Reviews of 'The Cure'


We're all sick of new album reviews but I can't help but to throw in my two cents.  I have been a devoted fan since '83 and saw my first Cure
show in '85.  I record my own music and feel I have some appreciation, albeit small scale, of the process.
 
I think that the Japanese version of the new album is great.  It gives us yet another perspective from which to appreciate their song writing and sound.  The lush layered sound of prior albums, like Disintigration and Bloodflowers, is great but the raw energy of their music is only captured to a degree in the studio.  Layering on sound with lush synthesizers and heavily-processed guitars has been done before and could be done again; it's just not what they were going after with this project.  If you listen to older songs side by side with the new recordings you can readily appreciate the difference between the heavily produced studio sounds of the past and the raw energy and punch of the new stuff.
 
Jason's drumming is brilliant.  It's a departure from the typical Cure sound but is refreshing.  The bass lines and performance are great.  The
vocals are awesome, except when he screams "I am so in love with you" the second time in (IDKWG) On.
 
I have a few criticisms, mostly of the lyrics.  I'm a little tired of the symmetry that plagues Robert's writing these days:

-"I don't want you anywhere near me"  "You don't want me anywhere near you"
-"I couldn't love you more"  "You couldn't love me more"
-"She is trying to be the one for me"  "I am trying to be the one for her"
 
I also don't like the deal where he repeats the line but changes one word:
-"With you it's always here and never...there"  "...where"  "...how"
 
I wouldn't have minded a few long intros and few guitar solos but it just wasn't in the cards.
 
In general, I love the current line up.  I have seen the Cure nearly 20 times over the years.  I love the flowing sound promulgated through Porl's guitar stylings and Boris' drumming but I like even more the wonderful definition, clarity and power of their live sound since Perry and Jason have come on board. 
 
If the album hasn't grown on you yet, give it another try.  Cheers to all you fans out there and happy concert going; if you have a chance check out Cursive on the second stage.  They rock.
 
- Matt


Sometimes I shake my head in amazement at the genius that is Robert Smith.  His music has touched me as I’m sure it has all of you who read
this (or you wouldn’t be reading it); and other times I shake my head in shock at how such a genius can have his fans wait 4 years between albums
only to give us The Cure, which in my opinion is an unfinished piece of work.

Many of you have made mention of the production values, and this has been my biggest gripe with their albums over the past few years, including their DVD mix of their Trilogy performance.  I mean I know live versions should sound a bit different than studio but it seems that they alter sounds and this actually ruins songs in their performance, and for what reason? Can someone ever explain to me why in Closedown they would change the keyboard sample? My goodness, that song is keyboard, drum and six string, take out one element/change it and you alter the beauty of the song… it was one of the biggest musical let downs for me to wait so long to see that live only to have it screwed up…sigh… I just hope on this tour they perform it during the 1 show I can attend.  But I digress...

 Since “Wish” Robert has continually produced albums that lack the “lush” sound that so pulled us into the music in the past.  I can only assume that the stripped down- hollow sound of WMS, Bloodflowers, and now The Cure is done on purpose, because Smith has proven that he can still make a full –bodied song, “More than This”, but this was non-Cure efforts I guess.   I don’t know why he persists on taking his genius and stripping it of all but the most basic beauty.  Maybe it is a minimalist stage he is going through.  It irks me when live recording sound better and fuller than a studio mix.

How bad are the mixes on The Cure? Well I am now listening to the Pink Pig project, remember that? ;)  Well here we have amateurs, and many of
their covers sound better mixed on 4 track porta-studios than does much of The Cure!  Shaking my head.

I hope, someday, someone, can shake Mr. Smith and get him to record are record in the same manner he did in the past, lush and full of sound,
because this stripped down bare bones recording ain’t cool no matter what Ross and others may think.

Now what about the music on the album? Well, The Cure has genius in it, that is for sure.  And that’s the problem, this is not an average album,
it has inspiration and I’m digging many of the songs.   But I have to use my imagination to bring out the FULL sound of what could be there. 
I imagine “Lost” with a lush mix and full powerful keyboards…wow.   Same thing with the other songs, and there are some real gems. 

Truth, Goodness, and Beauty …. Impressive…magical…. One of the better mixed songs but still lacking the professionalism of Wish and
Disintegration.

Before 3.. see above.

Going Nowhere … gets rave reviews on this site and for good reason, it maybe the best mix of the group.

Anniversary … ah good good… this is what I’m talking about… but still not up to the epic feel that it could be.

Maybe I miss the point Robert is trying to make.  Maybe he intentionally gives the last 3 albums this new “stripped-down” bare bones mix feel. 
Maybe that is his angle.  Sometimes genius takes turns the rest of us don’t understand.  Well, I am sure of one thing, the live versions will
sound as good if not better than the album, and that is reason enough to buy a ticket to their show.

- Kyushin


How to create another substandard Cure record:

Ensure that Robert Smith yells a lot--even on lighter pop songs. As a matter of fact, mix his vocals high enough so that any sonic textures that are present are difficult to ascertain. In general though, be sure to discourage sonic complexity, solos, and long musical interludes as much as possible. After all, it's only really ever been about the vocals, right?  Encourage lazy lyric writing that includes pat phrases and pronomial reversal in a standard formula.  Try not to let songs end without some sort of vocal repetition or, uh, strangeness.  The use of feedback or a cool distorted riff can really enhance a recording, so be sure to repeat the same sound over and over and over and over throughout the song.  Finally, encourage the
drummer to play fills over everything and discourage a less is more approach that might accidently fit the Cure's music. 

There's not much new here, I know, but I thought I'd state my agreement with some others. I will buy every Cure record that comes out because of their history of masterpieces like Pornography, Disintegration, and even Wish. I'm not asking them to remake those - but something that approaches their quality would be nice. 

- Marc


My husband and I excitedly opened our UK import vinyl to listen to the extra songs and find out what all the fuss was about.  I know we already
heard "Truth, Goodness, and Beauty" because of the DVD extra that came with our CD.  We loved it, so couldn't wait to hear more.  However,
after listenening to the whole album (in the dark and lound as suggested), I can certainly understand why those songs were left off the U.S. versions.  Based on interviews I have read and watched from Robert, it was important to produce an album that had an overall continuity of being "hard, raw, and angry".  The other four songs left off certainly changed the whole tone of the album when heard as a whole.  It strayed from what seemed to be Robert's and Ross's visions for putting out "something different".  The four extra songs were certainly quintessential "Cure" and certainly carried old school riffs from their earlier days, which were a suprising welcome.  I'm sure die-hard Cure mopers are just creaming over "This Morning" and "Going Nowhere" as they seem to fit the mood and sadness of Pornography and Seventeen Seconds.  However, I don't think for the purpose of the album,  they quite fit the angry tonality the album seemed to want to state.  This does not mean as a whole, I think the U.S. album is great as it is or the best album ever, but I can now have appreciation for what it is they were trying to accomplish.  But I must say though, the album would have been better if "Never" was left off!  It carried riffs and melodies right out of  songs from Hole's "Live Through This" album..it was aweful. (Sorry Robert to equate it with a woman who has gone psycho, however, you are also bringing on to the tour her former bassist.  Makes me wonder...).  I also thought the opening to The Promise would have been more powerful if he didn't open it up by screaming like Axel Rose in "Welcome to the
Jungle" (again, Ross?)...but a fantastic song none the less and can't wait to hear it at the show.  Overall, the album certainly has highlights for me (Lost and Before Three, Anniversary) and could tell Robert was also tipping his hat to his two favorite musical influences-David Bowie and Jimi Hendrix-on this album...very nice. 

However, I do have a question:  Is it just me or does the album recording (weather you have it on vinyl, CD, or MP3), have a dampened,
almost bootleg, quality to it?  Even WMS had a fullness and surrounding effect when listening, as well as Bloodflowers.  I think my overall
dissapointment is that mixing doesn't seem that clean or give enough richness to the songs.  Rodger certainly seems to be "in the background"
too much....probably Ross thought synths would make it too "poppy" and not "hard" like in nu-metal.  Because of the sound quality, especially
on "This Morning" and "Going Nowhere", it inspired my husband to bust out a Cure bootleg on vinyl he has called "Invasion of the Body
Snatchers" that he got as a teen to play a song called "Ariel".  He said they reminded him of that song, though he isn't sure if that song is an
original or a cover.  It was real cool comparing the two.
 
I do have one final comment concerning fans dogging Robert for not capturing time and making another album like Pornography and
Disintegration.  Don't you people remember that when he was making these albums, he and the band were miserable and messed up from coke, acid,
and other mind altering drugs...as well as drunker than skunks?  I'm sorry, but musical experience and sounds are so different when you are
high verses sober.  These albums were painful to make and took tolls on him and the band and were sounding that way because of hellacious times
in their lives.  For his sake, don't ask Robert and the band to go back to that just so we can recreate songs and sounds from the past for our
pleasure.  He is 46 now and has the right to make music that he was never sober enough to make.  It his time to enjoy being a musician and
he has paid his dues.  Give him a break.   Just be thankful he is even still alive to make music at all....

- Stephanie Subu


The Cure has graced us with 25 years of unbelievable music and some of the best albums of all time in Pornography and arguably the greatest of
all time, Disintegration. The Cure has a tendency to create thematic albums (Seventeen Seconds, Faith, Pornography, Disintegration, and
Bloodflowers) and 'albums with a balance' (mixed varities of songs ranging from pop to rock: The Head On The Door, Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss
Me, Wish, and Wild Mood Swings)

Where does The Cure's self-titled The Cure stand, thematic or a balanced album? It's another balanced album. Typically, balanced albums have been
not as good as the thematic ones. Does The Cure differentiate from this standard? Can the follow-up to 2000's Bloodflowers still show The Cure
still has it, even though Robert Smith is 45 years old? A lot of critics say The Cure hit it's peak at Disintegration and slowly began the
decline with Wish, plummeted with Wild Mood Swings, and barely gained back respect with Bloodflowers. Can a balanced album from The Cure be an awesome piece of work or will it furthermore prove the critics point that The Cure are has-beens?  But here is my detailed anaylisis of the 14-track Japanese version of The Cure:

1. Lost (A-)
This track opens up The Cure. Immediately the listener should be stricken by how incredibly heavy this song is and how it sounds like nothing The Cure has put out before, including The Kiss. Without question, this song is the heaviest song The Cure has ever recorded and an amazing opener to the new record. Robert Smith's voice is almost screaming out the lyrics towards the end of the song and I have never heard him so passionate before until this song. The Ross Robinson (Korn, Slipknot producer) influence is present in this song, without a doubt, but thankfully this isn't nu-metal. This is heavier than a lot of Nine Inch Nails material even, I would say.

2. Labyrinth (B)
The successor song to the amazing opener Lost starts out with citars immediately reminding me of If Only Tonight We Could Sleep but they drift away. This song is crazily atmospheric and wouldn't be out of place on Faith or Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me. I really like the processed vocals and how his voice emerges from the processed and then fades back out into processed at the end. Great song, but it takes a few listens to get into.

3. Before Three (A)
When I first heard this song on the Coachella bootleg I knew that this song was destined to be a Cure classic. I am absolutely in love with this song. It's wistful, nostalgic and melancholy. The lyrics are very romantic and Robert vocal talents shine on this song. If they play this at Curiosa, it's almost guaranteed to happen (been played at 100% of the shows this year so far), I'll probably get choked up. This song takes me away to a beach with the girl of my dreams, whoever she may be.... *sob*

4. Truth Goodness & Beauty (A)
Okay why was this omitted from the American CD? This song is one of the strongest on the record. And my new personal theme song. I love this
thing. I almost tear up when I hear it. But I really tear up.. at track 14.

5. The End Of The World (B-)
Probably the weakest song on the record, but still good. Traditional Cure pop, takes a few listens to get into. You've probably heard this a million times on TV, radio, etc. so there's not much to say about this song.

6. Anniversary (A)
This song is frigging awesome. The atmosphere and the mood of the song makes the song, I would say this song would fit well on Disintegration
or Faith, maybe even Pornography. It's incredibly brooding. I really like the usage of Simon's fuzz-bass in this song, it adds to the atmosphere. The synthesizers are awesome in this one. Smith's vocals are extremely good. This song has a melancholy tinge. They need to play this one live, I don't believe they have yet.

7. Us Or Them (A-)
More heaviness courtesy of Ross Robinson, awesome. I have never heard Robert Smith this angry since Shiver And Shake from Kiss Me, Kiss Me,
Kiss Me. This is the most moshable Cure song since Shake Dog Shake. This song seems very politcally charged. This song is heavy as crap, I really
like the drumming in this song, it's very intricate. While not as heavy as Lost, it still stands out. This is going to be a great singalong song, I hope they play this one live when I go to Curiosa.

8. Fake (B+)
Great song, but it feels sort of out of place. This is also not on the American. I can see why they scrapped this one but I do not understand
TG&B being scrapped.

9. alt.end (B-)
More Cure pop. This song has really great lyrics but the lyrics really don't match the song. The song is real upbeat and has a hooky chorus, but this, like TEOTW, is simply 'good,' it doesn't stand out. Some of the hardcore Cure fans say "alt.control.delete.from.album" but I disagree, I think it's pretty cool, albeit this is weak compared to the first six songs. Slightly better than TEOTW.

10. (I Don't Know What's Going) On (B)
Just Like Heaven II? Only thing bringing this song is the lyrics, it's repetitive. A lot of hardcore Cure fans also want this song off the album. It's stronger than alt.end but again tracks 1-3,5,6 absolutely smoke this song. The falsetto Robert does is annoying to some, but not to me. I actually liked Wild Mood Swings, so I guess that's why. Before you say that I like every Cure song, consider this: I hate Love Cats, Do The Hansa, Apart, and Wendy Time.

11. Taking Off (B+)
Great song. When I posted my first impressions I said this was destined to become a Cure classic. Well remember I said I reserve the right to
downgrade, this is one of those I'm downgrading. This song reminds me of Inbetween Days mixed with Mint Car. It's a terrific song and picks up
the album after the previous two simply 'good' songs. The guitar in this song is awesome and ethereal, and there is some great ethereal piano
lick too. I don't understand the criticisms of this song, I think it's well done! Bravo!

12. Never (B)
Okay why do people hate this song? I have to disagree. Big time. This is another one of those heavy songs influenced by Robinson. The drums
remind me of a faster Closedown. The bass groove in the song is great. This is the only Cure song that uses a traditional distorted guitar I
believe. I really like Smith's vocals, especially towards the end. Another great song. WTF is wrong with you people?

13. The Promise (A+)
Can you say, best Cure song ever? (Tied with Going Nowhere of course) This song dethrones the title previously held by Disintegration. This
song is heavier than crap and epic. Nothing short of brilliance, at 10 minutes long this song never gets dull for one second. Smith's vocals and the unbelievable feedback from the guitar and the atmospherics of the synths make this song the best ever.

14. Going Nowhere (A+)
The scrapping of this song from the US CD is the biggest travesty since OJ Simpson got free from his murder trial (or George Bush stealing the
election, one of the two) I'll be honest, THIS SONG MADE ME CRY FIRST TIME I HEARD IT. This is the most beautiful Cure song ever created and if they play it live at Nashville I'm going to bawl. I can feel it. Only complaint: it's too short! Otherwise, best song ever!

Final Score: A
(US VERSION DOWNGRADED TO A C-)

Why was the US version downgraded. Two words: Going Nowhere. Whoever made the decision to remove this song needs shot in the head. I'm
serious. TG&B should be on the record too. Fake is sort of out of place. This Morning should be in it's place.  It's a travesty.

Screw the US version, get the Japanese one. The US version was rouged out of all the good songs.

- Travis W. Burgess


I have the Japanese version of the CD and now I have burned what really should have been the album.  I have heard about all of the supposed contract stuff but I don't really get it.  The vinyl is the real album as far as I am concerned and now I have it on CD and can play it in my car.  The US version is so lacking I can't believe they would release it that way.  I am 50 years old and have been a Cure fan since I heard "A Forest" at the Harvard COOP in Cambridge MA in 1981.  I bought the import single at that time.  I don't understand all of the negative criticism from the "fans" regarding the new CD.  "Kiss Me Kiss Me Kiss Me" has always been my favorite and it took a while for "Disintegration" to grow on me.  I think "The Cure" combines all of their best traits.  It has the raw power of "Pornography", the variety of "Kiss Me", and the depth of "Disintegration".  People shouldn't be too quick to judge it until they have heard it a few times.  I believe it is going to be one of if not my favorite Cure albums and that is how it should be.  If a group stops changing and relying on an old formula or sound that is when it gets stale and they should hang it up. 

- Dennis


Finally I’ve got all the tracks. But I had to wait (in Denmark) for the release of ’TEOTW’ single for ’Fake’ and ’This Morning’ and just today I got
the UK version from Amazon of the album just for the ’Truth Goodness and Beauty’ song… (!) But it was all very much worth while… Here is my prioritized list of songs with the best first and a scale character from 0 to 10 for each song. I have bypassed the objective evaluation and simply focus on how strong each song affect me emotionally. The special emotional effects, the existential nature and mood, of Cure songs is basically why we love The Cure anyway, isn’t it?

Fake - 10
Truth Goodness and Beauty - 10
Going Nowhere - 10
This Morning - 9
Labyrinth - 9
Us Or Them - 9
Taking Off - 8
The Promise - 7
Anniversary - 6
Before Three - 6
alt.end - 6
Lost - 5
The End Of The World - 5
On - 3
Never - 2

I think ’Fake’ is the best song they’ve made since ’Spilt Milk’.

- Per

I think its worthwhile prefacing my review with a rundown of my fav Cure songs otherwise you're not going to understand where i'm coming
from. Based on year of release then something like 10:15;Secrets;The Funeral Party;Cold;Lament;The Birdmad Girl;The Exploding Boy;How
Beautiful You Are;Homesick;FTEOTDGS;Jupiter Crash(just);There Is No If;Lost! I've been a mad Cure fan since 85 and i must say post-Wish i've always  approached new Cure releases with a little trepidation. Anything  pre-Wish is simply untouchable and can NEVER be repeated nor surpassed. All real Cure fans CAN ONLY agree with this comment. WMS was a shocker with only Jupiter Crash and Want (purely as a result of 2000 year gigs)
ever remaining in my mind as passable. Club America for Pete's sake! Bloodflowers was a return of some sort to the mixed nature of Wish but
with only OOTW, Watching Me Fall, There Is No If, The Loudest Sound & Bloodflowers 'doing it for me'. Now i get to 'The Cure'. Man some of
this album is truly sensational. Previous reviews talking about 'half baked' ideas/production whatever is a little weird. Wasn't it meant to be live and raw. 'Lost' is quite remarkable. With a back catalogue spanning 27 years (?) we're always tempted to compare every new Cure song with a previous creation (see below!). No matter how hard i try i cannot do it with 'Lost'. Only 'Forever' or 'All Mine' get anywhere near. The power! I'm simply drawn to the need to play this song over and over up full blast, in my car, in my room, in my lounge wherever. The next track (i'm reviewing the 12 tracker by the way) 'Labyrinth' is a great 'trippy one'. Harking back to 'The Snake Pit' or a powered up 'Wailing Wall' this really gets me diving for the incense & candles & marijuana. These two tracks are the best songs on the album and while it gets a bit patchy from there its a great start to the best Cure album since Wish (obviously). I'd imagine the upcoming US gigs are going to have these back to back to kick things off. All i can say is 'you lucky
buggers'. I doubt an Australian tour will be on the cards. 'Before Three' & 'TEOTW' follow and are both rather (surprisingly?) joyous. First listen, like a lot with the album, has you a little unsure as to where the quality lies, but listen to these tracks a few times and you're hooked. While i'm not in a position to get overly technical on each instrument's contribution to each song, Simon Gallup's bass is consistently superb. These songs flow! 'TEOTW' is a 'good' single and isn't out of place here. The use of expletives by Robert Smith has been fairly sparse over the years but when he slots in the 'f' word its always suited e.g. 'Give Me It' and 'The Kiss'. 'Before 3' is no exception. Look forward to the radio edit! Now that i've said that i
don't like (for the first time) the use of the 'f' word in 'Us or Them'. May be 'cause i don't particularly like the track. It seems like a forced version of a 'Shiver and Shake' or a poor man's 'Give Me It'. I feel a little harsh in stating this as the instrumentation is fine. I'm struggling with Robert Smith's lyric i think. Better listen to it some more. Back to the track listing. 'Anniversary' is stunning. This will be another corker live. It'd fit nicely on 'Faith' but for the 'updated' sound. Half-sister/brother to 'The Loudest Sound'. Everything about it draws me in. The piano, Robert Smith's voice, the weirdo keyboards, the fractured (sic) electronica of the drums a la Japanese Whispers era etc.
The next four tracks have me totally confused. I wouldn't have a clue if i like them or not. May be the old maxim of a few more listens will do
it but they fall into the '39', End', 'Coming Up', 'Never Enough', 'A Foolish Arrangement', 'Cut' (enough!) category. I'm not going to be
programming my cd player to play 'em first. 'Taking Off' will surely be the next single? 'Never' is pretty rocky and not as bad as it is made
out to be surely. There is a lot! going on in these songs. May be too much. 'The Promise' is from the same mold as 'Watching Me Fall' (twin
brothers born four years apart?). Not a bad thing and i don't mind listening to the Cure jam for 10+ minutes at all. I can listen to Robert
Smith and Perry Bamonte play the geetar like that all nite (late) long.
 'Going Nowhere' gets back to the 'Sinking', 'Untitled' type finale to a Cure album and is a good song (of course). But may be finishing off on
the 'comparison' road again is how you can slot this album into the Cure's catalogue. The two comparative songs mentioned above are simply
untouchable. 'Going Nowhere' doesn't reach these giddy heights and may be its a bit much to ask but what's with the 3mins 30! Oh half-baked...oh right.

- Glenn Robinson.



I first got into the Cure in 1986 and saw them in 1987 in Toronto for the Kissing Tour a year later. Since then they
have been my favorite group and a passionate love of mine. Bloodflowers is in my opinion one of the greatest albums
of all time; a jaw-dropping masterpiece. This new album is a 180 from Bloodflowers, as it seems more direct, vivid,
energetic and colorful. But the Cure have a variety of musical styles, all of which they're good at and maybe this album
just takes a bit of getting used to for some fans. I think it's great and have been loving the songs people have been
giving high marks to. Lost is amazing, I love Labrynth and Before Three makes me want to gush in delight. And I love
Anniversary, god that's got great potential live. Us or Them and The Promise are delicious and the imagery for me is
quite vivid on this album. But On and Taking Off are also wonderful - I can't get these songs out of my head. Taking
Off has me flying in the clouds and Never, if you let the imagery gel in your head, is a searing vocal delight and should
be wicked in conceert. Alt.End has also been in my head and is well-written and very catchy. What strikes me about
this album, beyond how well-written all of these songs are, is how vibrant both the heavy and light songs are. Maybe
they are meant to accentuate or pull-out certain aspects of each other. I can aleady see several all-time faves of mine
amongst this great collection of tunes.

- Stephen Cox


For those of you with mp3 players may i suggest the following revised tracklist.

1.Lost
2.Labryinth
3.Before 3
4.This Morning
5.Anniversary
6.(i dont know whats going) on
7.Taking off
8.Truth Goodness and beauty
9.The promise
10.Going Nowhere
 
This would be an album that i would love. The other five songs are no loss. The Cure have made an album that has
received good press reviews, however it is not special in a way that many long term cure fans had hoped. There
are far fewer moments when you find yourself open-eyed and wide-jawed. The spine tingles are fewer. But it is a
good album and grows on you with time. What a shame the production is so raw and the lack of signature guitar
sound and low key keyboards take away from the overall atmosphere.
Perhaps this is the album that had to be made to keep the music community interested. Please Robert, next time
think of only one word "ATMOSPHERE".....make us true cure fans happy and do what only the cure are capable
of.
 
- PJ Foster
 
 

I wont bore everyone with the same views most have expressed here, cause I share a majority of 'em!
I produce electronica now, but the boys have always (since age 15 ) been a huge influence overall. They need the
atmosphere back in the mix - the depth and the richness. Either get Boris (where are you??) back in there, or
imagine Budgie (Siouxsie) behind the kit?! I  think we're all missing the solid beats here...
As for production, picture what Brian Eno could have achieved, it would have been more 'them' than a
sub-standard rawk production... I'm biased towards Rogers side, but please more keys next time guys!!
Its proof that "Disintigration" cannot be topped, otherwise, its great to have them here still.
 
- Roh
 
 

I'll get out the negatives surrounding this cd first: the US version is so lacking (buying the US CD, CD/DVD,
Japanese, Vinyl & Randall's Island + Camden shows have put a hurt on my Teacher's Summer off wallet) I
couldn't believe it ended so soon, I'm not thrilled with the festival type tour and as for NEVER, well I don't know
what to say...
 
But after listening to the Japanese CD, the CD seems much more alive & full, weird how 3 more songs could do
that & listening to the CD with headphones in a cold candle-lit room made it really come alive. The recording of it
took some time to get used to, my top 2 favs are Disintegration & Wish, the rich multi layering tracking is not
there (Wish using 48 tracks!!), but there are some interesting sounds that take time to hear, its in your face live,
they really ROCK OUT on some songs, Roberts screaming his heart & lungs out & the WAH-WAH mania is
great. I never totally got into Jason, but he is now THE DRUMMER of THE CURE. His playing & intensity is
jaw dropping & after I saw him beating the shit out of the drums & his firsts blew me away & ROSS was sooo
psyched & getting in his face!!! It's a shame no one has really commented on the recording process, alternate
tunings (TEOTW on Leno, Robert was in Drop D I believe) & pure intensity ~ Wishing for another Disintegration,
or whatever isn't gonna happen & if it did, people would still complain
 
LOST-great opener, pain, despair & anger & starting with Ross throwing a metal chair @ Robert (OPEN-ish)
LABYRINTH-playing with the Eastern flair again, very HYPNOTIC, TRANCEY, killer bass (If Only We Could
  Sleep Tonight-ish)
B43-I LOVE IT! Summer, whispering, wishing & wanting ~ awesome bass line
TRUTH GOODNESS & BEAUTY - this made the album for me ~ Sounds like the vocals were recorded in a metal
room (in a good way), the drum patterns are amazing, the return of the Bass VI ~ the most beautiful & vulnerable
  song ~ reminds me of a LOST WISH
TEOTW- cool tune! MOOG!!!!!! I love how Simon carries the melody & how they all start the song
Anniversary - return of the dream-scape sound ~ great song ~ it floats
US or Them - coulda been on Bloodflowers musically ~ amazing vocal energy
FAKE - love it ~ BASS VI, synth ~ new wave 80's
alt.end - ahhh simons sounds good ~ slide guitar, some cool guitar sounds
IDKWGO - didn't dig it much till the chorus, my girlfriend insists it sound Smash Pumpkins, grew on me & love
  the KM3 vocal howls!! cool percussion too
Taking Off - same setup as JLH, but I don't think its a rip ~ I dig it (reminds me of WISH B-SIDE)
NEVER.... shoulda got past demo stage
The Promise - EPIC ~ WAH F*cking WAH!!!!!
Going Nowhere - BEAUTIFUL ~ PICTURES of YOU chime intro ~ Sound soo much like a LOST WISH

I think the songs will be even better live ~    8/10 Black eyeliners from me!!!!
 
- Joey Lomnicky
 
 

Three weeks in the studio produces this kind of album. Though I have no shred of doubt for the level of love Ross
has for the band, he simply isn't capable of producing the band to its best alone. And the reason is simple:
This record has no production dynamics.

I can understand why Robinson thinks its great. It sounds great if you look at it from the perspective of someone
who makes 90's albums. 90's albums are all very flat-sounding, over-compressed and bland. They're meant for
radio play. To hear Robert say that if we don't like this album, it is to say that we don't like the Cure, well its
offenseive. Nice try, but wrong, and by this stage, we seem to know the Cure better than he does.

There is something I have always loved about the band that has been missing through the course of these last
three albums. The band used to have a very rich, layered sound. It is painfully neglected again on this album,
despite the best attempts of the rock producer (and yes, it makes a difference). I'm not a fan of what Roger brings
to the band on most occasions, but he is criminally buried in this mix. If you have a band that is a five-piece, an
album's sound should reflect it. In most cases, this album sounds like it could have been made by a three-piece
with half-arsed overdubs.

Some of the songs benefit from the live-in-the-studio approach, and the immediacy and passion of "The Promise,"
"Never" and "Lost" could have ended up being muddled crap if left to Dave Allen, but its a small percentage of
the album when compared to the other 12-13 songs. Just because a production approach works for one song
doesn't mean it will work for the rest of the album. At best this album sounds like a great collection of demos. If
Robert insists on working with Robinson again, he'd be wise to give Dave Allen the co-producer's chair.

But I don't know if even that could fix the problems here. Though Robinson shares most of the blame, Smith must
share in it quite a bit. The bottom line is Robert's songs are uninspired and half-cooked. They're decent
facsimiles of Cure songs, but it seems on each song, Robert does something to get in the way of them, whether it
be some grating refrain, or sending a flat note off into the stratosphere (really belting out a shit note doesn't
sell it any more than if you just sing it into your shoes). This is the first album that I haven't loved at least one
song. And the first that has made me want to program out songs - I've hated "The End of the World" from the
first listen, and "(I Don't Know What's Going) On" is my new least  favorite Cure song of all time.

On the plus side, I commend Jason and Simon for turning in brilliant performances. But I suppose, in the end, it
would be more appropriate for Robert to have said "If you don't like my performance on this record, then you
don't like the Cure." And I suppose if I were to take him at his word, then maybe it would be best that I not listen
to the Cure anymore. I've been in love with this band for two-thirds of my life. But now, in a way, it feels like
meeting up with one of your ex-girlfriends and expecting to get the same magic out of the relationship that was
there when you were at the height of your love. Once its gone, its damn near impossible to find it again. And its
clear Robert doesn't have any idea of how to come across. At least no more than I do of how to get next to the
new sound.

I own everything (barring third-world imports) they've ever released, including singles. This record, I downloaded
it in advance of the release date and hung onto the mp3s (320 kps), since I refuse to buy an abridged album (fuck
you Geffen). I doubt I'll buy it at all now. I may just trash the mp3s if I ever wish to buy a $35 import from Japan,
but its a lot of money for a less-than-stellar album.

And damnit, I really wanted to love it.

- Michael Bird
 
 

This album is top two Cure Albums. My favorite will always be "Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me", unless something
better comes around.

The new mood is like a perfect jaded feeling, which is perfect for the current state of things in general.
Bloodflowers has been completely demolished which is what you want in general. The Trilogy had to end because
it was simply to heavy to continue. If the Cure did another album like Bloodflowers, Cure fans would be
emotionally drained.  In fact, "The Cure" appears to be the most upbeat album. A lot of the "In Between Songs"
are really smooth, and nostalgic. In fact Robert Smith has captured that Nostalgic feeling that is not meant to be
prevalent in other albums. If you listen to the B-sides of "Standing on a Beach" you like the music, but they don't
seem to referring to anything. You could just ignore the words and the music in-itself takes you to some past
period, which doesn't feel like it is occurring in this, or any other lifetime.

That's the same feeling with this album. First your living the story of a  "Stranger in Love". Its kind of "like an
animal" because it simply begins anew. It doesn't really matter why, you just sense it. You feel like your "trapped
in your face". What would it feel like to see "the other side of the door".  This is the most existential album of
them all, but in the literal sense. This is probably the most literal Cure album, yet the symbolic structure is still
greater than ever. Were all fooled by the wall of symbolic structure, so nobody really knows what he is talking
about. Everybody thinks Robert Smith is really dark and poetic, which seems so wonderful. But nodody sees the
underlying representational structure. They're all "Lost" because they just don't see it underneath.

Could "Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me" be duplicated. "The Cure" is really just "The Head on the Door"
transformed and transfixed. "The Promise" is just really referring back to "The Kiss".

The album ends after "Anniversary" and then begins again with "Us and Them". So there are two phases to the
album. "Us and Them" is like what the Cure would sound like as an  industrial band, but of course one song is
enough. You only currently need one song like "The Kiss". Two would be redundant.

The best song on the album is "Lost". Every other girl just represents the sad fact that I'm really just living the
story of a "stranger in love". What the hell else is it supposed to be. If it were concrete then it would make sense,
but it isn't.

The second best song is "Labyrinth" which fools you with the eastern sound, and then the "wah wah" guitars
settle in.

The third best song is "Anniversary". This song sort of sets the tone for the rest of the album. This is the jaded
song that makes the rest sound better, and brighter.

I really like the intensity of "alt.end", and "never". Really intense. Some of the best literal lyrics "I've ever
seen".

The new album is building us up to "The Mixed Up" set of albums. The Cure is eternally revisiting the past.

- Rich Loewy
 
 

General Overview is that a quick recording has sacrificed some of what made the Cure as a band great. Vocal
overdubs and cool studio effects are lost in the up front rock style that Robinson brings to the table. Thusly, most
songs lack the depth and dreaminess of the Cure's best work. Roger's keyboard lines sound amazing, but they
are buried so deeply beneath the hard, thick guitars and drums that it's damn near impossible to pick them out.
The lyrics are wanting. Robert used to be able to throw out songs with the most amazing imagery seemingly
without effort. As he's gotten older, his lyrics have taken a turn for the direct and, unfortunately, pedestrian. Alot
of these tracks wouldn't have even made it as B-Sides in the past. Robert seems to want to scream to prove that
he's still alive, instead of singing. He was at half the vocal energy on Disintegration and sounded twice as vital. Of
course, comparing this album to Disintegration is like comparing frogs and goats, so I'll stop there. Overall, some
good ideas, a few great ones,  but too many bad ones. Not an album I'll be listening to past August, probably.

This review is for the complete, 15 song vinyl version.

5/10

Lost- Could be another great opener if the synth wasn't buried and the lyrics weren't so boring.

Labyrinth- Good retread of Burn, but I'll just listen to Burn.

Before 3- Pretty, wistful, sad. This is more like it.

Truth, Goodness And Beauty- Did a song just play?

End Of The World- Catchy as hell but not up to their best singles. Ooo--eee--ack!

Anniversary- Beautifully reminiscent of Last Dance. Finally, I hear Roger.

Us Or Them- Good passion, but lacking a good hooky guitar line.

Fake- As in, faking a bad 80s disco cheese song?

Alt.end- I like this! In Your House's music with Play For Today's lyrics. A good good good bass line and Robert
sounding...spunky.

(I Don't Know What's Going) On- Despite the fact that it doesn't ever really boil over, it's still a nice, wistful,
danceable Cure pop song.

Taking Off- Needs better keyboards throughout the song, and a solo! Sounds like a retread.

Never- There is nothing to say about this song.

The Promise- A good, epic doomspeaking song. Nice guitar licks.

Going Nowhere- This is it! Oh so beautiful. The only song on the album I want to play over and over and over.

This Morning- A nice song, but not as good as all the hype I heard. Middling.

- Poodelee
 
 

Just got the Japanese version of "thecure"  the extra three songs do make up the difference where "never" and
I don't know" lack in integrity to the album.  Taking off could have been better than advertised by some
reviewers.  Going nowhere is an instant classic.
Overall out this whole album the only song that sounds like a whole new type of material is "LoS T." I think
Robert should maybe had explored more of that type of material or maybe he did and did not fit the album. Over
all this new album sounds like Kiss Me Kiss me and Wish demos.

I do appreciate a whole new album but I am bummed about the festival concert decision.  All I wanted was three
hours  of cure for a real concert experience.

- Ignacio
 
 

I am getting my review of the latest album out later than what I had wanted, but better late than never. In my
reading of the other fan reviews, I noticed people seem to be drawn along two extremes: They either love or hate
this new album. Not many reviews fall somewhere in between. In my opinion, The Cure is one of their better
albums. I remember when "FIIL" was a hit single, the first Cure album I bought was WMS when it was released
in '96. I read in the Uncut article that WMS was the last album in which Robert worried about what people
thought, which I think is great!

I am not going to do a blow-by-blow of each song because I think that is trite. I agree with Bruno in that the
drums on this album are very prominent, namely on "Us or Them." I loved what Robert does with his vocals in
these tracks, which were mosre passionate than recent albums. I noticed that some of you expressed strong
dislike for "WMF" from the last album because some of these tracks reminded you of that song. I was happy to
be reminded of WMF because that was one of my top three favorite tracks on the BF album. Some people had an
issue with the length of "Promise." Longer tracks don't bother me, but then I am also a Type O Negative fan.
Some say Robert is yelling, well, as a fan of L7, yelling doesn't bother me. Robert did not sound like he was
yelling to me anyway. I think it's a mistake to compare this album (or any album by any band) to its predecessors.
I prefer to look at each album individually. I agree with Robert: If you don't like it, then you don't like The
Cure!

- Tempest
 
 

Fuck you Ross, What did you do to Robert?  This album really sucks.  God dammit, I've never criticized thecure
before. For 15 years I've been a devoted fan, I was there defending thecure during the WMS era,  I defended
Bloodflowers to the death.  However I can't  sit here and pretend that "thecure" is a good album when it's not. I
have only the stupid U.S version, and I love "Lost" but he rest of the album is really not that intersting.  I noticed
it's taking way too much effort for the masses to say anything good about this album.
I know Robert said "if you don't like this album, you don't like the cure"  nonsense, Robert is just being a
salesmen.  This album sucks, however I still like previous albums.  What a fucken disappointment.

In all seriousness, it's a cool album.  I just feel (never, I don't know wgo, taking off), are average songs that could
have been better. I saythat because the rest of the album is in a higher level.   I guess what gets me ticking is the
Japanese and us. track difference, that' what really burns me up.

- Debunker1975
 
 

japanese version (definitive, in my opinion.)

1. lost. strong and passionate. robert sounds alive again. but why are roger's synth lines buried so deep? this is a
problem throughout the album

2. labryinth. very dark and pornography-ish. a good one-two punch

3. before 3. one of my faves. wistful and sad, with great guitar melodies

4. truth goodness and beauty. ok guitars, but it doesn't really go anywhere

5. end of the world. i like it more and more. actually reminds me of the head on the door era, except for those
damned ooo-eee-ooos

6. anniversary. nice and dark. reminds me of last dance

7. us or them. robert certainly sounds pissed. but it's a bit too contrived. there aren't enough good guitar lines

8. fake. weird. almost sounds like some sort of early 80s synth band. doesn't make much of an impression

9. alt.end. surprisingly, this is one of my favorites so far. like a re-write of play for today, mixed with secrets.
robert's vocal is awesome

10. (i don't know what's going) on. perfect pop song. really sounds like it could have come from kiss me

11. taking off. aside from the fact that it sounds like just like heaven and friday i'm in love's baby, it's still a
great pop song. needs a good piano instrumental though

12. never. this song sucks

13. the promise. really harsh, but i love the guitars. reminds me of end, though not lyrically

14. going nowhere. the quitessential cure song. i'd love it if they made an album of songs just like this. this song
is utterly amazing. roger is on fire

a good album. them's my two cents.

- Scott Otto
 
 

This latest album lacks songs, tunes, melodies, rhythms, ideas. None of these songs should have made it past the
demo stage. Did no-one break the trance of the group therapy sessions and say 'Hey, Robert, this is a bit
lacking?'. It's the worst reprise of recent Cure cliches I can think of. Being name-checked by recent bands
doesn't mean a thing in itself, is no guarantee of integrity ordirection. You just have to take each song on merit. I
find it all lazy, lyrically empty, musically indifferent. Robert talks a good album in interviews (he always has done)
and is bright, but I don't want Wittgenstein's Tractatus, just songs. On a musical level, it's not very good. Killing
An Arab has more guitar kick than this whole album, vintage guitars or not. It has that disastrous feel of going
through the motions, saying you should feel such-and-such, but not re-creating the feeling. At a basic level songs
are just songs and either they have something or they dont. This strikes me as passive, monotonous, a mall-rats
idea of what the Cure might be - it lacks personality, structure, skill, passion. Look at TIB, Seventeen Seconds,
Faith, Pornography...then this? To which the obvious answer is - groups move on, things change...yes, but you still
want good songs, whatever the direction.  This strikes me as lazy and frivolous, oddly patronising in a way. No-one
seems to have questioned Robert's judgement - all too entrenched, too frightened? I find it all woolly, but above
all, lazy, lacking. There are no songs. Bummer.

- Ben Scammell
 
 

I won't post a review of the album, there are already so many... There's just on thing I'd like to point out: nobody
mentioned the drums on this album. Boris was a very good drummer, sure, Jason's work was great on the last two
albums but honestly, Jason is THE musician on "The Cure". His parts are extremely creative, powerful,
difficult... I don't think there's another Cure album with such a high level of performance. I remember posting a
review when Bloodflowers was released and I wanted to put a stress on that (since very few people seemed to
appreciate his work on WMS).  Post this or don't, but I really think that Jason deserves a sincere tribute :)

- Bruno
 
 

Now unlike most people, I came onboard with The Cure in the later years. "Show" and "Wish" were my first real,
significant exposures to the band.  I had heard of their propencity for laborous, gloomy dirges, but I really didn't
get a good sense of it with those records.  After working backwards into their catalouge I find that, while I love
their music, those long winded numbers are usually counted amongst my least favorite.  I found "The Cure" to be
a decent balance between atmosphere and straight songcraft while raising the bar in terms of rawness that I have
not really heard in the band to a great degree.  After seeing some live performace clips and listening to the
"Show" record, I find I like the live incarnation of the band much more than I do the studio work.  Classics such
as "Just Like Heaven" and "Pictures Of You" have a tendancy to pop much more when not hampered down by
massive amounts of reverb and atmospheric delays.  This album strikes a great balance, being essentially a
spruced up live recording in a studio environment.  In particular I enjoyed the following songs for the following
reasons:

Lost - This song is just a progressive frenzy of noise and screaming that has much more subtlety and craft than
other songs like it.  I find the pure, venting nature of the song to be very appealing.  I particularly liked that the
power of the song was not hidden behind layers of guitar and synths.  The less is more approach was most
assuradley the proper choice.

Before Three - Some people have ragged on this tune, but I don't really see the reason for it.  It is far from a
catchy little pop number, but never falls into that area of being bloated and overbearing.  It's another well crafted
emotional expression.  I appreciate it's ability to maintain a consistant atmosphere and mood while keeping a
driving energy.  The song never lingers or wallows.  It also posesses a certain melancholy about it that does not
interfere with it's energy.

The End Of The World - Out of all of the songs I feel this one actually fits the tone of the record the least.  It
doesnt have the apparent dark edge of some of the other songs, nor does it have the moodiness, but it is
significant for it's fun factor.  It's a well crafted song that is fun to sing along with, at least for me.

(I Don't KNow What's Going) On - My only issue with this song is that it just doesnt ever really break away and
go running.  Again, it's a good example of a driving song with a consistantly maintained atmosphere that never
becomes overbearing.  The chorus parts are uplifting in their own way, although I think this song could have
benefitted from some additional production work.  Has a kind of Beatles feel to it I havent heard in the bands
work before.

That's all I'm actually going into, but I think you get the idea.  After a record like "Bloodflowers", to do any
more big pieces would have been ridiculous.  The Cure are a multi-faceted band that has more dimension to it
than most others, and has never allowed even those who love them to pigeonhole them.  I also believe that, at this
stage in their career, it's a bolder choice to go for a more stripped down sound and songwriting approach than to
try and replicate what many people consider their "signature sound"  I beleive Robert's comment regarding
people who dont like this album not liking The Cure comes from his belief that this album gets back to the roots of
what The Cure was before they became "Goth Superstars"; a smart rock band.  It is, perhaps, plausible to
suggest that many people are attracted to the doom and gloom aspects of the band while not really giving full
credit to the other side.  I find I enjoy songs like "Inbetween Days", "A Letter To Elise", "High", and "Six
Different Ways" for their simple and effective songwriting and fun to listen to nature, while still maintaing a level
of intelligence not present in most pop music.  While I'm sure they are not done with teh dirges and gloom, they
also didn't start out that way, so at this point I'm content to just let the boys entertain me and keep me guessing
as to what's next to come.

- Michael Schinke
 
 

I've been a major fan since 'Disintegration' and so having finally got hold of my copy of 'The Cure' on Friday, it's
been on my CD player ever since over the weekend. I haven't fully made my mind up on it yet but, here are
some thoughts after several listens...

"Lost" is a great idea and puts The Cure exactly where they should be - making edgy uncomfortable music that
conveys the unnerving feeling Robert was trying to get across lyrically.

"Labyrinth" is the PERFECT second song with an awesome bass groove. Simon is the root of the band musically
more than ever these days, building on his great work on 'Bloodflowers' and, with Robert's FX'ed-up vocal this
has a sound not unlike early Ride or the Black Rebel Motorcycle Club - one of the best bands around right now
in my view (too bad they're not on the Curiosa bill).

"Truth, Goodness & Beauty" - This is the one and only time I could ever say Jason's drumming is comparable
with Boris's - wonderful fast panning in the mix by Ross and a stunning lyric by Robert. This IS what The Cure
can mean to me.

"The End Of The World" - OK, not a bad single but in my book not really The Cure - sounds more like the
Smashing Pumpkins or even Weezer to me and, being cynical for a second, I'd say a clear effort to play to the
American teenie audience whom the band seem to be counting on these days (look at the bloody video - hardly
Crawley is it??) ... there are still a few of us in the UK who dig The Cure, Robert, remember us! :-)

I agree with other postings that "Anniversary" marks a far too belated entry into the album's running order by
Roger but boy does he deliver when he joins the party, proving again why he is far and away the greatest
keyboardist The Cure have ever had, generating a monumental soundscape for Robert to sing into.

"Us Or Them" - wonderful bass again and tremendous to hear Robert truly going for it again vocally - haven't
heard him do that on record since the 80s. I hate the Bush administration too by the way... :-)

"alt:end" - Can't understand why others don't like this - clearly a simple pastiche of their earlier work although
the handclaps may be a tad too much of a rehash of "Let's Go To Bed" (more on the drumming in general to
follow...). But after the "In Your Room" style guitar intro there are some absolutely delicious chord changes and
I'd say this has to be the grooviest song on the album.

"The Promise" - Gets better with every listen. From a guitar point of view it doesn't have quite the same level of
Perry's 'riffary' (which I had been kind of expecting) as some of his 'Bloodflowers' work ("Watching Me Fall"/
"39") but truly emotive and reminds me of Robert's stunning solo through "The Kiss" on the Trilogy DVD -
which incidentally I would say is the most organic playing of the electric guitar I've heard since Jimi Hendrix.

"Going Nowhere" - Beautiful. Roger's piano is so melancholic but so uplifting at the same time, always one of the
band's strengths. Nice to hear the 6 string bass get a decent run out again too. A nice understated end to the
album.

Right - now the criticisms...

Firstly we all know the album was recorded in just a few weeks and completely live, but seriously I think they
could have spent a bit more time on post-production. At times it sounds seriously under-produced, almost
demo-ish and whilst this may appeal to the rootsy elements of the crowd, I can't believe that Robert is one of
them. Remember he is the man who gave us 'Seventeen Seconds' - surely one of the best produced, best
SOUNDING, most coherent albums of all time.

Secondly - all the other songs I've not mentioned. All pap. Sorry. I just can't stand the contrived 'happy guitar
pop' Robert seems to have repeatedly spewed out with over the last decade... "Mint Car", "Round & Round &
Round", "Cut Here". Seriously, how can anyone put these alongside 'Just Like Heaven', 'Hot Hot Hot!!!",
"Close To Me" (and all the others). If it ain't up to that standard it shouldn't be on a Cure album, it's that simple.

And finally... the drums. I'm a drummer myself (if you're interested, see my band's site, http://www.Colvex.com)
and if there is one thing I have learnt over the years, it's to keep it simple. The drums are there for just one
reason - to emphasize rhythm. With Jason's constant clattering around the kit and seeming inability to stop
thrashing away at his crash cymbals I'm sad to say you completely lose all the thrust of many of these songs
("Truth, Goodness..." being a notable exception). It's about time someone sat him down and explained this to him -
the reason so many of us loved Boris's drumming is that, although at times it was fantastically complex, it was so
well looped and played like a metronome that you couldn't help but feel moved by it. The fills on "Just Like
Heaven" for example are SO simple but genius at the same time because we all remember them and they don't
distract from the full fat punchy rhythm. The reason Simon's playing is so noticeable these days I think is because
the drums are so all over the place - he's having to basically be a one man rhythm section and, to his eternal
credit, just about pulls it off. Sorry Jason, you're a nice feller, but you've GOT to wake up and realize what it's all
about! Stick on 'the Head On The Door' and start from there!! To Ross' credit however, this is the best drum
'sound' on record by The Cure since 'Wish'.

Well, apologies everyone for the essay. I've never written to this site before but because this album is so emotive
I just had to. And that, I guess, is a good thing... proof that The Cure can still get me going!

- Gavin
 

Heres another review of the album, though we have a million already why not add something else, firstly congrats
to Jeff Kovalski who wrote an earlier review for pointing out some important facts, one: who cares if you don’t
have all 15 tracks, buy another version, sure its annoying, but I just read on the net that a marine has likely had
his head hacked off….now theres a real problem! Get some godamned perspective! And secondly: all the
negative posters on this site, whilst opinions are great, just stop listening if you hate the band….man so
depressing and despondent to log into this section and read so many disparaging comments….there I feel better
now….

To the album, I am so in love with this…….I think its fantastic and that’s not the comment of a sheep either to
those who made some remarks like that previously about peoples positive postings. Once again the Cure have
tapped into their magic side, I think that Ross has done something amazing here, you can tell there is real passion
and fire again and I think he has really helped the band to bring that out. This album is so alive compared to the
sleepy Bloodflowers, which is still wonderful, but this is like a pop rock on the tongue! I cant think of one song
save “Never” which I don’t love or at the very least like very much. Needless to say “End of the World” is their
very best pop single in forever, and Ill be a monkeys uncle if “Taking off” isn’t the contender for the next off the
album, its f**** amazing, makes me sing and dance around the room like a cat who’s had its tail trod on. I
personally cannot wait to get the vinyl version, really want to hear the other three tracks…luckily in NZ we got
the 12 track version “Going Nowhere” its so wonderful!  Im hoping that they keep working with Ross for the next
album!

And I honestly do think this is their best album since Disintegration, I haven’t felt this elated about them since
1989!

- Alastair Ross
 
 

I have listened to the "the cure" inttensively over the last couple of weeks and wanted to throw my tuppence
worth to your review page. Like a lot of the visitors to the chain of flowers site I have been an avid cure fan for
years and like one of your previous reviewers I am also appalled at some of the negative comments about this new
work. The only reason I can think of for any true cure fan reviewing this album negatively is that you just have not
listened to it fully and properly yet. I have to agree that "never" is crap but outside of that one mistake this is
actually a brilliant recording. I got the cd and vinyl versions and for anyone who has not heard "this morning"
(extra track on vinyl) you have got to. Seriously this song is one of the fucking graetest cure moments ever. I am
not going to do a track by track report on the album but i would seriously rate it up there with Disintegration,
Pornography, Seventeen seconds and Faith. So come on people. Turn the fucking thing up relax and enjoy what in
time will be realised as a masterpiece. Roll on oxegen in Ireland next saturday.

- Mike B.
 
 

As much as I like Lost and End of World, in my opinion, the Album really doesn't get started until Track 5 with
Anniversary. From that point the album seems to have a direction with the climax being Taking Off.  Keys should
have been a tad bit higher on Taking Off - which would make the song really shine.  Is this error on Ross' part, as
he hasn't had much work with bands that use keyboards?  Maybe not, but they really did this song a disservice by
keeping the keys too far in the background.  Overall, Robert made an excellent choice in choosing Ross and
jumpstarting a new era for the Cure.

As much a Robert is a master with lyrics/writing - is it just me, but the words/theme are words we have heard on
previous albums, just in a different arrangement.  Side note: very disappointed in the "making of" disc, although
it was done well they should really give fans a true feeling of what's it's like in the recording studio - drop the
music and let us hear what they are actually talking about.

- Luke LaCasse
 
 

After listening to the album (or bits of it) countless times by now, I can safely declare that the only songs I will
listen to repeatedly are:

Lost -- This song is fucking awesome!  It gets better with every listen (and to think I wasn't impressed on the
first go around).

Labyrinth -- This could have been on Kiss Me Kiss Me Kiss Me (it reminds me of a cross between "The
Snakepit" and "If Only Tonight We Could Sleep" musically).

Anniversary -- This has got to be one of the most powerful songs Robert's written since "Same Deep Water As
You" -- the music is awesome, and Robert's vocals are perfect.

The Promise -- Classic Cure Epic...worth the price of the CD alone.  Robert sings his heart out on this, and the
band back him wonderfully.

The rest of the songs I skip over most of the time (I didn't even put "(I Don't Know What's Going) On" and
"Never" on my mp3 player).  "Before Three" and "Us or Them" are the best of the rest.  As for the rest, I
probably won't give them much of a listen.

The album feels so rushed, and at times that's a good thing, but when it's bad it's really bad ("Never").  Some
of the songs sound as if they need some more marinating... "Anniversary", great as it is, could have been a
masterpiece.

But to talk of could-have-beens is pointless.  This is the album we were given, and it's severely half-baked.  I
have to argue with Robert's stance of, "If you don't like this you don't like us"... I've loved The Cure for a very
long time, but I was never a fan of most of the poppy, happy songs, preferring the deep and dark ones over all.
This album has too much filler, which I have never seen with any of the others -- though maybe it's because,
unlike the others, the truly bad songs on The Cure are all lumped together (at least on the American version,
which makes sense since most Americans have shitty tastes in music).  I've ordered the Japanese Import, so
I should get that next week and finally be able to hear most of the other songs.  If "This Morning" is as good as
I hear it is, it'll definitely be worth waiting for the single after all this.  Then I'll do what someone previously
wrote about: make my own version of the album.

God bless mp3 technology.

- Woland
 
 

I just picked up the new album and have listened to it several times. The Edith Bunker in me says if I don’t have
anything nice to say I should just clam up, but really, from a pop perspective it is one of the least satisfying to
date. As for raw emotion over style it scores big and is as good as any of the following songs: So What, Give Me
It, Doubt, The Snakepit, and Disintegration. While it is no schmaltzfest like WMS it seems to have the opposite
effect. Songs like Lost, The Promise, Never and Us or Them have these bland, noisy, disjointed riffs and there
is a great deal of screaming. Robert Smith’s voice was an acquired taste for me. When he shouts lyrics like Ian
Mackaye it starts to grate again. The Cure’s most celebrated goth anthems: 100 years, Charlotte Sometimes,
Faith , Short Term Effect, etc. came with some very engaging rhythms and chord progressions. There is less of
that here but the same amount of lines like: I CANT FIND MYSELF!!! and "Death is with us all , we suck him
down with our first breath".  The good lesson of this album is that being depressed ought to feel….well …
……..bad.

- Peter Severy
 
 

After listening to "The Cure" several times in the past few days, I have to say that I’m appalled at some of the
very negative feedback from other fans. This is a great album. It’s got more heart than anything since
"Disintegration" and more balls since "Pornography." For a 25 year-old band to be producing something so raw,
emotional and relevant is an amazing accomplishment. Jason’s drum-work is phenomenal, the interplay of guitars
is brilliant and, in comparison, this album makes "Bloodflowers" look musty and tired.

Furthermore, I found the DVD to be a fascinating peek inside the studio. They really did, in fact, record this
album to candlelight. How cool. The moment where Jason drops a stick and starts hitting the cymbals with his
hand shows the intensity he put into the work. And Ross is there the whole time, right there in front of Jason, in
his face, egging him on. There’s a palpable sense of volatility–you get the feeling Jason wants to jump up and kick
his ass. And that’s what Ross was going for, that attitude and aggression.

In any case, those fans who just keep hating everything this line-up creates need to ask themselves why they are
still caring enough to buy the albums at this point, much less visit a newspage solely devoted to a band they don’t
like anymore. It’s kind of a buzz-kill for the rest of us. The Cure is not ever going to make "Disintegration,
Volume II." Accept it. Move on. This is a very different band than The Cure circa 1989 or 1992. But they have
become one hell of a cool fucking band, and this album is a powerful achievement. I’ve never heard a record that
I liked all the songs on and this one is no different, but any group that can record something as beautiful and
haunting as "Anniversary" is deserving of praise in my book.

I can’t wait for the extra songs on my Japanese version in the next week or two, and no, I don’t give a crap about
there being different album versions either. There’s a great big world out there with war, famine, and genocide.
Worry about that, people, not about someone in Belgium listening to a Cure song that you <sniff> <sniff> don’t
have on your CD.

- Jeff Kovalski
 
 

After a lot of listens, I am really disappointed by the CD, except for the superb "Going Nowhere".  I want to be
nice, I really do.  The worst Cure record is miles better than 90% of what's on the radio and I've adored the band
for 18 years.  This isn't awful, but ugh.  Congratulations Ross, you have succeeded in draining the atmosphere,
eccentricity and uniqueness from one of your favorite groups.  The "live" basis is a new direction, and I thought
the group maybe needed one, but this ain't it.  You can't take the essential musical style away from the musicians,
but apparently you CAN shove them head first into all that made late-90's corporate alternative so bland.  Excuse
me, head last because suddenly it sounds like they've never taken a drug in their lives.

I hope I'm wrong, but the meanest critical bones in body will no longer be suppressed.  I'm praying that Robert
has some secret masterplan and this is all some way he is pushing the group toward overcoming the musical
shortfalls of WMS/BF.  But I will just say it: the group has never recovered from losing Porl and Boris.  I think
Robert, Roger and Simon's work has been just as good as anything in the band's catalogue, including on "The
Cure".
Perry is brilliant at guitar textures (I could listen to that ghost-scream feedback on the live version of "Open"
forever) but he is just terrible at giving melodic support to the song.  No sense of melodic invention at all.
And Jason!  I agree the new CD is his best work with the band but his style has been wrong for the group all along
and nearly ruined Bloodflowers for me.  Robert just said on XFM that he's a hard rocker at heart and I agree,
he sounds like he should be playing with Rush or Van Halen.  His drumming always sounds clipped.  "The Cure"
is the first time there's any occassional real bottom.  It just sounds like he's chronically "light", and they think
turning up his volume will make it "heavy".  Wrong!  On top of that there seems to be a big avoidance of
syncopation, or anything sensual or exotic.  It's not like he's incapable of doing rhythm patterns like Boris did on
"High" or "If Only Tonight We Could Sleep", he finally comes up with some in "Labyrinth" for example, but
instead of making consistently involving patterns, he tries to throw every sound and rhythm break he can into the
songs.  But if you don't have a quality starting point, that ain't gonna help!  Of course, maybe it really is Robert
who has lost his drumming judgment and is at fault.  Won't make me feel any better.  I wish Robert would bite the
bullet like he did with Lol, admit Jason was a mistake and fire him, and that Jason would go on to massive success
with some Velvet Revolver type group.  Sorry Jason but that's the big leagues.

With the right players and no Ross it all could have been gorgeous.  As it is I will listen to the quality of the
songwriting and imagine what it should have sounded like in my head, and hope that maybe this will grow on
me in time.

- Justin Budinoff
 
 

Still have to listen to the damn thing MANY more times but at this stage I'm immensely pleased with a few
minor caveats.

Several of these songs are among the strongest work they've ever done. Lost is a great opening track, all
escalating vocal rage and dirge and desperation. Labyrinth may be recycling themes from WMF but I love
the Snakepit vibe and the Burn drums and the sense of movement and menace and possibility. Before Three is
warm and cuddly and sentimental and makes excellent use of the word "fucked" and is just a beautiful pop song
that doesn't feel at all forced or fake (other than the overdone vocal embellishments that Robert feels the need
to place at the end of nearly every song on this album). I think the lyrics to T&G&B sound like they were written
by a 15-year-old adolescent with a manic-depressive s.o., but it's still sweet without being cloying, simplistic but
not dumb. TEOTW was not my favorite song ever, but it fits very well on the album and is a damn good single.
Anniversary is absolutely perfect, one of the few cases where the lyrical tone evolves from negative to darkly
warm. Romanticism that acknowledges the inevitability of pain and disappointment but still winds its way home
in the end. Lament-ish, the very finest.

The second half of the album is not as as strong, and the tone goes all over the place with angered howling
(Us or Them), melodic cynical anguish with underlying yearning (Fake), idealized romantic indifference done
with gusto and verve (alt.end), a couple of slightly overdone and slyly disposable, modestly catchy but mostly
riffless popsongs (On and Taking Off), an overly repetitive, uncharacteristicly punchly rock tune with screamed
vocals and probably the catchiest hook on the whole album (Never), and an epic 10-minute howl into the depths
of that same despair he has so eloquently plumbed before but never quite with this much urgent fury (Promise).
Uneven, but far from sucky. And then there's the two other endings.

This Morning is absolutely stunning. Yes, Going Nowhere is a sweetly wistful taste of Disintegration-ish
romanticism, but This Morning is the gutwrenching ache of all that has fallen apart and all that can never be
gotten back. Those whispered words...just buy the vinyl and keep resetting the needle. This Morning will haunt
you.

On the downside, there is nothing resembling thematic coherence on this record after the first few songs. Yes,
they've done that before with KMKMKM and WMS, but on those albums I still felt there was an overall vibe,
different elements in the same equation. This just goes all over the place. And not in a "Top" way, either, though
I can see where you could get that (esp. Us or Them).

And lyrically several of the songs fall into the same repetition traps that I thought plagued Bloodflowers. You
know, that whole "repeat the whole verse and chorus but just change a couple of words in each line to their
happy/sad exact opposite." I'm not saying it's a poor song structure, but it's an overused idea. Otherwise, while
the lyrics are seldom elegant stand-alone poetry, they are not annoyingly simplistic and the cliches are generally
kept to a minimum.

Every Cure album has a closing song that captures the overall mood and tone of the album. This one has three
of them, depending on which version of the album you get. I find it appropriate, as the mood and tone of this
album are SO all over the place.

This is the first Cure album that I don't feel really reflects much about where Robert's head is these days
(unless he has truly achieved a state of functional schizophrenia) but instead consists of distinctly different
attempts to evoke particular Cure styles. While perhaps a bit contrived, it almost always works. Is it perfect? No.
But it's still by a long shot my favourite album of the past four years.

- Charles Perry
 
 

IS IT A CRIME??

Yes, definietly it is, ...in the discographic world, and more precisely at Geffen, there is a new Music Ripper....let
me explain...I've just bought the vinyl version of "the cure" (at fnac geneva)...and I promise you.....when, 3 days
ago I rated the new cure album...I've voted "somewhere in the middle".....that it's absolutely not true.....it's one
of the best cure album ever!!! but just the vinyl version makes it....some hidden gems as "tgab" or "this
morning"........greats songs....between my favourite cure songs!!!....frankly I can't understandthe reason why
someone did such a stupid thing? which are the interests??, everyone deserve to get this masterpiece as it should
be, 15 songs this is the real "the cure".....so disappointed...u can't imagine! these are my vote for each song

Lost 10
Labirinth 8.5
Before Three 9.5
tgab  10
the end of the world 8
Anniversary 9.5
Us or them 7.5
Fake 8.5
alt.end 5
on (I don't....) 9.5
Taking off 6.5
Never     5
The Promise 8.5
Going Nowhere 8.5
This Morning 10

- F.E.
 
 

These are my thoughts about the new cure album.
When I listened to it for the first time I was a bit dissapointed. I think I thought of something totally different. I
did not get an emotion. Then I got to work, then came back, really tired and listened to it again and loved it. I
don't know why it did take so long.
I loved Bloodflowers immediatley but here it took some time and with every listening(got it on tuesday) i grew
more into it.
The first 5 songs plus the last 2 (rest of the world version) are really cure. I love Lost. Just a perfect beginning.
Labyrinth is perfect as well. before three catches me. The end of the world is a very good cure single.
Anniversary is perfect, a really sad cure song. Us or Them. I do like this one like those other real heavy songs
of the cure(give me it, shake dog shake, shiver and shake...) but the chorus is to much punk and I think the voice
is a bit too strong. alt.end is good as well, i like singing it. But i hate those next 3 songs. Taking off, a really bad
clone of just like heaven. (I don't know what's going) on... Maybe i would have liked it more if it were on kiss me.
It doesn't fit in here. Never, doesn't tell anything to me. The promise is a mixing of The Kiss, Carnage Visors
and the snakepit, lyrics are great although I think the screaming of robert during the end of the song is one more
screaming too much on the album. Going Nowhere is perfect but a little short. Very sad one. like the lyrics so
much.

All in all i have too say that I can't wait for the vinyl version.
Everybody says this morning is very good. And i also want to hear truth,goodness & beauty. Hope they are a
little slower. because although i like most of the new album i think the balance what robert was talking about
isn't in this album, too much rock. So I hope the vinyl version is a bit more balanced.

In Conclusion:  THEY STILL CURE ME!

- Martin Pieters
 
 

I bought it yesterday afternoon.  It was released here in Mexico and all the morning I felt realy exited.  I didnt
played it in my car.  In the way home I bought some wine.  I sat down on my living room, insert the CD in the
stereo, pour some wine in a glass, relax and start listening.

I drank the hole glass when Before Three started.  I hated it, I was not feeling the music, or the words, or
anything. The comparisions with other albums, with other songs, even with other bands started.

But I love The Cure, I´ve been loving them since I was 13, and Im 30 now. So I play the CD again, and again, and
again.  And I started to like it, more and more every time.  Is not the best, at least yet, but its very good. Its
different, that is a fact, still Cure but different.  There are songs that promise a lot.  The only thing that for me
that I think is a fact is that the lyrics are repetitive (sometimes the same as in other songs), even though the style
is fresh and modern.

My album preferences:
Disintegration, Faith, KMKMKM, Pornography, Bloodflowers, The Cure, Wish, THOTD, WMS, The Top,
Seventeen Seconds, Three Imaginary Boys, Japanese Whispers

I hope Mr Smith will do a favor to the third country in the world that buys more Cure CD's and come to the
biggest city of the world (Mexico City) and play a few concerts.  He forgot that the world is not only Europe and
the US.

And as I agree tha Never is terrible, for me the worst song they ever made is The 13th.

In fact, if I had to say which one is the worst song on every album, I would say:

Disintegration--none
Faith--none
KMKMKM--Hey you
Pornography--none
Bloodflowers--Watching me fall
The Cure--Never
Wish--Friday I´m in love
THOTD--Screw
WMS--The 13th
The Top--The Top
Seveteen Seconds--Three
Three Imaginary Boys--So What
Japanese Whispers--Speak my language

and the best:

Disintegration--Disintegration
Faith--The funeral party
KMKMKM--The snake pit
Pornography--The figurehead
Bloodflowers--Out of this world
The Cure--Anniversary
Wish--Frome the end of the deep green sea
THOTD--Push
WMS--Bare
The Top--Shake dog shake
Seveteen Seconds--Secrets
Three Imaginary Boys--Three imaginary boys
Japanese Whispers--Lament

- Fernando
 
 

All I can really say is that im glad to know that this album doesnt sound like a "last album". Im sure most would
agree that Bloodflowers sounded like a "last album", when you first heard it.

Maybe its just me but here seems to be the sheet metal sound in Before 3, that there was in Play for Today. I
know you all know what i mean.

Promise is a very good song, Cure top 5 all time in my book. #1 100 Years of course.

One last thing, im sure most would disagree with me. But Jason Cooper, really makes this album strong, we have
all heard Robert before. But i know i have never heard anything like what Jason did in this album. He has come
along way in a short time (in Cure years that is).

- Eric
 
 

I heard the VH1 version... heard the Coachella versions, and I was excited about this new disc.

I got it yesterday and have listened to it 5 times and what everyone says is true (about it growing on you).  It's
not that I didn't like it at first, it's just that I didn't expect to like it as much as I do in just a day.

The first time I heard Lost, I was like, "Have they gone retarded?"  Now I can't get enough of the song - it's
always in my head - what an amazing build-up!  Labyrinth is <b>fucking awesome!</b>  Before Three just has
you gliding along and I think The End of the World is the best single since Lovesong - it's the catchiness.
Anniversary gives you what you want from The Cure, creepy, weird love.  Us or Them - Hellllooooo Simon!
Can't wait to see him playing that with his mohawk.  alt.end - I love this song - mix Let's Go To Bed with Never
Enough with In Your House and you get a brilliant sound!  (I Don't Know What's Going) On I didn't like at first,
but now I hear it as a lost song from KMKMKM - "oo-oooooo!".  Taking Off - a great hanging out with your
best friend song.  Never - the 3rd "Yeah, yeah, yeah!" has me addicted and it's a totally new approach - Rock
on!  Never needs no explanation.  Can' t wait to get my Japanese! version in the mail!!!!!

- Marc
 
 

Well, I finally had the chance to sit down with the four "additional" songs on my vinyl copy of "The Cure"
(kudos to my local independant music store "Pure Pop" in Burlington, VT for actually stocking the vinyl
version!), and I must say, I think they are my favorite four songs on the entire "album". Pure CURE!
Melodic.....keyboards......acoustic guitars.....wistful Robert vocals. Each song not out of place on Bloodflowers or
even Disintegration. Again, why these weren't included on the American CD is a crime. Just goes to show that the
marketing of this album is not directed toward older fans!! Find the songs by import, vinyl or CD single. You won't
be disappointed!

- Dave Parker
 
 

Goddamn that's nice!  That's my words for the new album.  How wonderful is "Anniversary?"  I played it for my
wife (who by some bizarre medical condition that I'm having looked into doesn't like The Cure) and she cried and
told me she thought it was a beautiful song.  In my opinion that makes it a powerful song.  Right now it's my
favorite, but that's subject to change.  "Lost" and "Before Three" were great to hear from the studio (I was at
Coachella and got to hear them there).  I seem to be having the same reaction to this album that I had everytime
I heard something new from Bob and the boys these past 16 years of fandom.  At first, 3-4 songs just grab me and
I find myself listening multiple times.  Then I force myself to give the whole album some time and of course, I
end up digging 99.9% of all Cure tracks.  Anyhow, enough ramblings.

- Dave
 
 

I have listened to the album 10 times now, the minimum I allowed myself before posting a review. I think there
are classic Cure moments here, and that in general the album does a great job at assimilating new Cure sounds
into the old Cure pattern. It’s as though for each song they take fragments of several Cure songs and weave them
into a new tapestry. It’s very interesting. Gone are the lengthy intros (depending on your version), and the mixing
can be a little challenging to deal with sometimes - vocals mixed on top of the songs rather than within the songs.
However, the live recording gives it a raw energy that is refreshing, if a bit jolting sometimes. Also, the album
suffers a bit from disjointedness - there’s not that coherent/cohesive feeling as there was on Bloodflowers or
really all other Cure albums. Yet, that flaw is rather charming - it’s a hodgepodge of loosely related songs that
tell the whole story of the Cure in a fresh medium.

My thoughts on each song attempting to resist comparisons, and then the Inevitable Comparisons:

The very good

Lost - Melodic punk. Contains what I can only describe as euphoric anger. I love the trudging start and how it
builds to a potent climax and noisy finish. I bask in the oppressive power of Rob’s screaming. INEVITABLE
COMPARISON: The dark anger of Porno meets up with the dissonance of The Top for coffee and cigarettes,
and they decide to make some Cure moonshine, adding new ingredients for a toxic mix.

Labyrinth - Psychedelic rock with luscious swirls of Middle Eastern sounds. Break out the incense, Moroccan
tapestry, and, most importantly, the bong! (That is, if you smoke, which I don’t anymore). I adore this song, and
it has the best lyrics on the album. INEVITABLE COMPARISON: Wailing Wall and Jimmy Hendrix take a trip
to the North African desert, and jam under the stars amidst a stand storm.

alt.end - I was prepared to hate this given all the negativity. But I am truly surprised it’s not more popular. I
love the bouncy bass and and the somewhat buried psychedelic guitar solo. It’s quirky yet catchy. INEVITABLE
COMPARISON: In your House kidnapped From the Edge of the Deep Sea and Doing the Unstuck, handcuffed
them to the bed, and made passionate love to them all night long.

(I Don’t Know What’s Going) On: (I Really Do Love This) Song. It’s rambling and abstract and quirky and
lyrically repetitive, elements which could be potential drawbacks, yet mixed together somehow make for an
interesting and rather tasty stew, at least for me. INEVITABLE COMPARISON: Um, not sure yet....anyone?
Anyone?

Taking Off: Cure-pop at its brightest, yet it has a sad and even slightly aggressive undertone. I love the naive
romance of the lyrics, and how Rob complements the upbeat music with a giddy voice. INEVITABLE
COMPARISON: Mint Car collides head on with JLH; they emerge unharmed from the crash and hitch a ride
with Friday I’m in Love and Inbetween Days.

Before Three - Yeah, it was better live at Coachella, but it’s still damn good here. The vocals are mixed on top of
the song, which is problematic. But it has a great dreamy melody, and I love the teenaged energy with which Rob
sings it.

The good

The Promise - Break out the bongs again. An epic almost-classic Cure trip through the hallucinating halls of
psychedelia again. The trippy bass and clashy sounds and meandering structure and Rob’s plaintive wail compete
with and complement each other quite charmingly, if cacophonously. I will probably grow to love it more as time
unfolds. INEVITABLE COMPARISON: The Kiss call up Led Zeppelin, the Doors and Mogwai and ask them to
come over for a jam session. They come late, smoke lots of weed, and jam into the early dawn.

EOTW: It sounds better within the context of the album than it does as a single. It’s good Cure-pop, but the
generic guitars grate on my nerves a bit. I think it would be top-notch Cure-pop with those distinctive Cure guitars.
INEVITABLE COMPARISON: Maybe Someday travels back in time to Boys Don’t Cry, and along the way
picks up Cut Here, Fascination St., and Blink-182 for the trip.

Anniversary - This one had to grow on me. It has a gloomy romantic atmosphere, but at first I thought Rob’s
vocals were too low. Now I hear that they fit within the brooding aura of the song. I love how the keyboards make
it sound gothic-cathedral-like. The clapping drums really ground this song. INEVITABLE COMPARISON:
Bloodflowers meets up with Drowning Man in a dark alley and together they steal some keyboards and
atmosphere from Head on the Door.

The maybe

Us or Them - I waver violently on this song. I hate it one minute and love it the next. When Robert was initially
planning on making the heaviest album ever, I was very excited to hear Cure-metal. But, after hearing this song,
I’m not sure whether that idea would completely work or not. INEVITABLE COMPARISON: Give Me It Meets
AC/DC. And I do love AC/DC.

The not-so-good

Never - Never Mind is more like it. Something in this song wants me to like it. And something in me wants to like
this song. But I’m afraid this song lacks Cure-soul.INEVITABLE COMPARISON: Never searches high and low
for inspiration from past Cure albums. It fails to find any, so searches for inspiration from anywhere. Again, it fails
to find any. So it pouts, because it realizes that its existence, indeed, sucks.

The extras (so far heard on MP3 only)

Going Nowhere: Dreamily beautiful. Positively aching mix of guitar, piano and bass. The song’s brief length lends
it a stunning power. INEVITABLE COMPARISON: DisintegrationThe Album has a drink with Bloodflowers
The Album at a smoky cafe; it’s open mic-nite, and they decide to perform this song together.

TGaB - The vocals are a bit too disembodied from this otherwise gorgeous song. I do like the music and the
rambling “structureless structure” of the song, but feel that it would benefit from re-mixing in order to achieve its
latent brilliance. INEVITABLE COMPARISON: Pictures of You goes on vacation to a fetching spot and sends a
lovely postcard of this song. The song in the postcard is nearly as beautiful as the actual song, but a bit marred by
the photographer’s over-eagerness to capture the beauty of the actual song.

I think it’s a sick crime that Robert let Geffen get away with excluding these last two beautiful songs from the US
CD, and from what I understand,This Morning is lovely as well. But, overall, I’m still very very happy. It’s like
The Top meets Kiss Me meets the Heaviest Album Ever Made. I would give the album between an 8 and a 9 at
this point, and it’s rare for me to like it so immediately, as it took years for some Cure albums to grow on me.

- Alison Ross
 
 

Lost- Ok song, for sure the worst opening album I have ever heard. very bloodflowerish but grows on me each
time. I will pass with the next button at moments' Post release Good song with headphones, and love the lyrics

Labyrinth- makes me feel a little kisss me. I like it.

Before three- My most favorite off the album.. Reminds me of a night like this mixed with a few songs of wish
Reminds me of a song from BF mixeed with a lot of other albums. Reminds me of where the birds don't sing mixed
with maybe someday

The End of the world- at first sound of this song when I first heard it on Leno made me worry. It has grown on me
over the weeks, and I am finding a place in my life where it fits

Anniversary-love this song. Its got an early cure sound redone to the 2000 style.

Us and then- not a favorite but its hard to hate any cure song. Reminds me of 39.(bloodflowrs, and a lil (2nd song
bf) Did I say BLODDFLOWERS?
Edit - Post listen on headphones. Lyrics are good and I find a relationship with them. Withthe lyrics the music fits
in. its still soo BF

Alt-end. IN YOUR HOUSEish. Great sound and a little more cure incorporated with the new/old style that Robert
can exert. Maybe a lil wish influence?  Edit, now I can hear lets go to bed.

On- I like this song. simple, and just very happy sounding! a single?

taking off- SKIP Reminds me of WMS

Never- no opinion yet. A little hard for the cure?!

The Promise Love the dark sound of this song. Opening is great. Roberts howl is ORGASMIC. Guitar is great,
sounds very disintegrationish.Good ending for an album!

Over all I am just Grateful for a Cure release. The CD version is much better than the streaming version that I
listened to many times the past week.

Out of  *****
I give it ***1/2

- Peter (bloodflowers12)
 
 

Non riesco proprio a comprendere le grandi critiche piovute da tutte le parti, tutti dicono che sia una copia di
WMS, ma non comprendo assolutamente come sia possibile operare un paragone con quell'album: quello del '96
era davvero un album mediocre, tolte le poche canzoni stile cure, questo è un album che comunque trovo compatto
anche nella diversità di stile che scorre l'album. Le canzoni hanno un non so che di fresco,  ed allo stesso tempo
di ben curato. Se proprio vogliamo definirle pop alcune di esse, credo sia il migliore pop che i cure abbiano
prodotto da quando esistano e la ricetta sta forse nella sua voce fresca e gridata più che mai insieme al mixtum
di chitarra basso e batteria, ordinate quanto mai. Allora delle due l'una: o io sono uscito pazzo musicalmente
parlando o forse chi si ostina a considerare quest'album un album mediocre e fantasma del passato, sicuramente
è ancorato ad un'idea dei cure che ormai farebbe bene a superare: smettiamola di considerarli i padri di chissà
quale musica, i cure sono affascinanti anche per questo, per aver creato un album che non ha paragoni con
nessun'altro e con degli spunti musicali di notevole spessore, e per averlo fatto dopo 25 anni di carriera.

Cosa avremmo voluto, un altro disintegration? quest'ultimo è unico anche perchè è rimasto senza un bis mediocre,
senza alcuna replica. Abbiamo avuto disintegration, pornography, faith, bloodflowers, ed abbiamo quest'ultimo,
che è giustamente diverso dagli altri ma allo stesso tempo noevole. Ed è forse un'emozione tutta mia l'aver
considerato quest'album ben riuscito, forse musicalmente sono cresciuto anche io come Robert e gli altri? Chi lo
sa? O forse hanno semplicemente ragione i fans che avrebbero voluto un disco interamente circondato dalle
atmosfere di lost o going nowhere. Ascoltare dal vivo le nuove canzoni e tra di esse The drowning man,
Closedown, Charlotte sometimes, Jupiter crash e Sinking, è stato emozionante ed intenso, ma evidentemente
c'era chi, forse la maggior parte, avrebbe voluto sentire un ennesimo concerto stile Berlino. Si, evidentemente
sono cambiato io, ma da vecchio fan dei Cure sono orgoglioso di quest'ultimo loro lavoro e della circostanza che
nel mio cambiamento in peggio siano coinvolti anche i Cure, protagonisti in peggio ( per molti ) di un album che
considero un gran bel lavoro, condivendo in pieno la solita frase d'occasione di Robert secono cui se non piace
quest'album non piacciono i cure: mai frase fu più azzeccata.

- Luka
 
 

My opinion on 'The Cure' (albeit after just a few listens) is its a strong album, maybe not all I was hoping for but
still pretty impressive. There are some real killer songs here (Lost, The Promise, Truth Goodness and Beauty)
then there are the underwhelming songs (Never and Taking Off) One of the negative points is that the weaker
songs are bunched together which damages the album somewhat more than perhaps it should. The tracklisting
seems wrong Robert! Deep down there is a great album here, I am sure of it, and maybe I will think so after more
plays. I also think its gonna take time to get used to the rawness of Roberts voice on some of the songs (Us or
Them in particular). There are very few Cure albums that I have liked after the first couple of listens though so
I'm hoping I will grow to love it...my EARLY opinions on each song :

Lost - Angry Cure. Probably my favourite on the album. I love the intensity in Roberts voice and how the song
builds into a clattering cruscendo. I had been dying to hear the studio version since Coachella and while I think
this song is better live, its still one of the highlights here for me. 9/10

Labyrinth - A good (great?) song ruined for me by the crappy voice effects. It has a kind of Eastern feel to it
which The Cure have explored (rarely) over the years, its a very confident sounding track...I would have loved it
alot more though without the voice effects, they are not necessary! Perhaps I will get used to them! 7/10

Before Three - Beautiful lyrics over dreamy layered guitars. It reminds me of  a faster paced Letter to Elise, a
pop song which isn't a pop song, a similar feeling...except not as good obviously. A catchy song, but possibly too
lengthy to be a single and it doesn’t have that killer hook which you’re wanting to happen. It is however very
welcome change in mood after the rather heavy first 2 songs. 7.5/10

Truth Goodness and Beauty - One of the best songs on the album and I sympathise with the poor bastards who
only get the American tracklisting cd. It should be on all versions. Screw Geffen! I agree with another reviewer
that it has a kind of Pictures of You feel to it. Roberts singing here is quite stunning. This song is up there with
the Cure's best work. THIS is classic Cure. 9/10

The End of the World - Great song, this is the best single and video that The Cure have released since WMS,
maybe even Wish. I was worried it would stick out like a sore thumb but it fits in well in the first half of the album.
" I couldn't love you more chorus" couldn't be more catchy. 8/10

Anniversary - The start of this song reminds me of Cocteau Twins 'Otherness EP' - unexpected yet intruiging
use of sparse beats. A kind of modern day Lament. Touching lyrics, a really lovely song 8/10

Us or Them - Without doubt the heaviest Cure song ever recorded. Makes Give Me It and Shiver and Shake
look wussy. I'm not sure wether I like it or not. The first time I loved it, the second time....not so much. For the
first time ever I find Roberts voice kind of grating here. I bet Ross Robinson was masturbating over this one in
the studio, particularly the chorus, fuck fuck fuck!! Definitely a RR touch 6.5/10

Alt.End - In Your House version 2! (not a bad thing at all seeing as In Your House is one of my all time faves)
only this song does not spark the same emotions (not yet) Great music, great guitar riff, great beats...lyrics don’t
seem to match. 7.5/10

I Don't Know Whats Going On - A cute little pop song, a nice dreamy vocal reminiscent of Kiss Me era....
elements of 'To The Sky' in here. I hope this is a single. Oh…nice ‘Hey You’ extended mix ending ;)  7/10

Taking Off - If this is meant to be the big hit single from the album then I think alot of people will be disappointed.
It does not have the catchiness, it doesn't have the playfulness, it just does not compete with the classic Cure pop
songs. Not impressed with this song after the first couple of listens, sounds like A Pink Dream which is great...for
a B-SIDE! I must admit it gets better with more listens… 6/10

Never – Cock Rock. Not good enough to warrant a place on this album. Didn't think it was that bad at first,
however the more I listen to it the more it sucks. Hopefully better live 5/10

The Promise - Fantastic track! This is the epic that the album, up to this point, is crying out for. A combination of
all what makes The Cure the best band in the world. Lyrics that send a shiver down your spine, spiralling guitars
and epic drums complete with Roberts passionate vocal...all the best elements combine here. Fabulous and you
would think a perfect ending 9/10

Going Nowhere - Just when you thought the album was over you get this nice 3 and a half minute piano-led
acoustic ballad. Its quite a nice change as The Promise is quite clearly a perfect close to the album. Maybe
Robert wanted to suprise us. After the indifference of the album this is a pleasant end to the album. 8.5/10

So overall I would rate it about a 7.5 maybe 8 out of 10, but as I say I have only heard it a few times and its not
enough really. I think its a more challenging album than the excellent Bloodflowers which I loved from the
beginning. 'The Cure' is not so easy for me to like straight away but its getting better with each listen. It is
definately a step in the right direction...its just that, rightly or wrongly, I was expecting this to be the perfect Cure
album. And its not perfect of course. Still...I can't wait to hear the songs live.

- Tom Johnson
 
 

Got the vinyl and cd/dvd at amoeba here in l.a. geffen is certainly raking it in today, good for them. no luck on
the import version yet. but i'll tell ya, take off "never" and add "going nowhere" and "this morning" and you
have a really damn good album. i don't know who the idiot is at geffen that decided on the u.s. cd track list (it
couldn't REALLY have been robert that did this, could it?) but the vinyl feels much more complete.

not too convinced on "fake" yet. "truth goodness and beauty" is pretty but seems to go nowhere. but "going
nowhere" could have gone on disintegration, and "this morning" is growing on me by the  minute. and "(i don't
know what's going) on"? when i read the lyrics, i was thinking OH BROTHER, but it's such a happy, pretty little
song, almost like a head on the door b side.

much better than i had any reason to hope!

- Scott Otto
 
 

Got it.
Been listening to it.
Sounds much better than the "preview" streams I'd listened to a few times....

On a scale of 1 -10, it gets a 7.

I don't love it.  I like it.  It's 'okay.' It's a transitional album, at best, and in that respect, it's acceptable, and even
enjoyable.  The "transition" I speak of involves the new producer, the new way of working, the new American
commercialized record label, the new attempt to garner a legion of young fans....and so on.  A lot of the album
sounds like a more interesting, dynamic version of "Watching Me Fall"  which was an ambitious effort, but
ultimately a rather boring song.  Also, some of the album sounds like out-takes from "Wild Mood Swings."

Lost, Labyrinth & Before Three = This triptych of songs makes the album good for me.  This is classic cure,
and 'new' cure amalgamating beautifully.

The End of the World = Eh.  It's very over-produced, it's too slick, it's a bit contrived.

Anniversary = Someone said: "We ought to put one of those slower, heavier, keyboard-laden, atmospheric
tracks on, yes?" And that's pretty much what they did.  "Apart" is much better.

Us or Them = Why is this song even on the album?  Ii'm glad Robert is angry, he yells well, but Siouxsie and the
Banshees were ultimately more fascinating with their political paeans.  "The Ghost in You" and "Rhapsody" are
two such examples.

alt.end = Do we need another song about robert wanting to be "done" with his band?   Wasn't "Bloodflowers"
an exhausting enough statement as such?   (And a much better one, I might add)

(I Don't Know What's Going) On = I like this one a lot.

Taking Off & Never = Um.  Well.....  How bout 'taking (them) off' the album and 'never' hearing them again?

The Promise = Loses its effect after a few minutes.  I lose interest.  I like it, but it just....kind of fades....

**  The Japanese import version is on its way to me, I am looking forward to the bonus tracks.  I hear they are
wonderful.

I dare say their next effort (seeing as they've signed a three-record deal) will be a lot better than this.

- Tim C.
 
 

I obtained my copy of the album this morning and I have to say it is growing on me.  I know some fans having
been crying about how bad this album is, but when I listened to the actual album I found myself enjoying it.
When I was first listening to the album on the net there were songs that I had mixed feelings about, but now that
I have the actual album I am enjoying it more and more with each listen.  I admit I don't think it is the best album
ever but I do think it is a great listening experience.  Never is still crap and The Promise is too long, but overall I
think the new album is really good.  I was disappointed in the DVD though.  I thought it would have interviews with
the band and Ross, but it is basically the instrumental versions of Lost, and The Promise playing while showing
the band preparing to record.  The DVD does however show the band recording Truth, Goodness and Beauty and
I really liked that song.  As far as the album goes I would say right now my favorites are Lost, Labyrinth, Before
Three, and Anniversary.  Other good ones are The End Of The World, Us Or Them, and The Promise.  I have
mixed feelings about alt.end, (I Don't Know What's Going) On, and Taking Off.  Never should have never made
it pass the demo stage.  I am really looking forward to the bonus tracks because like I said TG&B was really a
great song.

- Joey Nabors
 
 

Im not going to review the album, i think its been done enough, but the dvd is another story, i read a review
earlier that totally tore it apart. well i disagree, maybe its because im a musican myself but i find in studio video
quite cool, and the complaint that the quality sucks, well you take your home camera and make a better looking
video, it all goes back to the idea of the album being new and something different from the others, thats why i dont
like to compare it to the others, because its a new album, and yeah after hearing Truth Goodness & Beauty, i do
think the us got ripped off  of an awesome track, but i think its totally worth the extra 3 dollars to get the dvd.

- Joshua Wilcox
 
 

Just a few thoughts here...
i've been a fan for about 20 years now and after having read most of these reviews i find myself agreeing with most
of you on all of it. in other words i can see where you are coming from. no need to rehash it all.

but when i think back to buying 'the top', 'hotd', 'kmkmkm' etc. on or near their respective release dates i always
had two or three songs that i just couldn't stand. yes kids, even the sacred 'disintegration' has a few blah moments
in my opinion. in fact, for me, 'faith' is the only perfect cure album! that's just me of course. music is different to
everyone. this new album is classic cure. i skip a few along the way but overall still enjoy the ride. can't wait for the
b-sides. (am i the only here who listened to side b of 'standing on the beach' on tape more than side a?). ...long live
'the cure'!

i give it 7/10... or should i say 8 out of 11???

- Bennion
 
 

At first, a preamble: I think that the post-Wish Cure are not at the same level of the old ones. I didn’t like WMS
and Bloodflowers as the precedent albums. In particular I found Bloodflowers pretentious in the attempt to emulate
“Disintegration” –  the real dark trilogy is seventeen seconds-faith-pornography…
But I think that Bloodflowers is a step forward from WMS and this new album is a step forward from Bloodflowers
so…the trend is positive…

Lost: Very different from the classic Cure opening songs with long instrumental intros. Anyway the song grows in
a “crescendo” of intensity, but my impression is that it misses a real climax. (6/7)

Labyrinth: my favourite, by now, together with “Going nowhere”. The most complete song of the album, deep,
powerful, involving. Great bass line, good vocal effects. A light eastern influence, a light but appropriate use of
electronics. (8)

Before three: I agree with the ones who told that the live version at the Coachella Festival was much better
because of a certain shade of melancholy, absent here. This studio version is poppier. Good song, anyway. I love
when Robert’s voice goes up and down on “alive”… (7)

TEOTW: The worse, together with “Never”… Too pop for me, even if I really like the video. Someone already
rightly observed  that the “oooooo eeeee ooooo” chorus is a “cut and paste” from Siouxie and the Banshees. (4,5)

Anniversary: The beginning is very evocative and reminds me of “New day” (as the final sound of the song
reminds me of “The snakepit”). I think this song could have been developed better, I don’t like the changing
starting on “one endless moment…”. However very good song, with great keyboards at last. (7)

Us or them: Angry song, powerful. But I prefer “Cut” or “Shiver and shake”, for example… Lyrics are political?
Who knows? I’ve always liked the fact that Robert  doesn’t write political lyrics. But how many shouts here and in
the whole album!!…I think too many…(6,5)

alt.end: an ordinary fair pop song. Not bad, but nothing special… Yeah, there’re six billion beautiful pop songs
like this, but I listened to them all before... The end of the song is confused. (6)

IDKWGO: very very pop, but more incisively pop. I like the refrain and the falsetto voice…it reminds me of an
old b-side I can’t identify by the moment. Probably it’s a light point the album needs. (6/7)

Taking off: the not-so-good sister of Friday I’m in love… Not bad, but in the wish period this song would have
been finished among the b-sides. Anyway a step forward from “Mint car”, “Maybe someday”, “Cut here” and
things like these… (6,5)

Never: the lowest point of the album, together with the single. Drums are powerful, but this song has no
atmosphere, not a definite shape. (4)

The promise: Very good song with traditional cure sound. But maybe this is also its defect: I mean that this song
seems a sort of exercise of cure-mannerism. It seems the cure that want to sound as the cure... I don’t know if
I’ve been able to explain.... However it’s a very good song, born to fit live. It reminds me of “Sinking” and “End”.
(7,5)

Going nowhere: here is finally the moving side of the cure!! Emotions at last!! I really can’t understand why they
cut it out from the US version! No valid motivation is possible! (8)

All in all, the kind of this album is similar to “KMKMKM” and The head on the door. But “The Cure” misses
very great masterpieces (KMKMKM has “The kiss”, “Just like heaven”, “How beautiful you are”, “The
snakepit”…; THOTD has “Push” and “A night like this”) even if “Labyrinth” and “Going nowhere” are great.
But if I had to do a cure-best compilation with 20 songs I would not put in any song from the last three albums,
maybe just “Want”.

I give it 7 (I give 6 to WMS just thank’s to Want, I give 6,5 to Bloodflowers, 10 to Disintegration -if more is
impossible- and 9,5  to Wish just because Disintegration has a 10…)

Some words ‘bout the lyrics: they are too ordinary… I agree with the one who asked “where is the cure traditional
symbolism?!” Best Cure albums have great lyrics.

Last thought: I really don’t like the existence of different versions of the album for the different markets. Is it a
cure’s fault or just a label’s fault? Can’t really Mr Smith do anything to avoid this kind of stupid choices?!

- Francesco
 
 

I just got the album yesterday, and I love it! For my first listen I made sure I was lying on the living room floor,
with the volume up so I could feel the bass through the floorboards, and I closed my eyes to lose myself in the
music...

I'd heard 'Lost' a lot already, because of the iTunes download, so the impact of that was slightly reduced, but I
think it's an amazing song anyway! The way it builds from almost a whisper to a screaming crescendo is fantastic
- and it gave me a crescendo of excitement for the new songs I had never heard before.

'Labyrinth' lived up to that excitement, and I thought it was very impressive. I love the drums and driving bass!

'Before Three' was better than the Coachella version, in my opinion. But maybe that's because people have
already said they thought it was worse...

'Truth, Goodness and Beauty' lived up to its name, and it's a shame it's not on all versions of the album. The lyrics
and one of the guitar lines are exactly as they appear on 'Scratch' (on the bonus DVD), but overall the song
sounds much better.

I'd heard 'The End Of The World' too many times to really appreciate it as part of the album, and the only thing
that stood out to me was the quality of the proper CD version and the extra 'ooo-eee-ooo' bit. But I still love the
song.

'Anniversary' is currently my favourite song on the album, and maybe one of my favourite Cure songs! It has
such a great atmospheric sound...it would make an excellent film soundtrack... very powerful!

I thought 'Us Or Them' was great - it's obligatory for bands to make their voice heard against Bush and Blair in
these troubling times, but this song does it in a very satisfying way, which echoes my own feelings exactly, so I felt
a particularly strong emotional connection to it.

I don't understand why people don't like 'alt.end'... what's wrong with it?? Great guitar, great sound, and with
depth too... again, maybe people's negativity has influenced me, but I loved it! One of my favourite songs on the
album in fact!

'(I Don't Know What's Going) On' was a nice summery song. I imagine it would sound great if you listened to it
outside on an English summer evening, as the sun starts to set and it starts getting colder... although that's the
best time to listen to so many Cure songs!

'Taking Off' was actually a slight disappointment, as I expected it to be MORE poppy than it was! But on my
second listen I liked it much more. First impressions are never really reliable! But that's all I can say about this
one really...

I think I DO understand why people don't like 'Never'. It's a very unusual style for the Cure. But I prefer it to
'Gone!', 'Wendy Time' and 'Screw', and probably some other album tracks I haven't thought of, so that's enough
for me. I imagine it will grow on me too - I want it to!

'The Promise' surprised me only in that the opening guitar line was much quieter than the Coachella version, but
that was actually a welcome change, as I found that 'riff' a little repetitive after a few listens. But the songs was
as great as I expected it to be. Very powerful and loud!

Finally, 'Going Nowhere' was a lovely song, and a nice peaceful end to the album. But I'm not entirely sure it
makes a better album closer than 'The Promise'... it's a bit like switching 'To Wish Impossible Things' and 'End'
on 'Wish'... which might work I suppose... but it's enough to know that Robert Smith envisions the album as
closing with 'Going Nowhere', so that's the way it should be!

If I was to try to compare the feeling I had after first listening, I think it's similar to when 'Wish' came out - that
I'd heard loads of great songs, including some really interesting ones, that I couldn't wait to listen to it again, and
that I wouldn't be listening to anything else for a couple of weeks! I love 'Wild Mood Sings' and 'Bloodflowers',
but 'WMS' did leave me feeling slightly disappointed on first listen, and 'Bloodflowers' was more of a knowing
nod of appreciation than an emotional reaction.

So overall I was very impressed, and some of the songs will probably go into my top ten list before long. I just
want to get out of work so I can listen to it again!!!

- Matt Deacon
 
 

I got my copy of the Cure just after midnite here in Atlanta at Tower records.  I bought the deluxe cd and I had
to pick up the vinyl after hearing all the great reviews for "Going Nowhere".

Lost
I continue to like this song.  There is really no other Cure song like it. Roberts voice continually growing louder
and more passionate throughout the song.  Its just great to hear him use his voice like this and to know he still can
use it!

Labyrinth,
so far probably my least favorite on the album at second listen.  lots of drums, reminds me a little of Burn with a
little bit of eastern influence. Not bad,  I just prefer more flowing melody and rythm from the guitars and
keyboard.

Before Three
One of my favorites.  This song has the continous flowing melodies I so love in the music of the Cure.  The bass
parts are just perfect.  Robert also explores the boundaries of his voice very nicely here.  A fantastic Cure
song.  Cant wait to hear it live.

Truth Goodness and Beauty
Excellent the first time and growing fast.  Short intro, vocals start almost immediately.  Sounds like it could have
come from The Kiss me or Disintegration Era.  Great vocals  once again.  The first time Robert sings the word
beautiful he holds it for at least ten seconds and this is when the song truly begins for me. Nice lyrics and more
of the sound we recognize as being The Cure.  Another fantastic song.

TEOTW
From the first time I heard this song I thought it was a very "Cure" song, and I still do.  Nothing else on the
album sounds like this.  reminds me of spilt milk, which is in a world all its own, and I would be willing to say the
same about this song.  A good song.

Anniversary
I really like how this song starts.  It builds to that great flowing melody that I love, but I feel myself wanting this
song to explode into something more but it doesnt seem to do it and then it seems like it ends out of  nowhere. A
good song.

Us or Them
Perhaps another song I might be able to do without.  Cant say much about it right now, only that its not what I
want to hear from the Cure.  An okay song.

Fake
Another song that sounds like it could have been left over from Disintegration or Kiss me.  Good but not as
pleasing as ...Beauty or before three.  Excellent lyrics.  This song has that sound...

Alt. End
Another okay Cure song, not a favorite.

(I dont Know...
A fun Cure song.  Roberts vocal highs are excellent here, though the vocals are a bit repetitive. The music sounds
like its doing the wrong thing sometimes but it sounds good.  I guess Im just looking for something else. A great
song.

Taking Off
hmmm...havent heard it enough yet

Never
Heavy Cure.  Reminds me of  Cut from Wish.  Fast Guitar Melodies. Once again not what I look for in a Cure
song.  ...An okay song.

The Promise
a good song to end the Cd on or perhaps a show.  Similar to End from Wish.  Im listening to it now and Im thinking
about End.

Going Nowhere
Absolutely fucking Fantastic!  Beautiful flowing, sorrowfu,l melodies. You're right Craig...TOO SHORT!  This
song is what I love about the Cure's Music.  This is what I long for from a Cure song.  The whole band is
utilized brilliantly!  Would be amazing to hear live.  ...the perfect way to end a show.

This Morning
I think this song is equally as good as Going nowhere when it comes to utilizing the band and expressing the
sound of the Cure.  Reminds me of Faith, Untitled, A chain of Flowers.Another excellent song to end a show.
Fantastic Song!

If you like the Cure you have to get these other songs that arent included on the US release.  The Full or Vinyl
version must be what all the journalists heard when they reported about the new album.The US release doesnt live
up to all that hype about the best thing since Disintegration, but with the four other songs, it does!

- Steven Mlynarski
 
 

I grew up with the Cure. The first concert I saw was in 1981. 23 years later i still follow them. But i'm getting more
and more disappointed about their music. Too much the same

The Cure is repeating herself. All the new songs could have stand on former CD's. The only new thing is maybe
the sound....more raw and direct....probably the influence of Ross. Before 3 is the real Cure, not new....the rest...
i've heard before!

But the biggest deception and disappointment for me was the DVD....the look in the recording studio....
I had the most fantastic visions in my head about Smith & Co taping their music.....dark, beer, expressive,
emotional etc..

What a shock when you see the DVD: a very clean studio, all members very passive and sitting upon a chair and
Robert Smith standing in the middle with a paper in his left hand (so he can read the songtext) and the other hand
in the pocket of his trouser. What a shock!

This was for me the moment thinking: The Cure isn't the Cure anymore....too old-fashioned, too much the same
thing again and boring.

Is this the Cure way to tape a record? Is Robert getting the new Roger Whitaker?

The Cure nowadays doesn't fit Robert Smith. He's too old for the music he makes......or I am.

- Mark
 
 

I have been a cure fan since 1990 and have been coming to this site since well before bloodflowers was released. I
have never been inspired  to make any contributions before other than the odd poll! All I can say is this album for
me is everything I love about the cure. Its fucking awesome, I dont care what anybody says I'm into my second
straight day of listening and its getting better & better & better & better.

- Leigh Carmichael
 
 

I remember when I was 17 years old, ariving in my bedroom and playing the brand new LP of the new record I just
bought, Disintegration. So much pleasure to discover these new songs, these new words.
I really wanted to find again this feeling, so I decided not to hear any song of the Coachella festival. The
temptation was really big but I’ve been able to resit.

This morning I run into my favorite music shop and bought both CD (Europeen version 12 songs, and DVD
included wich was a surprise) and LP. And let’s go for the trip into the cure (I’m so happy to play a new LP on my
old dusty LP player). I’m really happy to descover this new record, without any idea of what’s inside.

I was quite intrigued by the very different reviews posted in your web-site. People seems to love it or hate it. It
seems like « the cure » is not having unanimous support !

And I anderstant this. As someone said before this new album seems to contain the best and the worst music the
Cure is capable to produce.

In my point of view there is, hopfully more good work than bad :

1/ lost - love it powerfull, what a voice. the intro could have been longer but... 9/10

2/ labyrinth – love the guitar piece and rob’s voice. I feel really attracted by the lyrics. Say it’s the same you….
8.5/10 (whow… it’s becomming bigger as  I listen to it 9.5/10)

3/ before three – a little bit too obvious for me and I’m not really found of the melody 7/10

4/ truth beauty and goodness – a little something is missing for this song to be good 6.5/10

5/ the end of the world – the only one I had listened before. Was not my favorite but I changed my mind after
seeing the video that I love (It seems to have a lot little clap in this new record !!!!) 7.5/10

6/ anniversary -  aghhhh the face of the cure that I love. Oppresive, dense. Is the sky becoming dark or is it me ?
 (better and better as I listen to it) 12/10

7/ us or them – still not sure if I like it or not. In my opinion us or them is the kind of song you need to listen
carefuly to have an opinion. I have a good feeling but need to adopt it.  between 6 and 8/10

8/ fake – ok don’t by the LP just for this song. It would be a waste of money. No emotion, just nothing special, a
song you will forget  5/10

9/ alt.end – really like it since the first note, simple and effective. The pop song as it should be  8/10

10/ i don’t know what’s going on – sorry but it doesn’t work for me. The pop song as I don’t like it . and the
lyrics….weak  5/10

11/taking off – don’t know what to think about it, music works except the keybords at the begining that I hate, so
much dated,  but……6/10

12/never – TY what is this fucking song doing on this album. (but are we talking about a song)  3/10

13/ the promise – uh huh (her)  it makes me mouth water  9/10

14/ going nowhere – I’m back in my dark room in front of my LP player 15 years ago. I’m sad and confused and I
love that. 10/10

15/ this morning – what a shame not to have this song in the CD. Perfect. Love when robert speak with a really
muffled voice. 9.5/10

« the cure » could have been an amazing album if the track listing were different (as craig said) I think i’m going
to make my own version of this record  One question stay in my mind : what would have been Ross’s choices ???
(this guy is fucking cute)
I was quite surprised by the sound wich is quite « dry clean » (not sure we can use this word in that occasion
but…) much lighter than it as been, and I like it. Robert’s voice is really good but sometimes a little bit
surexposed.
As Tim Pope said one day « the cure is the most stupid band I know ». And that’s true. They are fucking good,
but they make huge mistakes. But I’m not going to stop loving their music for that reason. Let’s say it makes
them human….
And as Jason Rogers said perfectly well, I’ve changed since the first time I felt in love with this music, but I’m
still very proud of The Cure.

Looking forward to hear all these new songs Sunday in the Musilac festival…

- Martin Gauthier
 
 

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