[Julz]

Disintegration, for me, although I do like Bloodflowers a lot, "The Loudest Sound" is an awesome song...

Me and some of the guys at work like to play games now and then just to make the day interesting. We did a "most depressing song ever" poll, in the office and there were some fine suggestions including, but not limited to: "Twilight" Elliot Smith R.I.P, "Down In A Hole" AIC, "That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore" The Smiths, Leonard Cohen.. everything of his... but when I put forward "Prayers For Rain" we had a unanimous winner... Great stuff !!!

 

[Dusty Chalk]

Probably Disintegration, but I thought I'd vote for something else, just because I know that album always wins polls like this one.

So I went with Wish. It's a very personal album, and came out at a time when I was most in to Cure.

 

[dabblerblue]

I'm voting for Pornography just to help it out a little, but honestly...

I love Faith, Pornography, and Disintegration all the same.

Faith is very personal, very gloomy. There's a lot of confusion and curiosity there. Soulseeking, a lifelong journey, existential wonderings, something I can understand.

Pornography is an amazingly passionate album. When I was around the age that Robert Smith was when he recorded the album (about 22 or 23), I understood this album so well, and felt a lot of it. You find a lot of extremes within yourself around that age, and this is a good companion to some of those extremes.

Disintegration was recorded when Robert Smith was about 30 years old. I've recently turned 30, and this album resonates with me now. Just being in complete and utter awe of the beauty in the world and in people, a beauty that you're noticing or appreciating now for possibly the first time due to its subtlety. Regret at how important moments in your life have turned out, and the distance between you and people with whom you were so close in the past.

These three albums are amazing. They've helped me understand myself, and cope with things. I think about them sometimes in situations both wonderful and painful. I return to them constantly, and they've always been a source of strength and inspiration.

I can't imagine life without them.

 

[skullguise]

Where's Boys Don't Cry?

Back in the younger days (daze?), that was one of my circle of friends' anthem LP's (yes, vinyl

)

Loved the fresh energy of that, before too much make-up got in the band.

 

[bong]

Quote:

Originally Posted by skullguise Where's Boys Don't Cry? Back in the younger days (daze?), that was one of my circle of friends' anthem LP's (yes, vinyl ) Loved the fresh energy of that, before too much make-up got in the band.

wow... this old thread!

i excluded Boys Don't Cry as it wasn't a proper album; it was originally a US market only release back in 1980 as an introduction to the band. Boys Don't Cry was a rehashed Three Imaginary Boys that deleted a few songs (most notable were "It's Not You" and the jazzy instrumental hidden track "The Weedy Burton.") and included the three singles of the time, "Killing An Arab," "Boys Don't Cry," and "Jumping Someone Else's Train." what was more confusing was that the LP (and eventually CD) version differs from the cassette; the former included "So What" but the latter didn't but did have the rare (and Robert Smith hated) "World War."

that said, The Cure's 1979 output was a perfect blend of punk, minimal post-punk, and pop... like a sparse and more assessible version of The Jam. must've been what caught Chris Parry's attention as he signed both bands (as well as Siouxsie and the Banshees).

after reading my old posts, i still stand by my choice with Faith being my fave, although i have renewed awe for Seventeen Seconds.

and Dabblerblue, very well said, i can definitely relate. i wouldn't know what like would be like without The Cure.

 

[iamdone]

I went with "Head on the Door" since that was the album that was out when I first got into the Cure. It still has that special feeling for me. I like the earliest albums up to "Disintegration". I also keep going back the "Faith".

After I heard the song "Friday, I'm in Love with You", I really stopped buying any new Cure albums. I hated that song. I did pick up "Bloodflowers" a few years ago just to see how they still sound. It was ok but not clasic Cure.

 

[luckybaer]

I picked "The Head on the Door" because that was my first introduction to the Cure, and it wasn't as dark, moody, and goth-like as their other stuff. It was poppy, catchy, and a big hit for me to play in heavy rotation during the day when I was lucky enough to have a show on college radio.

 

[dabblerblue]

Wow, what the heck! I didn't realize how old this thread was when I posted to it...I wonder what I was doing that made it show up!

OH WELL!

 

[donunus]

boys don't cry and head on the door are the easiest to listen to anytime but i do love disintegration a lot. I can't decide which albums i love best. All I can say is Japanese whispers is the worst and I prefer boys don't cry to three imaginary boys

 

[DLeeWebb]

I like so many of The Cure's albums. I would say that for me it comes down to "Disintegration" and "Kiss Me Kiss Me Kiss Me." I tend to like the darker side of The Cure, but the mood of their music swings wildly (...no pun intended, I guess) within albums as well as between albums. I gave my vote to "Disintegration" but not by much!

 

[Night Surfer]

Nice thread to resurrect.
LOVE The Cure!
They were the one single bright shining spot in the musical wasteland that was the 80's.

My favorite is Disintegration. Very polished and it contains one of my favorite songs of all time: Pictures of You.

 

[jclaytonsound]

Disintegration it is for me...although Pornography is a great album as well. I really enjoy the live version of the album on the Trilogy DVD compared to the older album recording.

 

[tjkurita]

One thing this thread illustrates nicely is how great The Cure is. I must agree with the consensus that Disintegration is their greatest album. But Kiss Me... is also great. My favorite song on that album is "The Kiss." Wish is also great. And Head on the Door.

 

[BrookR1]

Disintegration was just too slow and mellow for me. My favorites are actually their older stuff performed live...A Hundred Years, A Forest, A Strange Day are wayyyyy better in concert. The studio versions sound a little thin to me. I like their darker work much better than their bouncy pop songs, but I like it layered. So, between Bloodflowers and The Cure, it's really a tie for me, but I chose Bloodflowers only because I like 39 so much...it sounds live. It brings me to a show every time I hear it.

 

[bong]

wow... nice old thread to ressurect!

i lurve The Cure... even post-Disintegration stuff. i thought their s/t one from 4 years ago was really strong and heavy. Bloodflowers was also really good even though it has rehashed ideas.

i saw them live at Madison Square Garden a week ago and for the many times i've seen The Cure live, they never cease to amaze me... they always put on a great show. Robert and co. are well into their middle ages but damn, they can still play like they're teenagers. three hours of Cure bliss. i'm truly amazed at their stamina, let's see these young whipper-snapper so-called bands play three hours straight with that type of energy and intensity.

here's the setlist:
Main set: Underneath The Stars, Prayers For Rain, A Night Like This, The End of the World, Lovesong, To Wish Impossible Things, Pictures of You, Lullaby, Fascination Street, From the Edge of the Deep Green Sea, The Perfect Boy, Hot Hot Hot, The Only One, Wrong Number, The Walk, Sleep When I'm Dead, Push, Friday I'm In Love, Inbetween Days, Just Like Heaven, Primary, Shake Dog Shake, Charlotte Sometimes, One Hundred Years, Baby Rag Dog Book

1st encore: If Only Tonight We Could Sleep, The Kiss
2nd encore: Freakshow, Close To Me, Why Can't I Be You?
3rd encore: Boys Don't Cry, Jumping Someone Else's Train, Grinding Halt, 10:15 Saturday Night, Killing An Arab

can't wait till the new album comes out... "Underneath the Stars" will be the next Cure classic, right up there with Faith, One Hundred Years, The Same Deep Water as You, Disintegration, etc... it's that good.