isn't really any song that
really hit me like all of Disintegration did on first listen.  As I live in England, Im getting the 13 track CD version
and the 15 track vinyl which Im looking forward to as I want to hear 'This Morning' after whats been said.

Its not a bad album by any means, I just don't think it sounds that much like the Cure, at least not the Cure sound
I love. Lost is really cool, Robert's voice is amazing, it sounds so young and full of energy.  Labyrinth was a bit
odd, Im not sure about the vocal effect, i imagine it'll grow on me.  Anniversary was really good, I thought it
sounded like a mix of pornography era with bloodflowers, definatly my favourite so far.  Us or them is really really
angry, Ross must have really been pushing Robert for emotion and he sure as hell got it! Taking off is really nice,
the first part reminded me of Just Like Heaven, again, I think when I hear the CD version, I think I'll really love
it. The Promise is amazing, the vocals are really powerful and I love how it runs for over 10 minutes.

Overall, I think it might be because of the lame quality that I didn't appreciate it as much as I'd hoped.  I kinda
wish I had waited now to listen to the vinyl and got the full track list and the optimum quality. At least I'll know
what to expect when I see them at Hurricane on saturday!  I definatly think this album will open the Cure up to a
new audience as it sounds a bit like other bands around today (which is a little sad really).

- Louis Houghton
 
 

Just heard it on-line.fuck it's good......:)   :)
ok my review of "the cure" is........

Lost
I love the way the mix is all over the place on this.I am looking forward to hearing this in the conext of the
WHOLE collection. A great start.  absolutely superb,love it,epic,definitive,totally hits the spot.YOU HAVE TO
TURN IT UP to fully appreciate it.i guess this is more what it sounds like in the studio or live - they're always
noisy noisy places aren't they....discordant (reminds me 17secs/faith which is a good thing for my personal musical
taste).
lost - great title for it - it sounds like the musicians are lost in the music - so is the audience - roberts off on one -
the cure all sound great.

Labyrinth
Now this title does sound like a cure song - sounds good too. Eastern feel riff guitar/bass........ok that's not a new
thing for the cure but the application here is different.This is the kind of music that I like.i would happily spend an
afternoon listening to Back In Black by AC/DC . This isn't as heavy as that in truth - but it does get the blood
pulsing in the same way.

ITS NOT THE SAME YOU........

Before Three
This was my favourite of the 4 Coachella mp3's.I heard Robert's singing was no good on it - but i don't agree - he
sings it just fine for my taste.
Yeah ok it IS different to the coachella version.I really love it.In some way I prefer this to the coachella version -
it's much more fullsome (if that's a word)

The End Of The World
I like it - some don't - enough said. It's a "single" and justification for a place in the squad is merited on that basis.

Anniversary
Weird.Almost Jean Michelle Jarre in sound.Retro 17secs drums.Love it.....but weird.   GO ROGER !

Us Or Them
This is the cure album I always hoped they'd make but hadn't made until now.HARD HITTING  ANGRY harder
than shake dog shake.It most definitely hits the spot.Watching Me Fall with even more bollocks.......more tuneful
than shiver and shake.The band appear to me to be "a band" in a way that they haven't EVER been in truth.Why
am I thinking about Deep Purple or Zeppelin right now....? ? excellent

"I DON'T WANT YOU ANYWHERE NEAR ME"

its 9/10 so far...........

Alt.End
Christ on a bike ! - It's In Your House ! it is - it's In Your House re-worked - fair enough - I like it.Sounds very
very retro to me (and thats a good thing) but has one foot firmly in the present.Good guitar riffs - reminiscent of
Japanse Whispers to me. Is that a tinge of 39 in there....? it is !

I don't know what's going on
The title sounds like a marvin gaye song NOT the cure.....lol
Wow - It's excellent.........If you liked push - you'll like this.yeah the 9/10 grade is looking more like 9.5 / 10

Taking Off
Everyone is citing this as the next single......I do like cure singles !
Ok folks I do see what you mean - Fuck this album is good.This collection blows wish and wild mood swings out of
the water (IMO) and in some ways I like it as much as i like Bloodflowers (and I really really liked that)

Never
That's a bunnymen riff ripped off from heaven up here - in fact it's over the wall. Well so what - this definitely
works.  The Cure have become Thin Lizzy and it's not a bad thing at all.The kids are gonna love this !

The Promise
I've heard this from Coachella mp3's.Ok so it is rawk n roll.i like the bass.i like jasons carnage visor type
drumming. the bass is even more prominent on this the studio version.the guitar wah wah's away in the
background wish style.A grower ? time will tell.....

My mark for The Cure "The Cure" overall 9.5/10

but then I am very biased.......I do appreciate that.......but I can see a new legion of people getting into the cure
through this recording.

- Sean Flude
 
 

1.Lost – Seems like this song should have been on an earlier Cure album like Faith or Seventeen Seconds. Not
impressed. (5/10)

2.Labyrinth – This song turns into a really deep song. Seems kinda repetitive with lyrics and the beat. Drums and
bass really sound great! (7/10)

3.Before Three – Mixed emotions about this song. I feel great about it but then it is not a favorite. I kinda got
something but do  not know. Need to listen to it more.

4.The End Of The World – I truly love this song. I guess I am one of those Cure fans who like poppy, danceable
Cure songs. It is catchy too. (9/10)

5.Anniversary – This song seems like it should have been on Disintegration album. One of those songs in which
you can lie down and dream into the stars. Very nice. (9/10)

6.Us or Them – Very cool beginning. Lots of drums and cymbals. Robert’s voice really angry! One of those songs
you just want to play to one of your ex lovers. (6/10)

7.alt.end – Another catchy song but less poppy. Nice drum beat that goes nicely meshing in with the guitar in the
middle of the song. (7/10)

 8.(I Don’t Know What’s Going) On – Lyrics repeat and repeat and repeat. Robert’s voice trying so hard to make
this song work but it the end it does not. This song should not of been on the album. (4/10)

 9.Taking Off – As I am listening to this song, I am getting a feeling from the album Wish. Lyrics and song sound
familiar. Once again this has that poppy and catchy feeling. (8/10)

10.Never – This song did nothing to me. I feel kinda sad about it. The Cure are a fantastic band. This song should
have been deleted. (3/10)

11.The Promise – A long song that develops into a classic. Heart pounding and emotional. This song you can tell
that the band really put forth their emotions into it. (8/10)

Overall I think this album rates in the middle of all The Cure albums. It certainly has the potential to be great, but
it seems that the band wanted to make an album that sounds like bits and pieces of the past. Not bad but we all
like something new at least I do. I give this album a 7 out of 10. I was hoping at least a 9 or a 10.

- Jim Carmichael
 

Thanks to the wonders of  (DELETED!), I was able to get my hands on the US version of The Cure's new album,
The Cure. There are things that I like about it, and things that I most certainly do not like about it. One thing
that I do not like is the absence of any traditional Cure-style really long intros to the song, and then the lyrics
themselves don't last too long, but are packed with emotion. In all of the songs on The Cure, the lyrics start
early and last through the entire song. I was hoping that at least "The Promise" would open up with a powerful
instrumental that lasts at least a whole two minutes, but no (barely a minute and a half). But anyhow, here's
the album, song by song:

01 - "Lost" 6/11
When I first heard the live version of this from Coachella, I was kind of  disappointed. I found the line "I can't
find myself" rather cliche. It grew on me a little bit, though not much. As a whole, though, there could not have
been a better opener to the album (unless one of the outtakes had a  long traditional Cure intro a la "Want",
"Plainsong", "The Kiss", etc.). Not my favorite off the album, but by no means the worst.

02 - "Labyrinth" 5/11
Here's another song that I didn't really like the lyrics to when I first saw them, however, I ended up liking this
song a lot. The effect on Robert's vocals in the beginning work very well. I like the bass a lot in this one.
The lyrics kind of remind me of "Bloodflowers", now that I listen to it  again.

03 - "Before Three" 7/11
Poppy song, and a good one at that. I would say that it would probably be the next single if it werent for the line
"so fucked and high". I'm not especially fond of the "yeah yeah yeah" parts.

04 - "The End of the World" 8/11
The first single that I so eagerly anticipated seeing on Leno. It's hardly a bad song. Not nearly the best thing
they've done, but the fact that for the most part, the bassline follows Robert's vocals to a 't', and that he starts
singing on the opening note kind of tick me off.

05 - "Anniversary" 1/11
The intro lasts just over a minute, so I immediately liked that. It's slow, sad, and absolutely wonderful. A positive
gem.

06 - "Us or Them" 3/11
This song is like the lovechild of "The Kiss" and "Watching Me Fall". It blatantly borrows some lyrics from the
former, and guitar riffs from the latter. However, this song comes off as not a lousy imitation, but a brilliant song
in and of its self.

07 - "alt.end" 4/11
Poppy. The best poppy Cure song I've heard since Wish. I like this one a lot. I'm pretty sure it'll be the next
single. The only thing I don't really like is the cheesy little clapping noises.

08 - "(I Don't Know What's Going) On" 10/11
This song, the first time I listened to it, struck me as '"Lovesong", but crap'. It would feel very at home in Wild
Mood Swings (not because that album was shitty in its entirety, but because it has a similar feel). I would say it's
the worst song on the album, but "Never" beat it for that title.

09 - "Taking Off 9/11
This song in and of its self isn't that bad. But it's placed in between the two worst songs on the album, and seems
a little too much like its predecessor at times. It kind of reminds me of "Strange Attraction". The line "so high
with you" reminds me a bit too much of "Before Three", but it's still not that bad.

10 - "Never" 11/11
When I write my screenplays, I use a passive voice for stage directions, but passive voice doesn't work well at
all for this song. The lyrics are simplistic, and it's just not that good of a song at all. My pick for worst on the
album.

11 - "The Promise" 2/11
This ten minute song was much needed. I almost think that it should have been an opener instead of a closer, but
the end of the song makes a good closing statement. I definitely like this song. There's distorted guitar going
crazy behind the lyrics, which are slow, and almost spoken in the beginning. All I can say is that I hope it doesn't
replace "The Kiss" in the live set.

This album is far from the whole 'best album ever' thing that it was made out to be, but it is pretty good. I'm sure
the versions with more (and better tracks, as I'm told), will definitely make The Cure top five. Now I just have to
wait for my UK import to come in, and I'll see how much better "Truth, Goodness, and Beauty" and "Going
Nowhere" make the album.

- Mykl Brooks
 
 

Okay, firstly, my major problem with the album in terms of something that could have easily been rectified, other
than the tracklisting issue (and by the way, if the unsigned Radiohead ever forms a record label of their own, The
Cure should join;  Radiohead would never do what Geffen is doing to The Cure.)  is Robert's singing.  Ross
Robinson's attempt to capture the band live might have been alright in terms of instruments, but Robert's voice is
another matter.  He sounds like he does in concert.  He mistakes shouting for emotional power, as he does in
concert when singing otherwise great songs.  This is why studio versions were always better in terms of singing;  I
even loved when he overdubbed his voice with another, higher-pitched or whispering voice.  I'm listening to
"Pictures of You" right now and his singing is powerful, but subtle and beautiful.  The same goes for "Lovesong",
"Same Deep Water As You", "Trust", "Apart";  this is when his voice is at its best and is something no other
singer can do.  On this album, the shouting is unbearable and repetitive in terms of sounds.  It actually was the
reason the Acoustic Hits, other than the "Boys Don't Cry," sounds so awful to me.  Now, compare that to the
acoustic session from 1991 when Robert sang "Boys Don't Cry" and "Letter to Elise" (available on "Play Out")
-- it was amazing.  I even didn't mind the attempt to sing differently on WMS.

Another issue is that most of the harder songs just don't do it for me the way "Disintegration", "Hundred
Years", "Figurehead" or even "The Kiss" did.  I suppose it's because they all had overlying obvious melodies,
underneath which were more complex notes that could be appreciated.  "Labyrinth" is just might join their ranks,
though.

Also, I know what people meant when they found the synthesizer burried too deep to hear clearly;  this is another
feature unique to the band which I am sad to see underserved.  Jason's drumming is awesome, though.  To be fair,
I'll keep listening in hopes that it will grow on me like a Radiohead album, but I had to try this with WMS and
Bloodflowers and it didn't work, and I fear it is a bad omen.

Definitely not better than "Wish" or "Disintegration," but maybe better than "Bloodflowers" and the harder
songs on Kiss Me, whose latter half I never listen to anymore, except for "Fight", because, as one reviewer
said, they sound like b-sides.

- Iqbal Faizer
 
 

I heard only once the new album, but I feel sure to say that it doesn´t get more than a 5. I feel dissapointed,
there´s no one track that I truely liked. Robert sounds false. Sorry.

- Bolsero
 
 

Lost:  This song is the perfect start to this album.  The heaviest bass line I’ve heard from the band in a long time
combined with the steadily increasing pissed off vocals from Robert.  It’s disillusioned, it’s brooding, and it’s
heavy.  Yes, this is the Cure.

Labyrinth:  This song has a trippy middle-eastern vibe to it.  Dare I say Arab in these paranoid times?  This song
takes me away.  The vocals sound so far away, almost as if drowning, but then Robert is clear as a bell.  This is
the RIGHT way to use vocal production effects.  This is a beautiful song that will get you ready for a “promising”
finale.

Before Three:  Immediately I’m reminded of “Pictures of You” and another element from the past I can’t quite
put my finger on.  However, this is track is a bit more angry than those reminders.  If it matters to you, Robert
drops the first “F-Bomb” on the record right here.

The End of the World:  If you haven’t heard this one yet then you must be living under a rock.  Geffen is really
pushing this album and this first single has treaded into radio stations catered to younger listeners more so than
any single in recent memory. It’s a good pop song and I don’t think anything has changed for the album version.

Anniversary:  I believe it takes more than one listen to truly appreciate this song for what it is.  The first listen is
kind of bother to the ears because at first you think you’re going to hear a dance song.  Once the keyboards and
other effects take hold however you find yourself in a very dark and whimsical song.  I love the ominous tinkling
of what sounds like ghostly piano lacing the entire track.

Us or Them:  The most pissed off addition to the Cure catalogue I’ve ever heard.  Very bitter vocals and lyrics
here infused with a very grungy/metallic baseline here.  Simon’s bass reminds me of something from Korn, but
less resonant.  Could that be Ross Robinson’s influence?  However, even with the bass the song has a groove to
it that can only be credited to the Cure.  It was said that you’ll either love or hate this song.  I love it.

Alt.end:  Why does this remind me of Incubus?  Is that a good thing?  This is the most disappointing song on the
record, but I still feel that it has its merits.  Its simplicity is probably what kills it.  As much as I love nostalgia
the obligatory 80’s claps could be done without.

(I Don't Know What's Going) On:  This is a short filler song.  The keyboard melody reminds me of elevator
music, but that’s almost kind of cool.  Like I said it is short and probably the perfect length.  If it were any longer
I’d definitely hate it.  A decent pop song that gives way to…

Taking Off:  This song is fusion of “Inbetween Days” and “Just Like Heaven.”  How can that be bad?  I found
myself singing along halfway through.  This is the best “poppy” song on the album and it’s a failsafe single for
Geffen.

Never:  This song, like “alt.end,” is a very weak one.  I don’t like the lyrics and the vocals kind of get annoying.
If there is anything good to say about this song it is the rock piano I pick up in the background.  After giving it
some thought I’ve decided that this sounds like a Cheap Trick song with a Cure influence.

The Promise:  This is classic Cure from the first listen.  The song starts with an almost overpowering throaty
howl by Robert.  I kid you not, it is almost scary.  Psychedelic Hendrix-esque guitar work, a subtle, creeping bass
line, and some of the most impressive drumming I’ve ever heard on a Cure song.  I’m certain that this song
reminds me of “Kiss Me,” but at the same time it’s a whole different animal.  It was a logical choice to put this one
at the end as it the tour de force of this album.

Epilogue:

This is certainly one of the better Cure albums.  It thrives on nostalgia and if anything sequencing will be the death
of it.  The album starts off with some heavy tracks, but then tapers off into mediocre pop fare.  I am almost certain
there a track order that would suite this album better.  It has also been said that there are at least three b-sides
that were stripped criminally from the 11-track US version of the CD.  I am eager to hear these songs to see just
how much truth there is to that.  At any rate, this album has spawned several songs that I’m sure will be deemed
“classics” in the future.  Jolly good show indeed.

- Andrew Donovan
 
 

I've made mistakes in the past when reviewing records I listened to online, not taking into account the low quality
of the streaming audio (even with broadband).  I remember giving Cut Here a complete pasting after listening to
it on a 56k modem, pretty quickly realised my error after hearing the real deal on CD !!  So, I knew from the start
that I would have to cut a certain amount of slack to this album until I hear it properly this coming Monday.

I spent the first 2 thirds of the album thinking that, well basically it's the best Cure record ever made.  As fucking
simple as that.

I Don't Know What's Going On and Taking Off dampened those thoughts fairly quickly though as I was suddenly
transported back to 1996 and Wild Mood Swings b-sides territory.  I Don't Know...is in fact a 90% replica of
Home, the b-side of Mint Car.  Man, it's disappointing to hear songs that sound so similar to older tracks.  It was
bad enough when the guitar from Burn was reprised on The Loudest Sound, but this is altogether more over the
top.  Taking Off sounds like it could grow on me a bit, but the intro just sounds too dated and I'm presently not
too impressed.

Other than that I do think the album is the best thing The Cure have done since Wish.  The only real major gripe
I have with this version of the album is that it's a bit boring to hear yet another Cure album finishing as per usual
with an oh-so-obvious EPIC song, in this case The Promise.  It's too similar to Watching Me Fall (another
soundalike song!) which probably explains why it was plonked at the end of the record, as oppose to Watching
Me Fall which appears near the start of the record it appears on !

Lucky me though, as I live in England I get to buy our version of the album which ends with Going Nowhere and
also includes Truth Goodness and Beauty, so my opinion of the album may be even better come Monday.  I'm
especially hoping it ends a lot better as I just don't think The Promise ends the album very well.

That said, I'll remind myself again that I've just heard it in comparitively shitty internet quality and I already
think 95% completely kicks ass so I can't wait to hear it on CD with a couple of extra songs chucked in for good
measure!

The feelings I had listening to this were similar to those I got from hearing Wish the first time, something that
never happened with WMS or Bloodflowers, so these indeed are exciting times.  Can't wait for Monday !!!

- Dave Ace
 
 

Lost: I thought it was just the bad recording from Coachella, but nope, this song sucks. Where is the music? This
is all drums, weak keys, and Robert's vocals way too high in the mix.

Labyrinth: Beginning melody reminds me of 'The Snakepit'. Echo effect on vocal is a little lame, what is he hiding?
Overall, pretty good. This should've opened the album.

Before Three: Is it me, or is the "owwwww" getting a bit old? The album gets better with this one. still though, for
someone who can't really sing that well, the vocals are fairly overpowering.

TEOTW: I've said it before, it's better live, but I can't tell if that's because that's the first way I heard it.

Anniversary: Nice from the start. Similar vibe to much of Bloodflowers, and the vocals aren't too high.

Us or Them: Music is great. Has that "owwwww'" again. I don't get it though, the vocals are still way too high in
the mix, like much of Bloodflowers, and are a little lame. Didn't he already write this song and call it "Shiver and
Shake"? Too many words at the chorus. He could have done better if he had said less.

alt.end:  ummm. "In Your House" anyone? Other than stealing from themselves, the melody is good, but dammit,
the vocals are so high. WTF?

(I Don't Know What's Going) On:  Music starts out good, but Fat Bob is really beginning to get repetitious here,
kids. Do-do-do-do-do for the bazillionth time. Lyrics are bad, and he's doing so much more yelping than in the past.

Taking Off: Immediate great music, but I'm still stuck on the overpowering vocals, and the 3rd song on this album
about how he will "keep it going". I think "Never Enough" stated that best. This is also the second song on the
album (the first being TEOTW) that ends with the falsetto "awwwwoooowwwwoooo".

Never: CRAP.

The Promise: AGAIN, with the "big scream". I heard this from Coachella as well, and it's good, but not great.

OVERALL:  It's sad, really. I first heard The Cure when "The Walk" came out, when I was 12. I love the way he
said "japanese baby". Being 12, I didn't go out and buy many records, but I was in 9th grade when "The Head
On The Door" came out, and was instantly smitten by everything they did. Bought all the 12" singles, etc. etc. etc.
"Disintegration" can never be topped, though some singles (and their b-sides) after that were excellent. Even
"Wish" was great. But then all the filler of live albums, single collections, etc got pretty boring. I worked for
Elektra when WMS and Bloodflowers came out, and while i tried to make it SEEM like they were as great as the
older albums, they really weren't up to snuff.
I think this is it for me. Sad to say, but I can't keep pretending that I love what I'm hearing anymore.

to better my mood, i just put on my cd mp3 collection of all the albums up to (but omitting a lot of)  WMS and
bloodflowers. ahhhhhhh. now that's better.

how can you listen to 'just like heaven' and think what you're writing now can remotely compare?

- Brian Callahan
 
 

After listening to it several times over, I would imagine it's one of their better latter day efforts.
As a whole, the album is incredibly angry in spots and very slickly produced. It tends to sag towards the 7th & 8th
songs, picks up, falls over and gets back up again. Weird running order.

I will always think that KMKMKM and Head on the Door are the best simply to nostalgia, but this album (even
the crap US version with only 11 songs) is really great. Lost, Anniversary, Before Three, EOTW, Us or Them...
great songs. Alt. End is weak, should have been a B-side, same with (I Don't Know) What's Going On, and Never.
Especially Never. Absolutely nothing special about it. About the most generic sounding song the boys have ever
done. I can't really say that about anything they have done except Just Say Yes or Wrong Number.

Taking Off and The Promise are fantastic, with Taking Off sounding something right off of one of my two favorites.
I think this album sounds much like a history lesson of the Cure, taking different sounds off of all their albums. I
wish that there was more of a Cure production sound, but all in all, a great effort. 8/10 for me.

-Rob Palacios
 
 

Hey there, just listened to the album on vh1.com and here are my thoughts:

I think the album is really damn good and I'm sure it will grow on me even more. The ones that stand out the most
right now are "Lost," "Before Three," "alt.end," "Anniversary," "Taking Off" and "Never." I think I liked
"Before Three" the most, and it actually gave me those "this is a frickin sweet song" chills, which is saying a lot
since the bitrate of the stream is fairly low and it's in mono. Great song. "Lost" isn't really that melodic or
remarkable as a song itself, but Robert's vocals make it. In fact, I'd say his vocals on the album are probably his
best yet (except maybe Three Imaginary Boys...heh heh. They should get Dempsey to sing for them on a few
songs again). He's really putting himself out there.

"Labyrinth" sounds like a Tool song to me musically, and even though I'm not a big Tool fan, I think it sounds
pretty rad. The three most unusual songs to me are "alt.end," "Anniversary" and "Never." I dig "alt.end" and
"Anniversary" quite a bit, but "Never" is um, well, I'm not sure if I like it or not yet, but I appreciate its
strangeness. I like the different sound.
"Taking Off" is THE pop song of the album. I can see it being a hit, but it's not quite as immediately infectious as
"Friday I'm In Love" or "Inbetween Days." We'll have to see on that, and I'm sure it'll be the next single.
"alt.end" could also be a hit I think. That would be interesting. Love the claps on that one. I'm convinced that the
reason humans were given hands for clapping is to make every pop song better. Like in the old days, you know?
But I think they're synth claps so they don't count. Oh, and "The End Of The World" is frickin tubular too, but
I've just heard it so much already. The same thing happened to me with "The 13th" when Wild Mood Swings
came out, but over the years it became just another track on the album like the others.

Anyway, my least favorites right now are "Us Or Them," "I Don't Know What's Going On" and possibly
"Never." But, I don't think there is a truly bad song among the bunch. Even the weaker songs still sound pretty
damn good. I can't wait to hear the other hot cuts (glad I ordered the UK version). But this album is schweet y'all.
I give it a solid four out of five stars as of right now.

- Alex Arrowsmith
 
 

I'm giving my thoughts on the US 11 track version and then I'll comment on the "bonus" tracks:

As I said before, there are some great tracks, but there are some very average ones as well. My 7 out of 10 is for
the 11 track version, add the 4 bonus tracks and it goes to 8, maybe 8.5. Add the 4 bonus tracks and take off a few
of the others and it's a solid 8.5, pushing a 9. But let's look at what Jordan Schur decided we should get in the US:

Lost (9) - We all know this one, either from the Coachella version or from iTunes. I really wasn't sure of this when
I first heard the Coachella mp3, but the studio version has grown on me more each day.I love the slow start and
the gradual buildup. The structure seems all wrong and it's sorta out of tune, but that's what makes it great. He's
lost, things aren't familiar, they're a bit off, and the desperation grows. Love the screamed vocals toward the end.
I wonder what they will use as a lead in tape to this for the tour? .

Labyrinth (7) - Really like this right now, but will probably grow to love it. Has that psychedelic/middle-eastern feel
and sound. A bit of Wailing Wall and Snakepit mixed in there, with "buried" or "processed" vocals for the first
half of the song. Very good effect. Like I said, this one is still growing on me, but one thing is clear - Simon rules
this song.

Before Three (7.5) - Love the live version from Coachella (even with the wrong words), but don't like the way
Robert sings it here. Live it has a real edge of sadness/despair to it, but here, it's almost a party. His singing is
too bright and I don't know, a bit "goofy". Will wait for a live version where Robert gets the words right, and it will
be great. I still absolutely love the guitars on it though. As with many songs on the album, you can't even tell if
Roger is in the band. Why are the keyboards so buried in the mix?

The End of the World (7) - It's ok, but the single version is better due to one less "Ooo eee ooo". Video is better
than the song. Still hate the ending too. It's a an average single, saved by the moog and the middle where Robert's
"ohohohohohohoh" blends in with . Ok, I'm being too hard on this. After 3 days, it really fits the album.

Anniversary (9) - Completely different from what I was expecting. I was thinking something sweet and quiet. Starts
with an almost dancey feel, and I'm thinking "oh no!", but it quickly turns ominous when the bass and keyboards
kick in. So sad and brooding. For some reason it has been reminding me of 'Lament' lately. Creates an oppressive,
"heavy" atmosphere, at least to me. The feeling that something bad is about to happen. One of my early favorites.
I know somebody who absolutely hates this, but he's completely wrong about it. ; )

Us or Them (8.5) - Here's my prediction, you will either love this or hate it. Me? I love it! An instant live classic.
You'll swear this is Watching Me Fall when it starts. with the guitars and even the scream, but this is Watching Me
Fall done right! Chorus is great and so catchy! I love the way Robert sings it. Jason is really pounding away. Like
on all songs, Simon's bass is just fantastic. Very powerful, spite filled vocals. Would love to see some good
re-mixers get a hold of this. It's very "rock", but there's a serious "groove" buried in there. You'll see what I
mean as soon as you listen to it the first time.

Alt.end (5) - More like alt.ctrl.delete.from.album. So disappointed with this. There are actually cheesy little
"claps" in the song. I'm not kidding. I don't like it. Boring guitars and vocals. This was my favorite when I got the
lyrics and didn't have a clue about what it would sound like. Where's the emotion? And the ending is bad too.
Maybe it's just me. I really want to like this. Maybe it will be better live.

(I Don't Know What's Going) On... (7) Ok pop, but has the feel of "filler". Music is nice. Not sure if I hate or just
dislike Robert going for the high pitched "allallallall". Sort of reminds me of the Head on the Door era. It's really
not bad, just underdeveloped. I'm liking this more on day 2 of having the album. It's that high pitched bit that
keeps it from being better.

Taking Off (7.5) A good pop song. If Geffen plays it safe, this will probably be the second single. Listen closely to
that guitar line. Somebody is trying to get that JLH feel, and it almost works. Almost. I wonder if this is one of the
songs Porl played on? Sounds like him. And the acoustic sounds like Inbetween Days. I like it, but hate the
"Robert falsetto" ending. I don't know what it is with this album, but Robert seems to feel the need to embellish
each song ending with something goofy. You girls will probably love it though. "Oh he's so cute!" : ) And on the
second day, it's reminding me of A Pink Dream.

Never (4) - Here's exactly what I wrote after my first listen: "So what? Any band could have done this. The twin
to alt.end. I find it boring and flat. Faked emotions. Terrible ending...again." My opinion hasn't changed much
since then. Generic rock at it's most average. And on day 3, I still get NOTHING from it. I'm hitting SKIP every
time it comes on.

The Promise (8) - Another one we all know. Love this one. As good in the studio as it is live. It's like Forever, The
Kiss and All I Have To Do Is Kill Her, all wrapped into one song. That guttural scream/howl at the start is great.
"You...prom...ised..me" to the drumbeat is just classic! Should have some great guitar/bass meltdowns on the tour.
I just wonder if Robert's voice will be able to hold up, with all of the intensity on this song and some of the others.

And that's it. Starts off great, then goes flat. There's 2/3rds of an excellent album there, but the really good stuff
is saved for b-sides and other countries. So now we go from really good to excellent:

Going Nowhere (10) - Absolutely beautiful! As I told Nadine before I gave her the album, "if you don't love this,
not like, LOVE this, I will refuse to ever talk to you again. Seriously." Wait until you hear Roger's piano. Why
can't we have more of that? Wind chimes, piano, acoustic guitar and the Bass VI. Too beautiful for words. The
chimes sound almost exactly like the start of Pictures of You. The only problem here is that it's so short. It needs
3-4 more minutes to really "develop", but I guess it's good that it leaves you begging for more. I'm just hoping the
band include this in the live set.

This Morning (10) - Sad, moody and slow. More piano! Love this one too. It's that sad, gloomy classic Cure sound
done perfectly. Fantastic bass once again, and great synth and piano. Would not be out of place on Disintegration
or Bloodflowers. Robert's softly spoken vocals at the 4 minute mark will be one of the most beloved parts of any
of these songs. Just a fantastic song. Why are they wasting this on a b-side? Another criminal act. I added this
after the second day of listening to the album: "I just want to state for the record that leaving 'This Morning' off
of 'The Cure' is the biggest mistake since 'This Twilight Garden' was left off of 'Wish'. There, I feel better now. : )
This song just continues to stun me, each time I listen to it. It's not just great, it's 'Same Deep Water As You'
great. And I don't say that about many songs. "

Fake (8.5) - Another early favorite. Love the music, especially Roger's keyboards. Slightly popish, but in an
excellent way. Destined to be another classic b-side.

Truth Beauty & Goodness (8.5) - Wasn't crazy about it the first time, but it grows on me with each listen. Don't like
the start of it. Robert's held note, up and down, on the first "beautiful" is brilliant. Will give you goosebumps. The
six string bass on this sounds a bit like Last Dance. Very good. Will probably love it by monday. : ) I't's now
tuesday, and I do love it, but I don't like the multiple false endings.

I really like this album, but wish the track listing was different. Hell, even Ross admitted that he wasn't happy
with it, but Robert wanted to make it more "accessible". And from what I hear, there are even better tracks that
were excluded from the final 15. Anyway, just don't get caught up in the "greatest album ever" hype, and you'll
probably really love it. And I reserve the right to change my opinion on songs as I listen to them more...as I have
done several times now. : )

- Craig Parker