@@bassrocks4419 I so agree. Love the Cure of course but also love this greatly underrated band Kings X. You know their Out of a Silent Planet album and song was inspired by C.S. Lewis's vintage science fiction novel of the same name. Check it out, it's really good.
This was a terrific list! Although my order would be different, I love the analysis you put into each album. I can tell how much you enjoy their music. Great job!
I started listening to the Cure when Kiss Me x3 and Disintegration were new albums. Both are masterpieces. Head on the Door and Staring at the Sea, the first compilation, were also popular at the time. I often gravitated toward the original "Goth Trilogy" (17 Seconds, Faith, Pornography) and found them all fascinating. Everything the Cure did well in their early years they made great on several of their later records.
4:13 is massively underrated in my opinion. I didn't like it much when it came out and forgot about it. Gave it another try during lockdown and after a few listens it clicked. It's a real slow burner, songs like Switch and It's Over are immense, typical Robert rants. I saw an interview somewhere where Robert said The Hungry Ghost is one of his favourite songs he's written. Then he said that people don't really appreciate it because it's not culturally relevant, unlike A Forest. When he said that, it changed my whole mindset towards the album and I just listen to the songs for their own sake now. The Cure don't hold the same place in music as they did 25 - 30 years ago but they are still a sincere band with their own vision and way of doing things. I'd put that album in my top 5 Cure albums
Totally true, their most underrated album in my opinion, it contains my favorite The Cure song : The Real Snow White and it has so much energy, really love it
@@jinxwadhill7260 oh mannnnn I agree with this album being underrated, and it's definitely grown on me and shown more of its excellence with each listen... but I'm sorry, that song is bottom 10 Cure songs for me! so funny how taste can differ so much. what else do you like about it? maybe I'm missing out, and need a new perspective...
@@whitneyschuster2439 I just love the melody of the chorus, and the overall ambiance of it, but you know, my opinions about The Cure's songs and albums are kinda weird for most people since Disintegration is my least favorite album from them and I also don't really like Faith much
Amazing countdown, I totally agree with you, and it’s probably one of the best Cure videos I’ve had encountered, but perhaps I would have put Pornography above The Head On The Door, both amazing albums, but Pornography has just that unique vibe that I love that you can’t fund it in any other Cure album! Also, totally agree with each album descriptions, although I haven’t fully listened to those post-Disnitegration albums yet. Superb video, thank you, Samuel!
i love robert smiths style also when it’s a live audience the band literally is so in sync and just you can feel the passion with their songs and they appreciate all of them in their different ways. the cure is literally the best band ever
Wild mood swings has really good b sides,"a pink dream" for example or "it used to be me"or "ocean".If they would replace some of the the songs of the album,it could be my favourite cure album ,along with bloodflowers and Wish. But everyone to their own !
@@robinchatterjee4353 If i remember right,Robert said the same thing about the b sides long time ago,and that he wanted to give some band members the chance to put co written songs on the album.That would explain the outcome.
Great video. Very well thought out list. Can't argue with your reasoning. However here's my personal list: 1. Disintegration 2. Pornography 3. Head On The Door 4. Faith 5. Kiss Me 6. Three Imaginary Boys 7. The Top 8. Seventeen Seconds 9. Wish 10. Japanese Whispers These top ten albums I can listen to from start to finish and enjoy every song. After Wish it's a very different story. Each album has one or two songs that I like but that's it. So I'd rather shout out some of the great songs from those more recent albums than rank them. "Want"(as good as anything they ever did) "Lost" and "Labyrinth" (both could easily fit on Kiss Me) Underneath The Stars (just classic Cure)
Wow, nice to see "the head on the door" and "Kiss me" getting some love ! I felt like the only one actually enjoying them. I discovered the band with an old cassette of "Japanese whispers" bought in a discount shop because I liked the art, still love it for its uniqueness.
Gotta love The Cure. I always end up going to songs like Other Voices, At Night, Charlotte Sometimes, Same Deep Water as you, Disintegration and A Hundred Years on occasion.
Amazing video, and weirdly, the ranking is almost identical to how I would rank the Cure albums, except I would switch wild mood swings and bloodflowers around
Do you listen to Siouxsie and the Banshees? Would love to hear your take on their worst to best. Funnily enough, when I bought a used CD copy of Siouxsie and the Banshees - The Scream, it came with a copy of The Cure's Disintegration inside the case (alongside the actual album I bought haha). The Cure is awesome, and Robert Smith even played in the Banshees a few times. Great video and agree with all your picks!
My list, it's gonna be different that most fans think: 14. 4:13 13. The Cure 12. Wild Mood Swings 11. Kiss Me 10. Bloodflowers 9. Head On the Door 8. Japanese Whispers 7. The Top 6. Three Imaginary Boys 5. Wish 4. Disintegration 3. Pornography 2. Faith 1. Seventeen Seconds
What is crazy is that two of the best alternative albums of all time are considered to be Disintegration and The Stone Roses and both of them came out ON THE SAME DAY.
I was lucky in that, despite growing up with the cure, I got into them around the Kiss me album. While working my way backwards through their back catalogue they came up with Disenegration. I was pretty much sold at this stage and got to see them play live around this time. I was 17, the perfect age to get into the cure really. It was my instant favourite album for the longest time although I loved everything else too. It's funny though that I lost track of them after wish and the couple of live albums they did after that. The odd time I dipped into their music after Disintegration it left me disappointed. Now nearing 50 I can honestly say that pornography is the one I come back to or who's songs pop up in my head from time to time more than anything else. I liked this album a lot when I was younger but not to the degree I appreciate it now. What an immense sound, atmosphere and intensity they created with jyst 3 band members who were not getting on so well at that time...and taking a lot of acid! I was a cure head and late to the party at that and I remain a fan for sure. God bless 'em all!
Pretty neat ranking. Can't complain too much on the sequence, it's a personal preference I guess. For me, the top 5 would be 1. Disintegration 2. Faith 3. Head on the door 4. Japanese whispers 5. A tie between Wish and Kiss me, kiss me, kiss me Personally, pornography is too dark for me and 3 imaginary boys a little too minimalistic, but they're all good on an absolute basis I guess.
Also, haven't you felt that KMKMKM is like a greatest hit compilation where pretty much every song can be mapped to or placed on one or the previous albums? - like hot hot hot and why can't I be you can sit with let's go to bed and the walk while the title song or snakepit can be in pornography etc!
I’m one of the very first “Cure” fans and dressed MOD in school. In my day, you were either “The Cure” or “Depeche Mode”. The Cure was an underground band that only “certain cool people” enjoyed. When I first listened, they weren’t even on KROQ yet. No one knows them better then us. Smith was a great role model of love for his wife, proudly revealing his wedding ring in pics. I was introduced to him when he was just 19. His best is “ the B sides”, but his best songs are “Throw your foot”, “Let’s Go To Bed”, “Close To Me”, and “Lovecats”. Then, they went mainstream. (1986 graduation)
1. Kiss Me Kiss Me- Kiss Me Kiss Me- This album probably has the greatest number of impressive songs overall, including hypnotic atmospheric pieces like the defiant and spirited closer Fight, but then there are the ones that build up in the mind and spirit as greater and greater atmospheric monsters through time like Snakepit and the opener the Kiss which creates a kind of Hendrixeque repreive you wouldn't send to someone as a favorite but secretly listen to all the way through and wonder if anyone is peeking in on your delight asyou indulge in a simulation of post psychedelic sixties dementia with that wonderfully wacky wah wah guitar droning on and on in a manic mantra, followed in stark contrast by the tenderness and witty lyricism in the following track; falling for a girl whose name he couldn't even catch as he tried in vain to remember her name. There is also a lot of darkness that intrudes on these pieces which reminds me of the dark and demented beauty of Pornography with a jarring contrast to the pop pieces surrounding some of their best ever ever songs in quick succession, Why Can't I Be You, Just Like Heaven and How Beautiful You Are to me, which I think is one of their very best songs with a great balance between pop and prog elements and great use of strings, guitar and intricate percussion to add a classical and jazzy texture and the vocals have a bittersweet. Urgency and blend between brightness and darkness that is compelling. It isn't an easy listen at first but it digs deeper and deeper into the spirit while flying higher and higher at the same time and no other Cure release encompasses the vast tapestry of moody colors from dark desperation, to in your face anger, giddy elation and refined sophistication and genuine wonder and love as much as this one. . Head on the Door- this strikes me as 2. Head on the Door- this strikes me as the best and most cohesive pop record though it lacks the long atmospheric intensity of some of the selections on Wish. However, that said, if one wants a highly appealing, intelligent and innovative pop record without plunging to deep into darkness though it certainly exists. This album is also the most "natural" sounding with the catchiest acoustic guitar riffs as in the opener In Between Days. Even the few shorter atmospheric pieces that exist are better to me than a lot of the ones on Kiss Me Kiss Me and Disintegration, for example, the intriguing and authentically delivered eastern style on Kyoto Song with an instrument resembling a xylophone.. 3. Wish - this is the best album for me in terms of pulling off the long atmospheric pieces successfully with the most emotional resonance and intriguing compositional structure and focus like on the title track and From the Edge of the Deep Green Sea. Fantastic prog rock. It also has interesting variations on pop flavored songs like the sensual, funky and catchy Wendy TIme in addition to the fabulous pop song Friday I'm in Love 4. Disintegration - Love Song is a classic with beautifully memorable melody and atmosphere, Pictures of You is an intriguing and heart breaking song about loneliness, and the title track is the one atmsopheric piece that really gels wonderfully for me so I really enjoy the album.. 5. The Top- EXtREMELY CLOSE to Disintegration in my opinion. I think I am influenced by the consensus opinion for Disintegration being better to a large extent because in many ways I would place higher or even with Disintegration. The top two songs on Disintegration place it a bit higher though. This reminds me a lot of the pop songs on Head on the Door mixed with some of the darker prog elements on Kiss Me Kiss me. The albums is really good just lacks the heights of great melodies delivered on Kiss Me Kiss Me. That said has anyone ever noticed that the Cure on this album shows they may be the best band ever at assimilating reggae influences perhaps through the Police? They integrate it so naturally on songs like the excellent BirdMaid Girl that it seems they have made it their own. 5. 4:13- amazingly consistent and emotionally engaged and focused collection of songs. Enjoyable almost all the way through. One of the best last albums I have ever heard from a group that has been around so long.. 6. 7. I am not going to write Por no- Atmospheric pieces are close to on par with Disintegration but it occupies the entire album and lacks the classic singles. Still, they are good atmospheric compositions. 8 Faith
Damn, your list is definitely different to what I'd say general consensus is but I like that! Was interesting to read your takes, you seem to have a keen ear for melodic structure and atmosphere - for me what's always been important with the Cure is emotional resonance, whether that emotion be happy, sad, or somewhere in between. The better the music and lyrics captures that emotion, the greater the resonance and thus the greater my enjoyment!
@@samuelwills4637 Update Kiss Me Kiss Me Kiss Me in my opinion comes out best with repeated listenings because it encompasses the broadest range and variety of all their moods including the angry in your face angst ridden sound like in the closer Fight and the wah wah guitar post psychedelic disturbance in the opener contrasted with the falling for someone whose name he didn't even know gently and wistfully in the second track as just one among many examples of striking and captivating contrast.
May be you are to young for that, but you cannot imagine how sad was the reception of the Disentagration album : This album was so emotional, not only sad, but also malancolic .... it was just after the explosion of KMKMKM album : We were so sad to discover the title of the album : disintagration... We though it was the end of the band .... how sad it was ... But so beautiful indeed.
Disintegration was a game-changer. I didn't really know The Cure before that. I was into rock and classic rock, with a bit of what would soon be called "alternative" thrown in. Basically nobody around me knew about The Cure. I was living in suburban Vancouver, Canada. I guess Brits and other Europeans already knew the band, but most North Americans had never heard of them. They weren't played on the radio, and that was a time when everyone listened to the radio. The first Cure I ever heard was Standing on a Beach, which totally blew me away. My girlfriend had it on cassette. Then just a few months later, Disintegration came out, and knocked me off my feet. Life has never been the same since.
Nice video, enjoyed it even as someone who has only heard the first two records. I'm going through chronologically and am excited to reach Pornography and Disintegration, given their reputation. I think the first two albums are decent, though I'm still gonna give Seventeen Seconds a few more listens to solidify my opinion on it before I move onto Faith.
Pretty good list. I’d say I’d have a pretty similar ranking maybe with faith a little higher and pgraphy switched with kiss me? But then I can’t decide because kiss me should be 3
Disintegration >=Pornography >= Head on the Door > The Top > Faith > Wish > Kiss Me x3 > Japanese Whispers > Seventeen Seconds > Wild Mood Swings > Bloodflowers > Three Imaginary Boys > 4:13 Dream < S/T. But honestly I don't think any of these are bad(a 7 at worst) and the run from SS-Wish is absolutely unparallelled. I'd say my 3 faves are 10/10s easily
Hey man, just discovered your channel and already I’m hooked. Great to have a down to earth dude reviewing some of my favorite music. Most dudes that review on RU-vid are pretentious and bias, but you’ve scratched me the right way! Keep it up brother!
oh men you nail it!!.....personally I will put Pornography at number one......almost fall from my chair when you mentioned your favorite from the kiss, same as me , "if only tonight we could sleep"
I knew Kiss Me Kiss Me Kiss Me and Disintegration would take the top spots, so I was judging you on which album came in third. The Head on the Door is the correct answer. Fully agree with this list.
Hello, thanks for your ranking, but for me it goes like this.The best ever and ofc. number one forever is 1. Pornography then 2. Head on the door 3. Boys don´t cry/Three imaginary boys 4. The top 5. Japanese whispers 6. Faith 7. Seventeen seconds 8. Disintegration 9. Kiss me 10 Wish other albums i am not able to listen, except just a few songs. But top ten of albums i can listen all the time and whole albums without skipping songs. The cure and Joy division are forever the best of world´s music.
Wild Mood Swings and Bloodflowers are top tier Cure albums behind Pornography, Disintegration, The Head on the Door, and Wish. The Top is probably the worst Cure album to me as it doesn't have Simon Gallup on the bass. I do like the song 'Dressing Up' though. Best Cure song to me will always be 'Sinking.'
I remember rushing to the music store to get their latest albums the second they came out! Agree with your Ordering. They kind of lost me after Wish. Bloodflowers is horrible and I really wanted to like it!
I know I'm late to the (funeral) party, but this subject couldn't be any easier. The best: Everything up to Wish. The worst: Everything after Wish. Easy-peasy.
Всё-таки The Cure настолько непростая и многоуровневая музыка, что это видео лишь в очередной раз подтверждает этот тезис) С некоторыми словами автора я готов согласиться, но в то же самое время понимаю, что сам оценивал их альбому по совсем другим и свои собственным критериям. Перечислять всего не буду, поскольку я здесь в гостях и не ради споров. Скажу только что то, что автор хвалит или же напротив, говорит что это неудача, не всегда является истиной, а всего лишь индивидуальной оценкой. Выслушать интересно и полезно, но лучше составить своё представление о предмете обсуждения. Одно ясно - The Cure очень знаковая группа, каких сейчас мало появляется средни современных артистов.
I agree with your top four except I would put Kiss Me at the top spot and Disintegration at two. The vast majority of people disagree with me but I think the variety of KMKMKM makes it a better album than Disintegration. They are both incredible and two of the best albums of the eighties.
1:Disintegration 2:Kiss Me 3:Porno 4:Wish 5: Head on the Door 6: Faith 7: Bloodflowers 8: 17 Seconds 9: The Top 10: Wild Mood Swings 11: 4:13 Dream 12: 3 Imaginary Boys/Boys Don’t Cry 13: The Cure
I stumbled upon this video by accident. So, sorry for being late to the party. But I'd like to give my 2 cents. The worst records by The Cure are in my opinion without any order: - 4:13 Dream - Wild Mood Swings - Wish - The Cure The OK records by them are without any order: - Three Imaginary Boys - Seventeen Seconds - Faith The good records are without any order - The Top - Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me - The Head on the Door And then there is this holy trinity: - Pornography - Disintegration - Bloodflowers Man, whenever I listen to "Disintegration", the same thing happens. There are those innocent wind chimes. You know what's going to happen. But you are hit to the bone when this fat, damaging, droning thunderstorm of keyboards and bass begins when "Plainsong" begins. You think by yourself: OK, man, I'm done. "Disintegration" is for me one of the best albums ever. There is no bad second on this record. I'm constantly listening to this phenomenon of music. And I get the same experience with "Plainsong" every time the record starts. What has Robert Smith done to the world by creating such a masterpiece?
I love all the albums up to and including Wish. Then it’s I love some of the songs and some of the songs are okish. Pornography may be my favorite or Faith or Disintegration or The Top or Kiss me or Seventeen Seconds. Three Imaginary Boys(Boys Don’t Cry) , Wish and Head on the Door too. Friday I’m in Love is my least favorite song out of all the cure songs
Well, I'll give my ranking here... 1. Disintegration 2. Pornography 3. Wish 4. Faith 5. Bloodflowers 6. The Cure 7. Seventeen Seconds 8. The Head on the Door 9. Kiss me 10. The Top 11. Japanese Whispers 12. Three Imaginary Boys 13. Wild Mood Swings 14. 4:13 Dream But honestly... If you rate them on a 10/10 scale, none of them would be below 6/10. And the Albums between 6th and 11th are so close that you could also switch the places.
To be honest, with the exception of Bloodflowers i was pretty unimpressed with everything released after Wish ; They rarely play live anything recorded after 1992...says a lot
Yeah. They reached their peak with Disintegration, but then Lol was let go. He was an essential part of their sound, regardless of how much of a drunk he was. Wish was quite a good album considering it came after Disintegration. How do you follow up after such an amazing album? Then it just got weird. Of course Simon is an important part of the band, but no Lol, and a lot of the spirit of the band is gone.
@@alukuhito tottally agree.. and also Boris was a major loss. It's not a coincidence that after all these guys left, (Porl included), the band wasn't at its best creatively. Also the replacing musicians arent just as good on my opinion (Jason and the American really feel off sorry. I liked Perry Bamonte though, he was not bad)
I am a true Punk, post punk etc fan and couldn't get past the Cures 4th album except for a few tracks. It just became so droll and all the same. Just boring and depressing. But I love the first 3 LPs. Faith is a top 100 album all time.
14. Wild Mood Swings (1996) I sold this album quickly as I did not like it at all. A weak 50. 13. 4:13 Dream (2008) I like some of the songs but not all. A strong 50. 12. The Cure (2004) Another one some good and some not so good. A strong 70. 11. Wish (1992) Many songs are good but not great. A strong 75. 10. Bloodflowers (2000) I really loved this album because it was the third part of the Trilogy. A strong 80. 9. The Top (1984) This is my go to when I want to get high. Strong 85. 8. Japanese Whispers (1983) My favorite song on the album is Lament. Strong 90. 7. Three Imaginary Boys (1979) Crazy good. Strong 90. 6. Head On The Door (1985) Strong 95. 5. Kiss Me Kiss Me Kiss Me (1987) Strong 95. 4. Faith (1981) This is my first album of The Cure at age 11. I love this album. Strong 98 3. Pornography (1982) 99 2. Seventeen Seconds (1980) 99 1. Disintegration (1989) This album is a masterpiece. A 100 always!
"Plainsong" is amazing. Once I was listening to this song in the middle of nowhere, on a very cloudy, windy day, mid Winter. The emotions it delivered to me were indescribable and powerful and I was almost crying, shaking and profoundly moved. If there is a Holy Trinity it must be the first three songs from "Disintegration". "Faith" is very very very underrated.
bloodflowers has always made me think they are the songs discarded by wild mood swing but revisited in a darker version .. I don't know why but it has always made me think this thing .. many guitar riffs present in bloodflowers sometimes robert already he did them during the swings tour .. it's just my opinion .
I’m not ashamed to say “Mint Car” is one of my favourite Cure songs; It may not be complex, or groundbreaking. But, it quite possibly makes me happier than any other song I’ve ever heard. Fantastic riff and gleeful lyrics. I just love it! I agree with Smith and genuinely think it’s a better song than Friday I’m in love. Or, at least I prefer it. Loved the vid, by the way!
Yeah I agree I think it’s a really good song. I understand how it’s not everybody’s favorite but I definitely enjoy it, and I’d say it’s 100% my fav from wild mood swings.
there cure really is one of those bands where no matter what mood you re in, they have a track for it. from the deepest darkest depression, feeling lost or having lost, to being madly in love, happy and at the top of your game, they are there. The cure could soundtrack my entire life and they have most of it.
When I was in college in 1987, I always put on "Kiss Me" to fall asleep to & my roommate said "If I'm not asleep by that Egyptian tune, I'm NEVER falling asleep" lol
Wild Mood Swings has always been one of my favorites, it's definitely a top three Cure album for me even today. Want, Jupiter Crash and Mint Car are three of their very best songs.
I love WMS too! But I can't get into 17 Seconds. I always imagine other people say they like it so much, to try and prove their fan credentials, but apart from 'A forest', I can't define any other tune on it. WMS keeps me guessing and takes the listener through a real journey of sounds.
@@IfUfindthisURlost fair enough. I really love Play for Today, M and In Your House as individual tracks well. The eerie atmosphere of the album overall is what I love. IMO it needs to be played start to finish for the whole atmospheric effect.
@@tigb1524 Thank you for the reply. I agree with the album being an overall atmosphere, (verses defining melodies). I'll give it a re-listen and focus on the tracks you mention.
I love The Top and think it should be much higher on the list. Birdmad Girl is one of the best Cure songs. To me, The Top is like God says to Robert Smith, "OK, Robert. You've been a big music fan your whole life, you've been exposed to the best music, and you're an established rock singer-songwriter. Now, what do you REALLY want to do?" And The Top is Robert's answer.
It’s a good album, with some good ideas - I just feel those ideas are better executed on other albums. It was a step in the right direction when the band were trying to find the sound between pop and post punk which I feel they achieved on the three albums that followed it.
@@samuelwills4637 Fair enough. It's always been one of my favourites. I think it shows a little more of Robert's psychedelic side that gets overlooked by the emphasis on the "Goth" moniker.
Honestly I think the album suffers from the production. I remember one magazine review said it sounds like Robert was just burnt out during the mixing and needed an extra pair of ears in the studio. It’s just kinda tinny and “off” somehow but the songs are great. Shake Dog Shake was a set opener for the longest time and you still can’t mess with The Caterpiller
ok good this got some love, i was in the same boat. this album is weird and unique and fun and poppy. I know he was making this around the time he was with the Banshees and taking lots of acid so that explains alot. Its like The Glove.
Pretty glad to see Subway Song get a special mention during Three Imaginary Boys. It's always stood out quite a lot to me. I'm not even halfway through their albums and I always overlook Japanese Whispers for some reason but having The Lovecats on it alone and it's less than a half hour long so there's no reason not to listen to it.
My ranking of albums by The Cure… 1. Disintegration (1989) 2. Pornography (1982) 3. Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me…(1987) 4. Faith (1981) 5. Seventeen Seconds (1980) 6. Head On The Door (1985) 7. Japanese Whispers (1983) 8. Wish (1992) 9. The Top (1984) 10. Three Imaginary Boys/ Boys Don’t Cry (1979) 11. Wild Mood Swings (1996) 12. The Cure (2004) 13. 4:13 Dream (2008) 14. Bloodflowers (2000)
that’s so hilarious because bloodflowers is the best album ever. it literally saved me from slot of things. but i live all their other stuff of course but this one is literally amazing. i feel robert smith is misunderstood. and bloodflowers was very underrated and never sang in concerts.
